HawK

My MotM behind Perez, he's stabilized the back 4 and we actually look like we can defend now. His introduction to the team shows some guts from McClaren that Pardew would never have done imo.

Assist and a goal.

First premier league goal from a corner in how long?

Probably Sissoko dropping back.

No fear whatsoever when faced with Ivanovic either. Reminds of Perez's mentality.

Has been immense so far.

It's a sound strategy.

Love it

Can someone please say something stupid that we can all argue with to stop the most recent page of the last week or so opening with that bloody Vigo painting.

I think her entire dress an unwrapped anaconda.

I was condemned for one month, and the amount of hate from certain members was vitriolic Suck it up felipards, you're in for the long haul.

Roll up the Santon haters please.

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/John+Carver+Cardiff+City+v+Newcastle+United+ymrUDUoOZa4l.jpg

I think Colback could do something for the team if everyone else had a clear role and the team actually looked like they had a game-plan. For me, Anita and Colback doesn't cut it, but a grafter like Colback alongside a decent central midfielder (Wij) might work, but we'll have to wait and see. Tbh if we're not getting Wij + Sissoko in the middle, I'd want Wij + Tiote before Colback gets a look in.

One from the spank bank?

Personally think that three behind Perez on Saturday has good potential. ----Sissoko--Wij----- Perez-DeJong-Thauvin -----Mitrogoal-------- Why wouldn't that work?

Your disbelief in his lack of a successful suicide attempt based on one post illustrating care for a young man who is new to the country makes me wonder if you're just surrounded by lemmings and cliff jumping is simply something to pass the time

I'm just wondering how long it's going to take Dave to change my username again to something like SmudgeHawk

All I was trying to say is that it's very easy to go back and say 'he was shit all the time', when he actually was significantly less shit in that season. Kevin Nolan was why we got promoted imho, nothing to do with Alan Smith, and I like I said before, I think he descended overall to an abysmal player. After that season in which he was Championship-level, he dropped off again and went MK Dons after not getting a look in after Tiote's barnstorming first season. It's all the rage nowadays to describe careers in totality in hyperbole, when a lot of the times players have ups and downs. Alan Smith had a few ups, and lots of downs. That season was probably his best for us. Still a crap player mind, but it wasn't glaringly obvious he was the weak link in the team at the time like Cisse is for us now and Williamson before him where after every match there is outrage and justified criticism. Alan Smith hardly had any threads kept up to date in that season, because those who hated him/loathed him couldn't keep fuelling the anti-Smith feeling while he wasn't playing that bad, and he never had any fans either so he got practically no praise either. ..so if anyone wants to agree to disagree, I still say he's shit, he wasn't the reason we got promoted (that's a bit of a stretch from what I've said to say the least!), but that season in the Championship he wasn't completely out of place in our starting 11 pre-January.

Love you too, Dave

I'm not debating that he's a shit footballer, but in that team in that season, he wasn't as glaringly bad as some people are making him out to be now. I won't take one or two dismissals of the player by one or two members vs the 10 or so above as supporting the fact he was playing shit either Yes we had better options, but he kinda just faded away and wasn't picked again (rightfully). Perhaps it's just a matter of defining shit, but at the time he was a marked improvement on Nicky Butt and he was far from an embarrassment in the shirt. I don't even know why I'm sticking up for the player, I loathed him.

So before you get in and admin revise it, I'll quote from his thread of that season. http://www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/index.php/topic,65438.msg2051268.html#msg2051268 Of course there are a few counterpoints in the 4-page thread, regardless, he didn't have a shit season. I think that's an incredibly harsh assessment of a player who is doing very well for us. is a harsh assessment but he is not doing very well for us either . What exactly are people expecting from the guy? He's leading the team, putting in a fair amount of ball winning tackles, he's giving good protection to the back four and just keeps the midfield ticking over, he never billed himself as anything more.