KaKa

The article is gold man. Some shocking stuff in there!

The summer signing who sets the tone is not Benteke at the team’s pinnacle, but Steve Mandanda at the other end. The Frenchman, secured for a paltry £1.4m from Marseille, is so comfortable with the ball at his feet that Pardew could argue he, rather than Pep Guardiola, kickstarted the summer’s fad for sweeper-keepers in English football.

:mike:

The signing last summer of Steve Mandanda, a sweeper-keeper, is regarded by Alan Pardew as crucial business. ‘His distribution has changed the way we play,’ the manager says.

;D

They just punt the ball up to Benteke man. Did it all game against West Ham. This guy is so mental. Just lies to himself and everyone else.

He's actually trying to take some credit for how well things are going for Newcastle at the moment!

Claiming that he told Mike Ashley he was wrong, and Mike has now learnt his lessons.

This guy man ... just staying grateful that he is gone forever. He is disgusting.

Pep's post game comments really annoyed me. He's far too stuborn about playingit out the back.

I don't understand why people keep going on about this

It is the way he prefers to play. He is rightly dogmatic about it so that the keepers he has are not ever in any doubt of what they should be doing. Will mistakes happen? Yes they will, but he is fine with that, and accepts it as part of the deal. Looking instead to continue to work on minimising them while continuing to play how he wants.

What is the problem?

The way those goofy pundits kept on squealing about clearing your lines man. Just shut up. I would rather have a keeper and team that took the risks Peps team takes than one that just hoofs the ball back to the opposition all the time, and sits back, which is what the majority of these knackered managers do. Ah, yes very clever. Your team never has the ball and creates one chance a game, but hey, at least your keeper didn't make a mistake passing the ball out from the back. Lord give me strength!

Really liked his first goal yesterday. Took his time and clipped it over the keeper who would have otherwise blocked it if it had been hit straight on.

Wijnaldum was absolutely shocking last season. Was far more offended by him than I was Moussa. Still don't know what he is as a player, and where you'd want him to play.

Delighted we got so much for him and Moussa. Sensational stuff really.

Cant believe he's still only 24

Yup

Think this gets overlooked a fair bit.

Regarding Shelvey and his fitness, back when he was with Swansea, he copped a lot of flak for putting up an ad for a cook for him and his family on tasty wages. The press reported it as another sign of footballers being hopeless and over-privileged, but as a fan, I think you'd want the players in your team eating properly. If they are prepared to use their own money to do it, well good on them. It's much better than them being on the lash or eating pizzas because they can't cook.

 

Lots of people of higher class social backgrounds on less money than a professional footballer use cooks, cleaners, nannies, personal assistants etc. without anyone accusing them of being hopeless, so it was probably just barely veiled snobbery.

Most of the top athletes in the USA have top chefs working for them that can make delicious super healthy meals. Would be the first thing I got if I was a top athlete, and I can even cook a little bit. Should be an absolute no brainer.

Ok i was wrong about him Glad i was though obviously.

And I was right. Unlucky Mole! 

Every time I've seen him he just gets the ball and passes it short to someone nearby. Anyone could do it.

Everytime I've watched them he has been exactly this. Liverpool have been great, but he's arguably been the midfielder that has stood out the least. Wouldn't quite say anyone could do it though

He has been very average though IMO. Expect him to score a hat trick tonight now.

Been very pleasantly surprised with him. Going from Captain Fistpumps and a Colo who couldn't give less of a f*** to this guy and Hanley, been night and day.

 

Just hope Clark doesn't turn back into a turd at the PL level.

Urgh ... Colo and Taylor man. Had completely wiped these two from my mind. What a horrific pairing they were together. Damned depressing stuff.

No worries Leffe, don't let it get you down man. You don't even need the guy, so you're fine.

The joke is on Sissoko. Amazingly enough, you would have been better off even keeping Townsend, never mind Chadli.

Sure Levy will find away to get the money back on him. Probably from Pardew next summer.

Sissoko is so poor man

Unreal that they sold Chadli and brought him in. Chadli despite not looking anywhere near as explosive and direct, always scored goals and got assists for Spurs. Terrible business.

So happy we got rid of Sissoko. Couldn't understand why anyone wanted to keep him here. He will be a permanent fixture on the bench for Spurs very soon, especially with Son emerging this season, there is no room for him in that team. Lamela, Erikson, Alli and Son are far more productive players.

Incredible header off the post from Benteke.

Benteke! :lol:

Think he's a long way from Defoe's level.

Comparable does not mean equal.

Nah, never that. I live a very clean lifestyle.

Monsoon conditions in South London.

"It was nature against us"

I see Cabaye is in the dog house nowadays too. Nice.

Palace painful to watch.

Commentators commenting on the long balls forward to an isolated Benteke, who they feel sorry for

They're confused as to why they aren't playing between the lines with the likes of Puncheon, Townsend and Zaha.

It's like they've never seen a Pardew team before!

Certainly our player of the season so far IMO, that said he's been rotated less than other players.

Needs to play regularly for both form and fitness. Type of player he is I reckon.

Absolutely beautiful West Ham goal. Lovely finish from Lanzini.

Obviously. He's much better than Connor Wickham, for example.

Conor Wickham wins in Pards eyes, because 6 ft 4. Even though his actual play as a target man is horrible, never mind not even scoring goals.

I know he's not in the same class, but it really does feel like he has been underrated like Defoe because he's a smaller striker. Someone like Pardew would have nightmares about starting a forward under 6ft. Allardyce dropped Defoe to begin with and was pretty critical until Defoe's goals rammed his bullshit opinions back down his throat.

Yup. Think he is very comparable to Defoe. His lack of playing time in the prem was largely due to playing under Warnock, Pulis and Pardew, who all prefer a lump to aim for.

Every win with Colback in the team is a blessing. Good result.

 

fair point

It's so sad because I genuinely feel that way

Never feel confident when I see him in the team. Chuffed Rafa has found a way to get results while using him, but can't wait till he's gone.