No, NUFC were NOT unlucky!

[@Mr.Newcastle]

we finished 7th last season and failed to invest in the summer. the obvious weaknesses in the squad were once again ignored. the teams around us all invested and improved. this is the result. you cannot expect to improve into the top 6 after 2 windows of no investment. we have looked exactly what we are, an average mid table team.

[@miguelLDiablo]

@Mr.Newcastle agreed. Still starting and playing mediocre players (like Murphy) . We can't evolve or progress with Ashley era players no matter how improved Howe has made them.

[@SlothyVlogs]

@@Mr.Newcastle Agree 100%

[@tomruddell-h7t]

But but Europe and injuries

[@craighope_dailymail]

For me, it’s two windows with no investment and three without first XI being improved. And all of this on the back of CL qualification.

[@jayarnottcoaching]

@@craighope_dailymail , yes it’s a complete stinker. Don’t know how you could get that bad tbh and not spot the huge elephant(s) in the room.

[@SL-og8he]

Craig you have a real bee in your bonnet about Tonali and it needs to stop. There were boos when Howe subbed him off because people like what they see from him - a midfielder who actually gets the ball moving and connects with those around him. Also 6:45 ‘Bruno was very good today’. What game were you watching? Bruno was awful bar that pass to Isak, tried to do too much and got overcrowded by Brighton’s midfield. He should have been the one to come off, not Tonali, who incidentally only made his 12th start for the club today. Cut Sandro some slack, he’s only now getting a run in the team and many of us like what we see even if you don’t.

[@F80.M3]

Bruno is shocking. Underhits every pass and ball hogs slows down our play and can’t run

[@RichardOliver-s7d]

Completely agree!!

[@AnthonyClarkLark]

agree on Tonali, he was my MOTM, moves so much around the pitch and drives us - but too many arent on his level to match what he's trying to do, because he's doing it for Italy. Bruno played well, made some good interceptions imo. Joelinton is the issue in midfield for me

[@neilglover6980]

Howe out!

[@Stretcharmstrong_]

Comment of the day.

[@Cory-lh3yp]

Craig I agree with 95% of what you say over the years but disagree on Tonali. I feel like you played your hand on him after the Brighton game last season and are just sticking to it now and you’re prepared to die on that hill. Tonali is our best player, his first time passes into dangerous areas and his movement off the ball is something nobody else in our team offers. It was a mistake bringing him off and bringing the likes of Almiron and Longstaff on. Tonali on another planet.

[@TheRealCurtisWright]

100% mate. A lot of our players aren’t even on the same wavelength as Tonali half the time. When they are, we break through the midfield and defence like butter as we saw with Isaks early chance. Plus he adds a bunch of pace to the midfield that we are severely lacking.

[@TheCeodoc]

Nice to read this, I have for a long time thought he is better than Bruno, it is clear his vision and fast mind require better players around him, when that happens he is going to be stellar for us.

[@Cory-lh3yp]

@@TheCeodoc 100% agree mate, his performances at Milan and for Italy prove that when he’s playing with better players. Unfortunately for us right now he often has Murphy or Almiron to his right and Longstaff to his left and he’s 5 seconds ahead of all of them

[@TheCeodoc]

@@Cory-lh3yp 5 secs ahead, I couldn't have summarised him better. I'm in for the long haul, our owners do not fail, look at the way the PGA eventually took the knee, and it is players like Sandro our team should be built around, I'd even go as far to say, Isak will fingers crossed become number 2 No.9 one day......exciting!

[@craighope_dailymail]

On Tonali, I would certainly keep him in the team. I just want to see him show those moments over a longer period in games. Like he did on debut and comeback v Forest. Has he hit those levels since? I don’t think so.

[@sebastianhaywood-ward735]

Eddie Howe's substitutions caused the game to fizzle out for us. Sorry, I don't agree it was correct to substitute either Tonali or Bruno. We lost our 2 sources of creativity.

[@gazzag72]

Has anyone else noticed for the past year or so we can not score from crosses or corners ! It’s driving me mad when we have such height in the team with BDB and schar ! We insist on passing it wide and crossing to no effect ! Noticed in todays game we started pulling it back more in the first 30 mins which looked like it was going to pay dividends but then reverted to punting it in after that and not even beating the first man on crosses and corners ! Very very frustrating

[@taylor-mb6eg]

Lets be honest brighton had mitoma on the bench, mintah, estupienan and joao pedro missing and still beat us. So toothless

[@silvafox7719]

Even worse when you consider Minteh was our player, and Joao Pedro was linked heavily with us. We need to buy some of these 'cheaper' players and improve them. Bournemouth are also looking impressive this season, they play a high pressing system, and have some great attacking talent in Kluivert, Evanilson, Unal, Semenyo and Tavernier. No world beaters, but a good selection of players that contribute to the team. The absence of Wilson is massive for us. Isak needs competition, and minutes to rest up. A solo striker can't play every minute, when they do they pick up injuries or become fatigued. (I wonder if that will afffect Man City this season too)

[@jasonpettitt7322]

My views from the Gallgate and for me Tonali was excellent. In fact, all 3 in midfield were outstanding. I think we had enough chances to win the game twice over. We failed because we have youth and inexperience welded to an attack that only has options at LW due to (like you say) poor recruitment. Murphy just sticks out like a sore thumb and Almiron is just seeing out his final days as a newcastle player. What i would say is, i fear for Howe a bit right now. Stubborn to the point of self sabotage. And blinded by loyalty. I love him, but hes managing a club owned by people who i believe will expect result's. If were still this mediocre by Christmas it could be all she wrote.

