dermott

Think he actually said Nkunku is only good for around 20 minutes at this stage of his recovery. In general, rather than referring to tonight.

The evidence is that Newcastle go all out in every game regardless.

His talent was as a LWB getting into the box. A defensive disaster waiting to happen at LB.

Don't think any bridges were burned. Newcastle-supporting family, etc, and he said he preferred midfield. The latter being key.

Hmmmm. Criteria might include senior appearances which could explain the lack of them. Newcastle losing interest.

It's about him holding off signing a contract extension. Current contract expires summer 2025. If he re-signs, fine. If not, they won't let the contract run down. He's 27 and they would want around £35m for him.

True. Makes you wonder who was behind the decision to recruit him.

29m but close enough.

It was widely reported as a season-long loan with an obligation to buy for 28m at the end of the season with a potential 7m of add-ons. Hard to know how Eddie Howe rates him. Despite their injury problems, he has recently come off the bench only once for a not very convincing LB effort late in the game.

Yep. Different times, different playing schedules. The PFA reported recently that there were 30 players unavailable due to hamstring injuries attributable, they said, to workload.

Fair enough.

dill2. noun. informal, mainly Australian and NZ a fool; idiot. I'm Australian.

That's where he seems most comfortable. In midfield, (1) is certainly a problem and, for his size, he can be too easily overpowered. Outstanding at U21 level, he's finding the step up hard going. The unknown is how much support and coaching he's getting.

Pawson is a long-time dill. He remains the only ref, to my knowledge, who went to the screen and ignored the VAR. Which, in itself, might not be a bad thing except the VAR was, in that case, right. It was a few years ago, I forget who was playing whom, but a goal was scored after a potential foul on a defender. It was a blatant foul. Pawson decided it wasn't. Dolt.

You and your hyperbole.

Quite.

One of the more obscure laws: after a VAR overturn of a penalty, play restarts with a dropped ball. Corner kick never an option.

Mainly Colwill letting him come in onto his left foot so easily.

Enzo and others were very good, Thiago never stopped organising, directing traffic. Outstanding.

This aged really really well.

Which is why I blocked him a long time ago.

I watch a lot of rugby and it and football have little in common in terms of discipline and disciplinary procedures. Rugby refs are respected by players. You still hear players call refs "Sir". Team captains are authorised to raise concerns with refs. Backchat from players is dealt with by the offending team being marched back 10 metres. Yellow card is 10 minutes in the sin bin and reserved for tackle offences, deliberate knock ons, etc. Football could learn a lot from rugby.

First start for about 8 weeks. Wait and see,

I've watched him as much as possible with Leicester. Looks much more comfortable around the box. Whether that's enough is another matter.

You'd have to ask him!