KaKa

So delighted with how badly things are going for Chelsea. I thought there would be some struggles with the team coming together, but never could have imagined it would be this bad after spending all of that money. So perfect 

It's so weird because I've always thought he looked very very good, and was surprised there was never much hype around him, but it seems to be coming along now.

He is an explosive athlete and is very strong, physical and aggressive. Would be a great signing.

Just now, Wild Geese said:

Panties to tight Princess ?

Nah mate

That will be the lot crying about how much Arteta hurts their feelings 

7 minutes ago, Numbers said:

You shut it, the blokes a fucking bell end prancing around like a fucking idiot questioning every little thing.

 

Yeah, because he's the first and only manager to have ever done such a thing. Give it a rest man ... and come on the Arsenal!

Just now, Kid Icarus said:

Some might be sick of your whingeing about whingeing.

Alright, alright. I get it. Calm down everyone.

And come on the Arsenal!

1 minute ago, Geordie Ahmed said:

Well, you might want to avoid this topic cos a lot of people will love to see Arteta tears 

Yeah, I know. It's all good man.

Was just hyped after that great game and win for Arsenal, because I'm rooting for them big time.

Think the Arteta complaints are over the top too. Mourinho was the absolute worst and most people on here love the guy.

1 minute ago, Lush Vlad said:

Whilst Arsenal’s regular mid-late season capitulation is hilarious. I’m glad they won, showed some resilience and kept the pressure on City. 
 

I know it’s fashionable to hate Liverpool. But without them. The last 5 seasons would have just been pure dominance from City. With nobody getting near. 
 

Arsenal’s turn to run them close this season, I hope. Ours hopefully not long after…..

Honestly so sick of Man City man. And some of the details in those emails that were released were ridiculous, making things even worse.

Yeah, been really good that Liverpool have been running them close and now Arsenal are giving it a go, otherwise the league would have been a farce.

1 minute ago, Eveready said:

Crazy notion.  I think we should all tell everyone who has a different opinion on other football team to shut it and fuck off.

3 minutes ago, Geordie Ahmed said:

It's almost as if people think differently, crazy notion 

Well, you're not allowed to, so cut it out!

Get in Arsenal. Don't understand how anyone can want fucking Man City to win yet again ahead of this fantastic young Arsenal side. Fuck off!

2 minutes ago, Numbers said:

All smiles now from Arteta, fucking knob, hideous behaviour in every game.

Oh shut it man. Sick of the whingeing about Arteta. It's really not that deep.

So disappointed in Arsenal man. Hope they can stay in it and get back on track to win.

So sick of Man City and any other teams across the continent trying to create one team leagues.

4 hours ago, The Prophet said:

 

I think the point is that most fans, at least in this board, accept that we're a bit light in midfield, no one has really disagreed on that point.

 

It's more the repetitive revelling in the "missed opportunity" that was the January transfer market.

It's always the same people doing this after every window too.

Some of them were so certain we'd make no progress this season without signing a right winger in the summer, that argument proved completely wrong and so that has been swept under the carpet, and now it is lamenting how much we are going to struggle because we have left the squad too thin. At least have the sense to wait and see how things play out before going on about it as if it has already happened?!

My bet is that once again they will be proved wrong, and it will get swept under the rug until next summer when they can come up with something else to complain about after that window.

37 minutes ago, Theregulars said:

Last post on it because clearly it’s just annoying people, but as a general comment I do think people won’t accept any criticism, even where criticism is due. 

I find it very hard to criticize the manager really. He is still working with a lot of really limited players, most of whom he inherited, and most of whom he is getting much better performances from that you'd normally expect. And even at our very worst we still manage to pick up points on the day. He is doing a phenomenal job. It's almost laughable how good he is doing. It is February and we have lost one game all season, in very dodgy circumstances at Anfield.

Regarding signing of players in January, from all the information out there, it appears that they just weren't too enthused about the options that could be had, and felt it better to take a bit of a risk being slightly short, while waiting for the summer. Unlike the fans, they were not looking at the Champions League as extra motivation to go all out in the January window, which they would have had to do to get the players they really wanted it seems. They seem very confident that the long term plans are going to have us right up there regularly anyway and that's fair enough really.

It is very likely that we are going to end up in one of the European competitions once the season is all done, and that is a good first step for us for the time being regardless of if it is one of the Europa or even Conference league. 

Leeds are such a good team man, for a team that is actually doing so badly.

5 minutes ago, Theregulars said:

I agree. This is a really difficult moment for Howe I think, because he’s having to change system on the fly. I reckon we might see Wilson up top, Isak behind as 10, Miggy right and Gordon left. However, it means sacrificing some defensive solidity which has been the bedrock of our season. It really makes you appreciate Bruno, because without him our midfield looks very league average.

Yeah, I think yesterday Howe dropping Joelinton deep was the right decision as Bournemouth had that new signing Junior Traore in the number 10 position and he is a tricky customer and is quick and athletic, he would have ruined Longstaff if he had played deeper. So that decision I could completely understand.

I think the other key decision was then on the left with whether to start Gordon or ASM. Howe chose to show faith in ASM and try to get him going, which again, I can't really fault as he's waited for his chance, and you'd really be looking for him to be able to exploit a team like Bournemouth who are struggling, but he let the manager down for the most part, as he just didn't do enough at all.

I agree that for the remaining game with Bruno out, we're probably best playing Wilson with Isak as a support striker in and around him. I actually don't think we'll see that much of a drop off defensively as both Wilson and Isak press and harry the opposition well, and are disciplined defensively.

