Mistle17

To use an FM phrase, I think it's fair to say our midfield can be fairly 'rigid' at times. Today in the 2nd half especially we made the pitch small for ourselves and its not a rareity to see our midfield too close to the back 4, leaving our strikers isolated and having to feed off the atrocious long balls we have a tendency to resort to. This was at its worst against Fulham a few weeks back, imo. The worst is when for instance we see Jonas on the touchline calling for the ball, he recieves it and is closed down and both our CM's get sucked into where the ball is in the little congested space and it leaves us with nothing but static play. Very frustrating. But, on a more positive view, we have 3 very hardworkers in Barton, Tiote and Jonas. Barton does a lot more running than people appreciate imo. I think that although Nolan's goals a key to the teams success, we'd benefit a lot more if Tiote played alongside someone like Gary Speed. That's some wish I know, but I think we'd see a great improvement then. This midfield is certainly no worse than that of the 2006/07 season when we'd regularly see: Milner---Parker---Butt---N'Zogbia. That central midfield pairing was like hell on earth, and adding to that very poor crossing ability from both wingers, I'd definitely take what we have now, without a doubt.

Good choice to give us more attacking options, we're not going to hold out defending.

Resorting to long balls now. Gonna struggle to create anything now.

We signed two midfielders in the Jan window though:Ben Arfa & Ireland. Both of who are injured.

Yeeeeessssss get the fuck in Nolan lad!!! :frantic:

We're delusional Geordies. That's why. lol u wont win da title lol stupid newcastle fans lol lol we wil m8!!11 i fink we shud buy rooney cos i did in fifa he mint lol

We're delusional Geordies. That's why.

Bloody hell we're screwed if any of our Midfielders get injured. We have Shefki Kuqi. He can play anywhere...

Any team news, fellas?

I really think Ranger should start this one. If not now, then when?

No, we will get in to Europe. Leon Best will make sure of it. I will hold you to this.

We win today and get 4-6 points from our next two home games and Europe becomes a real possibility! I still think it's a long shot at best, tbh.

A tough one to call this. I reckon we'll either win or draw or perhaps lose.

I wish our shirt was like Lazio's. Man, they got style.

I didn't realise the match was still going on! Imagine that happened in England? Dear god...

Obviously its a long shot, but if we were to win our home games against Bolton, Wolves, Brum and WBA then it wouldn't be completely out of the question! As I said, it's a long shot but with the way things have gone this season who knows. Besides, were due a bit of luck....surely.

In the Netherlands don't they play 7 aside up until U12? Personally I think that's quite a beneficial idea.

You got my vote.

This

These guys are terrible. We should be kicking ourselves if we don't win this.

Ask them who won the league in that 1908-1909 season. Aye, you rarely got an answer like.

Get Ranger on, Loven is useless.

1-1

Tempted to stick money on a 1-1 for our game..