Don’t forget Isak has developed a lot at Newcastle, particularly in his link/hold up game.
Judging Barry for not being ready made seems to me to be an expectation that is totally at odds with our drawing power. We need to take chances on rawer players and develop them.
Have we forgotten how crap the legendary Graeme Sharp was early doors with us? He looked far worse in 80/81 than Barry looks now IMO. One of HK1’s greatest managerial achievements was transforming Sharp from an easily bullied, sulky, slope-shouldered, homesick misfit into a genuine leader of the line. 
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& to an extent the fear of what Grealish might do has already also opened up a lot of space for others, but you need a no9 who can hold the ball up when we are under pressure &/or can finish the only chance he gets in a tight game?
That’s their main job
We have a midfield who have hardly been prolific goalscorers (humour me - compared to Cahill, Osman, Arteta, Fellaini…..) so the striker needs to score more than just tap ins to make a real difference.
I hope you’re right & I’m wrong, but I just don’t see it with either of the Bs at present
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Should watch it until the end. The importance of us having two 9s who can and will run all day and who defences have to fear getting in behind is hard to exaggerate. It isn’t just about the touches they have it is about the touches they let others have in and around the box. Previous Message
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on September 3, 2025, 10:33 am, in reply to "