Absolutely ideal group; Aberdeen, Lugano, Klaksvik. No super tough games, minimal travel time, Lugano is incredible place, and sure when else would you get an excuse to visit the Faroes?
Some Newcastle fans saying that's the best all round performance they've ever seen from their side. Lifetime. Let's not get too introspective. Yes there were mistakes, yes some players need to do better, but for 45 minutes we were in it.
I don't think it'll take Emery long to turn this squad into a team.
You can really tell how lightweight we are by how often we get off balance and bundled over. Dendoncker a big addition in there just being able to hold men off at arms length
It's gonna be tough but we can win here. I just hope Jack didn't tell his mate Maddison he'd be out, giving Rodgers days to perfect a strategy that didn't involve double-marking him.
Traore and Ross for Trez and Sanson. The extra level of press will be the perfect counter to how fast they'll come out second half.
If not I predict Traore to continue getting walked past without putting in a tackle until they score down their left, at which point we'll take him off for Davis.
I can't make up my mind on whether I want this or not given we're somewhat free rolling this game, so I'll ask y'all: How valuable could it be to us in the long term for Luiz to have a substantially below average game tonight in front of Pep? Wouldn't he be less likely to forget a woeful performance he saw in person, especially given he'll want Luiz to be at at best against high level CL opposition such as his? Even with all the data to look, at the end of the day people's lived experience tends to influence their decision making.