[@davidbartell4460]

Keegan when manager was always about strengthening the 11 on the pitch. In last 2 years that’s not happened. We are paying for that now!

[@MichaelHeslam-z2z]

Totally agree. The Burns, Longstaffs, Murphy's and others would have been moved on by Keegan he had no sentiment in first stint to improve team, ie David Kelly, Andy Cole

[@clstravel]

Totally agree... Can Howe take us forward? He is responsible for not buying a striker? Wilson is stealing a living... It seemed like 11 headless chickens on the pitch, running around being busy but no end product... Personally I think we need a proven manager........

[@UfukHaas9]

Howe should've been sacked after the AC Milan game

[@coltonconner782]

He should have been sacked after the finals that was the 1st red flag

[@SteviePeters-x3u]

He should have been sacked when we came 4th and replaced with a boring npc like tuchel

[@coltonconner782]

@@SteviePeters-x3u that’s what I’m saying . When a manager comes out and said” the team have over achieved and we shouldn’t even be there” . Your no manager

[@UfukHaas9]

@@SteviePeters-x3u Yep, definitely should've sacked him then. He wasted so much money on average British players

[@1574john]

I disagree about Tonali he is let down by poor play around him.

[@donmongoose]

Yup, I saw Tonali making plenty of quality cutting passes, but it's down to the receiver to do something with it.

[@kroeksanphee8020]

@@donmongooseใช่ แต่เอ็ดดี้ ฮาวเลือกที่จะเปลี่ยนเขาออก แต่แอนโทนี้ กอร์ดอน ซึ่งเขาวิ่งหน้าซีดถอดสี เหมือนหมดแรงอย่างมาก แต่ เอ็ดดี้ ฮาวไม่เปลี่ยนออก อิซัคเขาควรจะทำประตูได้อย่างน้อย1ประตู ถ้าเป็นแบบนี้ต่อไป เอ็ดดี้ ฮาว ควรออกไปซะ

[@ricardovosse3841]

Disagree about you disagreeing. Good players set the tone. He’s not suited to this system maybe even league. At no point since joining has he improved us. 9 points from 4 without him. 2 from 4 with him. Almost identical to last season.

[@donmongoose]

@@ricardovosse3841 Correlation is not causation. All the good stuff in the game happened on the right side, Liv, Tonali and to a much lesser extent Murphy for brief periods linked up well. The pass that Bruno made to Isak for our best chance, Bruno got the ball from Tonali. Tonali is a cut above in terms of progressive passes, his no touch passes aren't just flashy, they cut out the other teams setup. The problem this season is, we don't have an inform striker, simple as. Isaks not fully match fit and his confidence is shot and to some degree that applies to Gordon as well.

[@helrayzer]

I reckon, Tonali was bought to replace Bruno, he was never meant to be in the same team as Bruno, they are too much alike

[@Johno731]

I said someone like Carlton Morris who had 11 PL goals last season would add depth, Liam Dealp and Morgan Rodgers were also mentioned and needed, who decided Mark Guehi was number 1 priority? Brian Mbumo? Jonathan David? Even Ivan Toney would be smashing it out of the park for this team, buck stops with EH. Burn has been our best CB this season with a fit Botman who sits out? How can nufc blow the budget on a CB? When other areas of the team are so so poor.

[@TheRealCurtisWright]

Toney would never come back to Newcastle though.

[@RH2930]

You’ve had something against Tonali from day 1. It’s getting weird now.

[@grahamtowler1761]

A noticeable downward trajectory with our few previous windows not replacing the average players

[@toonarmy3870]

Too much sentimentality

[@grahamtowler1761]

@@toonarmy3870 yes and stuck with too much deadwood that are reaping results the wrong ones.

[@johnenglish929]

@@toonarmy3870Not enough investment! With a thin squad, Eddie hasn’t been able to off load people as we haven’t had replacements lined up.

[@UfukHaas9]

We need 16 new players and a new manager

[@stevedarragh]

@@UfukHaas9 Clown

[@earthlingcarl3179]

We ain't getting top 4 this season :(

[@SlothyVlogs]

Eddie hasn't been backed for three windows so can't really expect him to get much more out of a mostly average squad, Few star players who probably needed reinforcements to get a kick up the arse

[@craighope_dailymail]

That’s the point I make - it’s a failing of recruitment.

[@givenright]

If Howe says Guehi or nobody, that doesnt make him blameless does it?

[@SlothyVlogs]

@@craighope_dailymailAbsolutely! I think to spend 40 million on a back up left winger and leaving Miggy and Murphy for the right has really come back to haunt us too! I'm not sure who's to blame for the summer window but it's all clear to see... It was poor and it's clearly having an impact on our season.

[@DELUSIONALDANNYG2]

Howe is to blame, he wanted GUEHI or NOBODY!! Why isn’t anyone realising this? This is Howe who didn’t want to sign anyone that “wasn’t the right player” - get this manager GONE!!!!

