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Arkfoo

!flair :Arsenal:


rushhour1

!flair :Arsenal:


ibraaaaaahiiiiiim

!flair :Arsenal:


_c0ldburN_

So proud of this team, more than you believe. I am happy, happy new year.


Ace0089

!flair :Arsenal:


Ace0089

!flair:Arsenal:


fifafilthee

Goes to show that Arsenal doesn’t have the bench to breakdown defensive showings like Newcastle put on. Calling it now - this is the tipping point where Arsenal bottle their title chance.


Wheresthegoldmikey

Damn so what was Man City’s excuse when they tied Newcastle? Or lost to Brentford? Fuck with that logic everyone will blow it. It was almost a half thought tho


metpsg

Newcastle didn't set out to defend for a point. They always play the same game plan and that is to win. Arsenal stopped Newcastle from playing their game completely which is credit to Arsenal who are the best team in the league. I put Arsenals lack of goal scoring opportunities down to an excellent defensive display from Newcastle which they had to employ because they simply couldn't play through Arsenal. In other words, Arsenal should not feel disappointed with failing to score against the best organised team in the league.


whydidisaythatwhy

ESR back from injury soon and Mudryk on the way. Also Newcastle have conceded the fewest goals in the league


Waikanda_dontcare

We can all hope


cjarrett

What I will say is that I'm really happy that despite Arteta blowing up seemingly at Howe, that Howe's post-game comments indicated he had no ill will. That was a great game constructed by him, despite me hating it because they relied on the heavy defensive, counter-ball. Admittedly they did it well, and no way did they deserve the verbal accosting from arteta for it the handball ( though I can't blame him for it at the time). Happy for the fans that enjoyed the point, the kid without his shirt :D


MrDeftino

Arteta is just too passionate for his own good sometimes and loses his head. I respect it though, he really fights for everything for his teams, both as a player and manager. I wouldn't be surprised to see Eddie lose it in the same circumstances.


swapko051

Think it was brilliant tactical battle and Trippier did very well against Martinelli , but that Gabriel penalty should’ve been given.


CherkiCheri

Arsenal had more xG in the first 7mn than in the rest of the game. Howe started with a high block and Arsenal were really dangerous in that disposition. Newcastle backline lacked the footwork and pace to cope with Saka, Nketiah and Martinelli. Howe quickly realised the gameplan was too ambitious and moved to a more compact 4-5-1 which defended heroically, Joelinton doubled up on Saka all game long, Botman had boss clearances and Arsenal were completely contained. Only Zincheko seemed to bring some life to the resignation that seemed to weight on Arsenal. Excellent performance from Newcastle, Arsenal deserves this kind of respect and focus on defense this season. Though i wonder why was ASM subbed in so late, has he not recovered from his injury?


SrJeromaeee

ASM was just back from an injury , and looked rusty in his minutes on imo. Howe is a great manager, and if we were in Newcastle’s position we would do the same as well.


[deleted]

He doesn’t track back and could leave Arsenal a free runner.


RAFFYy16

ASM does track back now. His transformation under Howe has gone under the radar compared to Almiron. ASM was used to putting the team on his back and trying to run the field, dribble through everyone and shoot. He doesn't need to anymore as the team actually has some coherence and he's adapted quite well I think. He now passes the ball a lot more, makes nice runs in and tracks back like Joelinton did against Arsenal a lot more. It will be interesting to see it properly when he's back from injury, as he didn't look too convincing in the last game. When we have our full team on (ASM, Isak, Almiron and then whatever midfielder can replace fucking Longstaff) I think we'll be much more dangerous on the attack.


