Play Mobile Heed’s Hembarrassing and Deesgraceful Fam vs. Steady Eddie’s Crumbling Cripples.

[Monkeys Fist 38779]

Since that derelict satellite didn’t land on Bruno, I think Lady Luck might be on our side. 

[ohhh_yeah 2767]

On 22/02/2024 at 01:44, Holden McGroin said:

Well, it’ll take a few games for the long term absentees to get any match sharpness.

 

Carroll will come off the bench in the second half and nod in the winner.   

 

 

[strawb 3660]

6 hours ago, Howmanheyman said:

An improbable double would be lush, we're not finishing higher than seventh, can't see us winning the cup unless the favourites get knocked out by someone else so we just do the best we can, hopefully gradually get some players back without losing anymore and regroup in the summer. Beating these moaning cunts with nothing to really play for would be.....

 

 

 

But we'll get beat, probably be closer than we think but can't see the current problems not getting exploited down there by their lot. 

Fucking hell mate, everything alright? 
 

I understand the grind of being Newcastle fan but that’s bleak

[LongTimeAdmirer 925]

Quote

 

THE NOTEBOOK: Eddie Howe eyes formation change for Arsenal acid test, Newcastle players head out to watch the darts... while the Magpies clear rat infestation from St James' Park

By CRAIG HOPE

 

It would be like a doctor doing away with their trusty stethoscope, but word is reaching us of Eddie Howe considering a change of formation at Arsenal this weekend.

We have been told that a 3-5-2 system has been talked about and worked on in training recently. It would still take a big leap for Howe not to start with the 4-3-3 he has used in every game so far this season, but the task at Arsenal could well lend itself to a tweak.

Tino Livramento would likely come in but not at the expense of Dan Burn, who would move into a three-man backline. Wing-backs in the form of Livramento and Kieran Trippier would offer better protection against Arsenal’s widemen.

 

Although Alexander Isak and Joe Willock have returned to training this week, the expectation was they would be used from the bench, although Isak was being considered for a start on Friday. 

Either way, their availability could well sway Howe’s thinking - is it worth trying to contain Arsenal with a more solid and compact 3-5-2 before introducing a potential match-winner late in the game? For once, the head coach has options. 

 

 

The names in the frame to replace Dan Ashworth 

 

On the subject of change, I spoke in our Mail Sport YouTube video last Thursday about Newcastle redefining the remit of their sporting director in the wake of Dan Ashworth’s likely defection to Manchester United.

 

Those whispers remain and, when it comes to recruitment, it could well be that the next appointment arrives on the understanding that scouting and the identification of targets is done by others.

It is a frustration for some - bemusement, even - when Newcastle’s signings are listed as those of Ashworth. In truth, he saw deals over the line but the scouting of players and the final call on the signing was with others.

Steve Nickson, the head of recruitment, is well respected by the owners and undertakes a lot of the duties sometimes mistakenly thought to be the job of a sporting director or director of football.

Howe, meanwhile, is very hands-on with recruitment, perhaps more so than any other manager in the Premier League. He does not wait for players to be signed for him and will never simply adhere to the role of ‘head coach’. Howe is across everything and takes responsibility for every player brought in.

That being the case, it is not necessary for Newcastle to recruit a sporting director who is seen as a transfer guru - that, you suspect, would only lead to internal conflict. Lessons across the entire role will be learnt from Ashworth’s 20-month tenure and sources say the job description is likely to be redrawn.

Lots of names have been mentioned in recent days as a possible replacement for Ashworth (none of them coming from inside the club, I should add) but two put to us that are interesting are Brentford pair Lee Dykes and Phil Giles. 

 

The latter is a Newcastle fan and is Brentford’s current sporting director, while Dykes is the club’s technical director.

For now, though, a combination of Howe, Nickson, chief executive Darren Eales and owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi will fill what void has been left by Ashworth’s impending departure.

 

 

Magpies chase off rats infestation 

 

Speaking of departures, I can reveal that Newcastle have chased an infestation of rats at St James’ Park.

When work began on the new fan zone behind the Gallowgate End last month, it disturbed the rodents, who made their way into the stadium for a period. The rats would scour the stands post-match for leftover food.

However, ground staff were quick to act and specialists were brought in to deal with the issue, which has now been resolved.

Meanwhile, I understand the fan zone is on track to be finished in time to show England’s matches at Euro 2024 this summer, with an outside chance it could be open for the pre-tournament friendly against Bosnia at St James’ Park on June 3.

 

 

Pope nears return from shoulder surgery

 

Nick Pope could feature in as many as the final 10 matches of Newcastle’s Premier League season - plus a possible FA Cup semi-final and final.

I can reveal that the goalkeeper - sidelined since December following shoulder surgery - had a little setback concerning a pectoral muscle in January but that has not impacted his return date, which has actually been brought forward.

If all goes well, Pope will be back in action at the end of March or start of April, and that could mean 10 league games (if Newcastle progress to the last eight of the FA Cup their forthcoming home fixture against Crystal Palace will be put back). 

This would also give the 31-year-old plenty of time to prove his worth to Gareth Southgate ahead of Euro 2024.