[@UfukHaas9]

Has been backed you mean. The bloke was about to waste £70m on Marc Guehi and £30m on James Trafford. It's Howe's fault that we were stuffed with ffp as he's spent millions on average British players

[@SensibleMoniker]

Craig, as an Eddie zealot, any chance of being an oppostate? He's burnt out and his squad know it. We ended the game in a 2-4-4 panic and Brighton were the only team likely to score. Awful again, including Bruno.

[@JohnWilliamRobertson]

When are you going to admit that Gordon has not played well all season. Loose touches sloppy passes when not under pressure and very poor in front of goal. He seems to be beyond criticism to you while everyone else you have a pop at

[@luketaylor348]

Scared that he won't do another interview for him

[@agentancelotti2985]

Your going to upset everyone that has bought hair dye in Newcastle 😢😂 imagine paying an Everton substitute 150k a week 🤣

[@mikem9309]

it tells when he's one on one with the keeper and i dont expect him to score. i think he brings a lot to the intensity element but we absolutely cannot rely on him for goals. also Murphy i like him a lot but we desperately need a goal scoring winger. Mbeumo is a good call or someone top level from overseas Arsenal have saka, liverpool have salah Man city have a number of options, Chelsea have palmer, spurs have son.. if we want to play with the big 6 we need to have more more than one reliable source of goals. Defense is NOT our main priority

[@oldloafandyoung]

The sides around us improved in the summer window. Newcastle did not. In fact, we are weakened by selling Anderson. Yesterday's result was the evidence.

[@RichardOliver-s7d]

I genuinely don't know what game you are watching if you think Bruno was better than Tonali!!?? Bruno should have been taken off muvh earlier. Making him captain is a problem as he wouldn't make our first choice midfield.

[@markmcguinness953]

So Tonali is not at Newcastle levels? but he is a "driving force" for Italy. If the next two do not go favorably for Newcastle both of which are against Chelsea and then lose against Arsenal. So we could be out of the league Cup and mid-table. Then what?

[@jamesmilligan2797]

Every Italian fan laughs at Toon fans saying Tonali was a brilliant, marque signing. They know hes bang average

[@tomruddell-h7t]

The myths around Eddie are no longer holding up. He improves players ? Who ? Joelinton yes, maybe Gordon but no one else has improved. We're awful to watch, never look like scoring, obsessed with buying English players... And loves players who will sit in the bench happily

[@UfukHaas9]

Howe is prejudice. He went for all British players in the summer

[@mikem9309]

there are a number who have imporved sice he arrived, just not in the last year o so, murphy , burn, scar - all better than we had origially hoped but no better than last seaons or the one when we wenrt 4th

[@tomruddell-h7t]

@@mikem9309 I don't think they have improved really. 22/23 yes but the club was an incredible place to play. Now many have reverted back. So how is that improved by coaching. Eddie gets a lot of credit for the takeover bounce in my opinion

[@juliogeordio7358]

I get what you’re saying about tonali , but you can’t take him off and replace him with the likes of longstaff or Almiron and expect them to be game changers cos they are crap mate . If I was tonali , I’d be offended by that . His fitness isn’t a problem because he has played 90+ mins for Italy and looked fit as a butcher’s dog . Howe will be gone by Xmas at this rate

[@stevecrawford4817]

It was Willock that replaced Tonali today, but your right Willock has about the same quality as Longstaff or Almiron.

[@jamiefender6909]

Willock was dog shit when he came on

[@juliogeordio7358]

@@stevecrawford4817aye , just an example of the garbage we have still on our books mate

[@UfukHaas9]

Almiron is our best player ​@@stevecrawford4817

[@therealtaggart4021]

I decided to leave after the double substitution as IMO putting Almiron and Longstaff on was like waving a white flag of surrender.

[@JackBurton3963]

Pace and power merchants. Good teams are not overly concerned by this. They know our wingers are mid. They know by keeping Isak quiet they can have a good day.

[@SoulControlla99]

They didn't keep Isak quiet. Isak should have had two goals.

[@mikem9309]

@@SoulControlla99 yes our wingers may bring this or that to the game but we need goals from them. All the big teams have goals regularly from their wingers not just their strikers

[@anthonylefebour3088]

Brighton invested sensibly in the window

[@UfukHaas9]

Shouldn't have loaned out Buenenotte and Sarminiento though

[@UfukHaas9]

They sign quality players from abroad on the cheap, whereas Howe wants to spend £145m on James Trafford, Joe Gomez and Marc Guehi

[@F80.M3]

@@Cristobal_2012therefore Howe must be the problem

[@UfukHaas9]

@@Cristobal_2012 Dunk is shite. They're weak at centre back. They've got more creative players

[@zergnub7426]

@@UfukHaas9 He's a liability for us, that's for sure. Whenever he's in the box defending I get nervous he's gonna give away a pen.

[@chrisk3189]

We seem to have a massive issue with our big players not turning up and performing - Bruno, JoeLinton, Tonali, Gordon and Isak. All poor vast majority of season. We dominated the first 30, but if you dont take the chances you get punished. When chasing the game Miggy and Longstaff should never be subbed on. Again our lack of transfer activity in improving our starting XI last summer and this summer coming back to bite. We needed a RW, so buy Barnes. We needed a backup to Isak so buy Osula who clearly is not PL ready. We have Chelsea x2 , Liverpool Arsenal coming up, we will get stuffed if our players turn up and cant be arsed

[@toonarmy3870]

After renewing big contracts some hunger goes

[@phoenixrisin5848]

Do you think Tonali is 60 million times better than Longstaff ? Yet to see it personally...

