The College Dropout

Yes. Ba scored from a good few flick-ons from Shola/Best. Apart from Cisse he's looked decent with everyone else at our club.

Anything more than £25m and we've got a great deal. A real replacement would cost around £10m but i'd be scared we wouldn't sign anyone.

This.

While I do think he's right to make a stand and not want to wear it, I do think he's trying to engineer a move. A lot of people commit adultery but they wouldn't want to wear a shirt that promotes it so I don't understand the hypocrisy angle. As a religious person - being a sinner isn't a reason to stand up for what you believe in. I would be more disappointed in Cisse if he's using this as an excuse to leave. If he's honest about his stand - I approve.

'98 first tournament I can recall the majority of the games.

His lack of ability also forces Cabaye too deep. I have no problems with him deep. It's when he's battling too much that he's wasted. I'm not sure Cabaye has had many good games at NUFC without Tiote.

I've said this before. But Tiote is the only player currently, who takes the running burden off Cabaye a bit. His athleticism and physicality mixed with a more defensive nature helps Cabaye out immensely.

Disagree. You'll have Cabaye doing too much donkey work and the whoel team will collapse imo.

Also, it's like the difference between a top-level CM and just a decent one. One of them needs a game of the right pace to operate, and the other one is capable of creating the right pace themselves. Pirlo might be playing in some hectic games, but when the ball gets to him he has all the time in the world. That was Carrick's problem for a few years. Where Scholes could doctate the tempo and slow it down when needed, game's could get too much for Carrick.

Start ahead of who?

i don't disagree tbh. But I do think a slower game suits other leagues better than the PL- couldn't imagine Riqueleme playing well under any manager in the Premiership consistently like he did under Pellegrini. Like-wise quick and direct players are more suited to the Prem. Now someone like Alonso you would think, might struggle in the PL. But not only is he an elite player, he had a manager that understood how to get the best out of him in this league but fully understands what made him special in Spain. Alonso's better than Cabaye and Benitez is more shrewd than Pardew. This man played Hayden Mullins over Mascherano ffs. So yeah, I don't disagree but there's certain mileage in that line. By English football we really mean, "is not suited to kick and rush". It's doesn't matter as much if his team doesn't play kick and rush.

But it's 11 players playing that style. It's different when 10 are playing differently to 1. Like how Cesc isn't a CM in Spanish football anymore.

Scholes spent the last 5 years minimum, playing as a deep playmaker. Until this season, he was far better at it than Carrick. Previously, Carrick's had trouble consistently imposing himself in that regard. Not that he's not excellent at it.

By behind I meant in a normal CM position as James wrote it. Or am I confused?

Why is cabaye unsuitable to playing behind Cisse?

What about Bigirimana? Looks a class young act imo and he needs first team football next season.

Agree again. Simpson looked better defensively.

I don't think its "fitness". It's more natural athleticism or yeah maybe mobility. He can do it - it's just a massive effort. Xabi Alonso is the same.

Agreed. He would do a poor job if asked to protect the defence. Midfield 3 for me as a shuttler.

I don't know about mobile but Cabaye is no natural athlete. He doesn;t have the physical capacity to do lots of running AND really influence the game. He can get bogged down in battles. That's why he works best with Tiote, who eases the legwork he has to do. Sissoko - at the moment I agree. Look at his French record in end product - it's not great. his burst when he came here seems against the trend.

Does anyone think Wenger is getting to that stage at Arsenal? I think they should go back to signing the youngsters for sometimes big bucks. I don't buy "they need experience". Let Wenger do it his way. If you don't believe in his policy, sack him. In recent years he's had to sign more mature players as the overall quality dropped and needed quick fixes.

Since Mou left they have been an interesting side to watch. But the fans... biggest bellends in the country.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4709879/Demba-Ba-snubs-80000-a-week-offer-to-join-up-with-QPR.html Him going to a very good team wasn't just a happy coincidence, yo. Most of our players would go to Chelsea given the chance. Pretty certain all of them would. Except Shola.

this is a f***ing joke post right? Mike Ashley is the sole owner of Newcastle United unless I am mistaken. He and the club are one legal identity, no? Meaning whatever profits or loses the club makes goes into/out of his wallet? he'll find a way, but has owned since 2007 and as far as i know commercially he's done very little to improve the club...he's cut costs, got rid of high earners and we're back in the PL but we're clearly worthy of better sponsorship and in particular shirt deals aren't we? even the mackems have made a fuckin effort man I agree with better sponsors and the like. We look very budget.

this is a f***ing joke post right? Mike Ashley is the sole owner of Newcastle United unless I am mistaken. He and the club are one legal identity, no? Meaning whatever profits or loses the club makes goes into/out of his wallet? It's still a limited company, so losses to himself are limited. Okay, so Newcastle United onw the debt and not him personally. But that debt has significantly reduced the value of his asset, no? Didn't he personally pay-off all the debt and charged it back to himself with low credit?