Lotus

It should be Pardew's type of game tbh. Sit deep and stay compact. If we can use Sissoko's and Goufran's pace on the break we might even have a decent chance at counter attacking. If we try and hit Cisse first time with every ball we definitely won't!

I think he could have had a decent few years at Liverpool actually, if they hadn't been so infantile about it. More than anything now, i worry about his apparent lack of professionalism.

Sad but probably true f***ing hell. Yes, we throw our central defenders forward for the sole purpose of maintaining our defensive shape. Doesn't Bimpy say they negate our defensive capabilities due to our CBs being further up the field. That's exactly how i read his post.

The way we'd play with Carroll, direct balls from 30 yards of more, dead straight down the middle, i think it would be too easy for defenders. If they couldn't compete with him (Distin had noooooooooo trouble at all) they'd just pick up the second ball.

Let's dig up Valeriy Lobanovskyi.

I know that overall Souness has a better win % with Newcastle than Pardew does but doesn anyone know how i can get the league % only? I have tried gurlgling it but didn't see anything.

Then that makes it very hard tbqph. Would you really turn down 5th on a punt for someone else? I mean, 5th !!!!!!

OUCH !!!

He gets credit Ian, but it has to be relative to the achievement. I agree. Nobody was saying it was equivalent to winning the Champions League or anything, but it was a decent achievement. Don't agree tbh. Qualifying for it was a good achievement. Our group was piss poor and the beating the other two by 1 goal over 2 legs each wasn't setting anyone's world alight. We play in a better league than them and they were on winter break. Benfica were the only team who were any good.

I'm far from certain that we would finish between 5th and 7th next year.

i didn't say we'd struggle badly again next season did i, though ok i could see how you might think that's what i meant....we may well struggle badly, we may have another push for europe, but either will be built on s**** football and direct tactics with this joker running things of that i am sure You said you knew how the season would pan out, like. You don't. You'll think you have a pretty good idea at the minute, but that's entirely based on the negativity generated this season. However, I'm not one who subscribes to this belief that we played terrible football for all of last season. So, our opinions are bound to differ. What I believe is certain, for next season, based on the stories emerging after the derby (like the one above) is that a bad start in the league will result in his departure. Rightly so, by the way. There's been too high an investment for them to risk our league status, or any lower returns they expect from disgruntled player transfers. no it's not, it's based on the games i watched last season as well when among others said that the tactics he was employing were unsustainable, the tactics he's employed all season that have brought us to this point when for months it's been obvious they were never going to work so in terms of how next season will pan out my prediction is either cisse or hba wonder-goal us up the table or they don't and we flounder or struggle, but yeah i'm hardly able to predict the future That's an incredibly simple, and quite short sighted prediction. I can't accept that the sole reason for our successful year was 'wonder goals' from our better individuals. In fact, the very nature of the 'negative' argument implies that we'd be defensive. As we've seen this season, defensive tactics don't work without a well drilled team and an organised defence. I'd say that foundation, along with our creative players, was the reason for our success. If he can replicate that, with further strengthening, we'll do alright. You think the problem with this season is that the defence wasn't well drilled or organised? It's definitely a contributing factor, like, aye. Why might it have become unorganised? Buck stops with the manager for that, obviously. The lack of consistency, due injuries etc, in our back five has been a contributing factor though. Yeah. It's odd though isn't it. Our defending's gotten worse but so has our attacking game. Begs the question what do we actually work on in training. It's not set penises Aye, it's baffling how we/he have gone backwards so dramtically. The unsettled nature of the season hasn't helped, and I do genuinely believe he's massively struggled with the additional games. He's a 'details' manager, and he hasn't had the time available to get his message accross to the players. If anything, I think he, as a manger, was even less prepared for Europe than the squad was. We did still get to the quarter finals, like, so that shouldn't be forgotten. Was hardly difficult to get to the Qfs was it? Did you think we'd struggle to get out of that group? And then Anzhi in the middle of their winter break. Benfica was the first decent team we played. Aye, that's great and all, if the majority of you lot weren't saying we'd get beat of both Metalist and Anzhi at the time. Majority of me? You'd have to find that post from me unless you're just making crap up for the sake of it.