[@chrisk3189]

​@@phoenixrisin5848 From his performances since he started he has not shown he is a 60m player, however Longstafc has also been crap.

[@UfukHaas9]

Almiron should have started.

[@UfukHaas9]

​@@phoenixrisin5848Tonali is no Moussa Sissoko

[@kahunapoker2266]

Have to disagree that the fullbacks weren't at it, those two along with Joelinton (who does misplace some passes but battles to win the ball back more than he loses it) were the best 3 players out there for me today. Tino getting no help from Murphy going forward

[@UfukHaas9]

Livramento is a Championship player. He's can't defend and isn't great on the ball. Waste of £40m

[@F80.M3]

@@UfukHaas9Same for Lewis Hall

[@UfukHaas9]

@@F80.M3 Defensively yes. We could've got Raphael Guerriero for free instead. This is mainly why I want a foreign manager appointed. Howe keeps targeting players from the domestic leagues

[@givemesomewine]

So Craig Hope doesn't rate Tonali and wants Longstaff in place...I would have booed..with the Tonali sub.

[@UfukHaas9]

He's no Moussa Sissoko. He's much faster and stronger than Longstaff though

[@UfukHaas9]

Longstaff is a cam, not a midfielder

[@F80.M3]

@@UfukHaas9prime Moussa Sissoko was the best counter attacking player in world football

[@ZombieG24]

@@UfukHaas9 Our attack breaks down everytime the ball goes to longstaff i want him nowhere near attacking midfield.

[@UfukHaas9]

@@ZombieG24 That's his best position though. He is a Championship player.

[@TomC95]

Can’t understand how as soon as Tino or Hall put in a poor performance they’re out the team instantly, Gordon has been awful all season and keeps his place. Barnes should be starting for me

[@jrws89]

Your absolutely spot on Craig. We stood still in the summer whilst others around us have improved.. what did we honestly expect? Hopefully Mitchell sorts this out and gets a real grip on Recruitment. Howe has done wonders since he has been here but he needs help with getting players in and I’m hoping Eddie and Mitchell can work together for the betterment of the club

[@davediamond491]

Thanks

[@craighope_dailymail]

Thanks Dave. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@davediamond491]

You're very welcome. The video was insightful, thanks again.

[@rory0949]

Over the season,Tonali will prove to be our best midfielder.He plays quick incisive passes,and has a change of pace,which our other midfielders don’t have.PSR has undoubtedly held us back,not the manager.

[@RENCHER]

No issue with the manager being criticised. But how long are we going to give big players a pass? Isak, Bruno, Gordon... they're supposed to win games by themselves. They don't nearly enough.

[@Chudders1982]

Definitely agree, the biggest problem has been recruitment. If there’s no better player there to challenge for a position then the team pretty much picks itself. If there’s no fear that your place is under threat then players won’t step up that extra 10%. Still early in the season to be getting worried but January will be HUGE and Eddie will know this

[@jonnyfungus]

💯

[@EverMoreNUFC]

Great video as always mate & always appreciate the honesty. I disagree with Tonali sub tho, for the reason that Willock & Sean currently both lack the quality to make an impact from the bench so by that note you're lowering the quality on the pitch by making that change. Strangely I'd have been happier if Miley had come on for him instead, at least the lad has a pass in him that could've unlocked Brightons defence. We can't call protection & immunity for Tonali when Sean 💯 has that in pockets of the fanbase just coz he's a local lad. This squad lacks strength in depth in key areas & that's a failing of the club.

[@rickgill6455]

This season feels already like it’s going to be one to be endured not enjoyed, press the fast forward button please

[@gazm4751]

Spot on , Brighton had a plan soaked up everything we had to offer. HOWE has to shoulder the blame for holding onto his pal WILSON and lack of tactics yesterday

[@SoulControlla99]

Tonali playing poorly is still better than Longstaff playing well.

[@jonnyfungus]

Longstaff playing premier league football he must feel like the luckiest man alive. The lad would struggle in the championship imo. I would love to see his game stats. He is literally invisible when on the pitch

[@kennyw218]

But then willock replaced tonali not longstaff

[@rosscumming13]

Whilst Howes dedication and belief in his 4-3-3 system is admirable, there are times when he needs to perhaps evolve and be a bit more fluid in his setup. Could he get more out of the players if he was to switch to a 4-2-3-1 ??? If things aren’t going right, he will swap players but generally sticks to the same system. Bournemouth as an example are a better watch than us with an average team. Would love for us to play with a bit more aggression

[@damienreilly4347]

I think if we are to keep Howe, then I think he needs much less power in terms of transfers. £15 million on Osulu and the reluctance to name an alternative to Guehi is not good enough. Personally, I think we need to replace him with a top manager.

[@givemesomewine]

So Eddie doesn't rate Tonali, replaces him with that bang average Willock....what an absolute farce.

