Our last unpopular opinion turned out to be actually quite popular! This time, Scott's up, and it's back to our midfield. Prob8solved last season? He thinks not.
First time I’ve read an article on here and considered reaching for the ‘report comment’ button!!
Yes, he’s crackers. Yes, it looks like he’s using every ounce of strength to deliver a 20yd pass and yes he puts us in trouble now and then fannying about in areas he shouldn’t. But he is that teams heartbeat. He wants it more than almost anyone I’ve ever watched in my life and at Arsenal away, in the Carabao Cup, his determination, grit and will to win was something I’d not seen from a Newcastle player in years. The fawning over him is OTT and you’re right, it’s never his fault. But the fans (that go - not the social media lot) aren’t stupid and he’s earned this adulation.
I currently don’t think Miley is good enough or ever will be (hope I’m wrong and I’ll be happy to say I was). That’s not to say I think he’s a decent player who can change a game when he comes on (Man City away also), just not convinced he’s good enough to do it all season and replace one of the best midfielders I’ve ever seen at SJP. And I think will get better with better players around him. Hopefully.
Good piece, Scott. Replace Bruno with Lewis Miley? For sure…eventually, but it should be done slowly. Not this coming season. Miley has turned into a cracking (I was going to say “little” here but the lad now has stilts for legs!) player. However, for me, Bruno should still be the main man. Jimi Hendrix sang, ‘Are You Experienced’ and by my reckoning Miley is 80% there already. We’re very lucky to have him.
Looking for something that isn't there? We're a bloody good team but if we want to push on and win the league, then replacing Bruno with Miley isn't the best idea. I really like the lad and he will become our mainstay center midfield but not yet, He needs more gametime but sending him to the championship is a daft idea. Whipping Bruno or joelinton off with 30 mins left is one way to go. Letting him play all the cup games would help.
Spot on Scott! Confirmed my doubts that were beginning to manifest for large parts of last season. Those times when he tried the fancy stuff instead of the simple and got us in trouble were becoming a regular feature of his game and always at a seemingly key stage in the match!
It wouldn’t trouble me if he became the big name sacrifice to boost our spending power this window
Not one to shy away from controversy are you mate? I see where you're coming from and I can't believe no one has mentioned the pirouette that gave Liverpool a foothold in the cup final and had us all on tenterhooks for 5 minutes.
However he is the heart of the midfield in conjunction with Sandro. Miley will get more game time because of the CL and I believe he can be the man but not yet.
I also don' think he'd be scowling on the bench for long, he'd be off.
Prior to the cup final, one in a league game that now escapes me he dwelt on the ball lost it (again) and the opposition scored. I mentioned it in a conversation a couple of days later and was angrily shouted down. "it was Dan Burn's fault for passing to him".
Been Longstaff or Murphy who lost the possession, different story I think.
I’ve said it on here before, Bruno is being found out and will win fewer of those cheap ‘fall over’ / ‘so Bruno’ free kicks under the law of diminishing returns and also referees / opponents getting wise. He can be a tad slow too. And takes unnecessary risks. Refer also: Fulham away. But we love him. A conundrum. No easy answer. Isn’t football great?
Totally disagree with you here. Think you are way of the mark but respect your article and view. I think I am in the minority and not blinkered so to speak but personally don't think Miley is good enough. I will be delighted to be proved wrong mind but from what I have seen to don't think he will push us to the next level nor keep us where we are right now. A year wirh a championship team I think would do him the world of good to help push him on and see how that progresses him.
This coming season will see us involved in the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, and defending the Carabao Cup and this amounts to a heavy schedule. Importantly, we are again fighting for a top four or five finish in the Premier League which is greatly demanding in itself and the Carabao Cup has taken on far greater significance in that we're defending a trophy that means a lot, a trophy that we won at Wembley by beating Liverpool. (let's not forget the leadership role that Trippier played on that massive stage) We are going to need every one of the players mentioned along with one or two additions. Bruno went off the boil towards the end of the season but it was a season like no other and he simply looked jaded. Miley is a great talent and will get better over the next season or two. It may be a good idea if he were to be played in the cup games Inevitably, Eddie Howe will have to rotate players so it's as well that we haven't had to repeat last season's panic sale of highly valued Elliott Anderson. We'll begin the new season with Joelinton and Lewis Hall back in the fold. We certainly need cover in defence because Bottman isn't looking too robust since his surgery and will probably need a few more months. We actually have a good team now and need to keep them together. That's the end of my rambling disjointed polemic in defence of the team we have.
