Having no plan B is such a problem. If we're ever losing, you know that Livramento is coming on for Burn, Murphy will be on for 20 minutes, and Lewis Hall just sits there twiddling his thumbs. We're so predicable, and other teams know that.

Again that midfield 3 were anonymous, the sooner we can rotate Longstaff and Miley out the better. All 3 seem to be running in quicksand. Thought Karius played well and would like to see him again tomorrow , even if Dubravka is fit

Great report and I sincerely hope that your support of Eddie is rewarded! However as I have said before elite managers know when and how to change things, be it pre/during or post games. I don’t see it in Eddie! I will be more than happy to be proved wrong.

Also saying if that sort of performance is repeated... i think thats possibly the 5th or 6th time this season we've said worst performance under Howe. Brighton, Everton, Spurs, Bournemouth, Forest, Luton etc

The principal protagonists in our midfield who bossed many of our opponents are Joelinton who is a long term injury or Bruno who has a 2 game ban hanging over his head. Without these 2 we are toothless in midfield. Sean isn’t having a good period and Lewis whilst filling a valuable role but is not yet a standout, he lacks physicality.

Our biggest weapon when we play well and irritate other teams was our intense high pressing as a unit. That seems to have disappeared for a while now and what we seem to be left with is a comfortable game for opponents. I dont agree with us necessarily needing a '6', but i do think without Joelinton in the midfield we have no-one left in there who can get into opposition players and make tackles. It also sadly seemed like Eddie couldnt wait to sub Tino off and bring Burn on, as if to say he was right to play Burn ahead of Tino all along. In reality, i dont think Burn should play left back without Joelinton in the team to do the job of 2 men (as Eddie recently said in a presser). The 2nd man's job being to protect and cover Burn at left back. Without that, Burn is too exposed by pacey or tricky players so shouldnt start without that cover.

We have gone backwards. Or do you think things are going well?? We had a full week to prepare for Arsenal. Willock and Isak back from injury. Arsenal played and lost in CL midweek. Yet we looked tired, lethargic and conceded 4 goals again! This is relegation form. Open your eyes. Howe will be gone at end of season

Craig. Newcastle has 5-7 players of quality. Trippier, Schär, Guimares, Gordon, Isac, Joelinton, and many are out/in of injuries. Rest are Championship players on a good day. If FFP was not an issue half of the squad would be dropped instantly but FFP is real and it will take ages to turn this ship around. Trust in Eddie, he is doing a hell of a job with the bunch of mediocres he got.

People are roughing up our team week in and week out. The lads have become a bunch of softies. It is just unacceptable against an insufferable team like Arsenal. Have you noticed how extra nasty they have become since we beat them 2-0 at SJP? We on the other hand have become timid.

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing time after time and expecting different results" - Albert Einstein.

All I will say is my support for Eddie is in the balance and that has just happened in the last few weeks.

Would anyone be shocked if it turns out Botman needs an operation come the end of the season. How did we not manage to keep hold off lee clarks boy too he'd of got game time this season. Karius should be given a run of games now too. Wish we'd be more flexible instead of the ridged 433, plan B and a C wouldn't go a miss. Bruno needs to get this yellow out the way too I think hes holding back a touch knowing he's on thin ice. Toon win tomorrow night 💪.

Tactical inflexibility is not a strength it is a weakness. The top coaches Guardiola, Klopp etc are constantly tweaking their playing style and tactics to suit the opposition. Football does not stand still. It constantly evolves. If you stand still you tend to go backwards .....

I like Howe and he's done so much for us the last 2 and a bit seasons. Just think it's time to time to move on to someone else at the end of the season. I appreciate managers have a set style that works for them, but they do need to be able to adapt based on the opposition occasionally. If man city, Liverpool and arsenal adapt to a game, why shouldn't we? We will need to buy and sell a lot of players in the summer and personally would like to see a new manager take over that responsibility. Plus we will have a new sporting director by then as well most likely so just another reason to change in my opinion.

The criticism against the manager is not over the top. He is heading for the sack. We are not winning the FA cup with such displays. We are no where near being competitive. It would be a miracle if we make it past the quarter final. Botman is done.The injury has ruined him. Players are no longer the same after an ACL.

I always look forward to your video....especially this one.