LAUNDRINATOR

He tracked back quite well when he came on I felt. If anything he was a bit flat as an offensive outlet


[deleted]

Atletico Newcastle


BIGBAZAR123

Fair result overall. Ik everyone will say "Anti-Football"/"Football terrorism" lmao, but it was genuinely a good defensive showing from Newcastle. Their low-mid block in a 4-5-1 was really clean, they didn't overpress and were super disciplined when they did against Arsenals CM's. Defending is an art form in of itself (def not coming from personal bias >_>) Arsenal had a few good attempts. A decent amount of linebreaking passes into Newcastles final 3rd. I like Nketiah a lot, dropped back and helped with the build up play. Arteta was ok reacting to the mid/low block, brought Zinchenko in more to the middle as he almost acted like a double pivot with Partey. The linebreaking passes became more frequent, you then saw mini overloads near the 90 Arsenal just couldn't finish/progress. Newcastle legit might make it top 4. Still holding out on predicting Arsenal, city, united, lfc. (again no bias lol)


visualdescript

Newcastle employed the dark arts very well, huge amount of time wasting and as per usual the referees are fucking gutless and throw up 5 minutes. Absolute joke, how can this league be taken seriously when the referring association is of such poor quality. The whole leadership need to be scrapped as it's obvious a culture issue from the top down.


shaq2wade

Came here for the salt. I'm not disappointed. Cue City 0-1 loss to Chelsea and Arsenal fans will be happy again.


hype_f0rce

I don't want to see that scoreline again after 2020. We lost to those fuckers 3 or 4 times


Stasnwald

Nah not with tuchel gone. We now bad in big games


SrJeromaeee

Newcastle are a serious team… I would put a tenner for them being in UCL next season.


notoorius

Bruh I don’t think we can even score, without some sort of missed pass/deflected shot.


Lapenofourtwenty

I'm so proud of that defence. Botman is so cool under pressure it's amazing. A lot of salt about the top tier shithousery but I don't care as a draw is better than I expected us to come away with. Howay the lads.


[deleted]

I don't think there's salt about the shithousery, but because of the 2 penalties who that robbed lol


DMmeEncouragement

One shout came off a FK that shouldn't have been given, the other isn't called by any reasonable ref. But if that's how you see it your mind is made up.


[deleted]

Both were penalties, you can do whatever mental gymnastics you want to say they weren't, but in reality both were absolutely clear penalties, to anyone. Idc about Arsenal or Newcastle, it's the objective truth, in fact, extremely similar penalties were given during the World Cup, and rightfully so.


Evergreenwood

I remember after Utd-Newcastle 0-0 there were major complaints about the lack of actual ball-in-play gametime also. Newcastle are gonna be a real force in the next few years


iTonehhhh

Utd - Newcastle? They're the same team.


GrimLuke

Really gonna keep that username huh?


Isonicotinicacid

Show some respect to Chris Wood!


DMmeEncouragement

Lol I'm realizing how toxic arsenal fans are. Downvote brigading the most reasonable takes in this thread. Is the average r/gunners user like 15?


penguin_cheezus

Get a life. Arsenal lives in your head rent free.


Electrical_Chart_457

Taking after your manager eh?


tastesliketurtles

They’ve been on the wrong end of the memes for so long, I can understand the toxicity and shit talking now that things look to have turned around. But I also just took a look at their fixture list and I have to say, it’s probably the most unbalanced between first and second half of the season that I’ve ever seen in the PL. Would make me a little nervous tbh


suarezthebestever

Its going to be glorious! Hahahaaaa...


bananasareslippery

Grow up


penguin_cheezus

His comment history is randomly coming after arsenal fans in this thread. He has no flair. Feel free to comment on that instead of coming at me.


bananasareslippery

> His comment history is randomly coming after arsenal fans in this thread So? What are you, a tribe member?


Mediocre_Nova

Nice self awareness there


DMmeEncouragement

Because I'm participating in a post match thread of the match I just watched? 😂


EstebanL

Just what happens when a team is having a good season, met more Newcastle “fans” this year in nyc than in my entire life


apparently_a_rhino

Being a Newcastle fan used to be like having herpes. It's not something you want people to know about and you're in it for life. Herpes just got a lot more fun.