 

Meanwhile, I understand Elliot Anderson is back on the grass at Newcastle’s training ground but is more likely to play again after the March international break. He is recovering from a stress fracture in his back and will not be rushed. 

It could be that he plays an Under-21 fixture before returning to the senior fold, and there are some that believe this would be a wise move, given others have broken down or suffered a recurrence of injuries this season.

 

 

Howe's coffee grumbles 

 

Howe did not like it when his press conference was disturbed on Friday morning. Not by a reporter’s mobile phone, but by a coffee machine deciding this was the time to reheat (or whatever that loud noise indicates).

The Toon boss shot the machine a look of absolute contempt, and a colleague of mine duly acted and scurried for the plug. A cold stare leading to cold coffee, you might say.

It did remind me to always set my mobile phone to airplane mode, however.

 

Newcastle players surprise Howe with darts visit 

 

The manager was in better fettle (I think!) when admitting he had no idea a group of his players went to watch Luke Littler play Premier League Darts on Thursday night.

Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff, Harvey Barnes, Mark Gillespie, Paul Dummett, Elliot Anderson and Matt Targett were all present at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle.

Howe said: 'I wasn't aware of that so, erm… you'll need to give me a list of names please. Hopefully it wasn't a late night? Maybe they should've been in fancy dress!’

When Howe does a little research into the team night out (I have no doubt he will) he will be relieved to see their table scattered with empty bottles… bottles of water, that is.

 

Here’s a little puzzler to finish with that was put to us by a member of Newcastle staff before Friday’s press call.

Thirty-three players have taken penalties for Newcastle in the Premier League. Only four of them have never scored for Newcastle from the spot. Name the four.

The answer will be revealed at 6pm on Friday evening on our new NUFC-dedicated WhatsApp channel.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13118403/THE-NOTEBOOK-Eddie-Howe-newcastle-premier-league.html

 

 

[Dr Gloom 19826]

this isn’t going to be an easy watch, is it. The wife wants me to go to the cinema with her. It would be the first match I’ve missed this season. She asked me why I want to watch it if I expect a big defeat. I struggled to articulate a response. 

[Gemmill 34504]

6 minutes ago, Dr Gloom said:

this isn’t going to be an easy watch, is it. The wife wants me to go to the cinema with her. It would be the first match I’ve missed this season. She asked me why I want to watch it if I expect a big defeat. I struggled to articulate a response. 

 

Give her the hairy side.

[Tdansmith 2114]

1 hour ago, Dr Gloom said:

this isn’t going to be an easy watch, is it. The wife wants me to go to the cinema with her. It would be the first match I’ve missed this season. She asked me why I want to watch it if I expect a big defeat. I struggled to articulate a response. 

You must watch the match, imagine if we do pull off a shock win and you have to tell everyone you were at the pictures watching Barbie instead.

[GrahamTaylor5 650]

9 minutes ago, Tdansmith said:

You must watch the match, imagine if we do pull off a shock win and you have to tell everyone you were at the pictures watching Barbie instead.

Nowt wrong with Barbie. Surprisingly not as bad as I thought it was going to be. 

[Tdansmith 2114]

3 minutes ago, GrahamTaylor5 said:

Nowt wrong with Barbie. Surprisingly not as bad as I thought it was going to be. 

[BobHopeandNoHope 451]

Fuckin hell it’s Paul Cannell to score the winner in the 100th minute off his bellend HTL 

[Gemmill 34504]

Some patter about Dubravka being out. Karius to start??

[Toonpack 6866]

Looks that way

[Ayatollah Hermione 12767]

As good as a win for me seeing that fuckwit dropped 

[Gemmill 34504]

Burn dropped, Isak back, Karius starts.

[ewerk 26391]

 

[ewerk 26391]

Dubs not even in the squad?

[Kid Dynamite 5924]

Best bench we've had for a while. 
 

Havertz up front for them. He's shite, but I expect Odegaard and Saka to cause us problems 

[NJS 3981]

Dubravka ill according to Waugh.

[Holden McGroin 4868]

Unfortunately this is an absolute home banker win this lads. Karius to drop a clanger or 2.

[Gemmill 34504]

Barndog Millionaire to come on and score the winner.

[Ayatollah Hermione 12767]

Seeing people complaining that Howe has dropped Burn in a game that “we’re never going to win anyway”  Who’d be a football manager? You can’t win with some cunts 

[ewerk 26391]

Known to Howe: ‘And hopefully no time wasting today’. 
 

Fuck off you Neanderthal cunt. It was Arsenal trying to slow it down at SJP.

[aimaad22 3472]

Decent bench for once. Again, this is all about keeping everyone fit for me  any result would be a bonus

Edited February 24 by aimaad22

[Gemmill 34504]

1 minute ago, ewerk said:

Known to Howe: ‘And hopefully no time wasting today’. 
 

Fuck off you Neanderthal cunt. It was Arsenal trying to slow it down at SJP.

 

Us to win and Howe and Tindall to pair up at the end and sing "U-G-L-Y! YOU AIN'T GOT NO ALIBI! YOU UGLY!" to Keown in the post match interview.

[GrahamTaylor5 650]

I have a good feeling about this. Nothing to lose here and the pressure is on them.