Shak

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.

I don't expect it will be an issue personally, as I expect Krul will make a few mistakes while he's in the team, but if Krul does happen to look class it would be a terrible move from Hughton to ditch him for Harper based on nothing other than seniority.

The defensive line and wideouts are both strong points for this football team. The right defensive end position is a concern obviously, but we can address that in the offseason next year, either through free agency or perhaps a trade. I'd still like to see us add another playmaker on offense, but in general I feel good about the direction of the team.

That sentence is ridiculous tbh. How so? Motivation and cultivating confidence is a much more important ingredient in having a good football team, IMO. Not saying tactics aren't important at all, just that sometimes people get it into their heads that we have to start an exact set of players, in an exact formation, if we're going to do well in a game, and that's that's not the case tbh.

More and more convinced by him every week. The Blackpool game was a real mess and I'll admit it had me worried, but the way we've rebounded from it speaks volumes for what the man brings to the table. Yes, I do think he makes some dodgy subs at times, but you have to remember that he's still learning this job. He's improved at it since last year, and with time I think he'll get even better. In any case, I think it's an overrated aspect of being a good manager. Maybe it's the invention of games like FM and such, but I think people (myself included, at times) tend to overestimate how important gameday tactics are sometimes. The real work is done during the days leading up to the game, making sure the players are well prepared and approach the game with a positive attitude and a clear plan with regards to what they want to do. It doesn't have to be some complex chess strategy, just a solid gameplan that the players all understand and can work together to achieve. Hughton seems to excel at this, and as long as he can keep this harmony in the squad I think we'll do just fine under him.

Should have stayed up for this one, in retrospect. Fucking class win, by all accounts. Huge props to Hughton and the entire team.

Someone's in a mood.

I just assumed it was because you're black. That time you asked me where the name Shak came from. "It was originally Shaka." "Oh, where'd that come from innit?" "Well I was a goalkeeper when I was young..." "..." "And I supported Newcastle." " " " God you're a retard."

Didn't get the nickname Shaka for nothing mate.