Pin-seeker
Well-known member
Good to see Grealish back playing,he could be massive for you this season.
SteveW86
Head Pro
Indeed, very happy with the start. Hopefully we can avoid a run where we don’t add to the points total and always have 3 teams below us
Huge
.I think it will help on a number of levels. His actual play, ability to hold the ball, make key passes. He draws in opposition players, leaving space for others. I also think he will raise the levels of those around him. They see what he does, the quality, and want to replicate it in their performances. It could be a Trippier to Newcastle one for us, although obviously he is only on loan.
Early days but great so far. It's nice to have hope for a change
Red devil
Well-known member
Word is Hojlund bags a loan move to Napoli until the end of the season
4LEX
Well-known member
I saw the goal on instagram and thought the same thing that we really are relying on individual moments of magic rather than any form of chance creation.
We were lucky against Bolton we managed to play about 8mins of actual football and stole ima point with a worldy. Just annoying I’ve not got to a game yet so far all our home fixtures have coincided with me being on weekend cover at work
But what I have seen and what I’m hearing about the style of play and from Hunt himself, I’m far from convinced he’s taking us anywhere than mid table mediocre if he gets lucky. Just not sure who is out there that could do a job for us!
I like Hunt for what he's given the club as a player and then academy coach. He did a good job last season but his negative tactics cost us the play offs if I'm honest. Our xG for and against were pretty poor and we were out performing due to individual brilliance. We've lost a few of those players but we've got a much better all round squad now. I just don't think he's good enough tactically to build a team from them. We look very good when we play it on the ground quick, yet we've spent the majority of games this season whacking it long to a striker who can't win a head or hold a ball up!
We've got so much ability in the squad for this level we have to finish at least Top 3 IMO. We're already a way off the automatics and September is tricky with trips to Barnsley and Stockport.
The flip side is we've had over 10 new players in so there's going to be a bedding in period, but it's been a hard watch and we're actually looking worse with each game.
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Lucifer MorningStar
Well-known member
Don’t get me wrong I’m incredibly happy for what he’s done over the years but like you’ve pointed out tactically I’ve seen nothing from him as manager to warrant him trying to build this team. Everything I’ve see this season has been hit and hope something sticks up top without the proper target man to do it or individual brilliance.
Even with a better squad that’s only going to last so long. Hopefully it can be fixed and we start to build but I am worried on what I’ve seen so far. Plus it’s not looking likely I’ll be making a home game until October due to work and then a holiday! So I can’t even go and see it live to comment more accurately with my own eyes.
Even then after October I will be away until around March so I’m missing a huge chunk of games this year
nickjdavis
Head Pro
Well...that's the end of the abortive start for Newcastles PL campaign this season.
Two lacklustre away draws sandwiching the blood and thunder of the Liverpool match really showcased the damage caused by the Isak issue, though I'm not sure what Howe was trying to do today with his formation and player selections...still we got away with it, though sides with sharper firepower than Leeds may well have punished us. If anything can be learned (if it wasnt known already) it is that Osula may have a lot of pace but his tactical and positional awareness is a long way off where it needs to be.
Now we just need to get the transfer window done and dusted - sorting out the Isak issue once and forever, bringing in another striker if he does go, and hopefully, bringing in a defensive midfielder to cover Tonali - and then hope we get through the international break without any injuries (not sure which muppet ever thought it was a good idea to schedule an international break just as players were beginning to warm to the rigours of a new season) before kicking off the season proper in a couple of weeks time.
Home to Wolves is our first fixture back after the break, so probably another 0-0 to lull Barcelona into a false sense of security in the first CL game shortly thereafter....at least the Wolves game is a traditional Saturday 3pm kickoff.
Two lacklustre away draws sandwiching the blood and thunder of the Liverpool match really showcased the damage caused by the Isak issue, though I'm not sure what Howe was trying to do today with his formation and player selections...still we got away with it, though sides with sharper firepower than Leeds may well have punished us. If anything can be learned (if it wasnt known already) it is that Osula may have a lot of pace but his tactical and positional awareness is a long way off where it needs to be.
Now we just need to get the transfer window done and dusted - sorting out the Isak issue once and forever, bringing in another striker if he does go, and hopefully, bringing in a defensive midfielder to cover Tonali - and then hope we get through the international break without any injuries (not sure which muppet ever thought it was a good idea to schedule an international break just as players were beginning to warm to the rigours of a new season) before kicking off the season proper in a couple of weeks time.
Home to Wolves is our first fixture back after the break, so probably another 0-0 to lull Barcelona into a false sense of security in the first CL game shortly thereafter....at least the Wolves game is a traditional Saturday 3pm kickoff.
Skytot
Well-known member
Always had a spot for Sunderland. You brought thousands to the last game of the season at Maine Road . We had a good drink and chat in the pubs in Rusholme . We did relegate you but no hint of trouble .Also one of my first memories of cup finals was Sunderland beating Leeds . Hope you stay up !
I saw it’s a loan with an option to buy which becomes an obligation if Napoli qualify for the 2026/27 Champions League, with a fee in the region of £38m.
I hope he’s a roaring success. There is definitely a player in there, whatever the detractors say.
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
Slime
Tour Winner
I was on a Spanish golf trip in May this year and had the pleasure of meeting and chatting to Micky Horswill who played for Sunderland in that game.
As a result of that he was bought by Man City and spent the next two years living with George Best!
Pin-seeker
Well-known member
Bet hes got some stories
4LEX
Well-known member
That's about his level, 8-12 goals in a poor Italian League.
Napoli are a shoe in for the CL so it's a decent deal considering what a horrific signing it was.
Pin-seeker
Well-known member
Absolutely crazy that UTD paid so much for him.
He scored 9 goals in 32 for Atalanta.
I honestly don’t get it
4LEX
Well-known member
Absolutely crazy that UTD paid so much for him.
He scored 9 goals in 32 for Atalanta.
I honestly don’t get it
You can see why someone would take a chance on him in the sense he's tall, powerful and fairly quick. But with that track record and lack of experience, it was way over the odds fee wise.
He's clearly a decent player but just miles off being Man Utd quality. He never seemed able to control the ball, create space and get shots off. He needed the ball put on a plate for him. To get a years wages off the books and get nearly £40m is a good deal.
nickjdavis
Head Pro
You can never tell. The season before he joined Newcastle, Isak bagged 10 in 41 in all comps for Real Sociadad.Absolutely crazy that UTD paid so much for him.
He scored 9 goals in 32 for Atalanta.
I honestly don’t get it
Pin-seeker
Well-known member
Suppose that’s just the norm now.
£60m gets you a player with potential.
A couple of good seasons under their belt & it’s £100m.
Games gone mental.
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
Feel sorry for hoijulnd. Bonkers transfer fee and playing up front, on his own for a bat *** crazy team. Better off out of there and start again.
nickjdavis
Head Pro
I think such players with potential should be careful as to which path they choose....do they choose a club with a rich history, global reach, a six figure weekly paypacket....or do they perhaps look at the coach and choose to play for someone who might be able to help them develop as a player? I wonder at what point a player thinks that he is close to being the finished article and should be joining the former? Obviously having agents whispering in your ear telling you that you are brilliant (because you are going to make them a lot of money when you move) doesnt help one little bit.
Though I guess, there will always be players happy to pick up the big wages and see their career development stall.
Red devil
Well-known member
I'm off to watch Napoli play Como at the Maradona in November hopefully he'll be playing. Be interesting to see how he gets on.
