Shak

It's possible I'm overreacting, haven't even seen the challenge, but I hope everyone in De Jong's family gets AIDS.

At least now we won't have to pay any money for him. Could give a fuck about this game now like, seriously gutted. Odds of relegation just shortened considerably.

Well that's the end of that then. We're fucked now, basically.

Seems we've identified that the weak link in the front pairing was actually Carroll rather than Nolan. It's so clear to me now, how could I have been so stupid?

Fucking hell, some people really do go out of their way just to have a go at our own players. Agreed, that post reached almost Kevin Nolan-esque levels of shitness.

Dropping Tiote. Jonas will start in place of Routledge or Ben Arfa I would guess. Reckon we're gonna get beaten quite comprehensively in this one unfortunately, City have looked great at home and I think they'll overpower us in CM and have the majority of possession. Our best bet would be to hit them on the break, but we've no pace up front to do that. Can see it being a bit like the Man U game. A good, spirited performance but a sound beating, maybe 2-0.

Not surprised to hear that people are having problems with their shirts, especially with the sponsor patch on the front. Looks like it was put on with Pritt Stick. Can only imagine how much it actually costs to make one of those shirts, feel sorry for the poor mugs that bought one.

It's much sadder that Hughton seems to think that Nolan is playing in "the hole" rather than up front alongside Carroll. Playing in the hole, you're supposed to actually link midfield and attack, drop into clever places between the oppositions' defense and midfield and make things happen and create chances for your teammates. Nolan basically waddles around the shop for 90 minutes doing his level best to avoid anything resembling link up play in deeper areas, and then gets his arse in gear when someone else on the team creates an opportunity for something to happen in the box. To his credit he does read the game very well, which is why he gets on the end of quite a few chances. But he's basically a big fat goalhanger, this nonsense that he's playing in some sort of free role is just laughable.

Has his value really been that great at any point this season though? He's scored twice in a rout of Villa, a game where we were that dominant that your striker would be doing well not to score. And his other goal came from the spot. It's not like he's scoring crucial goals for us. I'm pretty confident that had we started Shola in his place that we'd have seen at least as good a return from the position, and we all know Shola's not up to much at this level.

All very well and good, but not really what the thread is about surely?

Nae offence Shak, but you should stick to the NFL threads if this is the type of analysis and contribution you bring to the football threads If you like Hughton, then give him chance to prove his judgement, no matter how wild it seems to the armchair supporters on here, is actually beneficial for NUFC. I though the knee-jerk chopping and changing had gone out when we got relegated? Hughton has built his team through consistency and allowing players to grow into the team. I'm not a massive fan of people banging on for change, when it's often for changes sake. Been watching football a lot longer than I have the NFL Stu, and I'm telling you that Kevin Nolan is a hindrance to the evolution of our team and we'll never be any good until he's no longer part of it. He's a passenger who makes every single player around him (barring those on the opposing team) look worse than they are. This is no knee jerk either, I've always thought he was shite. And my stance on Hughton has never been knee jerk. At first I thought he only got the job because nobody else would take it (which was the case) and I didn't think he'd be able for it (which wasn't the case), and over the course of last year he convinced me that he deserved a shot with how well he'd done. At the moment I'm right on the fence with him. I love how united he's made us, and the way we've tried to play football this year has been really encouraging. But he's still making what I believe to be mistakes, and I feel it's going to end up costing us (and him) unless he fixes them. And I feel that would be a shame, because there's a good manager in him IMO and I'd hate to see him blow it here because of a loyalty to a poor player like Kevin Nolan. I'm rarely adamant about things, I know that the manager sees a lot more than me and is better qualified to make decisions than I am. I'll give him every chance to prove that his way is right, that making Kevin Nolan our ace in the hole is the best thing for us going forward, and that I was wrong. But I'm not.

I was trying to come up with a nice way to describe him. Have edited my post.

Interesting to see that Hughton has felt the need to specifically come out and defend Nolan. Would appear he's aware of the criticism, at least. I just hope it's a case of a manager defending his player rather than Hughton actually believing that Nolan has contributed anything of note in the last few games. I like Hughton, it would be a shame if his promise as a long term manager for us was ruined by some sort of loyalty to a shite footballer like Kevin Nolan. Fact is we'll never be anything other than a poor side as long as Kevin Nolan is a regular starter for us, and the sooner Hughton cops onto this the better for Newcastle United.

Genuinely gutted I haven't been checking this thread at all. Just assumed it was a thread where everyone was saying how class he was, didn't really think there'd be much I could add to it. Rubix Cube is the best so far, IMO.

Was a wee bit tongue in cheek. That said, I would love to see us without him in the team. He truly is a passenger out there IMO, I just don't rate him at all. Even if the whole playing Ben Arfa in the hole thing turns out to be a spectacular failure, I really don't see any way that Shola won't be at least as good as Nolan is up there alongside Carroll.

He keeps us ticking over and is a huge part of the reason why we're playing some better football this year. Always looking for the ball and never hides, which is a welcome change from some of the excuses for CM's we've had in the last few years. Final ball is poor at times, no doubt, but right now he's a vastly better option than anyone else we have in CM to partner Tiote. Plenty of other starters I'd be quicker to try and buy replacements for as well.

Find it ridiculous that people can be so aggressively negative towards him. It's only one game, and even if you don't think he's the right man to bring us forward at least show some respect. We'd still be in the Championship had he not saved our arses last year. He's hardly been a disaster this season either. Also find it a bit weird that others are out to defend what went on today. He made a royal mess of things. Doesn't mean he's shit or anything, but no harm in acknowledging it.

Would be nice if he'd get injured for a month or so.

Duh.

Was desperate today, as he generally is.

Tossed this game away. Step forward then a step back he's been. Will be really interested to hear why on earth he took off Ben Arfa, crazy decision.

Liability is that lad.

Made a right mess of this we have. Taking Ben Arfa off was ridiculous.

Carroll has hardly offered us anything up front either tbh. Yes he has. Chased down a few long balls and gotten on the end of them, can remember two times Nolan has had the ball this whole half.

We've been shite second half. I know picking on Nolan is almost a fashion trend these days, but the man is a fucking passenger out there. He offers nothing in terms of an outlet up front.