January

[Ragatino]

We need a proper number 10.

We have no creativity. Score against us first and it's game over with no-one able to unlock an organised defence.

January thread 2 - the frustrated Boogaloo. Can we combine the two Jan threads Please Mods.

The same problem persists. Away from home the team seem to forget how to play the game.

20 games in to the season. More or less 10 away games played and Only the worst team in the league, Wolves, have a worse away record that NUFC.

It was unacceptable. It's not the formation (the team plays well at home), it's not the team selection (same team as first half against Chelsea).

All I can say is this can't continue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAiqAdyWIEg - Mango breaks it down precisely.

As much as creativity is required the first team needs a Diego Casta mentality. A horrible bas*ard. The lads have lost their S*** housery team.

The only one who looked like a winner was Lewis Hall. He was genuinely trying to win the game. Everyone else was tippy tappy.

I'm the other January thread there is a detailed list of player that the club should bring in.

[Ragatino]

We need to make some serious changes. a Technician an advanced 8 to play in the 4-3-3 as a defacto No.10

Joelinton sold in Jan?

If Gordon has offers north of 75m I'll sell him too. It's the inconsistency since the F**k hair banned.

[toonviking]

Maybe selling Gordon and Barnes and adding more forwards is the answer. With a more narrow 4-3-3, with full backs overlapping. Gives us more striker quality in the box.

[Jammy89]

Agreed it is a creative player we need.

Our inability to unlock a stubborn defence is killing us.

[Jammy89]

January thread 2 - the frustrated Boogaloo. Can we combine the two Jan threads Please Mods.

Ask and ye shall receive

[toonviking]

J7 brings grit and frusteration. Hes horrible to play against. I think we are too light without him. If hes having a bad day, just bring him off. Ramsey doesnt really bring anything. Not a starter for me. Just runs. Very similar to Willock.

[Ragatino]

Ask and ye shall receive

Merci buckets Jamatron!

[Ragatino]

Agreed it is a creative player we need.

Our inability to unlock a stubborn defence is killing us.

The build up to the final 3rd is fine.

As you say Jam, since the takeover it's been clear that beating a team who have barricaded themselves into the 18yrd box is still an major issue.

The number of points left on the table is a serious issue.

[Ragatino]

J7 brings grit and frusteration. Hes horrible to play against. I think we are too light without him. If hes having a bad day, just bring him off. Ramsey doesnt really bring anything. Not a starter for me. Just runs. Very similar to Willock.

The idea Howe has is that the CMF 3 are 'Dynamic'. However, the level of UCL and the volume of games dictates that to play at the elite level in every game requires players at the very top end of the sport.

Ramsey is a deferent profile. Previously player with Kamara as a more DMF at Villa.

Having a dedicated ball winner in the '6' role is how all elite teams play.
City have Rodri
Chelsea Caicedo
Barca - F. De Jong
Real Madrid - Tchouameni

When Tonali was doing that job and on form it was comfortable and the team were playing very well.

In recent times that hasn't been the case.

As much as the team needs a creative midfielder to facilitate attacking channels centrally rather than just out wide, the team clearly needs defensive balance. The amount of times opponents cut through the CMF 3 and are straight at the CBs is seriously frustrating.

Botman out is a big miss, despite him being out for a long time. When he was first in the team the defence ended that season as 2nd tightest defence in the league.

Burn's injury is a really loss. Not just the leadership but the dogged determination to win is clearly missing. Against the filth, had Burn been on the pitch I genuinely believe that that one of those corners or 46 crosses would have been converted.

It's all ifs and buts but had the lads scored 1 they'd have gone on to win that match with the cockroaches being forced scuttle out of their shell.

[toonviking]

The idea Howe has is that the CMF 3 are 'Dynamic'. However, the level of UCL and the volume of games dictates that to play at the elite level in every game requires players at the very top end of the sport.

Ramsey is a deferent profile. Previously player with Kamara as a more DMF at Villa.

Having a dedicated ball winner in the '6' role is how all elite teams play.
City have Rodri
Chelsea Caicedo
Barca - F. De Jong
Real Madrid - Tchouameni

When Tonali was doing that job and on form it was comfortable and the team were playing very well.

In recent times that hasn't been the case.