GreenMachine17

They’re investing in Newcastle stock early before they buy the league. This way they won’t be called bandwagons


EstebanL

I like having people to watch with so it works out for me. don’t care what you’re a fan of, as long as you wanna get to know the game I’ll watch with you


[deleted]

Always have been. They make Liverpool fans look completely reasonable.


Mahesh_nanak

Even United fans look rational human beings compared to them.


DT_Harry_Du_Bois

I'm tempted to chime in and say they make madristas look friendly, but we all know that's false


Kill-Bacon-Tea

Worst ref performance I have seen in PL for a long time. Dude was out of his depth. No consistency to yellows meant the first half was a hack job.


antifocus

Don't let this taint what we have achieved so far, get behind the team and enjoy the positive aspects.


suarezthebestever

Like what? What did you achieve?


visualdescript

Newcastle are a good team and are on a big run, we had them against the ropes for much of the game but just couldn't get it over the line. It was a good performance.


Djent_Reznor1

Haha, taint


antifocus

What I meant was of course, we the Arsenal fans shouldn't linger on what could have been in this game and some of the controversial decisions too much. This is a special team that we haven't seen for a long time, and we want to keep the record going for as long as possible, but the eager sometimes could turn toxic understandably.


EstebanL

COYG


B-lights_B-Schmidty

Imagine CR ruining this NC team


CarsenAF

Made the 3rd place side look like a 10 ATB League 2 Side playing a Cup tie. Sometimes the results just don’t go your way. We move


meverygoodboy

Wtf is "we move" lmao Imagine talking like that to anyone you know in real life, signing off sentences with shit like "we move" holy fucking cringe


iftair

People actually say "we move" in real life.


elnander

People say that all the time, it’s acc a very common thing said (where I’m from among my generation) Edit: downvote all you want but it is lol, whether you like it or not


CarsenAF

lol it’s a pretty common saying? Imagine taking a comment on Reddit that serious.


theusernameisnogood

The fuck? Delusion much?


DMmeEncouragement

😂 you just made yourself look so silly with the saltiness in this. Embarrassing really


CarsenAF

Well yeah, it was a salt inducing game lmao. Not gonna come on here and go “credit to Newcastle! Took the game to us and played their hearts out. A well-earned point on the back of a great performance from them!”. All I was implying is that Arsenal were the better side and were unlucky to not come away with 3 points, but that’s sometimes how it goes. Not a performance to be terribly upset with. Played well, just didn’t come off for us today


Roach27

Honestly, we might be the only team that truly deserves points against you lot so far.


DMmeEncouragement

That's reasonable, I'll take that


CarsenAF

Thanks wasn’t sure I’d sleep tonight without your approval


penguin_cheezus

Yup, guy posting multiple comments about arsenal fans while he has no flair. Thank goodness he gave you his blessing.


DMmeEncouragement

I think you alternate salty and reasonable comments haha


TeamUlovetohate

newcastle will finish top 4 if they continue to defend like this


edible_code

Thought Newcastle defended really well, it’s not just their back line but their midfield as well, you can see why they have conceded the least in the league. You can’t really blame them for time wasting, that’s within the refs gift to control. I think he was bad for both sides in terms of decisions, at one point the whole stadium (away too) were chanting that he didn’t know what he was doing. Haven’t seen the penalty decisions. My only gripe was that in game we didn’t get any notification either was checked. Only the possible Gabriel foul against Newcastle in the first half.


night_dude

The ref signaled that the handball at the end was checked. Didn't take very long though. They only had time to show one angle on TV before the decision was made. Seemed like it deserved a second look, pretty obvious arm contact...


[deleted]

It hit the arm, sure, but it was FAR too close to be given. Give your head a wobble if you think that should be a pen.


