Our defence

[Ragatino]

https://www.transfermarkt.com/dayann...pieler/1191444

Dayann Methalie is linked. A 19 yr old multi-position player.

Main position:
Left-Back
Other position:
Left Midfield
Centre-Back

Not the No.6 I'm championing but someone who appears to have a huge future and is highly sort after by top clubs across Europe.

Certainly a decent addition to reduce the age of the squad and offer some potentially high quality rotation in positions where we are currently a bit thin with injuries.

[toonviking]

Interesting stuff...

Also, defending as a unit and a team is important. The whole team has to defend. Not just the defence.

Thats why we have been good the last few seasons. Now it seems like the defence is more left alone, sort of.

Joelinton (in form, that is) is maybe what we need. Joe is a fantastic ball winner when hes in form. Gordon is also a fantastic pressing player and first defender, when hes in form. I think we saw some signs of his old self in the Chelsea game.

If we can get Joelinton back in form, in addition to Gordon, I think that can take a lot of pressure off the back four.

[Ragatino]

Interesting stuff...

Also, defending as a unit and a team is important. The whole team has to defend. Not just the defence.

Thats why we have been good the last few seasons. Now it seems like the defence is more left alone, sort of.

Joelinton (in form, that is) is maybe what we need. Joe is a fantastic ball winner when hes in form. Gordon is also a fantastic pressing player and first defender, when hes in form. I think we saw some signs of his old self in the Chelsea game.

If we can get Joelinton back in form, in addition to Gordon, I think that can take a lot of pressure off the back four.

Yeah absolutely Viking. Defending from the front. JJ's growing into the role that Joelinton perfected in seasons past. Joelinton of 2 seasons ago was bordering on world class, unique, dynamic, physical, aggressive, dominant terrifying, brilliant.

This season, he's not been on that kind of form. Whether it's a matter of fitness, niggling injuries or confidence I'm not sure.

The current Joelinton couldn't trap a bag of sand, let alone a ball. His retention and passing has been woeful. Losing possession of the football more time that controlling and moving it on, causing more pressure on that back 4.

JJ' still getting up to speed but he seems to be trust by Howe already and this can only be a good thing. Whilst he's not as physical as peak Destroyer J7, he is a dynamic player and he's learning the press patterns. Again JJ's relationship with Gordon or Barnes on the left wing and Hall at LB is still in the early stages. As they all play more together we should see that LCMF / Left side become more fluid and knitted together.

People that are all whining about demanding the manager be sacked are ridiculous when you consider the changes this team/squad is currently undergoing.

As a club financially/commercially & as a playing squad tactically and mentally, we are experiencing growing pains.

Nothing in life is linear. Success is never perfect. It's peaks and troughs, a swift improvement, a plateau of slower development with the odd backwards step.

Last season after 17 matches NUFC were 8th on 26 points - W7,D5,L5
This season after 17 matches NUFC were 11th on 23 points - W6, D5, L6

When we consider the turmoil and upheaval of the summer and the entire blueprint of the team having to be ripped up with the frustrating injury to Wissa for the first 3 months of the season, all the injuries to the defensive line & Goal Keeper, the miss firing winger & the challenges of Elanga to assimilate to the new team and provide the goals & assists he contributed last season for Forest (played - 43, Goals - 6, Assists - 12)

It's still early doors for Elanga. The situation isn't as bad as the bedwetters making out.

Eddie's teams always far better during the Christmas period and to the end of the season.

When we consider the lads are still within touching distance of the top 8 best clubs IN THE WOOOOORLD in the UCL, sitting in 11th with 2 to play, PSV at home is gonna be electric ahead of the big one in Paris when the lads get to have another crack at putting unjust draw right!

A semi final of the Carabao awaits. Two legs against City. The Citizens took a loss in the league at SJP earlier this season and face the reining champions of competition in the first leg. Frank Sidebottom's men will have to overcome their deficiencies and raise their game to compete with the holders over 2 legs. The toon beat an Arsenal team last season convincingly despite being written off before a ball was kicked.

With league is a marathon and we're nicely tucked in with the pack as they round the half way bend.

[toonviking]

Totally agree Rag.

We are suffering from changes, players out / in, players getting past their peak etc. Making more changes, like sacking the manager, would only make it even worse. Its in times like this you need to be stable and stick together. That togetherness, us against the world is exactly what has turned things around, after the dark ages. Plus, after all Eddie has done and achieved - even a relegation fight wouldnt make me calling for his head. Its not even on my radar. Only an idiot (sorry idiots, its not personal) would consider sacking Eddie.

That said, as a toon fan, I reserve the right to went my frusteration towards tactical changes, subs, and so on. When Burn look like Bambi for the fifth game in a row, or Elanga comes on for the last 20 mins, only to lose the ball away - game after game... its our duty as fans to ask questions and critizice - but for me, without the sack talk.

As you say, there is still a lot to play for this season. Its frusterating when you look at the squad on paper, and it looks stronger than last season, but still its not really clicking into gear. Elanga looks like a bad signing now, but look at what Eddie did to Joelinton and many other players - there is still a good chance he can turn into a good player for us. Hes still only 23. When Eddie came here, Joelinton was 25, and one of the worst strikers in the league, but with great physics. The starting point for Elanga should be much better really, when you think about it.

I guess we just have to trust Eddie, the players and the process. Upwards and onwards for 2026!

And if there is one game I would start Elanga, its at OT. I think he would be all fired up, and it could be the perfect turning point for him.

Let the "former players always score against us syndrome" work FOR us, for a change.

[Ragatino]

Totally agree Rag.

We are suffering from changes, players out / in, players getting past their peak etc. Making more changes, like sacking the manager, would only make it even worse. Its in times like this you need to be stable and stick together. That togetherness, us against the world is exactly what has turned things around, after the dark ages. Plus, after all Eddie has done and achieved - even a relegation fight wouldnt make me calling for his head. Its not even on my radar. Only an idiot (sorry idiots, its not personal) would consider sacking Eddie.

That said, as a toon fan, I reserve the right to went my frusteration towards tactical changes, subs, and so on. When Burn look like Bambi for the fifth game in a row, or Elanga comes on for the last 20 mins, only to lose the ball away - game after game... its our duty as fans to ask questions and critizice - but for me, without the sack talk.

As you say, there is still a lot to play for this season. Its frusterating when you look at the squad on paper, and it looks stronger than last season, but still its not really clicking into gear. Elanga looks like a bad signing now, but look at what Eddie did to Joelinton and many other players - there is still a good chance he can turn into a good player for us. Hes still only 23. When Eddie came here, Joelinton was 25, and one of the worst strikers in the league, but with great physics. The starting point for Elanga should be much better really, when you think about it.

I guess we just have to trust Eddie, the players and the process. Upwards and onwards for 2026!

And if there is one game I would start Elanga, its at OT. I think he would be all fired up, and it could be the perfect turning point for him.

Let the "former players always score against us syndrome" work FOR us, for a change.

All good points man. Would be quality to see Elanga bang in a brace to humiliate the OT swamp dwellers on their own patch.

It's a good time to play them. Ratfink is out injured. Bummo, Mazraoui and Amad off at Afcon. A defence as weak as piss.

The toothless inbreeds who populate the home end are not happy. They are Manc Divided, no where close to United.

Now it is the time.

Filth 1-4 NUFC