Rich

I'll post this as a Scunthorpe fan, which is difficult to do right now. That was easily our worst performance of the season. Absolutely gutless performance; they just didn't turn up. It was always going to be one way traffic, but they looked like they didn't even care. Missing your best defender (Mirfin) and your best striker (Hooper) doesn't help, but add to that a right back who should be back playing college football in america, and a centre back who wouldn't look out of place in Sunday league football, it was always going to be a big defeat. There was a huge argument after the match between the players. Think they already know they're down, and no there's a rumour Hooper is out for the season. Had a decent night our after the match though, after I'd recovered from my vertigo. Andrew Wright was the best player in light blue last night, in my opinion. Thought he was outstanding considering what he was up against. Had a couple of shaky moments but on the whole was very, very good. One of the very few to play anywhere near the level required. Agree that it was the worst performance of the season though, just didn't turn up at all. Where did the argument happen, by the way? On the pitch?? I missed it if so. I don't think Scunny are down and out just yet either, have a feeling they were holding something back for the games on Saturday/Tuesday. Anything less than four points from those two and I might agree that things are extremely bleak.

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/5241/newcastle10.png My brother made this mock-up, based on the information given by Theregulars (who said he had seen it).

Kadar?

Dubious penalty for WBA. Shock. 1-0 up.

Forest 2-0 down. Wayhey.

He had Christine frothing at the gash as well, it was blatantly obvious.

I thought he did alright to be honest, nailed those bird-related questions about football and even coaxed a big laugh out of the assembled with his bird-related joke.

Happens at loads of teams, even ones at the top. Mentality, tactics, personnel, approach of opponents, etc. Loads goes into it. After a quick look to back up my shitty memory, when we came 3rd in 2002/03 under Bobby we only won 6 games away in the league (15 at home). When we came 2nd in 1995/96 under Keegan we only won 7 away compared to 17 at home. Just a couple of examples of when we've personally been great at home and not so great away in recent times. I know the difference in terms of style and therefore performance has been a lot larger this season (i.e. Hughton playing a home formation and an away formation, in essence) but the results aren't too different from those seasons. We hadn't been playing that well at home until fairly recently, too.

I would have loved it if some fans just burst out of the stands and started having a big race around the running track.

I think it's the same with every manager, everywhere, mate. Probably not to this extent in some cases but I've definitely seen it on multiple forums with managers far more embedded and well-liked at their respective clubs than he is. You'd be surprised at how much stick the likes of Ferguson, Wenger, etc. get for similar sorts of "bad decisions". I wouldn't let it bother you too much, but if it leads to more posts like that one then I wouldn't take Jon's advice and skip the thread after every draw/loss I'm not his biggest fan by any stretch but he has done a pretty good job, and as I said, we still managed to get a 2-2 yesterday - which wasn't too much of a bad result considering how far above their level 'Boro played and how their recent home form has been (pretty decent). He is still too cautious, but at the end of the day we went away from home in a "derby" and played an attacking 4-4-2 with two wingers which was pretty good to see. He's learning the ropes, but like others I'm still not convinced he'll be at a level to have us performing well enough in the PL to be comfortable. Time will tell.

Yeah - was on another national forum and asked that very thing - their trophy was "in the past" was it not ? And if we're comparing trophies our teams won "in the past" they're somewhere behind Wimbledon. It's always shocking in reality too They get loads of people in, man. Just the majority choose to go dressed as red, plastic seats. That's a massive seller in all Teesside fancy dress shops.

