HawK

For what it's worth, that season was one of the most difficult seasons I've had supporting Newcastle in my 30 years I've been following the team. I could see with my own eyes how badly we were set up, how the players themselves were almost in disbelief that they were winning games in the way they did. Drogba's reaction to Cissé's goal said everything to me. I had to smile and nod around fellow fans who extolled the virtues of the great Alan Pardew. Then I had to come on here and read about how well we were doing, with Alan Pardew rebranded as 'Alain Depardieux' etc. I can't think of a good methaphor to compare it to, but it was almost like the honeymoon period in the Simpsons when Springfield gets the monorail. You just couldn't tell people it was down to luck and individual player ability, and not down to the manager. I remember standing in Turf Moor on a very cold weekday October/November night, and I couldn't even cheer when we scored. I'd said to my mate next to me, 'watch as we ping long balls all game and give it away, and then we're gonna fluke one', and then it happened. He turned to cheer with me and I was just there with my hands in my pockets, shaking my head. Then I watched Mehdi Abeid take about 9 shots from between the D and the half-way line. Great tactical instruction that, I mean at some point the keeper will drop it or it'll deflect off a defender for a corner, but he skied them all so never mind. The following seasons it all inevitably unravelled, and I remember famously the day that one of Alan Pardew's most loyal supporters switched sides and saw the truth, the brave Ian W (don't know if he changed username I can't seem to @ him). I really enjoyed our debates and he ended up being the 1 man on a entire forum calling him crazy, and every day he still logged in and gave as good as he got Also, only measuring a player's ability by how well he does at clubs after they've left is beyond insane. So because the following players didn't tear it up at their next club after leaving here, they mustn't have been very good when they were here? Beardsley Lee Ferdinand Batty Albert Barton Ben Arfa Robert Woodgate

Seems like I have to come onto this godforsaken thread every 6 months to trot this out. How many matches did you watch in 11/12 @The Butcher ? I'd be happy to discuss how you thought that Pardew's 1 and only tactic which was the long ball from our centre backs into the knees of Cissé and Ba, who for all their fantastic finishing abilities, had the first touches of paeodophilic girrafes in a children's circus. That Tiote and Cabaye were instructed to sit on the toes of our centre backs and were never available to contest the second ball. The tactic, if you can believe it, every game was to just give the ball to the opposition, sit back and hope they made a mistake that we could exploit. We had nothing on the ball whatsoever beyond individual brilliance from some brilliant (at the time) players - Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Cissé and Ba. Cissé had the best 4 months a footballer could possibly have, every shot he took went in, it was ridiculous (too many to cite, but the one vs Chelsea is my favourite).

Isak's good, Isak's good, Alexander Isak's good

Don't see why both can't play, there's 2 holes in our team, the 3rd central midfielder and either wing (if Maxi moves over). Anderson's played his most effectively for the Gas on the left wing and has looked right at home here in the same position too. Anderson - Isak - Maxi Joelinton - Maddison - Guimaraes

From what I saw of of him at the Gas last season, which was every video highlights going, he's replicating exactly what he did on the left for us in his short cameos as he did for them. The difference in level doesn't seem to matter at all. I'd have Maxi on the right and Anderson on the left, because I genuinely think Anderson will be more effective than Maxi there. But I've been banging my own little drum to have Maxi on the right for some time now. Either way, he has to start on either flank ahead of the rest of Fraser, Almiron, Murphy, Ritchie etc.

You don't rate Anderson ?

?

He's definitely a weapon

Because Almiron runs a lot

Fraser and Anderson flanking Isak

He shouldn't have started imo

Thought he's had a good game to be honest, bailed us out more than once

See Almiron :/

But, but, his engine...

Pope world class

Come on Billy, show em what you got

Thank god it's not Wood coming on at least

No way Sherwood knows what 'mercurial' means.

WHERE'S THE THUMBS DOWN BUTTON!!!

Aye, at least Longstaff has moments of quality and works intelligently off the ball. Almiron and Willock are definitely our weakest links. Anderson and Bruno respectively for those two and we're a completely different side.

My river's dying a death can't see more than 3s before a 10s buffer >.<

Nope, he's been one of the worst-performing players on the team for the past 3 or 4 matches and still starts every game.

We need to slow this right down and play out from the back, we're just too shit with Almiron and Willock trying to break, it's embarassing. Slow it down, get Trippier swinging it in

Got given some instructions to play with rather than just run all over the shop

Looks as disinterested as Wood does