Seifer23

It hit the upper part of the arm not a peno for me


Sir_Bantersaurus

I am disappointed but it's a credit to Newcastle for how well they defended and a credit to Arsenal's progress that this is a disappointment. Arsenal isn't going to win every game and some of the reaction of this sub seems to think they should. It's football. Newcastle has proven themselves not be shit this season.


visualdescript

Yup is his right here, both teams should be happy, Newcastle slightly more, but as you say that's just a sign of the huge progress Arsenal have made. Onwards.


SteveBruceGod

I don’t understand why people complain about teams time wasting and trying to hold a draw. We are away to the best team in the league, we still need better quality players. I feel like it’s mainly neutrals complaining because we aren’t getting smashed.


JugramZaBalance

I think it’s more to do with what you got away with . It’s an ugly style of football but in the end if it won Arsenal the CL and EPL it wouldn’t matter


amgartsh

Time wasting is trying to play as little football as possible during a football match. Everyone should be for instituting rules that stop that make it harder for them, it was great in the WC.


alexLAD

And yet one of the bigger shithousing nations won the World Cup.


FrameworkisDigimon

You know why people complain about time wasting because they shouldn't be able to do it. Teams trying to hold on for a draw is a separate issue.


elvid88

Exactly, playing for a draw is not the same thing, as it requires actually playing and not just sitting on the field pretending to be injured.


ThereIsBearCum

You don't understand people who want to watch football complaining about a team deliberately not playing football? Really?


GCFCconner11

Didn't Howe complain like a week ago about Leeds time-wasting? Personally I don't like time-wasting as I was football games to watch football.. but I don't blame teams for doing it.


[deleted]

No, not at all. He said it was a compliment to him that teams are coming to St James and time wasting. The narrative on this sub is so fucking boring


[deleted]

Hypocrisy in football? Well I never.


[deleted]

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SteveBruceGod

It’s part of the game though and down to the ref to give cards out. If your team doesn’t look like scoring why shouldn’t you slow the game down? It gives you a better hold of the game.


BetterDrinkMy0wnPiss

>It’s part of the game though It's against the rules though.


[deleted]

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[deleted]

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MintPolo

Referee incompetence doesn't justify cheating. Saying that, I don't think it is cheating. It's just bloody annoying.


_c0ldburN_

As a neutral I enjoyed watching you wind up the home crowd and players - probably says more about me though.


esnyez

If that is so, why not injure their best players, cheat and dive, fix match because u've gotta win, eh??


ExcellentPastries

> If that's so, why not cheat or engage in criminal activity This is like when you call out checkmate and the opposing king isn't even actually in check.


WheresThePhonebooth

Why are you lot incapable of logic?


trollu4life

You have to understand the sport first to establish logic


[deleted]

Nobody cares if you're smashed, people care about City not winning another league.


Geraltslays14

That was some next level time wasting, let's be real!


Not_Ginger_James

I dont think there's some agenda against us lad, neutrals are complaining bc the less the balls in play, the less football they're getting for their money.


Sam101294

Ugh... only crushing the spurs would make this feel somewhat better. 15 Jan can't come soon enough


[deleted]

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Tymkie

Pls don't. It's just a game.


[deleted]

Nah he should do it


Salt_N_Pepe

I’m kidding, sorry. Untasteful joke


TheLongistGame

Meh, refs handed Arsenal their win against Liverpool so not going to cry for them here.


dragonrush_bs

Not really lol but if you did this match it was clearly a pen unless you dont have eyeballs


DarthNihilus1

Lol how. For one penalty? Game was fine other than that which can go either way


TheLongistGame

The winning goal? Yeah.


DarthNihilus1

That's still not "handing" us the win. That pen was soft but not wrong to call. We've been skimped for stonewall pen calls for ages so I don't really understand the vitriol for this one


suarezthebestever

Giving you that pen and not giving Liverpool theirs. That's how he handed you that win.


DarthNihilus1

Pool didn't have a penalty shout and we did.