[@UfukHaas9]

Tonali didn't do much today. Was invisible

[@andrewbell7994]

Watch game again half our attacks started from him winning the ball ​@@UfukHaas9

[@Unclebuzzcocksne]

@@UfukHaas9was our best player 😂

[@LiamK1998]

Regardless if Newcastle fans like it or not I can see this being Eddie Howe's last season even if we won today

[@craigsteyn6099]

He has been found out

[@LiamK1998]

@@craigsteyn6099 Eddie Howe gives me Pardew era vibes 1 European campaign and 1 or 2 mid table campaigns the only difference I feel is the ownership

[@JohnKobaRuddy]

Good. Even I sussed him out during his first match for us vs brentford. He has English managers syndrome. Pick youir favourites and do one tactic and formation which is usually 4-3-3 and run really fast. Tuchel will win something for england and eddie wouldnt and if his name was Eduardo Howez he would have been hounded out ages ago.

[@DELUSIONALDANNYG2]

Ruben Amorim managing sporting Lisbon this season so far, top of the league, scored 27, conceded 2. The fact we would rather have Howe because the fat mess Darren Eales is sat at home milking the club dry being paid a fortune to do sweet Fk all instead of making proper decisions. This manager NEEDS to leave. It’s no coincidence that Bournemouths signings have MASSIVELY improved since Howe left.

[@UfukHaas9]

​@@LiamK1998Pardew was a much better manager and wasn't prejudice

[@jazzyb1234]

I was sat in the leazes and everyone around me said the same we could’ve played til midnight and we still wouldn’t have scored. Blunt finishing

[@johnenglish929]

When you have uncertainty at the top of any organisation it filters all the way through. Having had a completely united club from boardroom to “terraces”, - and recruited players on that basis - we have lost Amanda. Eales has been far from sure footed and there is still no formal confirmation of the pecking order in terms of Eddie, Mitchell and, indeed, Bunce. This is clearly affecting on field performance.

[@johnenglish929]

@@onestopdocYou can date our downturn to the time of Eales’s statement that, effectively, everybody was for sale which was immediately interpreted as meaning that Bruno, Gordon and Isak would be off. The atmosphere at the club has never been the same since. It unsettled the players and undermined Eddie.

[@MrComicy]

LW Gordon, CF Isak and RW Osula should be playing up front next game. We need energy and something abit different. Osula’s pace is great. On another note we need a set piece coach.

[@alanthompson3780]

spot on graig ..it seems ...like some of the comments below we have not improved our squad ..I think most fans will have this sinking feeling ..about the season the next 4 fixture, s look frightening to look at !! so if we don't improve the season looks long and full of disappointment ?.. just to add all the teams we want to compete with all won coming from behind villa man utd spurs ..and to add arsenal getting beat and saliba getting sent off makes me feel worse because arsenal will not lose many games ..if there genuine title contender, s ?? great video + point,s

[@Mr.OakMountain]

What's happening in our final third? Isak missing huge chances and is a shaddow of himself from last season, Gordon still has his pace, but doesn't create anything dangerous. I've got a bad feeling about this...something isn't right within the groupe.

[@grahamsidney9214]

Isak will come good, but Gordon is massively overrated for a winger he hardly beats a man and he's bloody awful at finishing

[@Mr.OakMountain]

@@grahamsidney9214 Yeah, his finishes has been terrible to this point. Isak has only one goal, it's concerning looking back on how leathel he was last season. Can't shake the feeling that something is up, wether it's Howe or Mitchel, but the players don't show up.

[@phoenixrisin5848]

The irony of the situation is that had we signed the palace lad, Dan Burn wouldn't be playing and he's been our best player this season.

[@paolo7688]

If we'd signed Guehi Burn would be playing every week at LB - not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

[@phoenixrisin5848]

@@paolo7688 Could be right

[@rossmcfarlane1219]

This is Eddies last season.

[@UfukHaas9]

He's been sacked

[@jonny5alive7]

It was a very frustrating watch today, we seem to get to the edge of the box and then not know what to do. Sometimes you need some individual skill to unlock it and the likes of Isak arent doing it. If Isak and Gordon score their chances then we're looking at a 2-0 win, happily knowing it could have been 5-0.

[@NUFCOfficial]

My question is: Would Guehi have won us the game today? So why was that our main target in Summer? What is going on? I know stats isn't everything but last season Guehi was an average CB statistically and this season has been a disaster. Can we not bring in a Champions League or future Champions League level RW?

[@JackBurton3963]

Go watch Diomande comps and you will come to realise Guehi is a very good championship player

[@stevenwalton5445]

Your comments on the recruitment are spot on where crying out for a maverick or even a different formation to suit the players we do have but unlikely to happen 😳

[@alexbremner8361]

Don't or can't score then you won't win! We were awful up front, end of debate.

[@garrywalker9907]

I genuinely believe this highlights what Amanda Staveley actually used to do for us. She had an integral role in bringing in Botman, Bruno, Gordon, Isak etc

[@frankmelville7062]

As usua Craig I tend to agree with everything that you say but you never mention the lack of derenders making a tackle. I watch every game live from sunny Majorca and for some time now it has been apperent to me that each goal conceded ,certainly this season ,has come from not picking up your man or not making a tackle. I do not mean charhing in and giving away a foul ,I mean in the art of Batty or Butt and winning the ball. I wonder if the answer lies in the way they train as it used to be recognised that to be sucessfull you had to train the way you played.Keep up the good work,Craig.

