OTF

You weak as piss bastards. That's actually a better time than the average Newcastle premier league game I watch here.

If there was any risk of him going I would agree, but he has 3 years on his contract and is rightfully adored by the supporters and Howe etc. Give him a new contract through this season but get our business sorted in this window first so we know what numbers we're working with.

I don't get the dislike for him. We always got the authentic ASM, the good with the bad. Like I said earlier he really did try to adapt his game under Howe, but some of his fragility remained and there was a lack of clarity around his physical fitness as well with an injury cloud always hanging around. I do believe he loved the club and the supporters just not quite as much as he loved himself. I wish him well.

I don't have a problem with us giving him an improved contract but now is not the time. We're still inhibited by FFP in our push to improve and ready our squad for Champions League. He still has three years on his initial contract and honestly he's not been at his best recently.

I'd also say that outside of the notoriously fragile Wilson and Isak we've got no options up top and would have to play someone with next to no arial threat like Gordon, or Barnes or play Joelinton again as a square peg in a round hole. Sure we play one up top mostly but with more games and injury prone players we plainly need more depth up front. We don't even seemingly have any significant youth players up front involved in these preseason games.

He was clearing the ball if Pope didn't get a hand to it.

Two more goals from Anderson, he's having spme tournament. Lewis Miley also looking quality in his late cameo.

Targett getting back on their counter is faster than I thought, we'll need that sort of cover this season more than ever.

Nice of the commentary to acknowledge that Brighton have a far stronger starting 11 out there.

As much as it is frustrating to not see us play our strongest team once, it has to be good for the squad harmony to mix it up like this and give peripheral players a good run out and experience in playing in our first team system. Entirely what pre-seasons should be about.

You can see why he scores as many as he does, he won't die wondering.

The Dummett slide tackle is alive and well.

Yep, if we can be pumping out quality players through our academy it's not only great for our first team, building and strengthening our identity but also through association those that don't cut the mustard in stepping up to the first team still remain highly desirable for lower tiered teams and our balance book will be all the better for it. Their uncle Guys was a highly regarded TV host for years, sure he'll be pleased with their progress and the strings that are being pulled behind the scenes to bring them into the first team.

https://youtu.be/MLeaGOLZrcA Yes the above vid has them. A very good chance from our young defender who came on when Schär went off with a knock, and a mazy run from Isak that lead to a shot from the top of the box from Miley. Miley didn't get behind it enough, sidefooted with no pace.

Big kid also, not at all out of place or outmuscled at only 17.

Physio is working towards it as we speak.

Cheers mate, scraping the bottom of the barrel to be blaming the head Dr for how poor the Tigers are though! Hope he turns out to be all good, as Isegrim and others have said ACL replacements are common with extremely high success rates. Didn’t take out the meniscus at the same time which is good.

Perfect run and finish from wor Miggy to equalise against Chelsea. All the purple patch haters can pipe down 😉

Strong team to start, quite a few names missing from the bench though! No Bruno, Wilson, Barnes, Targett, Lascelles....

Booked in to see Dr Peter Lorentzos who is the head Dr for the Tigers. Don't know if that is a good or bad thing. He was recommended by my physio.

He played well against Man City when called on. For defenders confidence is very important, I feel like our squad and Lascelles, as our internally heralded captain, have it despite him not playing often. Credit to Eddie for this. Even if we bring in a better (AKA more technical defender) will we want to upset the partnership that Schar and Botman have built by routinely playing the new defender? It's a tough balancing act for Howe either way, and it will also hinges on how we line up - whether we play the adjustable 4-3-3 that facilitates Trippier overlapping routinely and Burn tucking in to an almost back 3, or whether we go to a more traditional back 4 and Burn becomes an option for CB rather than first choice in that hybrid 4. Personally I can see Howe retaining the hybrid structure for many of our premier league games but as required using our bench to change up our shape as games require. I agree though thay we're short on cover at the back, a couple of injuries would leave us really exposed. Regarding Gordon and his pressing, I didn't see a lot of him at Everton outside of when we played them. I'm basing my comments about his pressing on what I've seen of him here. He has put thr effort in but hasn't been as effective as I would like given his speed and age. The point I eas trying to press (ha ha) about Miggy is that he has a crazy amount of energy/stamina and even when he's been pressing all game he still has the energy late on to be making runs and to continue with the press. I don't know whether that will be the case for Gordon or Barnes, I hope so, but it would be unrealistic to expect it. We see with other players putting that sort of effort in they hit the wall and need to be subbed (e.g. Willock) or start giving away unnecessary free kicks (Joelinton).

To update, yes it's a torn ACL 😫 Will have to have an operation to graft in a new ACL.

That last bit is key, he is tireless and still has legs late in the game, one of the best engines I've seen on a player, perhaps because he has no fat on him at all. Now that the rest of the team also press Almiron's individual pressing is much more effective. Gordon doesn't press as much or as effectively as Almiron which is why I think Eddie will stick with Miggy until Gordon improves in that aspect. It will be the same for Barnes also who is not noted for his pressing or defensive ability. Both will already know how key that aspect is and we've seen them try to execute the press when they have played (even in Barnes brief cameo he was pressing with Gordon and forced a turnover).

He had some game where he was truly world class. The 3-3 game against Man City comes to mind, but there were others too where he terrorised defenders.