Elliot Debuchey Taylor MYM Haidara Cabaye Tiote Sissoko Marveaux Gouffran Cisse

i didn't say we'd struggle badly again next season did i, though ok i could see how you might think that's what i meant....we may well struggle badly, we may have another push for europe, but either will be built on s**** football and direct tactics with this joker running things of that i am sure You said you knew how the season would pan out, like. You don't. You'll think you have a pretty good idea at the minute, but that's entirely based on the negativity generated this season. However, I'm not one who subscribes to this belief that we played terrible football for all of last season. So, our opinions are bound to differ. What I believe is certain, for next season, based on the stories emerging after the derby (like the one above) is that a bad start in the league will result in his departure. Rightly so, by the way. There's been too high an investment for them to risk our league status, or any lower returns they expect from disgruntled player transfers. no it's not, it's based on the games i watched last season as well when among others said that the tactics he was employing were unsustainable, the tactics he's employed all season that have brought us to this point when for months it's been obvious they were never going to work so in terms of how next season will pan out my prediction is either cisse or hba wonder-goal us up the table or they don't and we flounder or struggle, but yeah i'm hardly able to predict the future That's an incredibly simple, and quite short sighted prediction. I can't accept that the sole reason for our successful year was 'wonder goals' from our better individuals. In fact, the very nature of the 'negative' argument implies that we'd be defensive. As we've seen this season, defensive tactics don't work without a well drilled team and an organised defence. I'd say that foundation, along with our creative players, was the reason for our success. If he can replicate that, with further strengthening, we'll do alright. You think the problem with this season is that the defence wasn't well drilled or organised? It's definitely a contributing factor, like, aye. Why might it have become unorganised? Buck stops with the manager for that, obviously. The lack of consistency, due injuries etc, in our back five has been a contributing factor though. Yeah. It's odd though isn't it. Our defending's gotten worse but so has our attacking game. Begs the question what do we actually work on in training. It's not set penises Aye, it's baffling how we/he have gone backwards so dramtically. The unsettled nature of the season hasn't helped, and I do genuinely believe he's massively struggled with the additional games. He's a 'details' manager, and he hasn't had the time available to get his message accross to the players. If anything, I think he, as a manger, was even less prepared for Europe than the squad was. We did still get to the quarter finals, like, so that shouldn't be forgotten. Was hardly difficult to get to the Qfs was it? Did you think we'd struggle to get out of that group? And then Anzhi in the middle of their winter break. Benfica was the first decent team we played.

Just needs to do what he used to do under Hughton and initially under Pardew. He's an asset to the squad if he's that kind of player.

If Obertan was the replacement Pardew had in mind you can figure that one out for yourself!

Because he's not very good that's why. Under Pardew's management he'd probably be no better than Obertan despite what Ronaldo tells you. Selling Routledge wasn't a mistake but replacing him in the squad with Obertan was. Selling Routledge wasn't a mistake when Jonas Gutierrez ends up as part of a front 3? You're being daft, mate. No, Pardew said we'd be replacing WR with a better player. That turned out to not be the case.

Sounds tough. My 11yr old supports Benfica so it hasn't been a good week!!

Remember Pardew saying something along the lines Tiote having more energy so he asks him to press higher up the pitch. I do think all this 'He's our lion' and 'The New Essien' bollox has got to him. Football for him should be a simple game.

Probably the right thing to do. Totally. Unless we actually drop into the relegation zone i wouldn't even consider sacking him now. I think he can keep us up. However, the Summer would be an excellent time to look for an upgrade (if available and feasible).

You can with clever players. He really is all about the fitness and 'intensity'. We have the players to take the sting out of a load of overhyped headless chickens. We genuinely do.

That's quite a few times you read him saying he thinks he should have done things differently. I do admire the honesty of it but i keep worrying that he doesn't have the perception to get those kind of decisions right the first time.

Again, he hasn't grown with the potential of the squad.

What? We weren't clinical in front of goal and they were. What tactics would you have employed chris? Oh, you know, pass and move. Maybe practice with the ball more than once in training. You know, stuff other teams do. I'd try that.

First 2 sentences sound like the Benfica game.

Given they could have had a couple of pens and if given, a shout for a Taylor red card, can't say they were the reason we lost today.