Its overwhelmingly obvious that the weakness of the current midfield is a problem for our defence. Miley is young and learning his craft but he is surprisingly slow for a young lad and I think that is the one thing that will hamper him becoming a great. I never really got the argument that Longstaff did the unseen stuff so well, he's got himself a couple of goals lately but I never see him coming away with the ball in a challenge, more often than not playing the man and conceding a free kick or loosing out in the challenge. Get Big Joe and Little Joe back in that midfield and a LOT of Eddies problems go away

Fair assessment Craig👍

Craig I hope you and your Dad had a great day at the races and you both backed a couple of winners for your Dad’s birthday. 👍

Great update Craig 👍

Expected the other day to look at the bench and see Bruce

Craig , I think Eddy.made a grave mistake not playing 5 at the back , knowing how Arsenal play on Saturday and we suffered the consequences of that decision but Eddy is the manager and he will learn No good dwelling on Saturdays game with exception of the Loris Karius who I thought was the best Newcastle player on the pitch, from my point of view I hope he get rewarded and plays at Blackburn and also gives young Hall a run out can not be doing his confidence any good as a young player Lets hope we play better than we did on Saturday , Willock will be a great option for us as sooner than later Bruno is going to get booked and that hanging over him has not helped him Have good trip down to Blackburn and come back with a favourable report with Newcastle looking for their next opponents in the FA cup

I do believe the thing holding Eddie back is the lack of flexibility. He's so stuck in his ways, his inability to adapt will be his downfall (sadly)..

If you are missing players like Joelinton and Nick Pople that are key to playing your system/style of football, then you have to develop another effective system for the players you do have. You don't sit and complain about not having the players and not change the system.

Craig I agree that game had 5 at the back written all over , we missed Dan's aerial presence and blocking. To play a midfield of 3 against Arsenal our 3 were just not good enough and to be honest not enough legs and class

If we hadn’t had such devastating injuries this season im convinced Eddie would’ve had us in top 3 now - great podcast Craig loving them 👏

His lack of flexibility is so concerning. How he hasnt tried to change it is mind blowing. He keeps trying to play the same 433 as last season but we just dont have the players that can do that. Our midfield is about as intense as a rice cake yet he still sets them up as a flat 3 with a huge gap between them and the defence.

Its not just formation, its a style of play which the players available cant play. He needs a front 6 who can press and recovery run, then a bench of similar who can come on after 75 minutes.

Don’t agree with you Craig, Eddie is getting away with soft ball questions all the time , we are far too soft

Well said Craig have herd criticism of you in the past from mr Dyson but think you are spot on very fair and measured understand the frustration but they deserve more time and patience

Good analysis as usual, the WhatsApp channel has been very good so far. With regards to Joelinton, I think we need to give him what he wants. He'll still be on his Ashley era deal at the moment and he'll know what Bruno is on, he's definitely deserving of it.

I've found myself dwelling probably a little too long over saturday's loss as well over the last few days. It's the first time in a long time that the team didn't seem to put a shift in for the manager. It's not like many of us expected a result against arsenal but the lacklustre performance is the bigger worry. Let's hope we can find something in the fa cup & give our amazing travelling fans something to lift their spirits. They were let down on the weekend. Cheers as always craig.

Craig the 11 put out onto the pitch for the last few months have lacked any sort of urgency, when Howe came in we got at and pressed teams like Arsenal did to us, we are so pedestrian in our play that it’s frightening and with our midfield as it has been for a while now being without any pace at all it’s no wonder we are getting overrun,

The top coaches have a plan b the very best will tweak even further Eddie doesnt seem to have another game plan which is a worry moving fwd. Can i also go back to that great season everyone keeps talking about.There were so many factors that helped our cause Chelsea, Manchester utd, Spurs, Liverpool & West Ham were unusually miles off the pace, and Yes i included West ham as they had qualified for europa conference previously and were doing ok. If you throw in the world cup and the mid season break we can definitely say that season was a one off in many ways. You could also say we were the new kids on the block, the takeover the feel good factor about the place we were alive and going for it. Sadly there has been a massive drop off in form this season due mostly id say to those horrendous injuries but also Eddie's refusal to change things up a bit tactically. Those clubs mentioned have returned to form too, not forgetting the emergence of Villa who are flying under the count, i think where we are right now is about right. Patient investors Amanda said which means our owners wont panic anytime soon think of a rollercoaster ride that's us at the moment. Finger's crossed we can have a good transfer window this summer by signing one or two quality players who can hit the ground running and give everyone a lift. Im going for 10th or 11th place come the end of the season. We will win the FA Cup tho 😜 Howay the lads !

Botman isnt fit, Lascelles to replace against Blackburn. If everything depends on Joelinton been fit, what happens if he gets injured next season.

I’d love Diego Simeone to manage our club, but most of our players couldn’t hack it. Proper football manager.

