Howaythelads

4-4-2 has been the most successful formation for almost 3 decades. At club and international level across the globe. fat sam has brought in some decent players, but we have the players for 4-4-2 and you should always play to your strengths. I doubt FS will see that.

I prefer 4-4-2 because over decades it's proven to be the most successful, not because it's pretty to watch. 4-3-3 doesn't have to be boring, but if we're going to use it I'd like to see one of the midfielders have the ability to play wide, this is not to make it look pretty but because I think it's a mistake to ignore playing with some width.

Aye, his problem is he never gets an extended run there, 'cos he's "versatile" apparently. To me, we have 4 strikers now, Viduka, Smith, Owen and Martins. Perm Viduka/Smith with Owen/Martins if all are fit is how I'd like to see it work.

I'd like to see 4-4-2 and an end to square pegs in round holes, eg Smith is not a midfielder.

Some Spurs fans want Jol out after one game, seems losing to Sunderland is too much to bear. Heard one Spurs fan taking the opposite view though, claimed it was only one game and that he's still confident Spurs will finish in the top 4! Now I'm not really saying we're going to finish in the top 4 after the optimism of a good performance and the clear signs we're headed in the right direction, but there are a few teams I'd fancy to get nearer the top 4 than Spurs. As for Middlesboro, load of crap and long may it continue. Villa anarl. I was worried about O'Neill becoming our manager and I've seen nowt last season or in his dealings of this summer to make me change my mind. They didn't come on much last season and I don't think they'll do much this season either. Impressed by the organisation of Reading, a good result even with the cheating 12th bastard Stiles extending the match to give manure one last chance to score.

Don't like the fact that he's a hockler, but there's no doubt he's a good player.

3rd

No doubt everyone else will be to blame.

Not much truth in this at all.....

I think over his time at the club there have been more posts on this forum claiming how great he is and that is what is unbelievable. There was a time not too long ago when those who thought Parker was crap and said so were in a very small minority on here. It seems he's been sussed now by the majority. It took a long time but that's ok, just as long as this heap of talentless shite buggers off.

We're a better team without this joker. I'm awaiting confirmation he's gone and then it's celebration time....

It's a fair comment but it would surely have to apply to everyone?

I'd still snap their hand off, but then even in the current market I'd take £1m for him. He's hopeless. Sooner he's gone the better.

Why would you want to replace him with that joker? tbh Nolan's a key member of my premiership over-rated list which consists of: kevin Nolan Anton Ferdinand Frank Lampard Jamie Carragher Philipe Senderos Michael Owen Matt taylor (just makes the list) Must be a whoosh because nobody could be thick enough to be serious about this list that should only be Ferdinand and Lampard.

Absolutely, i was shocked when i found out that he has only scored a couple more than Parker this season because he is capable of so much more. Although, i think it has something to do with Man citys lack of goals and there poor season. For me he EXACTLY the type of playmaker we need. If Butt plays as well as he did last season they would be awesome IMO. Barton and playmaker shouldn't be in the same sentence. If you don't know what a playmaker is you shouldn't express opinions about football. Playmaker. A person who creates play perhaps. Or have you got your definiton from a computer game that i don't play? Would you care to venture into some debate about why he isn't a playmaker, or is that beyond your intelligence? There's no debate; Barton is not a playmaker. Creativity is not one of his strengths. He is about as creative as a brick. He is a central midfielder. A playmaker is someone who consistently creates goalscoring opportunities and will get many assists. We don't have one in our team. Pretty much agree about Barton. He's not a playmaker, he's just a clogger really from what I've seen, although he's still better than Parker.

You were insecure enough not to want us to sign Bowyer on the grounds he was found innocent under a court of law of charges that you (like others) become self righteous about. He wasn't found innocent in McDonalds at Charlton, nor was he found innocent of taking drugs, nor was he found innocent of a vicious stamp on the head of a Malaga player. As a player, I didn't think Bowyer was worth the hassle, which turned out to be true since his most memorable act at NUFC is the fight with Dyer. Same stance with Barton, I admit it's possibly a hypocritical one, but more simply a matter of pros and cons. They're both a pair of horrible little scrotes. Ridiculous post, particularly the last sentence. I'm sure you know the age of Bowyer when the incident happened at McDonalds, so it seems you're the kind of person who holds such a thing against a person for the rest of their life. Thank goodness the people who create English laws and sentencing guidelines don't think the daft way you do. So aye, hypocritical is the word, so I agree with you on that point.

You were insecure enough not to want us to sign Bowyer on the grounds he was found innocent under a court of law of charges that you (like others) become self righteous about.

