Mick

It's been a cracking transfer window considering who have gone as well as those who have arrived.

The texts are good enough.

Fixed, see how you like it.

Who is that one by?

You're also crap at spelling.

Take off the rose tinted glasses yourself and you'll see that Robson became a lame duck the day Shepherd went in front of the press to inform everybody that Robson was not having his contract renewed, the minute he did that was the minute that the players knew they'd be at the club longer than the manager, the manager had lost all authority in the same way as a certain Mr Ferguson had at Man U when he announced that he was going to retire. Man U were struggling until he changed his mind and said he'd remain as manager of Man U. Most people predicted that Robson wouldn't have the players on his side as soon as the announcement was made.

4-3-3 is a horrible formation which has it's uses, it was OK starting with it against Bolton as we might have had problems if we'd gone at them with a 4-4-2, I'd also use it away to the top teams like Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal where we might need to win midfield to try and get something from these games. It's too nagative unless you have the players who can play that way, I don't think we do, like I've said it has it's uses but it shouldn't be the way we play every game. If we can get players who are comfortable with the formation then I'd be happy to see us switching formations during games to make the opposition think, at the minute I think we make it too easy for the opposition to read our game, we're too one dimensional.

bluelaugh.gif bluelaugh.gif You think it's cringeworthy that our owner goes to a game wearing the teams colours yet you didn't have a problem with fans being called dogs and mugs, get a grip. Not surprised you don't get it. ! What I think is particularly amusing is that if Shepherd had did this, you and others would be having a field day, and saying how it is so embarrasing for YOU, poor dears. As always, so long as he backs his managers, I don't give a toss what he looks like or what he says, or doesn't say as the case may be. I just know, that you STILL won't get it. mackems.gif The only thing that has pissed me off today, is the result, because I was hoping and thinking that we could have won I don't understand how you say neither affects you, clearly Ashley going to the game wearing the clubs colours does, and you found it cringeworthy. It wouldn't have bothered me at all if Shepherd had turned up at the game wearing a football shirt, I've never said that he wasn't a fan, he clearly was. You said "I don't give a toss what he looks like or what he says." If that's the case then why comment about how he looked?

bluelaugh.gif bluelaugh.gif You think it's cringeworthy that our owner goes to a game wearing the teams colours yet you didn't have a problem with fans being called dogs and mugs, get a grip.

I wasn't trying to have a go at you about it, I've used 4-3-3 to describe our formation myself, the point I was trying to make is that the formation we play isn't positive in the way it sounds, in reality we play with less up front, it's like saying we play with 4-2-4 when we use two forwards and 2 wingers.

It's not pedantic at all, we didn't play with a front 3, the difference between a front 1 and 3 is quite a large one I'd have thought.

Lacking the ability to manage NUFC is quite a big flaw for a person who was manager of the club I would have thought.

Of course it was an excuse, the players we had on the field for a lot of the games we lost were good enough to have done better.

It's not exactly a front 3 though is it? Like I said earlier, it's a front 1 with 2 players wider than a normal forward.

I had to check to see when this thread was started because I was sure it had been bumped for some reason, he's still using it as an excuse.

Who were our front 3?

It's not the most positive because two of your front 3 usually end up playing wider than a normal front 2, in reality it's 4-5-1 but spun out to be something else.

Agreed, he'd be the last person I'd expect to perform badly just to get away.

I wouldn't disagree with that, getting the back sorted has to be a priority, get the points then start to play the football.

I'd be happy with having the 8 points but not too happy about the standard of football we've played so far, the points are the most important thing but that doesn't mean you have to be happy with the football that's getting played.

4-3-3 is a very poor formation against most teams, Smith in midfield is also a poor decision against teams that we should be beating. I think 4-3-3 has cost us creativity for the second game in a row although I couldn't say for sure that we'd have won either with 4-4-2, I do think it would have been easier for the players. We either have to play Nobby or get rid of him, while he's here we should use him as we are missing a spark in midfield when he's not in the team. We've still got Barton to come back and I think he'll make a difference, I'm not sure at all about Emre, and he’s got a lot to do to become an important player for us.

Shit, you've just reminded me of the time he broke somebodies (Bracewell?) leg at St James', I will always remember that when I think of Whitehurst.

It's not allowed at the minute but I'm sure a new rule could be pushed through as every employer has a duty of care to all of it's employee's. If we have the technology then it should be used if it can save lives, it would also keep the game going as that article also mentions what happens if somembody isn't doing enough work, they get a good bollocking.

Maybe it's time to take a look at what Allardyce has done in training and see if it is possible to use heart monitors during games, I don't know if they could be used wi-fi to send data as it's monitoring but it would be good if they could.