Bruno can be a bit frustrating at times but he can also be brilliant, and he is also consistently available more than any other player.
He is passionate about playing for us which has got to be a bonus, I think sometimes his over enthusiasm is him just trying to lift the crowd a notch, which we all know helps the team.
Eddie loves him, enough said, and we should all love him to get the best out of him as he loves to be loved.
Miley is class and his opportunities will come as the season goes on, and he must shine when he gets the chance, which will help Bruno raise his game. In the 23/24 season my memory says Bruno and Miley worked well together so I see him as much more than just a Bruno replacement.
Mark, you do mean Arsenal at home in the League Cup sponsored by Carabao though don't you. I read it the other day in another article mentioning Bruno's performance away at Arsenal too. He played very well in the home game, as they all did but it was a rare show from him.
He didn't play down there and for me that is the game where the new Newcastle United arrived, 50 years of watching and that was the biggest, most important and best away win given the opposition and the magnitude of the game (not that we've had that many games in that time of that sort of magnitude like), that night was finally wow, gulp and burst with pride. We always never turn up for the big games that night we finally broke that seal.
And we did it without Bruno. Showed we could play when it mattered without him.
He's done some wonderful things in his time, won us games, been pivotal but that was two seasons back. His commitment and obvious love for the support and the club is heart warming, he speaks so well when interviewed you cannot help but warm to him but I'm in that camp with Scott, its time for fresh, younger legs. I've winced at the bulk of his performances and antics over the last two seasons.
Nobody talks about him anymore in the positive theme after games , "wasn't Bruno brilliant" is a lost line. He very very rarely gets a glowing mention if a mention at all. His lack of pace is becoming more and more glaring. His diving, oh sorry its deemed something else isn't it is frankly embarrassing. Tonali blows him out the water. I'll stop there though as I acknowledge he's been part of a collective that's overall been a joy to watch in his time here.
I'd cash in but I don't think the demand would be there for him now, nor would the £80 million to be reinvested in strengthening the squad be.
First time I’ve read an article on here and considered reaching for the ‘report comment’ button!!
Yes, he’s crackers. Yes, it looks like he’s using every ounce of strength to deliver a 20yd pass and yes he puts us in trouble now and then fannying about in areas he shouldn’t. But he is that teams heartbeat. He wants it more than almost anyone I’ve ever watched in my life and at Arsenal away, in the Carabao Cup, his determination, grit and will to win was something I’d not seen from a Newcastle player in years. The fawning over him is OTT and you’re right, it’s never his fault. But the fans (that go - not the social media lot) aren’t stupid and he’s earned this adulation.
I currently don’t think Miley is good enough or ever will be (hope I’m wrong and I’ll be happy to say I was). That’s not to say I think he’s a decent player who can change a game when he comes on (Man City away also), just not convinced he’s good enough to do it all season and replace one of the best midfielders I’ve ever seen at SJP. And I think will get better with better players around him. Hopefully.
Absolutely spot on, Mark. 👏👏👏
Cheers, Dave. When I think of some of the players we’ve had in black and white shirts……
Said it before…… Bruno is a brilliant player when he stops thinking that he’s a brilliant player.
The Liverpool goal in the final was a prime example.
Coasting to a two goal victory with a few minutes left. Keep it simple!
Good piece, Scott. Replace Bruno with Lewis Miley? For sure…eventually, but it should be done slowly. Not this coming season. Miley has turned into a cracking (I was going to say “little” here but the lad now has stilts for legs!) player. However, for me, Bruno should still be the main man. Jimi Hendrix sang, ‘Are You Experienced’ and by my reckoning Miley is 80% there already. We’re very lucky to have him.
Looking for something that isn't there? We're a bloody good team but if we want to push on and win the league, then replacing Bruno with Miley isn't the best idea. I really like the lad and he will become our mainstay center midfield but not yet, He needs more gametime but sending him to the championship is a daft idea. Whipping Bruno or joelinton off with 30 mins left is one way to go. Letting him play all the cup games would help.
I’ve given you a 👍 because there isn’t a 😮 and we do get your drift
Spot on Scott! Confirmed my doubts that were beginning to manifest for large parts of last season. Those times when he tried the fancy stuff instead of the simple and got us in trouble were becoming a regular feature of his game and always at a seemingly key stage in the match!
