madras

i think the main reason was that they looked f***ed. That was about the Swansea game. right, gotcha.

We have nowhere near enough movement in our side for that to work. Aye, exactly. Until we get a coach who is capable of working with players of this calibre then its not really going anywhere, which is a massive shame. tbf the false no9 only really works when you have the calibre of xavi, bousquets, messi etc to pull it off. has anyone else worked it successfully without a very high calibre of player who have been in the system for a long time ?

i think the main reason was that they looked fucked.

any word on cisse ? would anyone else play gouffran through the middle if cisse doesn't make it ?

an away draw, in the first leg in the latter stages of a european competition, on a plastic pitch, against a team unbeaten at home in european or domestic competition (in fact they have won 15 out of 18) is a poor result ? fuck me, this place at times. haters just gonna hate eh!

Well they are through on a score draw. but you'd think if we were favourites to go win the game we'd be favorites to go through. on the match odds the draw is quite the outsider. What about the odds for Anzhi/draw compared to us winning? That's what you should be looking at. If we are only slight favourites to win, then I wouldn't think it's weird at all that they are favourites to go through with the away goal rule being the way it is. and there it hits a problem as i can find odds to lay newcastle but not specifically a newcastle defeat or 0-0 draw (which in itself wouldn't knock us out)

and to be fair he's played quite well.

Well they are through on a score draw. but you'd think if we were favourites to go win the game we'd be favorites to go through. on the match odds the draw is quite the outsider.

heres a little paradox, on betfair we are slight favourites to win the game next week yet they are clear favourites to qualify. go figure

wigan away

he's going to get better as he gets used to this league aswell. (quote me on that in 18month)

alternativly, had he lashed it and the keeper saved it, you'd be posting "i wish he'd tried to just dink it over the keeper".

Wingers - like Marveaux - are though. Marveaux isn't a winger. Yes, he is. No, he said himself that he's not a winger. Said his best position and the place he's been played in most was central midfield. Either way, he's not shown enough here to warrant more time imo, which is a shame as he has talent. you sure ? i know he said he sees himself in the middle (like n'zogbia did, both wrong IMO).can't remember seeing him play anywhere but on the left when in france.

Wingers - like Marveaux - are though. Marveaux isn't a winger. Yes, he is. Nope. Number 10 or as part of a central 3. He's a winger who plays out wide, on the wing, and is very average at it. You're thinking of Obertan or something mate. Probably Beausejour as I have a feeling you watching an entirely different side all together. No as Obertan is f***ing s***, not average. You're watching Wigan then mate. Good one bud. I'm not even joking, for someone to come to the conclusion that Marveaux is a winger playing on the wing they certainly haven't been watching Newcastle. the vast majority of his career he's played wide, more wide midfield than winger if you get my drift.

Honestly, what about their performance gives you that opinion? They look to have very good defenders with real pace. Even Sissoko had trouble getting much change out of them one on one. Plus they've got two very decent forwards in Eto and Villiams (or whatever his name is). I think man for man we're a match, but I just think that not getting an away goal is going to cost us, because like I said, I don't think we'll keep a clean sheet when they come here. we don't need to keep a clean sheet against them.

yes and no, we have no need to go flying at them from the off.

if we have to play a defensive midfielder in that way, he has better form there than tiote this season.

would have no worries playing this lad in the prem.

horses for courses maybe ? had they a reputation for hoying in loads of high balls would willo have got the nod over perch ?

not so much the price as that was decided by the famous clause. more so how come we seemed to be the only ones aware enough to go get him (or if there were others, what put us above them ?)

theres go for it and go for it though. no need to go all out from the first minute. as important not to concede as score for the first hour or so.

and gouffran must get a chance this time.

a lot happier having them come here level than leading. we win, we go through.

yip. they have a clean sheet, however they also no if they get beat over here by any score they are out. they looked knackered after 70mins so at our place, some players back, pressure on, i'd make us slight favourites.

true, actually played quite well when he didn't have the ball.