Let's start from the end- no, I don't accept your apology, as it's not sincere, as you continued to insult in the very post you issued an apology ("You absolute mong"). But, that's not so important. What is more important is: 1. Your statement... "that Lovenkrands would score plenty of goals at this level" if he were used more is simply banal. ANY player who is used more has more chance of scoring, as simple as that. Especially a striker who starts more games is in much better chance of scoring goals than a substitute. Having in mind that first-choice strikers in modern football very rarely play less than one halftime, and that substitutes often don't have more than 20 or 25 minutes per game. 2. The minutes to goals ratio was introduced exactly for that reason. Some strikers spend a lot of time in game, as starters more often than not, but don't strike with the same proficiency like some reserves. That's why this ratio was introduced- to have a fair criterium for judging the success of all strikers, whether they are starters or reserves, or change status during the season, like Lovenkrands. You can't use minutes to goals ratio and take away some games, and count in the others. Using the minutes to goals ratio and counting goals in only the game Lovenkrands spent as starter is illogical and incorrect. Besides, it doesn't serve your aim of proving his goalscoring proficiency. 3. Listing Lovenkrands as the club's top scorer is relevant for many reasons. It shows clearly that a player has good form in longer period of time. It shows that player is actually doing what he can do. Ratio we mentioned so often shows only that he MIGHT do it. Comparison to Nolan and mentioning minutes is okay, but you forgot the most important par (again ) - Nolan is midfielder, and Lovenkrands is striker. Ratio cannot show that. Shola and Lovenkrands have almost identical ratio of goals per minute, only slightly in Lovenkrands favour, but one is permanently injured, and the other one plays and scores. Although I totally agree with your general idea that Lovenkrands is able to score, and not only in this level of the game, IMO he can do it in the Premiership as well, your method of proving it is absolutely laughable. Your way of saying that you don't like my posts is even more laughable, but, have fun. Argh. 1. Yes, obviously that is the case, but in this particular instance with Lovenkrands I think it's a fair argument to show that he should have played in more games as when he has played he has a fantastic record. I see where the confusion is coming from, because you're looking at it a different way to me. My fault for not being crystal clear. My argument has always been that Hughton hasn't used him enough, which you COULD understand if he wasn't producing the goods. In fact, he now has the best scoring record at the club this season (whatever way you look at it) and simply means I am frustrated he's only become a regular starter recently. I don't think that's too unfair, although I appreciate you're a big fan of Hughton. This whole issue is based upon my assumption that if Lovenkrands had played more he would have continued his impressive scoring record and therefore, we'd be even better-off because of it. (I do realise this is merely assumption and may not have occured.) 2. I have counted ALL the minutes Lovenkrands and Ameobi have played this season, not JUST the ones where Lovenkrands started for the goals/minutes ratio, so again you've totally got your wires crossed. I stated this, and then have explained (twice now) that I then mentioned goals/starts alongside it, not with it. I can't be any clearer than that. Lovenkrands has that goals/minutes ratio in all games, but has scored 11 in 16 starts (a good record, that's all I'm saying). Basically, point 2 you've made is void, completely, as you have totally got it wrong. Again this may just be me not being clear. 3. Possibly your most embarrassing one so far. If you actually read my post, you will see I did indeed mention the positions of Nolan/Lovenkrands: So yet again, you're simply not reading my posts properly or you just don't understand what I have now had to say 3 times. No insults this time, I think that says enough. Apologies to everyone else for how fucking boring this is.

We can give it the old "If Best scores we're on the pitch." Although no doubt someone will tell me suggesting something like that is a disgrace and we should be behind our players all the way. Ahem... ...

Wow, some people have short memories. A certain Mr Kinnear, anyone? EDIT: Directed at Parky and co. and not ChrisJ obviously. He isn't good enough for the PL - get rid at the end of the season. By all accounts he is a fair coach and we should retain him as that. Bizarre decisions yesterday, but then I suppose he can argue that he was justified with the fact we came away with a point and looked the more likely side to win the game in the closing stages. Should we have been settling for a point from the start, though? (Which did appear to be the case.) However, alter the decision-making from what it was and you could never predict how the game would have played-out. After-all we did go a goal down after the substitutions were made and had to fight back just to get where we were. It must be added though that it was a big, big game for him yesterday and he had a real nightmare with Williamson withdrawing late-on and then Coloccini having to go off just after half-time. It was obvious that Jose can't have been fit enough to play such a part (so I suppose one could wonder why he was named on the bench) and hence he had to bring Ryan Taylor on and switch the defence around. Just a funny old day really, after he has generally been doing well recently.

