timeEd32

The thing was though, we had a good first 11 out for nearly all of last season certainly compared to the teams around us, but the tactics and set piece routines counteracted it. We do have good players, but ive no confidence in the manager, and tbh, the coaches, getting the best out of them. Agree, I'm afraid... Cabaye, Ba,Cisse, Tiote and the rest worked well together - but now that AP got the time to have an influence he spoils it! We'd ve better of letting everyone (not Tiote) act on instinct! NO manager at all, and let some Random Dude pick the team... True. I think much of my optimism is centered around HBA being fit. He transforms our team and earns points on his own.

Despite my pessimism in regards to our transfer activity this summer I've actually become fairly confident about our season in the last 10 days or so. Assuming we don't sell any of our best players we still have a really good first 11 with decent depth in a couple positions. Obviously very thin up front, but it's the one area where I think we'll get at least one body.

Agree with this for the most part. Think we're bargain hunting this summer unless we cash in on Cisse, Cabaye, etc. This is just an assumption based on nothing though right? Yes, and I don't think I portrayed it as anything different. Just the feeling I get.

Agree with this for the most part. Think we're bargain hunting this summer unless we cash in on Cisse, Cabaye, etc.

Took four preseason games last season to get four goals.

THE ENTERTAINERS ARE BACK!

We're going down.

We're awesome!

First game being moved to Monday sucks.

Altidore a mackem.

"The truth behind Newcastle’s interest in Remy, Kone and Ba" What a shit headline.

The music in that video

Dodged a bullet.

Am I missing something or is 10m for Tevez and Llorente pretty damn good business?

Very good. On last night, this is good: http://americansoccernow.com/articles/united-states-beats-the-bunker-to-defeat-honduras

This is one of the first times I can remember where almost the whole of the Northeast press is being openly critical. Usually most of them are too worried about their access.

Anyone have the article? Saw it being linked by quite a few writers that aren't Newcastle-centric, but it's behind the pay wall now.

There weren't any (in Ashley's mind). That's the issue.

I've been busy the last couple days and just saw this. What the hell?

I actually had a look back at that season as I knew the media version of Keegan having a breakdown after Fergusons mind games and then blowing a 12 point lead is overly simplified bollocks, but it was still all a long time ago now: Our home form was imperious for the whole season: WWWWWWWWWWWWWLWWWWD Away we were consistently average after a gentle run of fixtures at the start where we won the first 4 out of 5: WWLWWDDDLLWWLDLLLWD Man U were 12 points behind us before they beat us 2-0 in December. That was the start of a run where they won 15 of their final 19 games. We could match that form at home but KK’s team didn’t ever quite get to that level away from home. They had 2 class players who had been and done it all at each end of the pitch and I recall they carried them at times: In the 2nd half of the season Schmichael kept 13 clean sheets, and they won 7 games 1-0. I’ll bet Cantona was the scorer in about 5 of those games as well. It’s easy to forget how it really panned out in the final couple of months of the season. Heres how it went week by week after that home defeat to that Cantona goal: 04.03.96 1 Newcastle United 28 +26 61 2 Manchester United 29 +27 60 16.03.96 1 Manchester United 30 +27 61 2 Newcastle United 28 +26 61 18.03.96 1 Newcastle United 29 +29 64 2 Manchester United 30 +27 61 20.03.96 1 Newcastle United 29 +29 64 2 Manchester United 31 +28 64 23.03.96 1 Manchester United 31 +28 64 2 Newcastle United 30 +27 64 24.03.96 1 Manchester United 32 +29 67 2 Newcastle United 30 +27 64 03.04.96 1 Manchester United 32 +29 67 2 Newcastle United 31 +26 64 06.04.96 1 Manchester United 33 +30 70 2 Newcastle United 32 +27 67 08.04.96 1 Manchester United 34 +31 73 2 Newcastle United 33 +26 67 13.04.96 1 Manchester United 35 +29 73 2 Newcastle United 33 +26 67 14.04.96 1 Manchester United 35 +29 73 2 Newcastle United 34 +27 70 17.04.96 1 Manchester United 36 +30 76 2 Newcastle United 35 +28 73 28.04.96 1 Manchester United 37 +35 79 2 Newcastle United 35 +28 73 29.04.96 1 Manchester United 37 +35 79 2 Newcastle United 36 +29 76 02.05.96 1 Manchester United 37 +35 79 2 Newcastle United 37 +29 77 05.05.96 1 Manchester United 38 +38 82 2 Newcastle United 38 +29 78 In Keane’s book he says they knew there was no way back for us after their win at SJP, but looking at that we were right there until the point they stuffed Forest 5-0 in their 37th match of the season. The goal difference that gave them was the first time there was any real daylight between us. After finally getting a clear advantage Fergie went and wound up the Leeds team, although we actually got a rare win away from home against them. KK then had his rant after the match and it’s gone down in history as a “meltdown”. It just didn’t happen like that. Ferguson got a reputation as being a “master of the mind games” off the back of that. I’d hardly call it masterful. After playing Leeds on Monday night we had to play Forest on the Thursday (while Man U put their feet up) and Woan fired in a 75th min equaliser from miles out. There is not a manager in the game today who would not go beserk about player tiredness in that situation. We then went on to play Spurs on the Sunday, and that turned out to be a dead rubber anyway. In the end they were slightly better than us, and we were also a bit unlucky, but I genuinely don’t think it’s fair on KK to say he bottled it that year, and I’m certainly not one of those who says he can never do any wrong. Awesome post.

Regardless, he clearly had some mental issues. And I don't think he was 100% physically fit the entire season. Fatigued at the beginning and fighting various injuries the rest of the way.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-help-yohan-cabaye-2207019