John Reese

That's such a poor goal to concede. We haven't deserved a win though, poor again and seriously lacking anything upfront. Only real positive note is Tonali's performance, surely can't be dropped for the next one. We need to be very careful or this team is going to get stuck in a rut.

Hopefully Howe has read them the riot act and we'll see at least a better intensity because it was very flat. Think we need Wilson or Osula to give us some sort of focal point.

Disappointing half of football. Never really looked like worrying them, still feels pretty disjointed after Monday. Injury breaks won't have helped but our levels dropped after the first 2 minutes.

There's a real lack of fluidity to us in attacking phases. We get so far and then it looks like everyone runs out of ideas. We have some really great, technical players in the team but not necessarily someone you would say is an out and out creator (a KDB type making the final pass)

13 years ago since the passing of Gary Speed.

We'll never forget you, Speedo. 🖤🤍

Gordon did play a lot from the right for Everton so I think some of the logic was that Gordon could play there and Barnes became available at a pretty undervalued fee. Then bad luck for Barnes with injuries meant Gordon played almost exclusively from the left and had a real breakout.

One of the best things about NBA games is seeing a 6’1 guy playing and thinking “that little freak, that little gremlin”

Anytime you watch footage of Dr. J, you can see exactly what influenced the players that came after him. He was such a pivotal player, not just in his own generation but those that came after him.

Honestly, if Tino's crossing was a little more consistent (not that it's really any less so than Murphy/Almiron) I'd be tempted to push him forward with Trippier back in at RB. Just until we get a better option in, though a lot of that would depend on Trippier's fitness and where his head's at.

I wouldn't be against Almiron in that role. I do think we miss his intensity on the pitch in our press so I would like to see him back in more regularly. Gordon i think if you gave him the freedom to drift either side could probably do it.

Yeah I'd agree it does feel purposeful, I'm definitely imprinting my own coaching style onto the team with that suggestion. If we bring in the right profile of CB it'll help in place of a 6. Bruno + Tonali pivot with someone like Willock in more of a 10 role?

It's great to have Ausar back. I love his defensive contribution and he does give us a really athletic secondary playmaking option on the court. Hopefully build up minutes from here and if we're really lucky, work on improving that shooting %

Ideally I think that's what we should be doing with the current players we have available in midfield. Both Bruno & Tonali are capable of dropping deeper whilst the other pushes forward, it's not ideal, I still advocate for a more specialist 6 being brought in but the best we can do right now.

Rare that I feel like we got noticeably worse after the break. No one really turned up, I don't think anyone comes out of that with any real credit. Just a really limp performance.

I know we get the "clear and obvious error" line and they want to set a high bar for VAR intervening but that was a genuinely bad call that has been compounded by VAR not giving it.

That's another goal that's so poor defensively. I don't like to hammer him but Kelly, why on earth hasn't he closed that shot down. Just completely stood off him, it's a tight angle but he's given AWB a free hit.

It would be very "us" to lose at home to a side that has been as poor lately as West Ham but there are definitely chances there for us, Todibo in particular looks shaky. I would like to see Tonali on sooner rather than later and depending how long he can give us, Wilson to disrupt their CB's more.

NBA follows NFL, sends memo to players urging vigilance regarding home security following break-ins The Bucks' Bobby Portis and the Timberwolves Mike Conley had their homes broken into while away for games.

NBA follows NFL, sends memo to players urging vigilance regarding home security following break-ins

www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/nba...

Nina Wilson on Maddy Cusack’s tragic death and why she has quit playing: ‘It can happen again’ Former Sheffield United goalkeeper says she and other women's players are being failed by the sport - with terrible consequences

Without making myself too unpopular on day one of Bluesky posting, why are so many journalists ignoring the Maddy Cusack story?

Our latest is here: why one of her team-mates has quit playing because she’s so disillusioned by the sport’s response to Maddy’s death.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/592...

There's not really a bearable option for winning the league this season, is there? I'm typically not fussed by City winning it but it's getting boring as much as anything else.

Definitely possible. They've had a few funny results against Tottenham, though admittedly away from home. Also entirely possible this is when they start grinding things out like they seem to at some point every year and position themselves to really attack the second half of the season.

I would imagine this is just an attempt to keep him motivated through to the end of the season. Whilst replacing a fit Callum Wilson would be incredibly expensive, the injuries have begun to outweigh any production over the last 12-18 months.

Amidst all the talk of expanding vs relocating the stadium, I was looking out for anything about the training ground. We've made some good strides in a short space of time but when you visit other clubs around the world and compare facilities, we're still so far away from an elite level setup.

Vacancies at Blackburn Rovers FC:
⚽️ Women's media officer
⚽️ Matchday assistant
⚽️ Marketing campaign manager
⚽️ Video analyst scout
www.rovers.co.uk/club/job-vac... #mediajobs

Homage to the mining industry paid with this stunning mural in Houghton-le-Spring

Stunning mural paying tribute to the lost mining industry, can be found on the Houghton-le-Spring Labour Party office. All over the North East you will find murals celebrating the industry that the region was built upon.

#Murals #Mining #KingCoal #Houghton-le-Spring #CoalMining

Marc Guehi in a Newcastle United kit designed by @jamieorrell.bsky.social

After a summer transfer saga that ended in failure, it seems #NUFC’s interest in Marc Guehi is not over.

With the 24-year-old 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 international centre-back entering the last 18 months of his contract, there’s a chance that @jamieorrell.bsky.social's image & this 🧵 of analysis will not be in vain 🔽

NEWCASTLE CONFIDENTIAL: Training ground expansion revealed EXCLUSIVE BY CRAIG HOPE: Newcastle chiefs are working on new plans to expand the site of the current training ground, Confidential can exclusively reveal.

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: NUFC working on new plans to expand current training ground

👇 Full details & more in my Newcastle Confidential column below...

💰 What am I hearing on January spending?
🏟️ Why a new stadium feels more likely
🛖 Any room at Big Al's?

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba...

Julian Nagelsmann has created a Germany team their public like – and believe in On and off pitch, Nagelsmann and his squad have re-engaged a disinterested public with their national team - 2024 has been quite the year

Julian Nagelsmann has created a national team that Germans like - and believe in.

2024 has been a big year. It’s been an important one, too.

@theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/593...

been frustrated that all my work takes forever to do and a lot of it doesn't get released for a long time so i wanted to see what i could knock out in a day and came out with this anthony edwards dunk. please enjoy