Just now, Mattoon said:

 

Absolutely this, there's no service at the moment bar floated crosses into the box, with teams sitting back we just play around their box knocking easy 5 yard passes, scared to give it away and hoping for something to materialise. 

The way we move the ball around the box when a defence is set in place against us is incredibly frustrating. Too many touches, very slow ball movement and predictable passes. Almiron does my head in the most in those situations, as he just keeps checking back all the time.

3 minutes ago, Theregulars said:

I’m not concerned but it’s undeniable that he had a shitter yesterday. Hopefully a one-off as you suggest, but if Wilson is fit next week he starts for me.

Wilson has had a number of games where he has been really ineffective as well, and you just don't see much of him during the match, as it's not his game to look to get as involved in general play. 

The real issue with the team at the minute is getting the right mix of players in the wide areas and the number 8 positions to improve our support play for either striker. Yesterday's mix of ASM, Willock, Longstaff and Almiron should never feature together again in my opinion, they were a bumbling mess. That foursome has to have both Gordon and Joelinton in there with Bruno out.

8 hours ago, La Parka said:

He's not a "striker". He needs a body to do the shit jobs up top so he can attack from wide and deep. 

Um, he is definitely a striker, albeit one that needs players around him that can make the right decisions with the ball and pass it accurately, so it can go into his feet in the right areas.

47 minutes ago, huss9 said:

all the top 6 are looking a little leggy, not just us.

 

got bruno  to come back rested and also i think once targett is back it will give us a different dimesion on the left.

 

maxi looked better yesterday with more game time under his belt.

 

just got to keep Big Jow away from another yellow.

 

gordon will have to step up big time if he's going to replace willock against liverpool.

I agree with most of this. We are going to go on a run once Bruno comes back in as he will be refreshed.

However, I think a big part of further improvement will come when ASM is replaced by Gordon. We'll be even more of a nightmare with our press with that change, and I think we'll play with more urgency and better decision making.

Our left side has been ruined with having to drop Joelinton deep. We cannot under any circumstances play ASM and Willock together on that side. They are awful together. Only one of them can feature on that side with support from Joelinton, who seems to get the best out of both when he is paired with either one.  

6 hours ago, Wild Geese said:

Have we Peaked with this playing squad ?

 

The dynamics have changed massively, I suspect the mentality of the players has changed from desperation, determination and pure passion, a year ago we were fighting for our Premier  League survival, every game was a Cup Final !

Now the whole aura surrounding NUFC , from every angle including the supporter base, is that now going into games we expect to Win them.

Can't fault the effort, but the urgency and desire to Win the game has been replaced with, we'll win this and we should have Won this game.

Sheff Wed should have been a wake up call, instead all we did was make excuses, instead of recognising Wednesday wanted it more than us.

 

Has Eddie Howe reached the summit of his ability ?

 

I'll probably gets pelters for this, but as the saying goes, "it's nice to be nice, but nice guys win nothing!"

Eddie deserves every accolade, his transformation of the players has been magical, Joelinton in particular, borders on the unbelievable, is Eddie Howe capable of taking us to the next level, maybe he is, but do the owners gamble on a Eddie future or do they find an experienced European Manager, someone with Champions League experience and a track record of winning Leagues and Titles.

A lot depends on the Carabao Cup game and the remaining league games, Win the Cup and finish the season strong with a top four finish and I'd expect Eddie is safe for another year, if the wheels fall off and we fall in a heap, Eddie Howe's future with Newcastle United will be in doubt!

 

NUFC is a different beast now, we are not here just to compete, make no bones about it, we are here to be the BEST.

 

Tin hat on!

Howe has been here one year, and has taken us from relegation battlers to a top 4 position in February and a cup final, with a squad that is still not fit for purpose, and you are questioning if he has reached the summit of his ability?! And why are you talking about him being nice, as if he is some sort of wet blanket and soft touch?

Horrendous and incredibly embarrassing post.

20 minutes ago, huss9 said:

arsenal went through the same shit last season when they blew the champions league spot.

stuck at it. and a couple of decent signings later....

 

i'm used to us falling away - we did under KK and SBR , so to me its a bit meh. annoying, but nowt new.

i just love the feeling emotion for my club again.

 

 

 

Yeah, we'll be fine. We look pretty much nailed on for a European place which is great.

The Europa league would be more winnable too next season you'd imagine, and so there's that to remember if we do end up falling into that.

There's really not much of a downfall to this season at all at this point. 

1 hour ago, Theregulars said:

Crass over-generalisation, as usual. There was a spectrum of opinion on here. I’ve not seen Wilson play that poorly for us, ever. It’s undeniable that Isak played badly yesterday. Yes, the entire team did; but he contributed. First touch was nowhere, constantly gave the ball away. My slight concern with him at this point - and emphasis on slight, as I know nuance escapes most posters - is that he takes too long to get the ball out of his feet and shoot. 

Isak is a completely different type of striker that gets more involved in play and so it's going to be far more noticeable when things aren't quite coming off foe him. Wilson tends to just stay high up the pitch.

Because of his play style Isak will need a bit more game time to really get used to the higher tempo in the premier league as well as the physicality, especially having come in from La Liga. Not at all concerned with him. Continue to see enough glimpses of his ability, and it is just a matter of time before it consistently comes together.

49 minutes ago, Theregulars said:

I suppose we won’t know until season’s end, really. Hopefully we never get exposed and the gamble “pays off” if we finish in Europe any which way (which I still think would be an almighty achievement, albeit understandably anti-climactic if 6th/7th).

Yeah, I really think we need to wait to see how the rest of the season plays out. All this talk of a mistake at this point is just silly.

Cannot believe how slow that was from Maguire.