As much as the team needs a creative midfielder to facilitate attacking channels centrally rather than just out wide, the team clearly needs defensive balance. The amount of times opponents cut through the CMF 3 and are straight at the CBs is seriously frustrating.

Botman out is a big miss, despite him being out for a long time. When he was first in the team the defence ended that season as 2nd tightest defence in the league.

Burn's injury is a really loss. Not just the leadership but the dogged determination to win is clearly missing. Against the filth, had Burn been on the pitch I genuinely believe that that one of those corners or 46 crosses would have been converted.

It's all ifs and buts but had the lads scored 1 they'd have gone on to win that match with the cockroaches being forced scuttle out of their shell.

Maybe Miley should be the no 6.

Botman is class, and Burn is important.

Speaking of Botman, should we sell him? Hes clearly not capable of playing more that two games in a row. Hes extremely injury prone.

[Ragatino]

Maybe Miley should be the no 6.

Botman is class, and Burn is important.

Speaking of Botman, should we sell him? Hes clearly not capable of playing more that two games in a row. Hes extremely injury prone.

Issues with serious injury is that the person/player take all the weight off the leg and the other leg, reset of the body takes up load. That leads to other injuries bizarrely.

The guy's rehabilitation is taking a lot longer than expected. However, I don't think it's a sell the player situation unless there is replacement of equal quality ready to come in.

That's a tough ask. He's a world class defender when fit, as proven before his injury as we had the 2nd best defence in the league. He was a rock!

However, get your point. No point in having an sicknote on the payroll.

[Cannylad]

What we need is another Yohan Cabaye type player in the middle, none of the present midfielders can match his drives forward and slotted passes through the opposing defense. Very difficult to find his like these days.

[Ragatino]

What we need is another Yohan Cabaye type player in the middle, none of the present midfielders can match his drives forward and slotted passes through the opposing defense. Very difficult to find his like these days.

Aye, exactly. with the runners and athletes in the team/squad what is needed is a player who can play the line splitting passes.

Gordon showed that he like Bruno, Tonali (last season) & Thiaw have those passes in their locker. Gordon's pass was through to Elanga who made a run, probably the only joined up run from midfield to attack in something approaching top class this season.

The pass only works if the winger makes the run outside to in. That pass resulted in a red card as Elanga was taken out by the last man.

The players have proven they can play. It's mostly psychological, like losing leads and conceding late in games.

This is not a quality, physical or technical thing it's all mental.

That is why I find it so odd considering how mental toughness has been the key characteristic of this Eddie Howe NUFC squad.

[Jammy89]

Our mental side seems to have deserted us this season.

[Ragatino]

Our mental side seems to have deserted us this season.

For some reason Anthony 'I haven't scored a goal in 30 Prem games, fanny hair band wearing' Gordon thinks he's some peak World Class winger. The attitude is insulting.

He's gone from hard working Merseyside working class lad to a proper ponce. Not tracking back, not working hard off the ball. Not acceptable.

Sandro Tonali. A man we've all lauded. Who is this fella in the imposter in the No.8?

Will the real Slim Tonali please stand up!

The fraud punting the ball at team mates 15 yrs away and stropping around the pitch like a grumpy petulant teenager is a shadow of his former self.

Dunno how true it is but there is rumour circulating that Botman and Howe have had a fall out over attitude in training related to the No.14 situation in the summer.

That a$$hole really did a number on our club, it appears to have split the group. As united the lads have been over the last 2-3 seasons that one seismic event is still sending shockwaves and ripples of negativity through the squad.

It's going to be a test of EH's man management to tame this beast.

Despite all the negativity and the appalling performances, NUFC are currently 6 points behind 5th place Chelsea who dropped 2 points from a winning position last night at the Bridge to a Bournemouth side who haven't won in 6, losin 4 times... And people want to replace Eddie Howe with their manager 'Senor Outer Nipple' - Areola.

The Jan window is a great opportunity to bring in some quality competition to freshen things up.

CB, LB, Creative MF & a Striker - 4 signings... No bother for our New Sporting Director haha

Yeah right, when is anything smooth and plain sailing for the boys of tyneside.

Divvent we just love bonny lads and lasses!?! Howay the lads!