English Premier League 🦁

[Benjamin]

Surely a change of management at Newcastle is now on the cards?

I think whilst he's a decent manager Eddie Howe has probably taken them as far as he can. The next step has to be a bona fide top European coach.

He's got a horribly unbalanced squad, mainly because the club was caught short by the PL changing the financing rules. The Saudi's were ready to sponsor the club Man City style, creating huge cashflow and allowing them to go crazy during the next transfer window, instead they suddenly had to cash in on young players they had been developing, and reducing how much they could spend to go to the next level... Then they completely mishendled the Isak situation - they knew he wanted away, they failed to replace him, leading to massive instability.

 

[Football us life]

He's got a horribly unbalanced squad, mainly because the club was caught short by the PL changing the financing rules. The Saudi's were ready to sponsor the club Man City style, creating huge cashflow and allowing them to go crazy during the next transfer window, instead they suddenly had to cash in on young players they had been developing, and reducing how much they could spend to go to the next level... Then they completely mishendled the Isak situation - they knew he wanted away, they failed to replace him, leading to massive instability.

Finding a way to close games against the top teams will be crucial if Newcastle are to challenge for Europe again this season....

In the game against Arsenal the decision from Howe to go defensive and switch to a back five with less than half an hour to go only invited more Arsenal pressure, encouraging their late fight-back.

Plus there are some decent players in this Newcastle team who aren't quite in sync with their team mates so I think a more technically competent coach who can fine tune these little indiscretions is now required.

 

[LFC]

Finding a way to close games against the top teams will be crucial if Newcastle are to challenge for Europe again this season....

In the game against Arsenal the decision from Howe to go defensive and switch to a back five with less than half an hour to go only invited more Arsenal pressure, encouraging their late fight-back.

Plus there are some decent players in this Newcastle team who aren't quite in sync with their team mates so I think a more technically competent coach who can fine tune these little indiscretions is now required.

In fairness and comparison to fellow mid table Clubs Howe hasn't done that bad.
Came in 21/22 - 11th.
22/23 - 4th
23/24 - 7th - FACup QF.
24/25 - 5th - FACup Won.

LFC game @ Anfield weeks back against Arse even we held back through the 2nd half for they are good with the ball possession even though that was nearly 50/50 but they had 8 corners to our 3.
IF it wasn't for that 83rd min wonder free taken by Szobo it would have been a draw most likely.

Arse just outplayed them all over the park like Toon did to us weeks back.

 

[Football us life]

In fairness and comparison to fellow mid table Clubs Howe hasn't done that bad.
Came in 21/22 - 11th.
22/23 - 4th
23/24 - 7th - FACup QF.
24/25 - 5th - FACup Won.

LFC game @ Anfield weeks back against Arse even we held back through the 2nd half for they are good with the ball possession even though that was nearly 50/50 but they had 8 corners to our 3.
IF it wasn't for that 83rd min wonder free taken by Szobo it would have been a draw most likely.

Arse just outplayed them all over the park like Toon did to us weeks back.

He's done absolutely brilliantly considering where they were when he took over. He's a very good manager....

But if they really want to get to that next level and seriously compete with the likes of Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal for the title then I think that they need something else.

It's a big jump from competing for the European Champions League places to competing for the actual title. You should have a good insight into that being a fan of Liverpool.

Newcastle are pretty much where you were pre Klopp.

 

[LFC]

Yes granted though I think we did have reasonable gaffas pre Klopp it was the lack of depth and more quality on the park.
I hear you re Toon moving forward though - a experienced gaffa with CL and more Europe completion experience would improve the approach - still need more players near on start up players on the bench.

 

[JS96]

Knew I should've gone big on Sunderland defenders in fantasy.

Still got to discard Wan Bissaka and I think Wirtz has to go. I've accumulated 4 free transfers now. Bowen has been handy.

 

[LFC]

Bissaka is useless
Wirtz needs time to settle can’t find his groove yet but time will tell.
Bowen always been grafter never stops or gives up handy alright

 

[Benjamin]

Finding a way to close games against the top teams will be crucial if Newcastle are to challenge for Europe again this season....

In the game against Arsenal the decision from Howe to go defensive and switch to a back five with less than half an hour to go only invited more Arsenal pressure, encouraging their late fight-back.

Plus there are some decent players in this Newcastle team who aren't quite in sync with their team mates so I think a more technically competent coach who can fine tune these little indiscretions is now required.

Defending deeper against a side who's speciality is scoring from close-range headers, is inviting disaster. Arsenal would have been licking their lips as Newcastle surrendered territory and allowed the game to move 10-20 meters closer to their goal. Bing-bang, no shock that it was two close-range headers that turned the game around. Totally predictable.

 

[Football us life]

Defending deeper against a side who's speciality is scoring from close-range headers, is inviting disaster. Arsenal would have been licking their lips as Newcastle surrendered territory and allowed the game to move 10-20 meters closer to their goal. Bing-bang, no shock that it was two close-range headers that turned the game around. Totally predictable.