[@craighope_dailymail]

Thanks Frank. I agree, they miss a ball winner - it used to be Joelinton but that has faded this season.

[@tonymc90]

Understand what you’re saying about Tonali, but I’d have hooked Joelinton. I’m on the side of we were unlucky, one those chances go in and Newcastle win. We don’t have enough guile against solid defending and the RHS doesn’t offer much.

[@robertjohnson9757]

Howe is a one trick pony, if plan A does not work, he has no plan B......time to go!

[@mikem9309]

ive been a staunch defender of Howe but im begining to wonder if fans like you are right. the lack of investment, as well as being embarrasing, is limiting his changes of sucess

[@DELUSIONALDANNYG2]

Howe is to blame, he wanted GUEHI or NOBODY!! Why isn’t anyone realising this? This is Howe who didn’t want to sign anyone that “wasn’t the right player” - get this manager GONE!!!!

[@JackBurton3963]

You’re a flip flop. I swear I saw you praising Howe big time on another channel in regard to England talk.

[@DELUSIONALDANNYG2]

@@JackBurton3963 I would never praise Howe I’ve wanted him gone for 12 month. I stated his accomplishments to rival fans who clearly don’t look at the bigger picture. He’s had some outstanding achievements but I don’t want him managing my club.

[@philldavison8607]

I agree Craig. Its the final third when we let ourselves down and this has been a theme all season. I'm sure they will be working on it at training. However, when Isakk is not firing on all cylinders there seems to be a dearth of consistently good finishers eleswhere.

[@DELUSIONALDANNYG2]

Ruben Amorim managing sporting Lisbon this season so far, top of the league, scored 27, conceded 2. The fact we would rather have Howe because the fat mess Darren Eales is sat at home milking the club dry being paid a fortune to do sweet Fk all instead of making proper decisions. This manager NEEDS to leave. It’s no coincidence that Bournemouths signings have MASSIVELY improved since Howe left.

[@riidge4177]

My feeling is the problems stems from Howes side this summer Paul Mitchell indirectly said the reasons we got no one was because of the Guehi situation due to howes desperation on the deal and I believe Mitchell. Another manager and we’d have got 2-3 smart signings in key areas for what Howe was willing to pay for guehi and it backfired massively when CP held firm to keeping Guehi.

[@DELUSIONALDANNYG2]

@@riidge4177 100% spot on. Howe had a tantrum to keep Callum Wilson instead of letting him go when West Ham made a cash offer which has meant we have been unable to field a fit striker and haven’t scored more than 8 goals this season. Also Howe’s love of over priced british and/or injury prone players is crippling us with PSR. He wanted Guehi or NOBODY. I can not wait until this dosser is out of our club. Unfortunately with someone as useless as Eales as CEO we have no chance of change.

[@sellingtowinselling3876]

I hear you,its shite

[@KG-bf9iz]

I’m bored a little bit to be honest. Same game from us every time. Very , very predictable and with championship level players in the 1st. team…how can that bear fruit. Is Eddie How a one-trick pony!?

[@ryand1168]

We've been poor from the start of the season aside from possibly the man city game. What's really worrying is it's not just 1 or 2 players that have dropped in form it seems all the players have gone backwards... From isak to Gordon , joelinton to Bruno. Tino tivramento looks half the player he was last season. I don't know if that comes down to confidence or coaching, but for everyone to be consistently poor for 8 games is stange.

[@ozzy6162]

I think the lack of investment in the squad over the past two transfer windows is why Isak is hesitant about signing a new contract. January's window has become very important. Why can our players & team play so well against the likes of Man City but not against the likes of Brighton etc? There seems to be a problem with the players' mentality.

[@craighope_dailymail]

I agree - the windows couldn’t have inspired confidence in top stars.

[@patrickhamilton9859]

Craig will Wilson be back for Chelsea on Sunday ?

[@craighope_dailymail]

That was the expectation when I wrote the story about him probably missing Brighton, yes. More news awaited.

[@clint3362]

imo players that were not good enough today were isak, murphy, gordon, and schar. tonali was brill today so hence the boos when took off. also hall tino and joelinton fantastic too, we dont really create many chances in every game this season hence th goal ratio,

[@beepmac275]

Ever since I was a kid I’ve had this thing where if they get beat I just switch off ! The pain is too much to bear…so I’m a little late watching your analysis…but your spot on !…I’m 65 now and honestly thought that I might get to see them win something ! But I’m getting a huge sense of deja vu …the optimism after the takeover has gone …have we been put back in our box by the corrupt premier league?…

[@Duffa13]

A very frustrating game, after 30 minutes Newcastle looked like they would never score. We really need a righr winger in January. Jacob murphy is a hard worker just like almiron but they are not good enough for where we want to be. I still dont understand why we bought barnes when he plays in the same position as gordon. We look like a joke offering stupid money for Ghuehi when he is worth about £40mil. We need to go back to counter attacking football as this just isn't working.

[@PaulFranks-cx3yd]

Good to see Craig back to his anti-Tonali best . For the Brighton goal, the ‘very good’, 3 star Bruno, apparently our ‘6’, was still on the half way line when Welbeck scored, having literally strolled back from the Brighton box. Tonali needs to be more central either as a 6, an 8 or a 10.