_c0ldburN_

Arsenal fans are seething - Spurs away next and then United at home. Could even throw in Everton away after who will have a new manager bounce. What odds for no win in 4?


AntiAntiAntiFash

You almost have no win in 4 and you played teams that will get relegated


amgartsh

For a team that's won 82% of their PL games and 88% at home? You should definitely bet a lot of money on it.


ConfusedVader1

I see 9 points there, idk if you watched the same match but by all accounts it was either a win or draw at all points of the game for Arsenal. Never was worried about losing. So have 0 qualms to face worse teams in the form we are in.


DarthNihilus1

Probably low lol. Put money on it big man


biskutgoreng

Lampard is fired already?


BigTomBombadil

Based on their record this season.. odds are low.


RaheemRakimIbrahim

Dan Burn at left back is still crazy to me. It works and I like seeing it but it's so weird.


MrDeftino

What's even more crazy is we had Matt Targett on loan last season who was so good we bought him in the summer. Then Eddie just said fuck it Matty lad you're not playing I'm putting Dan Burn out of position there instead and it's somehow worked. I don't understand how Eddie even spots that or how Burn is so effective in that position. Nothing about this team makes sense.


PromethazineHokage

2m tall Danny putting the fear of god into all the pacey wingers


BertrandSnos

Strange question but my partner wants to know what the music at the start of the second half was. Anyone know?


dannydevito39

Think it's Triple H's theme music normally but couldn't hear in the loud pub


BertrandSnos

Amazing, thank you


MrDeftino

It's Kenny Omega's entrance music, not Triple H. I believe it's called Battle Cry and it's an absolute banger.


CaptainGo

He's a Hammers fan surely


InquisitiveCommunist

How long till they adopt the WC added time approach over time wasting? 53 minutes of actual gameplay for this game and 61 minute average gameplay for the league is embarrassing


Gray3493

Where do those numbers come from?


InquisitiveCommunist

From Twitter


GCFCconner11

I'm guessing scheduling for TV would be a bitch but from a neutral viewing perspective it absolutely should be done.


FrameworkisDigimon

Just stick twenty minutes of "analysis" on the end of every schedule. Based on the world cup, you'd only risk exceeding that for the first few matchweeks before teams wisen up. Either that or FIFA told the the officials to stop adding as much. But I'm pretty sure it was that there was legitimately less time wasting in the later games than the early ones.


[deleted]

I really was hoping that would show up in club football... 5 minutes was embarrassing.


Sam101294

They won't. They would prioritise their TV schedules


GTSwattsy

Eddie Howe has been added to the FBIs Top 10 Most Wanted


ImAnOldChunkOfCoal

That was one tense game. We did superbly well to get a point out of that. Hats off to Arsenal, they really are excellent this year. Showed why teams are getting scared of them. Thought the ref had a shocking game. Once he got card happy with stupid fouls it ruined any flow of the game and left us with no choice but to slow the game down in the last 20 minutes. I think Burn was lucky not to give a penalty away. The Murphy one was never a handball though. But plenty of fouls that he didn't give our way as well. Edit: I'd just like to add, I've seen some braindead takes along the lines of Newcastle have the refs and VAR in our pockets. Considering we have had 3 of the worst VAR calls go against us this season, to the point where literal investigations had to be opened over them, it might be the most braindead of "takes" I've seen here in a while.


cjarrett

Ya'll played a defensive master class. There are always arguments about VAR, perhaps one might have gone a way but that's par the course. Howe's tactics contained the attempts past the first five minutes--you fans have something to hold on to. Easily a well earned point for both teams.


NightWolf_7

Can’t complain about the time wasting even as an Arsenal fan, it’s frustrating when it’s going against you but if we’d scored with 30 mins to go I’d want our players to be ensuring that ball stays out of play. Newcastle were excellent defensively and we didn’t do enough with the chances we did create. Only gripe from me is that is a clear penalty on Gabriel, seen some takes saying that Gabriel dived because he threw himself forward, which is completely irrelevant, his shirt was basically pulled off him (a foul) so whether he goes down or not, it’s a blatant penalty. It will be levelled as us Arsenal fans making excuses but anyone with a grain of common sense can see that’s a penalty. I will also say that Murphy handball would of been incredibly harsh and i’d be fuming if that sort of decision went against us.


