oldtype

Our track record with youth has been horrific for the past decade or so

Agree with this imo. I don't like the way that clubs like PSG and City spend money but when you consider that the alternative is nobody other than Manchester United ever winning anything, it's probably a necessary evil. It's also the only way NUFC could ever win the league in our lifetimes.

I blame Pardew. Rodgers saw who the next game was against and got carried away thinking he could make up the goal difference

Ouch.

Rodgers sounds like he's just lost a parent

No point in paying the new manager an extra week's wages?

- He was fantastic in his first few appearances in 08-09, understandably went to shit as the club descended into chaos - Paired up very well with Enrique and dominated the Championship and was solidly "better than replacement" level in 10-11. - Since 11-12 he has been in gradual decline except for some very good shifts as a DM towards the end of 11-12. So all around it's been a very inconsistent Newcastle career for him, but I don't think it's fair to say he's never been good.

Right, he was so much more likable when he was just showing up once in a blue moon to score against the Mackems

I know it's selfish of me but I wish he'd retire instead of signing somewhere else. He's shit but I don't think I could bear seeing him in another club's shirt.

The American sports model is the way to go. Only sustainable way to run a competitive league when there's so much money in sports

I think Keegan is the perfect example of the importance of fit. He was exactly the right man at the right time for NUFC. But despite the fact that his tactical abilities should probably earn him a spot in the "genius" category, he never lived up to his potential because he wasn't the right fit for basically every job he took subsequently.

Yes, but even among the group of relative no-marks, there are still some managers you would accept or tolerate if you see a certain kind of intention to play good football, honesty, dignity, and a genuine concern for the club's well being. Hughton wasn't the best manager in the world, and probably never will be. But the case against him was never made so strongly, and with such vitriol. Sure, some could see his failings, but he is a good man, and conducted himself really well in general. His teams had passion and fight in them, and clearly played for him. I would have been content - not happy, but content - to see us beat the mackems regularly, win most of our home games, and show some fight in the games we lose, under Hughton. The bloke we have in charge now has none of Hughton's personal qualities to go along with his own total ineptness at managing a football team. Pardew's ego is his biggest failing imo and he's a lot less tolerable than a man like Hughton. Yeah I think we agree here, the idea is that within that's group it's more about personality than tactical skills. Fit is also very important. No matter how good of a manager you are if the players can't stand you and you can't work with your staff it's not going to end well.

I'm one of the people who believes that manger's don't have a big impact on a team. There's a tiny group of geniuses in the Alex Ferguson/Bobby Robson bracket who will change your fortunes single-handedly. There's also a small group of complete idiots who should find alternative employment. (It looks like we've got one of these unfortunately.) Beyond that it's just choosing from a pile of candidates who are pretty much as good as each other, and finding the one who's the right fit for your club personality-wise.

Probably be trading stories about how deluded and ungrateful the Geordies are.

Can we destroy Pardew at Mordor?

It's all subjective. People in Somalia would wonder how any of us could ever be unhappy what with our three square meals and not getting shot at every day.

Not without massive fan pressure. Right now there's very little to concern him in terms of his safety and money ranks a lot higher with him than self respect, obviously. You'd think he'd have more than enough money to provide for his family for the rest of his life at this point, and he could probably make a fair bit doing broadcasting work as well. At some point the job is just no longer worth the stress and he looks like he's inching closer if not already there.

He looks at the end of his rope. I honestly think he might walk.

I'm pretty sure everybody gets the same feed

We're going to score goals and ruin everything now, right?

That's no way to treat our next manager

In some ways this is the most fun I've had on a matchday in such a long time

We score goals?

I have to admit at this point my only interest is morbid curiosity about how long Pardew can extend the losing streak.

I'd like to think that Pardew will be sacked at the end of the season and this situation will still be salvageable. I'd like to think that.