[@edwardlangston9655]

Things like this happen to every team if we had scored every body would be saying how well we played

[@zulu3621]

You seem to have a problem with Tonali you slagged him of the last match as well. He’s a world class player and he’s playing well so I don’t see you point of veiw

[@craighope_dailymail]

He’s playing OK. He’s better than OK. That’s my point.

[@phoenix-11-nufc]

Spot on Craig with everything you said and only omissions were poor refereeing and EH beginning to look bad ( and I hope I’m proved wrong on that)

[@paulcarruthers1314]

We haven’t got a good enough squad, look at the teams above us, our target at best to finish above Brighton

[@sp.8632]

The biggest priority for any team is to know they can score goals. Even if you're not playing well, if you have players who can crack goals in it turns bad results into good results (see Pardew's good season vs when they went stale). As soon as they lose confidence that they can score then teams can quickly implode and become despondent and not want to instinctively shoot or feed the striker. Always 1 more pass, or dawdle in possession ...until we lose the ball. Not only is our most skillful player (Isak) now wasted, starved of the ball isolated up front but it looks like there's no goals in our midfield. It hasn't looked like Bruno or Tonali are anywhere near getting goals I'd expect from their talents. I think we would have won that game in the past by moving Isak left forward (where he gets more ball time and can use his skills and beat men) with Wilson up front. I think Isak is actually our best left forward. Unfortunately, due to us ridiculously believing Wilson can fulfill a consistent striker role for us this season, that option of having 2 dangerous goalscorers on the pitch at the same time is not an option. I think number 1 priority must be a goalscorer to give us options and give the team confidence we can score.

[@ruffdiamondtv13]

Think you are being harsh on Tonali. He was the best of our midfield 3 in the first half. He is getting around the pitch so much better than his first 8 games last season and involved in the play a lot more. He’s quick thinking and almost created a couple clear cut chances if other players were more aware. He operates on the right side of the 3 and I can’t imagine how dangerous we’d be if we had a quality right winger… Anthony Gordon is literally our only threat! Defend him and we are toothless! I might be too optimistic here, but think if we can keep this team together, add a right winger and good striker competition, Botman back, Hall getting consistency, the midfield 3 showing signs. If we’re patient we might see similar to what’s happened with Arteta at Arsenal!

[@markstewart1986]

😮‍💨As with most things in life, it can be more than one thing. You can be both unlucky but also have areas where we need to be better.

[@stprm2013]

You are 100% correc, Craig. I was saying the same for last year! 4 bad transfer windows in a row! Can anyone also explain why Eddie wont hire set piece coach?

[@RichardOliver-s7d]

Just watched all the way through to the merit marks and Bruno got three! Craig, you are suffering from Brunophilia. Joelinton and Tonali were head and shoulders better than him today.

[@rem90mer]

Hello Craig. Just writing this 6 minutes in so apologies if you address this. I know you’re often understandably critical of Tonali. I thought he was OK today. A few good moments. However, are his performances limited by a right hand side (he’s the right sided 8) of Murphy/Almiron and Livramento? That’s severely lacking technical quality (as promising as Tino is) vs our left hand side. I wonder if Tonali will forever be handicapped by this?

[@grahamrussell3413]

Craig, thank you for a very measured report pretty much all of which I agree with. Whilst it will be argued that one player doesn’t make a team when you’re not scoring goals not having the where with it all of Calum Wilson in the box , is being sorely missed. In all of the circumstances with what we have on the books at present the sooner Calum is back to challenge Alex, the better!

[@liliyasudareva9584]

Saw you on Sky Sports News last night. I think that you are totally misreading what is happening in the EPL regarding Man City wins in the APR case. This will have a huge impact in several ways and it should have. I totally agree with the City representatives point, that it is a dictatorship of the majority over the minority. If clubs have wealth though legal routes, why shouldn't they invest it one of their companies? Not allowing that, then having the audacity to lend their clubs money at non competitive rates (0% interest) is anti competitive.The whole thing looks in breach of competition law to me.Please don't put up the fact that a majority voted for it. It's a selection of clubs who have fixed the rules to keep them in place. If its a club competition with rules they need to be legal rules. The word competition is becoming a joke when all they are doing is fixing it so it isn't competitive.

[@craighope_dailymail]

Thank you for watching! My point was more that, in the short term, the landscape hasn’t massively changed (yet) and Newcastle will not suddenly announce £££ deals with Saudi companies. But yes, it’s all TBC. Although I think the rules will remain and won’t be weakened to the point of making it easy to pump in vast sums of money.

[@treywilson3680]

We can't be booing managers substitutions, and like the guy sitting behind me said after tonalis minutes for italy he expected him being taken off and we needed to change something because it just wasn't working

[@grahamsidney9214]

I agree about tonali, hes neat and tidy but just doesnt impact the game enough for me. But my biggest concern is just what they do in training? We must be one of the worst teams at dead ball situations, whether thats corners or free kicks! . Might aswell not bother taking them we are that bad.