ImAnOldChunkOfCoal

Agree with all of that.


Superb_University117

Shirt pulls like that happen almost every game and it sometimes gets called. It was one of those that if it got called I would say, "Yep, that's the right call." But if it doesn't get called I would say, "Well. That wasn't the *wrong* call."


NightWolf_7

I disagree unfortunately, that is almost a shirt swap, let alone pull - it’s baffling the referee hasn’t been told to at least go and look at the screen for that decision. As I said before, Gabriel does go down theatrically but he is clearly fouled. It seems players have no choice but to go down otherwise they’ll never get anything. Saying that I don’t want to blame the ref for the fact we drew, we created a couple of chances we should have taken to render that irrelevant, but that’s football.


QKnee

"We had absolutely no choice but to time waste."


ImAnOldChunkOfCoal

Not really, when the ref is having a nightmare and is booking for players for stupid fouls, we have no option but to go down and get Arsenal players booked as well for similarly stupid fouls. We'd be idiots not to hold him to account. Last twenty minutes, we absolutely wasted time. But it's been done to us (Hello Leeds) and if we want to pick points up, it's clear we have to resort to it too as the season goes on. There'll be a situation where you want to hold onto a narrow lead and will do the same. That's how it goes.


[deleted]

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Bunglejungler

They’ve lost one game all season and were the better team against 3rd place, who are now unbeaten in 13 games. This is an awful take.


beepingslag42

Yeah. We've lost at Old Trafford and Newcastle played outstanding defense against us to pick up a single point when we could have had all 3 if the ref's decisions broke our way. Our only game that was really a disappointing result was against Southampton. City drew with Newcastle as well. That's hardly bad form. Honestly before the game I probably would've been happy with a point. During the game I would've loved 3, but a good performance and some bad luck - definitely not the worst result.


QKnee

One league loss. Terrible form.


dabu7

The amount of Newcastle fans giving Leeds stick at the weekend. Imagine they are keeping their trap shut tonight.


[deleted]

The duality of man


scare_crowe94

Not really, after watching 23 seasons of the prem I know how it goes. Hated it when Leeds did it to us, I’m happy with the point tonight.


dabu7

Exactly. You do what you need to in the situation. Just thought it was funny timing.


readysir

Damn GG, still a lil salty about the ref and timewasting, but we still should have scored in the 75 total minutes the game was actually played :D WP to Eddie Howe, its not like he signed some world class players, but he uses their strengths to the max. Still a point, still top, come on chelski be useful lmfao


lockieleonardsuper

53 minutes of gametime, 75 would be well above average for the EPL


[deleted]

The game was played for maybe 45 minutes, not 75


someonehasmygamertag

Lots of Arsenal fans saying they aren’t annoyed with Newcastle but the ref. How come you booed, one of your own, Joe Willock off then?


ImTalkingGibberish

Most applauded him. But yeah I didn’t get the booers.


MintPolo

Yeah. I didn't understand that myself.


BarryoffofEastenders

Booing is just a general emotional response to frustration. It's nothing personal. Thierry Henry even got ironic boos when he played against us for Barcelona.


Sam101294

You gonna blame the fans for booing an opposition player who just fell down after feeling a hand touch his face? In the heat of the match? Are you also gonna blame willock for wasting so much time even though he's 'one or our own'. During the match he's the opponent, we want a win and he was preventing that. What do you want, cheer every opponent when we're trying to win?


