AlanSkÃrare

But Neil Lennon has proved everyone wrong?

Hope to god Pardew doesn't view him as a hoofing outlet. There were signs against Spurs.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/newcastle-column-toon-owe-fans-1705054 Simon Bird has a point here but still... This is appalling. How can you write for a newspaper that big - still not being able to build a proper sentence nor show any hint of cultivation in your language? It's like 20-odd tweets. And not getting facts right (three wins on the bounce?).

Didn't watch last night but sounds a bit like our win at Swansea last season only goals coming later on. Picking them off. http://gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs/329121_o.gif

I'd have Obertan over Jonas for this one.

Does not sound as if he has his mind set on leaving from that interview. As he says, we'll be stronger mentally next season if we get out of this. I well and truly hope the hoof days are behind us and Pardew now. If so, we're well set for next season.

Stare at that face and tell me there's not a bit of Tim Krul in there... Really interesting article/interview with him recently about his problems: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20946368 Good interview. Really sad stuff tbh, such a talent at one point. That Ajax side was brilliant. Chivu, Sneijder, van der Vaart, van der Meyde, Zlatan, Mido, Pienaar, De Jong, Trabelsi, a joy to watch.

Can't believe he's only played once since the 22nd of November. What a boost this will be.

Kiki Musampa - on loan at Manchester City before things went awol over there. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_djmbIHfAzV8/SiFDgt7cpbI/AAAAAAAAC10/hhTJV3PdMXs/s400/Kiki_Musampa_576904.jpg Andy van der Meyde - brought in before Everton were due to play Champions League. Highly rated after his time at Ajax. Disappeared completley and went into a depression. Played 6 games for WKE from Emmen last season without scoring a goal. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/06/09/article-1025358-052A77A60000044D-129_468x709.jpg Stelios Giannakopoulos. Scored 7 goals in 34 league games in 04/05, then followed it up with 9 in as many games, playing as a winger in Allardyce's Bolton. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41268000/jpg/_41268566_bolton.jpg

i disagree. You can concentrate on the fact that his distribution wasn't very good (same with all of his teammates, funnily enough), or you can say that he was put under insane pressure for a very large chunk of that game and produced some excellent backs-to-the-wall defending when it would've been very easy to crumble. I wasn't concentrating on his distribution it was the fact he let Benteke slip away from him several times and if Benteke's finishing was better that day we could've lost that game. He was much better against both Chelsea and Tottenham though. If he keeps up his current level of form he'll be deserving of an England call-up, especially if the likes of Shawcross keep on getting called up. Don't think he was that poor against Villa. However, judging his performance that day, whatever you may think of it; it was his first game back after being out for a long time.

Carroll - we were offered a ridiculous fee and rightly accepted it ...look at the replacements. Nolan - did a good job but had too much influence over Hughton and dressing room..reputedly. Past his best . Barton - had a good season but was often involved in controversy. We could, and did, do better. Best - the lad was the biggest loss of all in my view but he was never going to be first choice.. a bit like David Kelly when we got promoted, and I was a big Kelly fan but could see why he went.. Guthrie - only missed because we didn't strengthen enough after his departure.Not a 90 min player.. Enrique - thought the club was going in the wrong direction and refused another contract - his choice. Ba - did a good job for us but was never going to stay...same as at W.Ham. Pardew has had these players - with the exception of Ba - replaced by far better players ; Sissoko, Gouffran, Yanga-Mbiwa, Anita and Haidara(jury still out but young and with potential)....Martinez has NO chance of having replacements fo his players who meet these standards so Pardew has less excuse for producing a decent side... Nolan past his best? He was at his best. I think it was how much he was limiting us playing wise that was the main reason. Replacing him with Cabaye made us look a completley different team when we don't hoof. As for Martinez, his teams have never been able to defend. He's never had an eye for good defenders by the looks of it. Still persisting with Gary Caldwell and Emmerson Boyce after all these years. Funds is one thing, but he's in charge of a pretty shit team playing nice football. They concede loads and don't score enough. It's always been the same.

No but Lee Ryder has written 49 articles on the basis on one quote from Pardew about him so you might find something there.

I think he'll get off having a fairly shit season as we've been hoofing, displacing him and isolated him for the best part of it. In his favoured position, with movement around him and the power of Sissoko to play off - he should score goals. Needs to prove his worth long term. I think he will.

Can we please start the Southampton pre-match thread?

One striker away from the top one. Still voted for it. Our performances last season showed how this league can be taken apart by playing to your strengths and a bit of momentum. It shouldn't take much. Our squad is almost on par with Spurs', and it's taken them years to build that. More quality and depth than Liverpool no doubt. With Arsenal's mental fragilties I reckon a push for fourth is within our reach if these players stay. However, lose Coloccini and rely on Taylor and we're in for a different story.

In terms of functionality and dynamics, this squad does not come close to Bobby's imo. That team was built around certain attributes, pace being the most significant. The running and enthusiasm of Dyer, Bellamy and Jenas/Robert to a lesser extent was the foundation of our attacking play, allowing Solano and Robert to get into positions where they could feed Shearer. Speed being the heart and brains of that midfield. Player by player, maybe the individual ability is comparable, but looking at these teams, Pardew's side is still reliant on these individuals. It's reflected in his positioning of Ben Arfa more than anything.

Perch hasn't been shit in DM as far as I can remember. Tioté of course a better player but Perchenbauer won't let us down.

http://i.minus.com/i09dTCTNERDsr.gif

Ali Benarbia. Hit the post against us in 2002. http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/res/161.$plit/C_71_article_1026682_image_list_image_list_item_0_image.jpg?30%2F11%2F2007%2012%3A05%3A17%3A277

He trained with my team a couple of weeks ago. I have no idea how he was as I of course fainted the moment I understood it was him.

I know you were Surely he can't be as shit as Pirlo though?

That's it. You win.

Yes he had a good Euro campaign and he's a great player. I'm just arguing that he's suffered a severe drop in form/ability in the past months that puts him outside of my top 20 players in the world. Obviously you don't agree so let's leave it at that.

He also has 11 goals this season, had 9 goals 14 assists last season. I still agree he's massively overrated, so no disagreement there. Still not a big fan of putting so much emphasis on big tournament performances. Pirlo's guidance to that major tournament final was one shit penalty away from ending against England. Last season he was amazing, no questioning that.

I've never claimed Bale is a better player. I believe they're on par judging current ability. I'm well aware of Pirlo's class and contribution over his career. I just think he's shown signs of not being that player anymore in the past couple of months. His performances have been too up and down, mostly the latter. When on form, he's a far better player than Bale. However, taking all of into account, I'd probably rate both of them pretty much the same, and neither of them among the top 20.