OTF

Should make a return around Easter. I doubt they would be pleased with top 4, they genuinely look consistently very good this season. Last season they should have been top four but were picked off by Howe's plucky upstarts, so if they only finished fourth it wouldn't feel like progression. I expect Man City will gradually pull them in and overtake them but they'll be OK with a title fight that ends in second.

His composure when he did that was next level and I believe that's because he did it in the moment instinctively. His instinctive brain is better than most players when they have time.

It's a mouth watering prospect. For once it feels like if a player doesn't develop here it will be entirely down to the player. He'll always play his cards close to his chest so it's difficult to get a read on him but I have full faith in Howe to make the right decision about our players.

I think Howe will want to keep him. Financially it will cost less to keep him than to sign a player of similar talent. Plus we're likely to have a fair few additional games on our calendar next season so will need a deeper squad.

This is it, as much as there's a small level of frustration from wondering what peak Maxi could do in our team, him not being able to start or get decent minutes is testament to how well the existing players continue to do. The positive is probably that Howe will learn a lot about him through how he tries to win his way back into the team and that will likely dictate what his future looks like here. It's similar to Matt Targett.

The Almiron goal was so good in every way from the moment we took possession until the perfect finish into the inside side netting. I could watch it all day.

Good point, in the past you'd expect Leicester to not feel like they were out of it against us at their home even at 0-3 down. Whereas here we gave them not a sniff and they could build not even a skerrick of hope as a result. Not spectucularly entertaining but spectacularly clinical.

+21 goal difference 😍

Now hearing Michael Owen talk positively about Newcastle, the sycophantic weasel.

Clean sheet flogging away at Leicester. This is our new reality and I'm fucking loving it.

Fantastic memory to recall that

We've even dusted off Matt Ritchie ☺️

Never forget.

Max and the Murph here we go

😁

Botman continuing his fine vein of looking like possibly almost scoring some time soonish maybe.

Hope the focus is now on keeping a clean sheet - not through sitting back and defending but through continuing to play just as we have been, dictating the pace, pressing hard and high and attacking at every opportunity.

Agree, but he's been mostly consistent and a shit ton better than the last time he reffed us.

Started full of "festive optimism" only to be dealt "a harsh dose of Geordie realism". Quality commentary.

Jarred letting a lot of contact go, not sure how I feel about it yet.

Wood has to put that on target at least.

Not sure how we don't get a free kick there.

Tielemans upset that we've not been linked with him enough.