simonsays

On my way back from the game. At half time I thought we were going to cruise it - I haven't seen us in such control of a game all season, they couldn't get near the ball. Not changing the tactics when jol brought Johnson on was a massive mistake though. If we had dropped deeper and played on the break I'm pretty sure we would have got a result. Just because this high pressing game worked against man u pardew seems to think it will work for everyone

This will be a very harrowing read.... http://www.thebookseller.com/news/hachette-acquires-memoir-roy-keanes-dog.html

Sky sports news

Confirmed that he's gone

Shola has been good off the bench this season tbf

So - it seems everyone agrees he should be in the team (perhaps with the exception of Christmas Tree?). The debate seems to be should he play behind the striker or on the wing - after Pardew's comments it seems he is only being considered in a central role and I think it is this that Ronaldo is questioning rather than is he good enough/is he better than Best.

Good one - lend me yours will you, mateybot.

How would you have me respond to an insinuation I have never read a book and know nothing about football?

Again, I agree, completely pointless. Then again I wasn't the pedant who started it. Also, for your information I am 32, go to football matches pretty regularly and work for a book publisher (one of my imprints being sports titles only) so I feel I can comfortably say I have read more books than you have.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/8792024/Newcastle-winger-Jonas-Gutierrez-commits-future-to-the-club-with-new-four-year-contract.html

Agreed - and I have seen him play in a 4-4-2 on the right wing. Does that mean he is a right midfielder in those games?

That's a whole different argument In which case we move to a very, very basic argument. If Barton is playing on the right of midfield - he's a right midfielder. If he plays in goal he is a goal keeper. If he plays as a winger he's a winger. etc etc Surely by your logic it should be if he plays on the wing he's a winger? therefore Jonas and Obertan are wingers. I'm going to sit with the rest of the football world on this one. Yep, me too. Ask most of the football world what position Jonas plays I'm pretty sure the answer would be winger/on the wing.

That's a whole different argument In which case we move to a very, very basic argument. If Barton is playing on the right of midfield - he's a right midfielder. If he plays in goal he is a goal keeper. If he plays as a winger he's a winger. etc etc Surely by your logic it should be if he plays on the wing he's a winger? therefore Jonas and Obertan are wingers.

was one of those books 'how to irritate with smileys'?

That's a whole different argument

Then how would you differentiate between a player like Barton and a player like Obertan? Both ostensibly played the the same position but have very different roles. Re halfback - So you are actually using the original definitions of a footballers position then? I'd like to see how you would describe a full back given that the role of a modern fullback bears almost no relation to the duties of that role originally.

How so? Are you suggesting that Obertan and Jonas aren't wingers? A winger is an outside forward, Obertan and Jonas are midfielders - yes they play on the wing but you don't catch wingers with much defensive duty at all. Apologies - in future I will say 'a player who plays on the right/left wing' rather than winger. It does seem that some people on here wouldn't have been able to describe a players position before football manager told them how to.

How so? Are you suggesting that Obertan and Jonas aren't wingers?

What a load of garbage. Such a mackem anti-NUFC s*** Well, no, it's actually a fact. Who would you be supporting right now if Hatem had signed for the mackems, eh? Such a whore. The penalty is a fact yes but it's "his most important contribution" for RDT posters. Hatem hadn't signed for the mackems, so you question is pointless as usual and he didn't choose Newcastle by accident. The subject here isn't my person neither, but the load of s*** you're capable of when talking about this player. It clearly was his most important contribution, you fairy. He played well but that's the only action that directly impacted the scoreline. By all means attack my opinions, although it's becoming very tedious to say the least. Quite laughable that you (and countless other minions) come on here looking for an argument with those of us who pay your fantasy man's salary. That it offends you so deeply that I want him to play RW says everything that needs to be said about you as a person - if joining this forum simply because of one player didn't already. I actually agree that we should try him out on the wing, particularly as Best has had a very good season so far. Unfortunately it seems that Pardew wants to play with two hard working wingers who are willing to run the length of the touchline the entire game, tackling back when necessary - this is not a role I can see Ben Arfa playing in effectively. Ultimately this means that it comes down to a choice between Ben Arfa and Best to play alongside Ba - Ben Arfa would be my choice in this instance.

Worrying that he says "...we'll need replacements in the summer". Replacements for who? Carroll, Enrique. New striker in January for Carroll, Santon for Enrique. Sounds more to me like we are expecting to let players go and replace them with cheaper foreign imports.

Worrying that he says "...we'll need replacements in the summer". Replacements for who?

What about the time when Ba was in space and only needed to be slipped through to have a clear run on goal, instead of doing that Ben Arfa heheld on to it too long and tried to beat the fullback again before losing possession. What he'll find is if he doesn't start releasing the ball at the right time soon then our players will stop making those runs, we've seen that with unpredictable players here in the past. He had a split second, and that's all it was to try and bend a ball between two defenders. Ba had a Distin between him and Ben Arfa and Ben Arfa had the fullback next to him so the gap was tiny, he also had McFadden closing him down. Mick, Ba was not only unmarked when HBA picked the ball up but he had plenty of space to run in to with only the keeper between him and the goal if it was played early enough, he delayed it far too long and ended up losing it. Talented played when it usually comes to beating a man but I'm doubting the lads got a footballing brain. What utter s****. Anyway, weren't you supposed to be leaving when we didn't sign N'Zogbia? Elaborate please. Are you saying Ba wasn't in space and only had fresh air between him and the goal if played in? I'm responding to your claim that you are unsure if Ben Arfa has a footballing brain. Rather than basing your assumptions on about an hours worth of football why not try taking a look at some footage of Ben Arfa from his former clubs when he was settled in the team and hadn't just come back from a career threatening injury. So being out so long injured is the reason he can't pick a pass or spot runs from team mates on a regular basis and instead holding on to it until he either gets tackled or fouled. This injury wasn't to his head was it? partly, yes. He is clearly off the pace and has yet to gel with his team mates. I also think there is an element of him trying too hard to impress - the pressure and expectation on him is ridiculous and I'm sure that comes across to him when he is on the pitch.

What about the time when Ba was in space and only needed to be slipped through to have a clear run on goal, instead of doing that Ben Arfa heheld on to it too long and tried to beat the fullback again before losing possession. What he'll find is if he doesn't start releasing the ball at the right time soon then our players will stop making those runs, we've seen that with unpredictable players here in the past. He had a split second, and that's all it was to try and bend a ball between two defenders. Ba had a Distin between him and Ben Arfa and Ben Arfa had the fullback next to him so the gap was tiny, he also had McFadden closing him down. Mick, Ba was not only unmarked when HBA picked the ball up but he had plenty of space to run in to with only the keeper between him and the goal if it was played early enough, he delayed it far too long and ended up losing it. Talented played when it usually comes to beating a man but I'm doubting the lads got a footballing brain. What utter s****. Anyway, weren't you supposed to be leaving when we didn't sign N'Zogbia? Elaborate please. Are you saying Ba wasn't in space and only had fresh air between him and the goal if played in? I'm responding to your claim that you are unsure if Ben Arfa has a footballing brain. Rather than basing your assumptions on about an hours worth of football why not try taking a look at some footage of Ben Arfa from his former clubs when he was settled in the team and hadn't just come back from a career threatening injury.