Mattoon

No point in changing a winning side, plus the centre of the pitch for us is shit whether it be Tiote, Colback or Anita, not many other options tbh.

I think the time for passion has gone in football, it's not about 22 mackems/Geordies playing a derby and if we try to play that way we'll inevitably lose. Now is the time to play football and play it better than a side bottom of the league.

More anticipation than nervous, first time I get to see the derby in real time since we last won. We have the ability to smack these out the park, just hope we play the game and don't get bogged down by the occasion. Right now I'd take a draw and smash them at home, but hoping for the win. Bring it on!

How to become a cult hero in 90 minutes. Come on Mitro, nail them to a wall!

First derby I've had off work since the last one we won, I'm hoping this is an omen! The most confident I've felt since we lost that first one too.

It's obvious the letter is just for the benefit of the supporters, there would be hell to pay if he came out and said it's just another match and tried to play it down to the supporters (See Gullit). I don't see a lot wrong in what's been said, it only becomes a problem if that's what's being said to the players, fwiw I don't think it is.

To be fair, Saylor said on Sunday, from the Sky Sports Studio that McClaren has mainly concentrated on defence and defensive shape. I'm glad it's working out for them!

I missed his post match comments as I try to avoid the slimy cock womble at any opportunity but a friend at work who is a Liverpool supporter said he could tell he was cracking and was spouting all kinds of nonsensical shit to defend the loss. I hope this is the House of Pards finally crumbling down!

Pardew always spent most of the week working on "defense" (yeah I know right?) and would be drilling the players on how to nullify the opposition threats, it's one of the most tedious traits of his time here. I think McClaren will be more bothered about what we can do and how we should play and maybe just have a worry about keeping the crosses coming in down. As long as we concentrate on out game and not worry too much about theirs we have a good chance this time out. The mentality is different this time.

I have faith that McClaren will set us up and expect us to play football unlike hi predecessors, however I question the players moral if we go behind or come under the cosh at any point. I just hope yesterday has convinced them well enough we have enough in the tank to outscore such a dire team.

This is what worries me about Sunderland, FS will be looking to exploit that with his favourite hit-it-high tactic. They'll be looking for set pieces around the box.

If it gets Colback off the pitch I'm all up for giving him some game time to at least give him a chance to find his old form back, if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. But he has the potential to be decent, Colback never has. I can see Anita being the player that has to make way though, unfortunately.

Probably this but I hope we smash them, like really smash them to exorcise what's left of the Pardew era.

10 threads out of 30 on their front page and we're the obsessed ones? There are some decent level headed posters on there but shit a brick most of them are proper cock wombles like.

Totally disagree with his comments by the way, of course you have to build a team, you have to have an idea of how you want to play and build a team from available English "talent". Either way he'd fail miserably and it would be amazing to watch!

More of a disease than a curse, but I get your point. Maybe it's my advancing years, maybe it's 4 years of Pardew, I don't know but I have no sympathy for him. He knew what he was getting into, he knew what our regime were like and the legacy of mistreatment that had been left by Pardew and Carver. He was out of work and saw an opportunity to stay in the money, he was told from the start how things were going to be (no commanding cb) and he took it on and stayed here. It's his choice as to whether he remains here or not and given the circumstances I would expect him to walk very soon, I wouldn't blame him, quite the opposite, but I don't feel sorry for him. Unless Ashley breaks off everything from the top, Charney, Carr, McClaren, nothing will change. Do I believe he will do that? I'd be shocked, but if he wants a semi-successful club he has no option, hell if he wants to stay in this league his time is running swiftly out! The answer is clear, restructure or piss off, it's about to get ugly again.

Totally agree, just think it's been blown into something it's not. Need to batten down the hatches and shout a rallying cry, that looks like the white flag is already half mast.

Tbf the author of the piece has suggested losing Krul will cost us 20 points, all he's said is that Krul will earn us 20 points, that's not to suggest his understudy will win us 0 just not as many. A story has been made out of context. Not that I think he's any less cracked up than most believe.

No brainer Valdes or Blobby? NUFC go for the more pounds for your pounds option every time.

Whilst I agree with this, the premier league is full of clubs I absolutely loath. If we were a decent ran club it'd be nice to see us get one over on a few constantly, instead of the other way round. Have to agree with this, sick of getting turned over by dross, winning the league is way out of our grasp but regularly beating Crystal Phallus and the Mackems would make the season more enjoyable again

I think it's fair to say it's a catch 22 by definition, nothings going to happen either way, it's a frustrating scenario that makes us feel powerless about something we love. Do we go down and risk falling so far behind, being labelled a yoyo team and losing what little pride we have left on the notion Ashley could sell up? Or do we languish in the bottom third of the league, losing all hope and memories of battling in Europe, still losing our last remaining pride and being cannon fodder for an increasing number of "top half" teams because "we can't compete"? The ideal scenario is that someone with a vision and some football nous comes in and utilises our resources in the right way and has us competing again, without the need for relegation. The only true positive we can have of going down is the possibility of actually winning some football matches again and seeing Ashley's pocket/ego take a hit. I also think it's the only way to unite the fans against him. However I don't think the long term outcome of that would benefit the club. Getting rid of Ashley is one thing, finding a buyer is another.

... I don't even.... I can't???

I've been offered a very contagious flesh-eating disease. I declined. Given the choice, it'd be Necrotizing fasciitis every time!

http://thetwounfortunates.com/football-cities-newcastle-upon-tyne/ A long read, but good article.

The Keegan fiasco is a moot point to be fair, as even when he was here the buying was done without his knowledge, it's always been Ashley's plan to control all costs.