quayside

Really got mauled today, no point in trying to say otherwise. I thought Spurs were awesome tbh and Adebayor looked as good as any striker in the league. We were, of course, shyte. But it's gone and we have to move on.

What is all this hoofball stuff? It feels like an urban myth to me at times. Yes we DO play the long ball a bit, mostly under pressure and more often than not when Best is playing, as he holds up the ball so well. But we play more football along the deck than I have seen for seasons and seasons. I know it's not a perfect example, but you can't watch the first half of the Fulham match and say we don't play our fair share of attractive, intricate, passing football along the deck. it's one of those things that becomes an all time truth because it was true in the past or happened once. some more examples, colo is crap now because he was in the season we got relegated, we always play a high line because we have once or twice over the past couple of years, we play hoof ball because we did a while for some bizarre reason after hammering the mackems then scored from it against man utd recently. Agree. It's a bit like the myth that is sometimes perpetrated on here that we played better "football" when Hughton was manager. My recollection of life under CH was that it involved a fair amount of ball being played in at height to Andy Carroll with the likes of Nolan sniffing around the box playing the predator. And whenever any of the key component players were missing we didn't look too clever, whereas under AP we do seem to be able to pick up some results with a suboptimal starting eleven.

I'm English and I suppose I support England, but I think that just about every player that plays for England is a c*nt - I genuinely can't even stand the sight of most of them. And that pretty much applies to the people on high who seem to control everything to do with team England. It is a cliche but my allegiance to the management team and playing squad (multi-national) at Newcastle is off the scale compared to anything I feel for England. I just hope that nothing from the fallout of Capello's resignation impacts negatively on NUFC in any way. And apologies if this post is off topic.

Cacapa and Barton come to mind.

Geordie nation

Probably posted elsewhere - we can probably get through Ramdan but if any of the players are still with us there is also another Africa Cup of Nations this time next year.

So 5th to 7th this year is out of the question? The thread is about whether we're overachieving and if we can do this again next year. Point taken - and respect to Quailman. I would say that I think we are where we belong. We have ridden our luck and of course every top side does that. But we have also had some pivotal things go against us, the Luis sending off against Chelsea being one, also I thought we did enough to get the points against Swansea and the Fulham result was, shall we say, warped. There have been massive moments in most of our games that have influenced the result, and mostly through sheer guts we have come out ahead. Finally and I'm talking blind here but it seems to me that we haven't had our share of penalties yet - stats anyone?

So 5th to 7th this year is out of the question?

Yeah I think so, Mcleish said afterwards he expected more from Zog - hence Zog's comment on twitter afterwards about not being happy playing football.

I have very similar thoughts about him. There is a footballer in there somewhere but, like you, I am not sure he is a winger. He doesn't seem to have the instincts of a winger, perhaps he is waiting for Pardew to turn him him from a moderate winger into a striker - as in the conversion of Thierry Henry

I'd always thought he was a good guy but wasn't so sure after his appearance on the Liverpool website in the aftermath of the Carroll sale. At best it was an error of judgement, at worst he was being a total w*nker.

I'd say, purely as a footballer, Barton would improve our squad. It's the crap that goes with it and the effect it might have on the club as a whole that is not missed and outweighs any positives. Nolan did a very good job for us and got well rewarded, but it was time for him to go when he did. His lack of mobility was always going to limit our options, and he was too big a personality and ego (and too highly paid) to accept a role as a squad player.

They probably still think we'd be doing better if they were here.

Yes I was there. Bad times. It would be an understatement to say that Friedl played out of his skin that day.

Was that him who cleared off our goal line tonight? I couldn't be sure who it was. Whoever it was, it was a good effort.

Don't like swearing overtly in public.

Cos thats what we need, another manager... Indeed. F*cking staggering that people even think about this. Warnock, Curbishley and Bruce are available and would no doubt step in without a moment's hesitation. Would love to hear some other names to throw into the hat.

Yes.

Illiterate means ignorant to the equivalent level of being unable to read. I don't think Redknapp is anywhere near that, for starters I think he has an understanding of the economics of the transfer market. If you disagree so be it.

Utterly ridiculous how he claims to be "financially illiterate" yet had worked out what commission he was due on the Crouch sale. Anyone ever heard him mouthing off about how much money he made for Portsmouth from his transfer dealings? Also during transfer windows his talks to the media about other club's players often refer to how much they would cost and whether its good value. "Financially illiterate" my arse.....

Exactly. They could have quite easily taken the cash off him and swept it under the carpet, they have chosen not to. That tells me they are hellbent on making an example of him Agree - but ultimately it's all down to a jury. It will come down to how each lawyer puts their case.

Last I heard, he's getting pretty rave reviews so far this season. Looks a good player - won everything in the air against us and has also shown he is comfortable when the ball is on the deck.

Confirmed on wikipedia so it must be true.....

Just got in - wtf. We've signed Cisse and Ben Arfa is being sued by a French rapper. Going for a smoke....