tmonkey

Absolutely must tie him down to a longer contract. Reason being because unless injuries prevent it or he turns s*** overnight, I wouldn't be suprised to see him improve further as a player and peak in his early 30's, very similar to e.g. Gary Speed when he was here. He doesn't have much pace or real athleticism in him, so his game is based around quality on the ball, and as we've seen this season that area has already shown signs of solid improvement (less sloppy passes, more accurate through balls, improved crossing and diagonal balls, etc). Not only that, but he just looks very settled as a player this season compared to previous years, playing more like that experienced veteran the top teams often have to complement the younger stars, i.e. he seems to know better what his strengths and weaknesses (e.g. getting wound up) are, and is utilising them better than in previous years. Even if we buy a more talented player on paper to replace him, the combination of experience, ability, and the way he's integrated himself into team's play style would be difficult to replace. Good teams just won't sell or get rid of a player like this, so we need to tie him down now and focus on taking the burden of creativity off his shoulders (which will probably result in better, more consistent performances).

That's hardly a fair representation of what we're saying. The whole point about Tiote not making a difference is that those around him were playing in "mega s***" mode. Partly due to Pardew's selection/tactics (Joey Barton on the left wing, ffs), partly due to the players missing ("no Jonas and no Enrique makes Newcastle something something"), and partly because some of the players are just s*** and were easily contained by Stevenage because that's their real level when not carried by better players (our strikers that night for example). Hence, as you imply, even if he wins the ball back, it's still up to others to provide the creativity, because all Tiote will do is give more possession to the midfielders around him. But if those players are playing abysmally, then is there any real use in that? For example, this is what I see the two sides as arguing: That is honestly how I see it. Hence why Tiote would've made no difference imo, even if in theory and on paper, completely ignoring the abysmal performances/tactics/players/selection, he might have given those around him more attacking opportunities.

If it hasn't already been quoted, this is .com's views: They're spot on imo. May be wrong, but I'm pretty sure when Ranger came on we had him up front on his own, with Lovenkrands switching to the left flank and Barton moving infield. I.e. we switched from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1 to chase a lead. So not only did Pardew risk Tiote prior to a vital game vs the Mackems in a game that looked dead and buried with the team looking beyond awful and hopeless, but he threw him into a formation that is pretty much one of the worst for chasing a two goal deficit...

Kalou and Benayoun are hardly key players for Chelsea though.

As per usual, 4 big problems with him: 1) Crock. 2) Overrated. One purple patch a few years ago. 3) Big wages. 4) No reason/motivation to come here and do well.

Hope I'm wrong and it's undoubtedly too early to say this, but regardless, I'm worried that we've signed Kieron Dyer's natural successor here. I.e. type of player who is quick, nippy, changes the style of play whenever he's in the team, but at the same time will get injured very frequently, especially given the type of dribbler he is (always looks to draw the man in before beating him). He's played 2.1 games for us. In that little time, he picked up a knock against Everton and had to go off early, then had his leg snapped in two by De Jong. Granted the latter may have been a one-off, but it's the former that I'm more worried about. It's goes without saying that a fair few teams will set out to kick him or go in hard because he'll be our main playmaker - does he have the build/legs to withstand Premiership standard punishment and lenient refereeing (especially if away from home with a ref out to "get us" - De Jong's tackle being the best example of this)?

If any club is willing to pay £10k per week in wages to have him in the team, we should snap their hands off in terms of loaning him out. Paying him £45k per week to not be here is alot better than paying him £55k per week to destroy whatever team he's in. Not only that, but loaning out Smith could be very much in our interests, since if we bamboozled a rival Premiership club into getting him then it'd be nailed on relegation for that team. Almost like sending a spy in to fuck with their shit. Someone like West Ham, Wolves, Wigan, etc, would definitely go down if Smith started enough games for them in midfield.

A manager's primary job should be to motivate players and to provide them with a gameplan that gives those players a good chance of beating the opposition/exploiting weaknesses/etc. Footballers are people, and like many people they aren't going to motivate themselves into doing the best they can at all times. The whole point of a Premiership club appointing a "reputable" manager (experienced or not) and giving them a contract worth millions is to attract individuals with the motivational and tactical abilities that the average fan on the street lacks. It is therefore Pardew's job to motivate the players he had out there against Stevenage. Unless there's a clear reason as to why all of his players weren't motivated (e.g. dressing room revolt), then the buck stops with him. If the players weren't up to facing a lower league side, then he's the one being paid to motivate them and get them performing well out there. Maybe this could be written off as a one-off performance, after all even the top teams can struggle now and again when it comes to an FA Cup tie away to a minnow side who set out to make life difficult, but then this performance and the manner of the defeat against a pretty crap team was shockingly abysmal, as though there was no gameplan, tactics or drilling at all. Furthermore, the substitutions he made seemed ill thought out, having zero impact on the game and again ruining what little shape the team had. I'm all for "going for broke", but there's a difference between that and chasing a 2 goal lead by going from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1. For me, ignoring his track record and judging by his time here only, this was the first tangible sign we've had that Ashley has appointed someone totally inept/clueless, someone no different to the likes of Souness/Allardyce/Kinnear/etc when it comes to managerial abilities on match day.

That's the Win right there.

Public whipping more like. Not that Pardew will be complaining if it involves him being spanked and whipped butt naked by his players' WAGs.

"That's why we're Champions"

If Smith is AWOL, Nolan must be KIA.

To be fair, Stevenage have some good players playing for them. Peter Beardsley, Thierry Henry, Dean Ashton, Laurent Roberts, Jose Mousinho. They're so good they even have a player called Win playing for them.

Evidence of Ranger having been at Brighton beach. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uQIAL5O6PaY/SG4CPad0p3I/AAAAAAAAAOc/AoGuDPMhh88/s400/two+left+feet.jpg

Ranger is like those regen strikers who spawn in FM with 2 for Finishing.

Lets hope Heinz doesn't do one of those embarassing air shots. Wouldn't want him to end up with beans on his face.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/5/1/1241199794759/Mike-Ashley-001.jpg "You dumb twats thought you knew better than me. Hughton my arse."

Leon Best, George Best. Out of the two, Leon is the best.

Thought it was a borderline red myself after looking at the replay. It's the way he lunged in over the ball with his studs up at an angle that imo is only intended to make contact with the man. The only thing that saved him is that he landed his foot on the ball and the Wigan player sort of hesitated which reduced the impact of the contact made.

That attempt was pathetic though. If you watch the replay he barely gets any power behind it at all, very much scuffs the shot. The way the keeper came out should have made the chance easier too, as he had the option to either lift it over or just go round him. Luckily the miss didn't mean anything thanks to Wigan's left back, if not then I think it would be fair to crucify him for missing a golden opportunity in such an inept manner - much like Owen in our relegation season with his pathetic attempt to convert what should have been an easy 1-on-1.

Neymar. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1312846/Chelsea-alert-summer-target-Neymar-goes-rails-Santos.html Would absolutely fit in here. Could even get Barton mentoring him once his English picks up a bit, maybe go to the same anger management meetings together.

Going 4-5-1 is risky. Wigan can push forward now because we've only got one man up front.

It was like the Zidane volley in the 2002 CL Final vs Leverkusen. But better.