Aye, except for that lad who said he'd be lively in the Championship alongside a target-man, and score plenty of goals. Must be a right genius. /Ronaldo (He's scored a goal every 105.6 minutes this season, in all competitions. 11 goals from 16 starts.) Actually, no. Lovenkrands scored 13 times this season. Besides, he is the club's joint top-scorer, with Kevin Nolan. http://www.nufc.com/2009-10html/goalscorers.html Of course, Shola Ameobi very probably has the best minutes to goals ratio, if you really think that counts. As I said, 11 goals from 16 starts. 13 goals from all appearances (scored 2 off the bench in the 5-1 win over Cardiff). Was basically trying to make the point that when he starts, he usually scores - which is why it has been so frustrating to see him used so little from the outset in the earlier part of the season (and until fairly recently, to be honest). And yes, I know stats don't tell the full story and can be moulded to fit any point of view (as I did there) - but whatever way you take it, his goals-per-minute ratio is very, very good (tends to be a better judge of strike-rate than goals-per-game). Oh, and Shola's ratio is actually a goal every 106.8 minutes. So aye, f*** off. The very fact that you mention goals to minutes ratio, and count only the games and goals when player started the games is bizarre, to say at least. Yes, stats don't tell the full story, they tell the full story to those who know what is relevant, and what is not. Counting only the games player started, and mentioning it in the same breath with the minutes to goals ratio is laughable. And so is this type of speech: Especially for an admin. How did you count Shola's minutes to goals ratio? I hope you didn't incude any last season games. Dear me. I counted it by dividing the minutes he has played this season by the goals he has scored. Doesn't take too long to do. What is relevant for a striker then? Oh enlightened one. How was it relevant that you stated Lovenkrands is joint-top scorer with Kevin Nolan, in relation to my point about games started and goals-per-minute? Surely that was a daft comment as Nolan has played far more games, far more minutes and plays in a different position? Do you see the irony here? I can deal with debating with sensible/even just consistent points of view (which yours definitely hasn't been, even just across two posts), but not people who initially misread the point of a post, then are mistaken about their next daft assumption (Ameobi) and then question the basis of the post with an almighty when it's them who are acting laughably. I've already made it clear that I was using goals-per-minute to support my assumption from last season that Lovenkrands would score plenty of goals at this level and that I then went on to mention goals-per-start to support the fact that I feel he should have been used from the start a lot more this season. I did explain that in my previous post, if you actually read it. The man scores goals, he would have scored a lot more if he'd been used more. That's the basic gist of what I am getting at, surely that's fair enough? Also I must apologise for my aggressive reaction to you there as well, but you must see why your post frustrated me. You absolute mong.

That is a tremendous story.

Cliff Byrne, meant to be their best defender. Suspended as he was sent off this weekend. (Shearergol feel free to amend this) So really our best form of defence for this game will be to attack them. Considering they have the worst defensive record in the league, then that's probably not a bad shout whatever team we put out

I would appreciate Alan Smith if someone came in for him this summer and he kindly took his leave. He's on far too much wonga for what he offers.

Aye, except for that lad who said he'd be lively in the Championship alongside a target-man, and score plenty of goals. Must be a right genius. /Ronaldo (He's scored a goal every 105.6 minutes this season, in all competitions. 11 goals from 16 starts.) Actually, no. Lovenkrands scored 13 times this season. Besides, he is the club's joint top-scorer, with Kevin Nolan. http://www.nufc.com/2009-10html/goalscorers.html Of course, Shola Ameobi very probably has the best minutes to goals ratio, if you really think that counts. As I said, 11 goals from 16 starts. 13 goals from all appearances (scored 2 off the bench in the 5-1 win over Cardiff). Was basically trying to make the point that when he starts, he usually scores - which is why it has been so frustrating to see him used so little from the outset in the earlier part of the season (and until fairly recently, to be honest). And yes, I know stats don't tell the full story and can be moulded to fit any point of view (as I did there) - but whatever way you take it, his goals-per-minute ratio is very, very good (tends to be a better judge of strike-rate than goals-per-game). Oh, and Shola's ratio is actually a goal every 106.8 minutes. So aye, fuck off.

Aye, except for that lad who said he'd be lively in the Championship alongside a target-man, and score plenty of goals. Must be a right genius. /Ronaldo (He's scored a goal every 105.6 minutes this season, in all competitions. 11 goals from 16 starts.)

i'm sure you'll think of something to pass the time. :colo:

Very impressed with him on Saturday. Just good, basic wing-play for the majority of the match. Looks massively inconsistent and erratic but was a proper handful. Certainly not as shite as made out previously.

Gutted that Routledge isn't playing like, would like to have seen both flanks in full working order with Jose returning.

I'm already pitching a tent in anticipation of this summer.