Staggered really I am. To compare one of the greatest, and certainly most unsung heroes of my time as a toon fan with Parker. Incredible. I don't think he at any stage fell in love with the toon, and let's be honest he came for the money. As for these "utterly awesome" performances in his first season, I must've missed them. He had a good game against Arsenal, he put his heart and soul in to it, won tackles yes he was decent. Can you honestly tell me which games he was utterly awesome though. He was reasonable at the beginning of this season, scoring a few goals running from midfield, which he should be doing the whole time but hasn't been. "CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS STARTS SEASON OFF WITH A BANG" I've played football with defensive midfielders who have consistently made better runs than Parker and still managed to play an anchor man role with ease. Nicky Butt for me over the three years he's been here has produced at least TEN awesome performances, and for me Parker never come near the level of performance Nicky Butt gave on his debut at Boro. Newcastle Online isn't the definitive voice of all Newcastle fans, some here you have to remember are your more knowledgable/passionate toon fan in general, than say your man in the street who reads his Chronicle on a Tuesday night with Northern Life on in the background. It's always appeared to me that Parker bar one or two occasions has almost been above criticism, but because he's Parker the clueless majority have always held him closer to their heart than they have Nicky Butt. The same muppets who pay his wages? Are they not entitled to voice an opinion, when their captain, the heir to Alan Shearer goes hiding against a team no better than Colchester are turning us over at home??? That's what he did, he hid, the guy who is supposed be the inspiration and the example. He didn't like being told, by his employers he wasn't doing what was expected. His reaction? "Fuck Off" Imagine Peter Beardsley, Shearer (granted players who the sun shines out their arse as far as the fans are concerned) coming out with that? Imagine Batty coming out with that, and he had some bad games? Imagine it. No I can't neither. Roy Keane cunt that he is, criticised the fans more appropriately by telling them with a big of dignity what he thought. Not Parker "FUCK OFF toon fans you don't deserve me". He doesn't deserve us, and he never deserved that captains armband. This bid £6.5m/£8.5m. Whatever it is it's far more than he's worth and I think this could be the fourth massively positive thing that's happened in 4 weeks. Scott Parker isn't the worst player that's ever played for Newcastle, technically he's not bad, he can have spells of four reasonable games in a row, but the role he's been employed to play in he's simply not capable of fulfilling. Thank the lord there will be no more pirouette's at St James' (well if Sam's got any sense). People are saying Joey Barton would be a bad move, him or Kevin Nolan, and argue if you like, are better, more dynamic midfielders than Parker. The only reason Parker has been above them in the England pecking order is, he's been playing for Newcastle and they've been at City and Bolton. £8.5m for a bloke we've NEVER EVER seen striker a ball. I've never seen him kick the ball ever, and you know what I mean, where you kick through the ball and you get the power from your standing foot leaping, people that play will know what I mean. Striking the ball is a basic and fundamental technique all professionals have in their locker, he hasn't. He shoots but you know it's going to be shite, because he genuinely can't strike it, and don't give me his goal at Charlton he sliced that anyway, and he didn't kick through it. All in all the best toon performances over the last two years have been when he's been out of the team, he slows the game down too much, holds on to the ball, and granted doesn't lose it that often, but the results is another man of the match for Parker and another negative result for the toon. Souness always used to say "Parker is great in the dressing room, he's a man in the dressing room.", it's just a shame he often wasn't on the pitch. Bye Parker. you're a fucking joke stevie and you're exactly the sort of fan that is the problem with NUFC I bet you don't even see the irony of both players coming from Charlton tbh, the god Lee, give me strength So what is this all about, Vicky? Do you want to point out the incorrect comment(s) in his post?

So people keep saying, except he doesn't have the ability or attributes. Actually he does have the attributes to play as a defensive midfielder, but sure as hell not as an attacking midfielder, not the way that cunt Roeder was playing him anyway. Actually, he doesn't. That's if you include passing ability, anticipation and quality tackling as required attributes. He charges around a lot, dives into tackles ending up on his arse a lot and slows our play down to walking pace. That's after he's done the Jayne Torvil bit first.

Pretty good.

So people keep saying, except he doesn't have the ability or attributes.

No brainer. Shite player, a big restriction on how the team plays. I'd snap their hand off.

Err, his track record isn't as good as previous managers who were backed to the hilt but who ultimately didn't bring the club a trohpy.

The reservation I've always had over Allardyce is whethere or not he can operate under an increased level of expectation. Well it looks like that expectation is going through the roof.