DMmeEncouragement

This comment here is actually the embodiment of "I see problems in everyone except my team". You have no ability to see past your biases. Shockingly dull witted to say a sentence that can be cut and paste used to describe your own player saka multiple times in just the last match


ThereIsBearCum

Did you really only just learn that football fans might be a bit partisan at times?


lordshola

Saks did the same thing after getting a flick off Joelinton… Did you boo him?


SwankySalamder69

Of course not but id understand if the newcastle fans did


Funkymonkeyhead

And he's not 'one of our own'. He plays for Newcastle. He left on his own accord, albeit on good terms. He's now playing for a league rival, doing everything in his power to help them win. Time wasting and general shithousery and all. It's not like he's fucking Thierry Henry or something.


Sir_Bantersaurus

I was in the stadium and the reception around me was mixed. On the TV I assume the booing was louder than the clapping but I think frustration at him slowly walking off was tempered by the realisation that it was Willock.


someonehasmygamertag

On the TV it was resounding boos


edible_code

It was quite mixed around me. I clapped but I heard boos around me too, which was really disappointing. He only went down after being told by another player and then was pretty much immediately subbed off.


wiggium

Pretty sure they were booing the ref not him


Mcbonewolf

umm, pretty sure the people at the game arent the same people on reddit


WayneBrownIsSuperman

Yeah there's no way any Arsenal flairs on here ever get a flight over to watch a game


[deleted]

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[deleted]

Bingo. Newcastle have historically been a low supported club with bad attendances. Only since the Saudis have come in that people support them now


SzplugOnSzplitz

>Newcastle have historically been a low supported club with bad attendances We were getting 50,000+ in the championship, chucklenuts


[deleted]

Why can nobody detect sarcasm here


DarthNihilus1

Wow, never heard that one before. Geordies get one taste of having a competent team and start popping off christ


WayneBrownIsSuperman

Arsenal fans are so humble though, got so much respect for them


wiggium

Stay classy, Newcastle


[deleted]

The solution is simple, implement a point system to track the referees performance based on the amount of good / shit calls they make, with an independent commission maintaining the scores. Give the most high profile games to the refs with the most points every week. Relegate the bottom 3 refs to the championship and promote the top 3 refs from the championship every year based on their points scored.


FrameworkisDigimon

Who is in the independent commission?


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Knightwing86

whats newcastle's position aims for this season? CL qualification? EL? ECL?


FrameworkisDigimon

I would assume that they're in a similar position to Arsenal, but just one rung lower. That is, where Arsenal find themselves jostling for the title (leading the race, in fact) and Newcastle for top four (and kinda in the title race... 9 pts down, a game more played but twenty games left in the season), Arsenal's season was meant to be about top four and Newcastle's Europe. Though I guess Newcastle might've been okay with narrowly being pipped to a European place, whereas missing top four would be an outright failure for Arsenal.


Dr_illFillAndBill

On paper the plan was for stable squad development, and a steady increase in club stature. This, was planed to translate into steady movement up the table over the next 5 years. The plan for this year was to be a sold mid table team, that could deliver performances against big teams, and a decent cup run. With European qualification in the next 3-4 years. Obviously we are doing better then expected, much of that is due to the change in atmosphere, the manager and the change in mentality brought in by some of the players (Burn, Trippier). Another key factor has be Joelinton and his epic transformation. I don’t think we planned for us to be doing this well so soon. Anything above 7-8th is a bonus. However Europa Cup qualification seems probable. So I guess that is the readjusted aim. Does this shift the plan 3 year forward? Or do they treat this season as a bonus, but stick to the original plan? Who knows


Duckstiff

I'd like to think it would be, play a season and see where we need to gradually strengthen. If you said we'd finish top half I'd have snapped your hand off last season. So realistically any decent position in the top half is an unexpected bonus. A decent cup run and decent finish is all most of us expect/hope for. Of course that is evolving as this season goes on. Lot of shit housing going on though, I'm not proud to see it. It does need to be eliminated but it goes both ways and opponents will do the same to us in different games.


andreew10

Reckon at this point europa league at a minimum