Wullie

What?

Mate I watched the game. Duff was denied a certain goal by some great defending at the back post and Martins had a half chance early on. That was our lot. At the other end, Shay had a lot of work to do. We played ok, but let's not start pretending we were cutting Chelsea apart at the back. Wullie's turning gloomy. Big Sam's done for. Seriously though, we're getting expectations lowered by our away performances. Same as at Blackburn, where we were better but still well beaten, some people go on like we were Holland 1974 in that game, masterful but cruelly denied the victory.

Mate I watched the game. Duff was denied a certain goal by some great defending at the back post and Martins had a half chance early on. That was our lot. At the other end, Shay had a lot of work to do. We played ok, but let's not start pretending we were cutting Chelsea apart at the back.

Chances?

End of the world stuff tbh. This forum reads like the book of revelations sometimes. I find a problem with this forum often is that a lot of people like to take results in isolation. Sam got a lot right today, but it was the same old story tactically in the end. We invited unnecessary pressure when we had them rocked back and not only let Chelsea off the hook but there was only one team going to win it in the last 20, when 15 minutes prior to that, their fans were booing them and they were looking very rattled. I'd have said that if we'd got the point, which would nevertheless have been an excellent result, albeit against one of the weakest Chelsea league sides in memory, another reason not to be scared of them. Sam is still not learning these lessons. For such a strong character, he isn't half a coward when it comes to trying to win games.

Arsenal just so fucking good.

Very sad whenever this happens.

Birmingham ? Losing at Blackburn, playing well against Arsenal. Losing at Chelsea, playing well against Man City. Nice logic. That's what happened wasn't it? A good performance at Blackburn with an unlucky result stirred the fans up and we were well up for it against Arsenal. Man City haven't won away from home so we've got every chance of winning. Is that the rule in football then? One in, one out? Give your head a shake. No, and stop being so fucking patronising. That's not what i said. We were unlucky against Blackburn and deserved a lot more out of the game, which stirred the players and the fans up and made the need and 'desire', i suppose, to go out and win the next game more greater. If we'd got bummed off Chelsea and played utter shite, there'd be a different outlook towards the next game, atleast by the support. If you say so.

Birmingham ? Losing at Blackburn, playing well against Arsenal. Losing at Chelsea, playing well against Man City. Nice logic. That's what happened wasn't it? A good performance at Blackburn with an unlucky result stirred the fans up and we were well up for it against Arsenal. Man City haven't won away from home so we've got every chance of winning. Is that the rule in football then? One in, one out? Give your head a shake.

Birmingham ? Losing at Blackburn, playing well against Arsenal. Losing at Chelsea, playing well against Man City. Nice logic.

Attacking is overrated.

There is actually almost no reason on earth to ever play defensive football if you really look at it. Even the fad in the PL has died out now with ManU and Arsenal top. Teams like Reading and Man C go for it...Attack first def when necessary is how I see the game should be played. Play it in their half as much as you can. This season must be on course for including the most goals for a long time. There's at least an 8 goal thriller every week!

Before the Liverpool game, if you'd done a straw poll of Newcastle fans - "Who looks better, Beye or Enrique", Jose would have had more votes.

Not at all. Was as bad as everyone else against Liverpool (actually in that game I thought he was one of our better players until a couple of errors late on) and hasn't been seen since. Bizarre.

Poyet's smug cunty face on SSN. Beating Spurs in future is going to be approximately a billion times more satisfying even than it was before.

He's still learning the English game ffs! He's watched every episode of Only Fools on UKGold at Christmas, had a turkey dinner then went down Whitley and got shitfaced. He'll be ready for England in no time.

Have to say, I thought Faye was exceptional. Height and power in the midfield, something we've been crying out for a long time now. He was absolutely paggered by the 75th minute and looked knackered twice, but still managed to finish the game. He was quality. Bolton fans often said he was their best midfielder as well as their best defender, which is a predicament for us too (not saying he's our best midfielder btw, but he clearly offers a lot there). Cacapa was quality again, but Taylor is still too error-prone. How can you say that when Cacapa let his marker slowly walk around him and score? Eh? Taylor had the ball at his feet. What's Cacapa meant to do, kick him out the way in order to clear it?

You were waiting for Chelsea to score a goal that was 5 yards offside? Give over, man, any other team would have done the same. yeah, chelsea were extremely lucky to get their goal, but there was a period of time, around the 60 minute mark, where chelsea looked a mess. Bring on Owen/Viduka and Emre and go out their and be proactive, get at them. Yeah, there goal was fortunate, but thats what happens when we fail to go out and try and win the game. Indeed.

Much as I dislike Mike Riley, the cheating, Ferguson-rimming, snivelling, little weasel faced twat, it's his linesman's decision to make.

Have to say, I thought Faye was exceptional. Height and power in the midfield, something we've been crying out for a long time now. He was absolutely paggered by the 75th minute and looked knackered twice, but still managed to finish the game. He was quality. Bolton fans often said he was their best midfielder as well as their best defender, which is a predicament for us too (not saying he's our best midfielder btw, but he clearly offers a lot there). Cacapa was quality again, but Taylor is still too error-prone.

Ironically he did f*** all when he become a LW. It was when Martins was taken off and our wonderous manager ridiculously decided to play for a draw, actually. Owen was a positive move. Martins was poor. We didn't lose because of that move. Martins was at least worrying Chelsea, they knew they couldn't really push on and go at us for fear of leaving him room to run into. Bringing Owen into a game like this was about the most stupid thing Sam could have done, for reasons Rich has explained already so I won't revisit them. And if he bagged the winner? All hail the tactical masterstroke. Is that what your argument has been reduced to? Fuck me.

Duff had fucked off altogether. Charlie was running the left side himself second half, forward and back.

correct. What handed the initiative was putting Owen on by himself. The Duff/Viduka substitution should have been made at the same time. Aye, that's what I meant. If he was coming on, it had to be in a 4-4-2 with Viduka/Martins alongside. didnt change when viduka came on, needed the pace, pressing and wide movement from martins to keep them on their toes. soon as he went off the game changed. He's shit Jonny. Loads of people on here told me.

Ironically he did fuck all when he become a LW. mackems.gif

Robbed or not, we have to question why we stopped playing football in the last 20. Chelsea severely depleted with the fans on their back, we should have gone for the jugular. Instead we just put ten behind the ball and punted it clear at every opportunity. Course, it's no-one's fault that the linesman hasn't got the bottle to disallow a goal that's five yards offside, the cheating fuckwit. Charlie booked for dissent? Might as well get hung for a sheep as a lamb, should have knocked the cunt out.