Newcastle (A) 12/3: Build-Up & Match Thread

[Dire Wolf]

The Trent House is great, as is The Forth. A little bit more of a walk is The Bodega which is also decent on match days, or it used to be, I've avoided town on match days for a few years now! I'd avoid any of the bars on Percy Street which is the street kind of looking towards Haymarket Metro, they're all shit. If you're staying over the weekend good places a bit further out of the city centre are The Cluny and The Free Trade, both top bars.

 

[sycophantia]

I want your unfiltered feelings about Miggy!

Who the fuck is miggy?

 

[Alan]

Who the fuck is miggy?

iykyk

Miguel Almiron, of course! Can't say I rightfully care about any other Newcastle player.

 

[sycophantia]

I predicted 9th at the beginning of the season, so anything better than that has to be seen as huge improvement on where we were. Especially when you include a League Cup Final. Even though the results have slipped away, our performances have been decent. Like Eddie's said, we're playing well box-to-box, it's just finishing off our chances. Everything Almiron swung his boot at was ending up in the back of the net, but now, Wilson can get a chance in the box and whiff at it.

Expectations wise, given the amount of finances available through the vile owners, the appointments we've made behind the scenes (Ashworth et al), and the commercial deals in the pipeline, I reckon we'll see significant investment his summer. More if we get Europe, and more again if we somehow get back into the Champions League conversation (although I think that ship has sailed).

Well given our goal scoring record this season and your recent lack of finishing should be a goal fest

 

[SSB]

Always had a good away day, even if the result hasn't gone our way.

 

[North Shropshire Lad]

As it's one of (Brighton, Palace and Southampton the others) the easiest games to get tickets for nowadays I generally go. Always have no trouble getting in and being in the pubs. Southampton being another like that and the day definitely is better as a result.

In the days when I could get tickets to every away match I must have had more bravado as we just went in anywhere* regardless. Newcastle on NYD when Bully scored four was dry though with the escort from the airport and back at full time.

*except Maine Road when I headed backed towards Altrincham for a pint before going back closer to the ground.

 

[The Bion]

Always had a good away day, even if the result hasn't gone our way.

Except the stairs!

 

[Stan Hullis]

I have a spare ticket for this if anyone is interested. Can no longer make it.

 

[The Fish]

I want your unfiltered feelings about Miggy!

Love him, the cheeky scamp. Looking like a kid who's never had a bedtime.

That purple patch earlier in the season was great, but he's not going to hit those heights again.
He and Gordon are very intelligent pressers, they can do it all game too. Means we play the high press that Howe is wedded to.

He's not first out of the door, but we'll need to upgrade the right side of midfield if we want to compete for Europe. And defensive midfield so Bruno can play further up the pitch. And Fullbacks so BDB can slot back into 3rd choice centre back. And strikers because Wilson is a perma-crock and currently can't hit a barn door. Basically everywhere because if this period after the World Cup has shown us anything, it's that our squad depth isn't all that.

 

[pagey]

Geordie in peace here,

Hoping that Howe goes with Isak, Wilson looks tired and bang out of confidence. Missing Joelinton is a blow, but we'll likely stick with the same formation and just bring Willock in as a replacement. I wouldn't bet against a low score draw.

There are 100+ pubs in walking distance of the ground. No such thing as an away pub as you'll be welcome in all as long as you don't act like a knob. Something for everyone too, if you want a big place try the Mile Castle, proper old fashioned boozer go for the Crown Posada, aye there's loads.

If you want parking or food advice, let me know.

Just like to ask, how has Howe managed to make Newcastle the tightest team in the league, with a defence that Includes Dan fucking Burn? Kudos from me.

 

[Tony Towner]

Their whole team is about being better than the sum of the parts. There's not many of their starting 11 I'd automatically want at Wolves. Guimaraes, Trippier, the centre halves, Wilson by default. That's about it. Pope is a better keeper than Sa, but couldn't play out from the back the way Lopetegui wants us to.

 

[machin05]

Their whole team is about being better than the sum of the parts. There's not many of their starting 11 I'd automatically want at Wolves. Guimaraes, Trippier, the centre halves, Wilson by default. That's about it. Pope is a better keeper than Sa, but couldn't play out from the back the way Lopetegui wants us to.

So... 5 or 6 of them then

 

[Tony Towner]

It's only really 4 which I don't think is many for a team who has been in the Top 4 for a lot of the season. Wilson only makes it because of what he is not who he is. I'd take whoever plays up front for 3/4 of the PL teams over what we have

 

[b3h]

I'd have Miggy instead of Pod/Traore

 

[Sniffer]

I'd have Miggy instead of Pod/Traore

Pod/Traore aren't first team starters.

 

[lemonjelly]

the past 2 or 3 months have been almirons roque santa cruz period.

 

[The Fish]

Just like to ask, how has Howe managed to make Newcastle the tightest team in the league, with a defence that Includes Dan fucking Burn? Kudos from me.

Plays us very narrow, so our pressing game has to be on point. What tends to happen is Trippier will bomb on, Burn will shuffle sideways to become a 3rd CB and Joelinton/Longstaff will provide cover on the left flank like a kinda/sorta wingback. The midfield works really hard to shut down attacks and then provide an outlet for a counter. Almiron and Willock also press a lot.

We also delight in the dark arts. Disrupting the flow of the game if we're not comfortably on top. Fouls, 'injuries', general shithousery. Clearly Howe learned a lot from Simeone. But, I guess when we don't yet have the squad to compete with the teams vying for the same league position, we have to drag opponents down a level or two.

 

[The Fish]

It's only really 4 which I don't think is many for a team who has been in the Top 4 for a lot of the season. Wilson only makes it because of what he is not who he is. I'd take whoever plays up front for 3/4 of the PL teams over what we have

Got to say I'm surprised you wouldn't want Joelinton.

The lad has gone from universally derided £40m flop, a punchline, to one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the league. He's so strong on the ball, carries it well, breaks up play, always looking for the ball and just a huge physical specimen. Only really lacks confidence in front of goal.

Few years ago I though we'd have to loan him out with a view to eventually losing him for nothing. Now, I'd be demanding £50m+ for the kid. Unbelievable redemption story.

 

[Dire Wolf]

The thing that I see with the way Newcastle play, and their 3-3 game against Man City is the one that sticks in my memory, is that when they win the ball they attack with pace and with numbers. They defend as a unit, but when they attack they get a lot forward quickly. I think that the trouble they have now compared to earlier in the season is that they aren't creating as many chances and they aren't converting the ones they create. Bruno can create something out of nothing however, and is clearly their best player. His passing is fantastic.

 

[sycophantia]

Got to say I'm surprised you wouldn't want Joelinton.

The lad has gone from universally derided £40m flop, a punchline, to one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the league. He's so strong on the ball, carries it well, breaks up play, always looking for the ball and just a huge physical specimen. Only really lacks confidence in front of goal.

Few years ago I though we'd have to loan him out with a view to eventually losing him for nothing. Now, I'd be demanding £50m+ for the kid. Unbelievable redemption story.

That's true but we're OK for midfielders now, Neves, Nunes, Lamina (been a relevation) Moutinho with young Traore to come back soon and Gomes.