Shak

Deleting all your Newcastle friends on Facebook. FFS, is he 13 or something?

He'd probably refuse because the seats on your car weren't cushy enough Then tell the press that Sned had opened fire on the car with a machine gun.

------------------ Harper Beye ---- Edgar ---- Bassong ---- Faylor -------- Nolan --- Butt ---- Guthrie ------------------- Owen --------- Carroll -------- Martins/Duff

If we play 5-3-2 again we'll get mauled. 4 at the back. ALWAYS.

6. As in I'd say 60% chance we'll go down. It's all about the three home games, Shearer needs to figure it out by then and we'll have a fighting chance.

Who replaced Martins then, in your opinion? Duff Surely you just play Duff in Martins' position then? Lunacy to change the entire shape of the team when Duff has played just off the striker numerous times throughout his career and is probably at his most effective there.

Who replaced Martins then, in your opinion?

Agreed, when I saw the line-up I'd have taken a point all day long. Not sure we were planning a 4-3-3 though tbh. My guess is Guthrie started instead of Oba and Owen was pushed further up. Had we intended to go 4-3-3 it would have been pretty easy to still do so. Certainly better than going with that wank system we saw. Needs to learn from this does Shearer, we were dire going forward all day long thanks largely to the system he sent them out in.

I don't think we were fortunate at all. Decisions went against us but we put loads of pressure on them for the last 20 minutes and got a deserved goal. Aye, that goal really was coming alright...

Stole a point, I'll fucking take it all day long after the shite we put on display today. Immense header btw, positively Shearer-esque.

Very short sighted. We've no movement up front, everything in the middle is congested because we've nothing in wide areas. Abysmal attempt at a formation today.

We're only a game and a half in, I know, but Shearer has been an absolutely dreadful manager thus far. When was the last time anyone had any sort of success in the Premiership with wing-backs? The system today is a disgrace, you've got 3 static CM's and two of the least mobile strikers in the league as your 5 forewardmost players, you really think there's any chance you'll so much as create a half chance with that setup? Nobody running the channels, Stoke's CB's have basically snoozed their way through the half. With the same 11 players you can put out --------------------- Harper Beye ------- Edgar ------- Bassong ----------- Faylor ------- Nolan -------- Butt ------------ Guthrie ----------------------- Owen --------- Shola --------------------- Duff Now I'm no fan of Duff, but one thing the guy will give you is a willingness to run into the channels and give the team some width. Actually ask a question or two of Stoke and give Owen a bit of space to work with in the middle. Seriously worrying stuff so far from Shearer, hope he turns it around but we're not exactly blessed with much time.

Sounds like a box of piss tbh. No fitness test or anything, just ring up and say "I'm injured" on the morning of a game. Fuck off.

Duff can play up top, sounds like we're going 4-3-3 to me.

Sounds pretty dodgy this Martins business from Shearer's interview.

Wing backs by the sound of things. Holding out hope we're playing 4-3-1-2 with Duff up top with Shola, Owen in his deeper role.

Actually laughed at the very idea of that when I read your post.

Got to be 3 CM. Guthrie, Nolan or Butt on the wing is surely impossible, so we're either going with wing backs or playing the Keegan system with Duff and Shola up top.

------- Guthrie --- Butt --- Nolan --------------- Owen -------- Shola -------- Duff ?

The new board is brilliant tbh. By far the most nervous I've been about a match all year. Need something today, really hope Man U stuff Sunderland and Hull don't win against Boro.

Both have their strengths and weaknesses, not sure who'd I actually rate as a better player overall when all is said and done though. Point was that I think Barca would benefit from more of a focal point player, something which is particularly useful when you're up against top opposition and can't have it all your own way. An outlet type player that allow you to be that little more direct on the rare occasions that Xavi and Iniesta can't complete humiliate their opponents in the middle. Can't really do that with Etoo' leading your line, not if you expect any degree of success. Also could be useful if you come up against a top class, well organised defensive side ala Man U last year. Very hard to play the way Barca do and get success against the top defenses, as it's so hard to pass the ball through them. Would actually help Messi's game as well, someone for him to work off and get the ball back to him when he makes those lovely little give and goes.

What does 'ZOMG' mean by the way?

Remember watching Messi's first goal for Barca on Sky. Came on as a sub and scored a beautiful little lob. The confidence and ease with which he did everything was stunning, you knew you were watching something special emerge that night.