OTF

Other 'making up the numbers' clubs are at least able to maintain a veneer of ambition, each season attempting to improve the performance and squad of the last. Ashley can only maintain that illusion with the most ill informed 'supporters' (and unfortunately many mainstream media outlets). There is no attempt to improve, no vision for the future except the hope that young players will increase in value. This has absolutely nothing to do with the football team that plays, the only objective there is to survive. Even a lack of support/attendance from locals isn't a huge problem for them, Ashley wouldn't care if the stadium was half full and we stay up. It's why my thinking at the moment is it's more important that we get relegated than have well coordinated boycotts. The main benefit of the boycotts would be to kill the atmosphere and any boost the players get from it. As counter intuitive as it may first seem, supporters of Newcastle United don't have anything to lose by being relegated, it's Ashley that will suffer.

Yeah can't blame him for that one. He had a stinker though, never looked comfortable.

Terrible performance, as expected. Norwich looked lively against Liverpool and from the start they were the better side against us. Special mention to Krafth for a terrible debut. Looks to be a signing that makes no sense really as on the strength of that and everything I've read he's not up to Manquillo's standard and definitely isn't as fast as Yedlin. Absolute sitter missed by our "40m signing", Rondon or even Mitro would have scored it. Might as well rename him "40m signing" as it's how the commentators refer to him almost without fail. I'm not sure whether they do it in an attempt to absolve Ashley of his deriliction of duty, or they're just pointing out that we may have been dudded. Hayden was the only player who looked decent for us, and even he gave up in the second half. Must have been a rousing team talk. We're entertaining just for the comically predictable way things are falling apart already. Expect a formation change next game and Bruce to admit he made some arbitrary mistake here. Nevermind the real mistake that he should never have been in consideration.

What about those married or in committed relationships?

Nice immediate impact from ASM.

One terrible mistake was all it took. Totally called it about Lascelles and his defensive line, he was in no mans land there.

Is Willems facial hair the worst we've ever had?

Tickets sold. At least 4,000 down.

Love the way Almiron skips over the surface with the ball. Joelinton's work rate, control and physicality look very good, but then this is a pretty poor Arsenal defense.

Quite a few empty seats but only visible when they show those sections, otherwise you'd easily mistake it for close enough to a sell out. As far as performance goes the players are mostly doing well, final ball quality has been lacking and there's some communication errors showing up but the formation has been holding up. Their pace in midfield and wide is what has and will continue to trouble us, Manquillo, Ritchie and Shelvey all giving up plenty in that respect. Lascelles has to be better at keeping our defensive line that could easily cost us. We've had a trademark Dummett sliding tackle so I'm somewhat contented.

Quite obtrusive and splitting hairs on some, but nothing wrong technically.

And the circus continues

Based on his youtube "highlights" he looks reasonable playing against lightweight French attackers. Reeks of another buy based on potential rather than the specific requirements to strengthen the team. He appears to be more defensively minded than able to transition into attack. He has pace but his touch didn't appear consistent. Wants to play it out also despite not being super convincing at doing so so could cost us if he's not strong and gets caught out. Assuming he even gets on the pitch regularly. Still, hope he does well.

Matty.

I support a pay as you play deal, Carroll to pay 15k per appearance. He also has to buy back my Carroll shirt from 2010 at full retail.