Lotus

Could argue that happened to SBR. The Window when we only signed Bowyer Speed sold without his prior knowledge Sacked after finishing the season before in 5th.

What do you mean? I mean, just because it's three runs of bad form doesn't mean he should have been sacked. It's still only one bad season, so it doesn't really affect the debate we were having above. A bad season isn't normally enough to see a manager sacked? Regardless of what you want, just saying that, looking around at football throughout the European top tiers, a bad season seems more than enough to see you sacked. In fact a bad year is more than enough to get you sacked from just about any job in the world tbh. I know it's enough to get you sacked, that's obvious. But that doesn't mean it's a massive mistake for a club to stick with the manager. In fact, as we were saying on the previous page, we would probably giving credit to someone else for having faith in the manager. It's not mistake if you can't hire anyone better. Otherwise it is.

I think if any posters here had watched this guy for 5 consecutive games last season they would have marvelled at the fact we bid £8m for him. There really are better players about.

What do you mean? I mean, just because it's three runs of bad form doesn't mean he should have been sacked. It's still only one bad season, so it doesn't really affect the debate we were having above. A bad season isn't normally enough to see a manager sacked? Regardless of what you want, just saying that, looking around at football throughout the European top tiers, a bad season seems more than enough to see you sacked. In fact a bad year is more than enough to get you sacked from just about any job in the world tbh.

What do you mean?

^^ It is actually. Hard to believe he made it through the summer but now that he has, i think the fixture list (opening day conceding) has blessed him with a decent set. IF there's anything about him he should be able to dig himself out of the hole he fell in somewhat.

Nobody can expect much against Man City. We'll then have 2 home games with a trip to Morecambe in between. Pardew will have to keep the players morale up if we take a heavy beating on the first day and tell them the season starts againts WHAM. We haven't got a bad start on paper and, if the players believe in themselves we could have decent set of results through to September.

Problem is their going to be good down the wings and good through the middle. I would have wondered if Krul Debuchey Colo MYM Santon Sissoko Anita Cabaye HBA Cisse Gouffran I think though we'd be too short at the back and Anita will get blown over by the wind as Toure strides past him. Saylor would give height at the back. Tiote for Anita is a choice but i believe he'll give away the ball in difficult areas and fouls in even worse.. Also, with the above, their attacking FBs would had a fairly easy afternoon. Can only hope they have an off day tbh.

What's City's likely lineup? Something like this? I think Nastasic is injured and Aguero just coming back from an injury... Hart Zableta Kompany Lescott Clichey Barry Toure Fernadinho Navas Silva Negredo

Thought he looked better than Cabaye tbh.

Should be a player coach this coming season and take over as manager the season after (if he's even doing his badges). That's my dream, like.

Good analogy. When he does try to attack this happens. It's not a great analogy, really. Given that most fighters who keep their hands high are actually offensive boxers. Tell me you sit at home in your over sized satin shorts scouring the threads for references to boxing! Bet you do....

Pardew's like a boxer who keeps his hands high and is frightened to throw punch because it leaves him open. In his mind, as soon as you attack, you're vunerable.

Tbh, i wouldn't be positive at all until we get the striker situation sorted. Because if we don't, we'll be kicking around the bottom 5. He must know that something is imminent.

Yep. A NUFC 11 vs him. Plenty of time on the ball for us i reckon. Nope his retired.

Is he suggesting he wants us to play a little narrower, more compact? If the opposition do the same thing he thinks we have the players to play in tight spaces. Also, if we're more compact then it's harder to play through us, something that seemed delightfully easy for the oppostion last season. Not hard to imagine that Cabaye, Marveaux and Anita can play that way. Can't ever imagine those 3 starting in MF though. Wonder what his idea is?

We definitely need someone who can play wide as well as Gouff. Really really really really want Cisse to stay though, he's f***ing lovely. Tbh, i think we need someone wide instead of Gouff. Be that Remy or Thauvin (if we could manage it) and we'd look quite a different prospect on paper.

Still need Remy imo. Cisse must be off.

Quite uncanny this

Whenever i've seen Gomis, which is occasionally, i thought he looked pretty poor tbh. Doubt we'd sign him. Better modify this now Have to say, he looked ordinairy or worse when i saw him a few times on ESPN last season. Was thinking i was glad we never signed him the 1st time we were linked.

He's been holding Obertan back imo. Worth considering.

Thought he looked a triffic player.

I was actually quite looking forward to Bent arriving, but now I know he's a replacement for Cisse it's killed my enthusiasm stone dead. For those who thought Cisse couldn't hold the ball up well, good luck with Bent. Cisse is twice the player he is outside the box IMO. Yup. I was more than happy whenI though he'd be challenging Cisse, an option off the bench or whatever. But as a replacement not at all for me. If Pardew is going to continue with his awful brand of football, Bent is not the answer. Think Bent is better at making diagonal runs actually to receive long balls. Still leaves the problem of midfield support.

Because he quite happily wore a shirt with virging money on, while playing in the barclays premier league. They're both money lenders who chatge interest. What Cisse is effectively saying is that Sharia law is ok with interest rates of less than 50%. Which is absolute bollocks. Has he been quoted as saying it's a religeous matter? It might just be a moral one (if this is even the problem). IIRC, when we announced Wonga was going to be a sponsor, some time ago now, the Muslim Council of Great Britain got on the news pretty sharpish saying how it was unacceptable for a Muslim to carry this sponsor's logo. Haven't heard a peep from the now though. You'd think that if Cisse had declared that was the issue they'd be making sure they get some exposure over it. Of course, i could be wrong but i'm convinced we have anything like the full story here.

How is Cisse being hypocritical? Who is he lending money to?