We've had a Topsy-Turvy season. Won games like Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd at HOME and beat Villa TWICE in the Prem. Beat PSG 4-1 in UCL. Knocked both Manchester teams out of the Carabao Cup. Then we lost to Bournemouth, Everton and Luton away. Battered on Boxing Day by Forest. Draws with Bournemouth and Luton at home.......

Regarding Botman I just wish people would give the fella time.Coming back from injury and taking a while to regain form is nothing new.I know it’s going back a while but Shearer had poor games,Beardsley,Rob Lee etc.The bloke showed last season how good he is and HE Will come good again

I get the feeling that if we fail to get any European football next season then in order to keep our best players and attract better players (not ones from Bournemouth or surrounding teams) then a top elite manager is what PIF will look for in order to kick on next season. I do blame Eddie for this, yes we've had injuries and yes bad luck in certain games but the lack of a plan B and favouritism is what will be his downfall. I go back to the away game in the cup at man u where he changed an almost entire team and they went out and done a great job but refused to do this for certain games in the season playing the same players. Every player that trains all week knows what the system is and what their job is, some players may be more technical than others but the basics of football is straightforward. This would of solved fatigue and dare I say create less injuries.

Again, a great video. As for nastiness, Sean, MIley, Botman and Miggy all seem very placid players and always have been so the main nastiness came from Joelinton (who is out), Bruno and Gordon (who both need to watch bookings) and Wilson who is injured so we're a bit stuck. Also, I can't believe what I read on Twitter and the vitriol on there. One idiot said that Klopp has coped with injuries so why can't we. Many forget that we are a couple of years in after 14 years of a parasite asset stripping the club and running everything on a shoestring. Two Geordie lads (McConnell and Clark) playing for Liverpool on Sunday could have been on our books if Ashley had invested in the academy. We'll get there but we need more patience and realism.

Good to hear his thoughts on J7.

I hope I’m wrong but if as you say his rigid formation is a hill he is prepared to fight on he needs to realise it is a hill he may well die on

Has the coffee shop where you see players, recently changed hands, and is now owned by a citizen from Amsterdam ?

Luton, Everton, Bournemouth, Brighton, Tottenham and Liverpool were all as equally bad as the Emirates game.

Love the video…we have lacked & still lack players with pace & quickness of thought throughout the squad. We were in the bottom half of the division under Ashley for a reason. We basically didn’t have those 2/3 players who could work 2/3 passes in front of everyone & we still don’t…this obviously needs to be addressed in the summer but to prevent a reoccurrence of this season when injuries occur..we need specialists to match positions not someone who can play in a position if needs must. There are obvious areas we need strengthening but we do need an able deputies for Pope..Botman.. Big Jo..Isak the spine of the team..

Hopefully all will be forgotten and forgiven when we fly out of the blocks next season after a decent transfer window …and then we’ll crank it up in August..great vid Craig 👍

Hi Craig, pity the nice warm 'Toddle Inn ' wasn't still open eh...!

Howe is like Bruce. No plan B. Stuck in one groove.Clubs have found the answer, when he brings subs on the style of play stays the same thus clubs are not worried who they bring on.

Biggest issue of this season is the mismanagement of players injuries , definitely not elite and not as good as under Rafa. We need an upgrade. See you at Ewood Park Craig

If he carries on like this he won't make it to Christmas. He'll get one more go at it but he needs to give his head a shake about his devotion to 4-3-3. Against Arsenal he really needed to stiffen up the midfield, add some physicality and squeeze the pitch. To do that he needs to use the squad smartly and be tactically flexible. He could have gone with a 4-4-1-1. Kraft, Lascelles, Scar, Trippier (LB) Tino, Bruno, Longstaff, Hall Gordon Isak. Trippier would coach Hall through it. Kraft and Tino would have been fine. Gordon would have been there to make sure Rice never gets a moment on the ball. In possession look for Isak early etc. I'm not saying it would have got a win but it would have posed some different problems for them and would have demonstrated some innovative thinking. We all want Howe to succeed. But with every passing game the worry is he hasn't got what it takes. Or is unable to find it.

Shocked he didnt go with a back 5. The team seems to have lost its identity. Lets hope blackburn is the turning point for our season 🙏🏼

Well done Craig for asking the only decent question to eddie

Agree 100% about trying the new formation. It's clear our issue is in midfield. Without Joelinton and Willock in there we struggle so playing a 5 is sensible. I do wonder about Howes motivation this season as well as his tactics. 50/50 wether he goes in the summer imo. Aye the cup is the last chance to give the fans something to cheer about. Maybe a semi and a day out at Wembley is possible

Eddie Doesn't have a Plan B or a Plan C

We're missing the aggression of Joelinton on the left, and the sweeping/calming factor of Pope at the back. Burn is the same player he was last year, the difference is that this year he's having to cover much more space due to the lack of these players. to

Has any one worked Saturday nights tactics out yet ?