It wouldn’t trouble me if he became the big name sacrifice to boost our spending power this window
Not one to shy away from controversy are you mate? I see where you're coming from and I can't believe no one has mentioned the pirouette that gave Liverpool a foothold in the cup final and had us all on tenterhooks for 5 minutes.
However he is the heart of the midfield in conjunction with Sandro. Miley will get more game time because of the CL and I believe he can be the man but not yet.
I also don' think he'd be scowling on the bench for long, he'd be off.
That's another thing, his mistakes never happen.
Prior to the cup final, one in a league game that now escapes me he dwelt on the ball lost it (again) and the opposition scored. I mentioned it in a conversation a couple of days later and was angrily shouted down. "it was Dan Burn's fault for passing to him".
Been Longstaff or Murphy who lost the possession, different story I think.
I’ve said it on here before, Bruno is being found out and will win fewer of those cheap ‘fall over’ / ‘so Bruno’ free kicks under the law of diminishing returns and also referees / opponents getting wise. He can be a tad slow too. And takes unnecessary risks. Refer also: Fulham away. But we love him. A conundrum. No easy answer. Isn’t football great?
Totally disagree with you here. Think you are way of the mark but respect your article and view. I think I am in the minority and not blinkered so to speak but personally don't think Miley is good enough. I will be delighted to be proved wrong mind but from what I have seen to don't think he will push us to the next level nor keep us where we are right now. A year wirh a championship team I think would do him the world of good to help push him on and see how that progresses him.
This coming season will see us involved in the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, and defending the Carabao Cup and this amounts to a heavy schedule. Importantly, we are again fighting for a top four or five finish in the Premier League which is greatly demanding in itself and the Carabao Cup has taken on far greater significance in that we're defending a trophy that means a lot, a trophy that we won at Wembley by beating Liverpool. (let's not forget the leadership role that Trippier played on that massive stage) We are going to need every one of the players mentioned along with one or two additions. Bruno went off the boil towards the end of the season but it was a season like no other and he simply looked jaded. Miley is a great talent and will get better over the next season or two. It may be a good idea if he were to be played in the cup games Inevitably, Eddie Howe will have to rotate players so it's as well that we haven't had to repeat last season's panic sale of highly valued Elliott Anderson. We'll begin the new season with Joelinton and Lewis Hall back in the fold. We certainly need cover in defence because Bottman isn't looking too robust since his surgery and will probably need a few more months. We actually have a good team now and need to keep them together. That's the end of my rambling disjointed polemic in defence of the team we have.
Bruno can be a bit frustrating at times but he can also be brilliant, and he is also consistently available more than any other player.
He is passionate about playing for us which has got to be a bonus, I think sometimes his over enthusiasm is him just trying to lift the crowd a notch, which we all know helps the team.
Eddie loves him, enough said, and we should all love him to get the best out of him as he loves to be loved.
Miley is class and his opportunities will come as the season goes on, and he must shine when he gets the chance, which will help Bruno raise his game. In the 23/24 season my memory says Bruno and Miley worked well together so I see him as much more than just a Bruno replacement.
This is the content we’re here for.
Super article and comments, great reading.
Mark, you do mean Arsenal at home in the League Cup sponsored by Carabao though don't you. I read it the other day in another article mentioning Bruno's performance away at Arsenal too. He played very well in the home game, as they all did but it was a rare show from him.
He didn't play down there and for me that is the game where the new Newcastle United arrived, 50 years of watching and that was the biggest, most important and best away win given the opposition and the magnitude of the game (not that we've had that many games in that time of that sort of magnitude like), that night was finally wow, gulp and burst with pride. We always never turn up for the big games that night we finally broke that seal.
And we did it without Bruno. Showed we could play when it mattered without him.
He's done some wonderful things in his time, won us games, been pivotal but that was two seasons back. His commitment and obvious love for the support and the club is heart warming, he speaks so well when interviewed you cannot help but warm to him but I'm in that camp with Scott, its time for fresh, younger legs. I've winced at the bulk of his performances and antics over the last two seasons.
Nobody talks about him anymore in the positive theme after games , "wasn't Bruno brilliant" is a lost line. He very very rarely gets a glowing mention if a mention at all. His lack of pace is becoming more and more glaring. His diving, oh sorry its deemed something else isn't it is frankly embarrassing. Tonali blows him out the water. I'll stop there though as I acknowledge he's been part of a collective that's overall been a joy to watch in his time here.
I'd cash in but I don't think the demand would be there for him now, nor would the £80 million to be reinvested in strengthening the squad be.