[@NicholasRamm-b7q]

Another excellent review, the way we are playing it's obvious we are a mid table team ! How will we keep Bruno , isaks in January? There is no sign of champions league

[@F80.M3]

Bruno can leave. Loves underhitting passes and can’t run

[@malcolmscott8588]

I've supported Newcastle for years and this is nothing new mark my words we will never I repeat never bloody win anything of note I know I'll be shot down for this opinion but we have always bottled it when it matters make of that what you will

[@coltonconner782]

Newcastle never learn from their mistakes and don’t capitalise on when we do something that works

[@grahamsidney9214]

I fully agree, I've already said the bubble has burst, the Saudi dream has hit the buffers. They are bored with it now it's plain to see, the rules have blocked the path so we are what we are, mid table side. We will lose our big players which I don't think is a bad thing in all honesty. At least we will get some funds to rebuild a very tired looking squad

[@johnreay5522]

Spot on mate being going since 1962 seen it all hope I am proved wrong but doubt it

[@kete3690]

I can’t believe I am saying this but your report and opinions are more or less spot on. I think our DoF was spot on when he stated our transfer policy is not fit for purpose. We are waxing lyrical about £60m attacker and Midfielder who lets be honest are not justifying that, whilst still playing Miggy and Murphy as RW. I believe in Howes coaching ability, but he needs to take a real back seat in transfers.

[@craig3420]

Totally agree..the last 2 windows have cost us..a centre half isnt a priority..a rw a striker to replace wilson and a creative midfielder...

[@givenright]

We are at a point now where Howe is being criminally overated. Quite simply, he is running out of answers and this is only going one way...

[@craig-rp9jh]

Funny cos if he left he would get a top job so fast. fabs like u seem to think well sack him and get top 4 just as likely we sack him and get worse

[@krul2bekind974]

Yes we know you don’t like Tonali we get it ffs

[@tomruddell-h7t]

It comes down to having a mid table manager. The players we have playing we should be seeing much better performances. How Eddie is still above criticising with some is beyond me. The amount of errors he makes is staggering. Replace asap to save the season

[@craig-rp9jh]

It comes down to having shite players you mean. why is howe wanted by all big clubs hell move onto better things if he leaves. ungrateful fan

[@F80.M3]

@@craig-rp9jhCeltic at best.

[@stevedarragh]

At the end of the day Isak is a shadow of last season

[@AnthonyClarkLark]

Tonali was the lynchpin all game. The same with the Everton game when Tonali kept giving off passes to players and dont receiving it back, yesterday we saw Tonali being let down by players not up to his level. Bruno was the only one. Joelinton not performing, so the midfield needs changing and dare we say it Longstaff to replace Joelinton.

[@stevenchurchill5505]

I agree that our recruitment over the last 18 months may not have been what we needed and that we've desperately needed a rw since day 1. The issue i have is that if we don't have anyone who is deemed to be effective on the right then why persist with the formation. Stop trying to fit players into a certain formation. Find the formation that fits your squad

[@davidhuddart9262]

Another great and fair summary of the game i think . I agree with the majority of your comments.

[@ryand1168]

That starting 11 should not be scraping results against southampton, bournmouth, wolves. Nor should it be comprehensively beaten by fulham and brighton. Those results have nothing to do with recruitment, thsts just playing poorly. For some reason our players are playing well below what they can, Gordon especially for me. For that chance yesterday he didnt even kick the ball properly, thats primary school stuff. Forget recruitment, you need to focus on why our current stsrting XI is plaing so poorly

[@alancharlton109]

What is your problem with Tonali? You praise Bruno when he’s awful but always seem to bash Tonali when he plays well. You must be the only person who continuously slates his performances. Complaining about him not scoring but nobody else is in the midfield

[@toonarmy3870]

Hard running patterns of play every team has worked out. We need flair and creativity it wasn’t, for example St Maximin per se it’s what he represented

[@phiIip488]

James maddison should’ve been signed

[@rossmcfarlane1219]

Certainly didn't represent goals or assists.

[@rogercookcouk]

ASM would've been sitting on the half way line man! Or injured.

[@UfukHaas9]

Saint Maximin wouldn't have been sold if he was British

[@ZombieG24]

@@rossmcfarlane1219 Maybe not, but all our good attacking play went through him. None of our current wingers have even half of his creativity, they're all predictable, which is why our team hasn't scored an open play goal in over 300 minutes. Kulesevski isn't scoring every week for tottenham, yet he's one of their best players.

[@Bedastras1]

Eddies problem is sticking with mad dog !

[@jamesp2646]

How have we gone from our highest ever goal scoring season, to being unable to buy a goal. Subs were crazy from Eddie today, how are you bringing off Bruno and Tonali when we need a goal.

[@Saudi_Mags]

We needed to pick up 3 points at home to Brighton if we are to stay in the European places. To get those 3 points back we need to beat them at their place and we haven't won there since both of clubs got promoted together.

[@paolo7688]

In the pub afterwards we all agreed. Brighton did us plain and simple and deserved to win.We've been in this position often over the past 2/3 seasons. A team will come to SJP and sit deep and we don't have the guile to break them down.

[@craighope_dailymail]

Yes, the notion of Newcastle being robbed is wrong, for me.

[@andrewjones5905]

Hall and tino are great buys. Tonali would be way ahead if he didn’t have the year out. The biggest issue by a mile is why we focused in the summer on a cb when we are desperate for a RW and St.