09:40 would have been fun to finish the video on one of the scooters!

Craig, I don't know if it does, but IF PSR necessitates the club selling one of their top players in order to spend enough to advance the rebuild, who would you choose to sell: Bruno, Isak, or Botman? No agenda here, just curious. I don't know how I'd answer that.

Newcastle need to pay what Joelintons worth. We need him plus someone to rotate him with. The difference without him is massive. He brings the ‘dog’ in the team and links so much together from defence to attack

First half was a big concern for me as it was more of what usually happens late in games with us- being in defensive mode and not getting out till we eventually capitulate. But being boxed in to that degree was shocking. Yes, Arsenal were superb. But I don't see relegation battlers being forced back like that. The fact that keeps happening in different scenarios is my biggest concern. Without Joelinton we simply cannot play our normal game, that's how it seems.

Football managers are very stubborn. Eddie is no exception!

I think he has tried something last few games, at Forest & home to Luton… issue is (even tho played ok against Forest & got win) they haven’t worked. That’s why he went with 433 at Arsenal with some players back but they just played poorly Saturday.

The loss of Pope was the catalyst to the poor form. The defence does not have confidence in the cover.

Joelinton worth paying whatever as it would be like a new signing

craig if steve bruce served us that dross you would of tore him a new asshole, this isn't the 1st performance like this brighton spurs bourn everton forrest to name a few we have LOST 11 games now the same amount we have won!!! journos need to start asking some real questions ie almiron longstaff performances whys hall not getting a sniff??

When a team goes to Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, Man City, Man U etc and plays to contain those sides then the belief isn't there that the team are good enough to beat the top sides. Benitez played like that, so did Bruce. Keegan never did. Under Kev we never rolled over, in fact we were never outclassed. The game is way too tactical now. If Keegan's Newcastle team had gone to Arsenal they'd have attacked them and not sat back waiting for a lucky break. Last summers transfer window set us back 12 months. Selling ASM was an error. We need rid of Wilson, Almiron, Murphy, Longstaff, Dubravka and Lacelles. The whole business weakened us. We should have got Maddison and the Sboszlai lad at Liverpool, maybe even Gallagher from Chelsea and turned him into a holding midfielder, a new centre half and a striker. Sod all this playing right wingers playing on the left and vice versa get wingers with 2 feet.

Tbf Eddie has changed the formation on multiple occasions just not the starting one, football isn’t FIFA you are not stuck with a simple 433 formation. Eddie is currently experimenting to see what works, in the Nottingham forest match the formation was 433 but most of the match played Trippier and Miley as CDM kinda, this is my opinion on it at least

Everyone, except apparently Eddie, knows that the 4 - 3 - 3 formation hasn't worked in the majority of games. IMO most teams have realised how we play and are ready for us. The complete lack of belief shown by all the players on Saturday night may, in part, be an indication that they're repeatedly being asked to do something that they don't believe will work. Although I disagree with how Eddie is setting the team up at the moment, I'm sure he'll get it right and that him and Jason are the right lads for the job - HWTL.

The 3 in the song were shocking,Botman being the worse of the 3. Longstaff is barely a squad player. Happy clappers saying we are missing key players is pathetic . Livarpool beat Luton and Chelski with several.stars out. Think Eddie is gone in the summer.

Understand the Cup run is important but ultimately it means nothing if we don’t win it. The league position is likely to determine whether or not we are in Europe next season and at the moment we aren’t good enough. Been poor for the majority of the season and Howe’s reluctance to see the issues with the midfield and the defensive cover is more concerning every week.

Karius was awful i thought, two of the goals he should have done better i think, i hope dubravka is fit again tomorrow

Craig you spent 5 weeks slagging off Howe for "stubbornly" playing Burn. But when Howe swaps him out and brings in Timo - you now say it's a mistake and he should have played both of them. You've never said that before! You do rewrite history to make yourself always right. That said I do enjoy your analysis. Just occasionally be a little bit humble yourself wouldn't hurt.

I felt so sorry for Karius. Playing your first game in a year and being put in against Arsenal.

