themanupstairs

Fairly certain they'll be targeting him, Tiote, Janmaat and Coloccini who are all prone to a moment of madness.

Height is another issue. You have highlighted Van Dijk who is probably a good 10cm taller than both Mbemba and Coloccini. It's easier the taller you are to rack up the numbers for obvious reasons.

http://www.whoscored.com/Players/104368 Chancel Mbemba's Characteristics - have a gander at his weaknesses. These are just the facts to back up obvious observations. So he's won half of his aerial duels? If he was poor, he'd be winning much less surely? What about strikers who score 1 out of their 3 shots? Are they poor? Anyone can use stats to prove a point. The eyes & brain combination is a better indicator IMO, and I can confidently say that Mbemba has had a very promising start to his PL career, and has shown a lot more strength than weakness. He's the least of our problems in defence. 1. Like I said, it's an observation that i've tried to back up with facts. We've conceded goals from Mbemba losing out in the air and from his poor headed clearances. We also look very susceptible to concede from set-pieces of which Mbemba is part of the problem. 2. You really think a CB should win half his aerial battles? By comparison: Van Dijk has won 27 of 36. Vertonghen 24 of 38. Smalling 34 of 56. Coloccini 12 of 22. I find it disingenuous that Colback gets a lot of stick for actually engaging his brain for once and making sure not to pick up a suspension. But another player can consistently lack in such a important area for his position and it's never mentioned. The same thing happened with Colo when his lack of physicality really began to cost us. I'm here to criticise Colback when it comes to holding on the ball for too long, always choosing the safe pass, not showing for the ball enough and being immobile as owt. But we should be fair in our assessments. 1. The point I was making was that stats don't take into account the circumstances in which these "duels" were won or lost. A defender could still win a header by "accident", with his eyes closed, and by the same token do his utmost best to win one but fails to do so because of a nudge in the back or a missed-step etc. The stats are ridiculous in that they make all aerial duels exactly the same, which if one knew anything about football, they'd know that isn't the case. Rather than use stats, I'd rather point to the strengths and weaknesses of a player from a bird's eye view. No one denies that Mbemba has weaknesses, but he isn't "poor" in the air. Bringing this up in every thread, then going on to applaud Colback for not getting booked is insanity.

http://www.whoscored.com/Players/104368 Chancel Mbemba's Characteristics - have a gander at his weaknesses. These are just the facts to back up obvious observations. So he's won half of his aerial duels? If he was poor, he'd be winning much less surely? What about strikers who score 1 out of their 3 shots? Are they poor? Anyone can use stats to prove a point. The eyes & brain combination is a better indicator IMO, and I can confidently say that Mbemba has had a very promising start to his PL career, and has shown a lot more strength than weakness. He's the least of our problems in defence.

It really isn't, especially seeing that he does actually bottle entire matches let alone challenges.

I think it's more the way he does it, by lacking an engine and being constantly out of position and chasing the game. If he was dominating the opposition midfield and putting in big tackles it would be different. It's just an excuse to have another pointless dig at the lad. Had he made a tackle that even put him in danger of getting a yellow, many would rightly criticise him for being stupid ahead of such a momentous game. He's a pretty crap PL midfielder - people don't need to invent reasons to have a go at him. You mean in the same way you find excuses to have pointless digs at Mbemba? Colback is a coward and brings absolutely nothing to the team. He'll make a block once every 5 games or so, but other than that he's as desperate and useless a PL player as one can get. Not at all surprising that people will have a dig at him for stealing a living. Contrast that with Mbemba who is new to the league and has shown far more in the 8 games or so he has played in than Colback ever has in his career.

Has he always been this way? I really don't remember his attitude being so WUMmy back in the day. Maybe I never noticed because I just didn't see the great value added to the forum.

Especially after having spent some time away from the pitch and the first team toxicity. He may just come back a different player, hopefully a better one. Happens sometimes.

It's raining lads

Imagine The Tyne would be flowing with jizz. would give the local kebab industry a lift as well

Aye let's alienate him, and not give him a chance under new management/coaching/system, just in case we lose Mitrovic and/or Cisse, and might need a striker to score the odd goal or two. Fuck him. Give soldiers Riviere wages.

This. Wijnaldum is a well rounded footballer and can contribute in several ways. As long as he's intelligent and disciplined in his decision making depending on the situation, he can start in any position in the front 6 tbh.

The football has improved noticeably. Especially the way we attack and try to keep possession. If SMC can find some consistency then this way is a lot more sustainable than al pards' hit and hope for a bi o magikk. Rather have a positive approach than Pardew's cowardly ways. Fair?

This game has score draw written all over it.

winner

Yup. And if we sell him for anything under 30m soon it would be a travesty. 10 goals and a few assists this season should see that rise up to 45-50m IMO.

anyone else? Reminded me a bit of Messi in the way they both have 2 feet, 2 legs, 2 arms and 2 hands, and a bunch of daft tattoos.

That lofted pass to set up Mitrovic for his goal is probably the most "beautiful" assist I've seen from a Newcastle player for a very long time. Probably since Cabaye's inch perfect through ball to Cisse against Stoke.

And now Nice concede. Ben Arfa should have tracked back to defend that. Instead he's sat on the bench the fat forrin fuck.

That's more like it

Ben Arfa is a good player but he doesn't defend enough for me. Who the fuck do Nice think they are keeping him on the pitch while winning 4-0. Don't they know they might concede?

What a goal by the sub

Anyone know why he didn't play today? Have the club said anything?

Superstar in the making. Links the lines so well, and can finish. Could be our first 50 million pound player by the time he's sold.