Re: Matchday thread - Toon v Toffees
Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2026 4:45 pm
WTF
Newcastle United Fans' Forum & Fansite
https://mail.toonforum.co.uk/
We will. Because this is what we do. Lose at home to Everton and win on aggregate against Barcelona.
^^^^Agree with this ^^^^^Chappy wrote: Sat Feb 28, 2026 5:15 pm Not good enough and there are no excuses for losing that. Having a result like that every once in a while is to be expected, that's football, but that's three 3-2 defeats at home now due to lapses in concentration. Today was worse than the Brentford game... seriously - how do you equalise and concede a minute later twice in one game? Wtf are they playing at?
I'm done with Pope, he can get to **** in the summer - drops so many clangers and can't use his feet at all, I'm surprised he can walk tbh.
Said it a few times but we have serious work to do on the recruitment front come summer. We've a fair bit of deadwood to shift (Willock, Murphy, Krafth etc) and we need replacements and depth in a lot of areas, and we need to be bringing quality if we want to compete.
We're not making consistent progress... it's one step forward two back.
We had Talksport on for the drive home where a Burnley fan said that Dubravka is far better than Trafford for them. Shows how good our window went when we got rid of one and failed to sign the other...Slim999 wrote: Sat Feb 28, 2026 6:17 pm I've been saying for a while though ( all season) that Pope isnt PL standard. The fact that Eddie bought Pope ( and binned Dubrzvka ) knowing how poor he was with his feet .... tells me that Eddie is a terrible judge of keepers
I slightly disagree with this, although not with your overall point. We obviously need to upgrade on Pope, the club have even identified this and have made attempts. Or at least appear to be looking at a successor anyway. The reason I disagree is because I think he is PL level, just not the level we want to be. He was good when we first signed him, and he made some impressive early appearances. I think with many other players, we've outgrown him quickly, and he was never going to improve anyway. Solid signing at 10m, but time to get someone better in. Obviously we tried for Marmadashvilli before he wanted some Merseyside splinters, and Trafford turned us down to go back home. Hopefully we identify a more suitable long term choice. It's not Ramsdale.Slim999 wrote: Sat Feb 28, 2026 6:17 pm Didn't watch the match as Im abroad with little access.
I've been saying for a while though ( all season) that Pope isnt PL standard. The fact that Eddie bought Pope ( and binned Dubrzvka ) knowing how poor he was with his feet .... tells me that Eddie is a terrible judge of keepers
Pope is a good shot stopper - big guy so good at corners - but ( and it's a massive but ) .. hes like a nervous puppy with the ball at his feet
Seriously?.... Is that the same dubs who's conceded 56 goals so far this season, more than any other keeper?Colly wrote: Sat Feb 28, 2026 6:43 pmWe had Talksport on for the drive home where a Burnley fan said that Dubravka is far better than Trafford for them.Slim999 wrote: Sat Feb 28, 2026 6:17 pm I've been saying for a while though ( all season) that Pope isnt PL standard. The fact that Eddie bought Pope ( and binned Dubrzvka ) knowing how poor he was with his feet .... tells me that Eddie is a terrible judge of keepers
Exactly. Dubravka was not the answer. That's why we got someone slightly better in Pope.FOGGONTHETYNE wrote: Sat Feb 28, 2026 7:39 pmSeriously?.... Is that the same dubs who's conceded 56 goals so far this season, more than any other keeper?Colly wrote: Sat Feb 28, 2026 6:43 pm
We had Talksport on for the drive home where a Burnley fan said that Dubravka is far better than Trafford for them.![]()
The guy that scored a well taken volley today? I don't think so. Willock, Pope, Kraft, Burn (demoted to squad player), Osula and give Trippier a 1 year extension as a part time coach / squad player all deserve to all leave before him. Murphs is a good pro who may lack quality at times but still deserves to be in the squad, him, Big Joe, Hall and Tonali was the only ones really trying to make things happen in the second half.Chappy wrote: Sat Feb 28, 2026 5:15 pm Not good enough and there are no excuses for losing that. Having a result like that every once in a while is to be expected, that's football, but that's three 3-2 defeats at home now due to lapses in concentration. Today was worse than the Brentford game... seriously - how do you equalise and concede a minute later twice in one game? Wtf are they playing at?
I'm done with Pope, he can get to **** in the summer - drops so many clangers and can't use his feet at all, I'm surprised he can walk tbh.
Said it a few times but we have serious work to do on the recruitment front come summer. We've a fair bit of deadwood to shift (Willock, Murphy, Krafth etc) and we need replacements and depth in a lot of areas, and we need to be bringing quality if we want to compete.
We're not making consistent progress... it's one step forward two back.
I mean that's generous - it was deflected in. He's definitely going downhill and doesn't look the player he's been for us the previous few seasons, he's not offered much this season. I don't think Osula offers anything either and if there's still interest for him I'd happily cash in on him too.Sanchino wrote: Sat Feb 28, 2026 8:40 pmThe guy that scored a well taken volley today? I don't think so. Willock, Pope, Kraft, Burn (demoted to squad player), Osula and give Trippier a 1 year extension as a part time coach / squad player all deserve to all leave before him. Murphs is a good pro who may lack quality at times but still deserves to be in the squad, him, Big Joe, Hall and Tonali was the only ones really trying to make things happen in the second half.Chappy wrote: Sat Feb 28, 2026 5:15 pm Not good enough and there are no excuses for losing that. Having a result like that every once in a while is to be expected, that's football, but that's three 3-2 defeats at home now due to lapses in concentration. Today was worse than the Brentford game... seriously - how do you equalise and concede a minute later twice in one game? Wtf are they playing at?
I'm done with Pope, he can get to **** in the summer - drops so many clangers and can't use his feet at all, I'm surprised he can walk tbh.
Said it a few times but we have serious work to do on the recruitment front come summer. We've a fair bit of deadwood to shift (Willock, Murphy, Krafth etc) and we need replacements and depth in a lot of areas, and we need to be bringing quality if we want to compete.
We're not making consistent progress... it's one step forward two back.
Very disappointing today. Devastating result. Performance was a shambles in the first half but improved in the second but too many individual defensive lapses have cost us. The players have as much blame as Howe who sets up the team and tactics. Today both were at fault the players for too many individual mistakes and lapses of concentration. Howe for setting up the team the wrong way (said this numerous times a continuous issue which may end him getting sacked if it persists). He played a no.9 (what he was originally bought in as not a no.10) in the no.10/no 8 position, a box-to-box midfielder in Big as a left winger when you have Barnes who can play there more effectively on the bench? Playing a natural winger as a no.9? Playing the same predictable 433 (as usual) instead of trying something different maybe a 352/343 or a 422 or a 4222?
Lots of questions and not enough conclusive answers right now. Wasting 150m on Wissa, Wolfie and Elanga is looking like very, very poor business now. None of them have really upgraded the team to the next level and that's on the recruitment team last summer weather it was his nephew or him making the decisions then that needs sorted out as we need more quality now than just quantity. Big, big summer ahead.
Crunch time for Mr.Howe this season. It will make or break him I feel. Potentially we could be in dreamland if we somehow beat Barca and City things will be very rosy again but if we get knocked out of both competitions and don't pick up results in the Prem it could get dark and very dark fast. Big derby game too.. lose that and I feel it may be curtains for him.![]()