FFP ...i understand upto a point , but i keep reading major surgery needed in summer transfer market for the Toon .. which i totally get of course .. But does FFP reset in the summer or something ? To be able to spend millions on new players ? Also we need to ship out some of bruces and Ashleys player's this time and be ruthless . enough is enough.

Remember last time EH listened to the fans about dropping burn for Tino, just let him do his job

A manager who disses his players in public loses the dressing room.

Ashworth will of been thinking man utd when conducting thoughts on joelintons contract probably Bruno also that's why compensation is important not just for Newcastle but smaller clubs also ,shame he knows alot about players in the youth set up man utd have never been our colleagues think back to the Shearer' transfer s to Blackburn &Newcastle both times they tried and failed to get there own way ,just my thoughts ,cheers good blog yet again

Without howe we wouldnt be where we are. What 10th having spent 400m plus? I really hope next season the silly 'we are ahead of schedule' crap doesn't come out, bc realistically id imagine being on schedule next season would consist of top 6 minimum.

hopefully we don't get another toothless performance like Saturday we need to drop botman hes never the same player since his injury

We miss big Joe out there mullering people and marauding forward. We've missed Willock and his positive surges and goal contributions.

top managers can play various formations/systems, he can't and refuses to learn from his obvious mistakes. that can only end one way for him. if we have money to spend in the summer would you trust him with it?

Eddie needs to get his act together other wise he will be dismissed

It's been his downfall this season where some losses sit firmly at his door, should have put Livramento on against City to.man mark Kevin De Bryune but did nothing, same against Liverpool earlier in the season. Not recognizing Burn was getting skinned against Luton and Bournmouth more examples. Miley not Joelintin and Longstaff not Willock. Defense protected those guys last season, bruno, joel, and wilco was the reason for champions league.

Aye u got the formation call right on sat didnt ye? Played like a flute. 😅

People calling for tino now there calling for burn cant make it up!😂

It took Ted Lasso a couple seasons. Let’s give Eddie a little more time ya?

Imagine Blackburn away being your biggest game of the season 😂 tinpot club

What first team injuries that would go straight into the starting 11 right now? Pope and joelinton. The first team would look lime this Pope,Tripper,schar, botman, livramento/burn, bruno, willock, joelinton, Gordon, isak/wilson, barnes/miggy/Murphy. The overwhelming injuries are joelinton, wilson and pope but we have isak to cover wilson, dubravka and karius for pope. For context everyone saying we are screwed with injuries do they understand its only joelinton currently that would make a difference? Stop making excuses for howe by saying injuries are too many. First it was "we are tired", now its "we have loads of injuries" when in truth we really dont.

Let's all laugh at Newcastle who can't spend money cos of financial fair play 😂😂😂😂😂

It’s the premier league not the premier division, js. 💁🏼‍♂️

433 v Arsenal with Miley whose be excellent against Rice £105m and an international….

Alreet Craig ? Can I just say I disagree with one part of this video mate. When you are saying Eddie Howe issued a warning to his players, , I'm sorry mate but the warning was issued by you and I've watched the full video so heard you say it. Eddie then simply said he couldn't disagree with your statement...he didn't make the statement did he ? I think this is slightly disingenuous of you mind. The rest of the video I agree with 💯

Eddie Howe is bang average. Jurgen Klopp can win cup final with a team of kids while Howe will be playing Dan burn for the rest of his life complaining about not having Elliot freakin Anderson on the bench as to why he can’t win. Southgate in disguise.

Get this man out of our club, he's Steve Bruce 2.0

I don't get how a room full of sports journalists that have been around the block don't see the blatantly obvious issue with the team right now. You can't expect to do anything at any level in the Premier League playing both Miley and Longstaff in a midfield 3. You're also playing a right winger who is simply not good enough and now playing in a huff. I'm not sure what we're expecting with 3 sub standard players.

Why can't you do this video in a football environment instead of an estate where some of em live 😂... Only joking like! The houses do get better as you walk through mind lol

The players, before the game looked genuinely nervous. The performance, was lacking in desire, the press is out of the window this season, it seems. Reactive eddie, again, with the subs. It was painstakingly visible, how piss poor the team was 20 mins in. Yet reactive Eddie, makes the substitutions far to late. Lets hope, we are a different side, in our next P. League game, as Blackburn is a should, must win, emphatically, given the the dismal defeat at Arsenal, & that there're a championship side.

Yeah i love Eddie, but im getting Southgate feelings with his refusal to change things up. HTLs 🏳🏴

mid table it is

The botman injury is why were playing so bad players in fear pf being flogged to death, they wont stand a gaffer doing that forever