I think Eddie Howe is in that group of top level British manager's that are good team builders, good at improving players, good team environment creators and good at enticing the fanbase.

Think Keegan, Redknapp, Moyes and even Big Sam and Gareth Southgate...

But when it comes to the tactical fine tuning of a team then they lack that extra bit of technical expertise.

It's probably a cultural thing.

 

[LFC]

Spurs looking better this game.

 

[JS96]

Bissaka is useless
Wirtz needs time to settle can’t find his groove yet but time will tell.
Bowen always been grafter never stops or gives up handy alright

I'd hoped for Bissaka to get a lot of defensive contribution points, something new in EP fantasy. Defenders are finally being rewarded for all the blocks.

 

[Pasquali]

 

[Benjamin]

I think Eddie Howe is in that group of top level British manager's that are good team builders, good at improving players, good team environment creators and good at enticing the fanbase.

Think Keegan, Redknapp, Moyes and even Big Sam and Gareth Southgate...

But when it comes to the tactical fine tuning of a team then they lack that extra bit of technical expertise.

It's probably a cultural thing.

I think Big Sam is a massively underestimated coach. He's never been given the funds to take a club to the next level. Did amazing things at Bolton until they reached their financial limit (which wasn't much), at Newcastle he was chased out because they didn't like the way he played football rather than the results he was getting (results were rough, but it was a style issue that turned the supporters); Blackburn's downfall began when the Venky's got rid of him (in mid-table) and put his assistant in charge; at West Ham, again, he was chased out because the fans didn't like the style, not the results. One of the big tragedies of my football supporting life was him getting the England job just as he seemed to be turning Sunderland around - we'd survived, against the odds (again), and he was ready to build again. It's great being back in the Prem after 8 years away, but I strongly believe we wouldn't have gone through this last 8 years if Sam had stayed for another year or two. Again at Everton, it was his style rather than his results that got him the sack.

Over in Europe, if a coach had his record for defending, and his attitude to sports science, he'd be heralded at a great one - in England, he's just Big Sam, Football Dinosaur.

 

[Football us life]

I think Big Sam is a massively underestimated coach. He's never been given the funds to take a club to the next level. Did amazing things at Bolton until they reached their financial limit (which wasn't much), at Newcastle he was chased out because they didn't like the way he played football rather than the results he was getting (results were rough, but it was a style issue that turned the supporters); Blackburn's downfall began when the Venky's got rid of him (in mid-table) and put his assistant in charge; at West Ham, again, he was chased out because the fans didn't like the style, not the results. One of the big tragedies of my football supporting life was him getting the England job just as he seemed to be turning Sunderland around - we'd survived, against the odds (again), and he was ready to build again. It's great being back in the Prem after 8 years away, but I strongly believe we wouldn't have gone through this last 8 years if Sam had stayed for another year or two. Again at Everton, it was his style rather than his results that got him the sack.

Over in Europe, if a coach had his record for defending, and his attitude to sports science, he'd be heralded at a great one - in England, he's just Big Sam, Football Dinosaur.

Yep. Perception has always been his opponent. “Big Sam” became shorthand for direct football, survival jobs, and the kind of tactical discipline that doesn’t make highlight reels....

To some, he’s the caricature of the old-school English gaffer, with his big overcoat, big personality, and a long-ball game plan. To others, he’s a pioneer who saw football’s data and sports science based future before the Premier League truly embraced it.

I think he might have done okay with England. It wouldn't have been pretty but he might have got the best out of the fairly good squads of players that were emerging around the time of his appointment. But of course we'll never know....

The optics of that Daily Telegraph 'sting' were terrible, advising someone on how to circumnavigate FA rules?? And not to mention him ordering a pint of white wine in the pub...

 

[LFC]

there's something something about International breaks - can't wait for league football back.
Well we got Ange leading the round first up hosting Chelsea ! 10.30pm koff good time.
Man he's gonna need a huge effort here by his troops.
Going to be hard viewing I feel.
My tips for the remainder
Black Kats
Leeds
Eagles
Seagulls
City
Arse
Spurs
LFC !
Brentford

 

[Football us life]

Yesterday the i newspaper reported that Manchester United were seriously looking at Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace and I reckon that would take at least a bid of around £80m+ and the Daily Mirror have Manchester United ready to pay Antoine Sememyo's £75m release clause from Bournemouth....

 

[Benjamin]

Big round today. Forest losing, Leeds at Burnley, Sunderland hosting Wolves, West Ham vs Brentford tomorrow. Lots of pressure on Burnley, Wolves and West Ham to not get cut loose this early in the season.

 

[JS96]

Ah nice to see Liverpool getting pegged back. Manchester United dug deep. Quite the spread of results so even a few mid table teams are nudging towards the top.

 

[Robbos]

Always nice to see Liverpool lose.

 

[zimbos05]

Well, that was definitely not expected.