Interpolic

You're laughing but there's actually people on this very messageboard who wanted him played as a more defensive midfielder (they'll know who they are) when we signed him. I don't think they were. I can't even remember saying it myself but people were clearly wanting us not to play 2 defensive midfielders, which was fair.

http://www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/index.php/topic,91227.msg4240764.html#msg4240764

Played a blinder, or so was said once he'd finally forced his way into the side by Christmas.

Wasn't even on at you I agree he did a lot of the same things but he was far more effective, it wasn't a "stats thing" for anyone with any sense.

Yip. On another day Perez doesn't get the second bite at the cherry and the flag goes up when he's pffside for Gini's header and for all he's done exactly the same, it doesn't look like nearly as good a performance. It's a stat thing "had a hand in 5 goals". Honestly man, this routine again. He put 3 goals on a plate and was heavily involved in 2 others. Everyone saying he had a much better game than normal is spot-on.

Think it was the first time he'd been on the pitch like that. NBC were absolutely slagging it before the game, saying it would put the players off or something.

We'd have Austin instead of Cissé. This True but we'd have been about £12m down on the deals and I'd rather have plugged other gaps instead. If we'd signed Mitrovic and Austin for £27m between them then I don't see any scenario where one of them wouldn't usually be out of the side. Don't think they'd have complemented each other at all.

I don't see where Austin would fit in tbh, neither him or Mitrovic have much in the way of pace of guile. Better off with Perez/Mitrovic. Of course we may come unstuck with a few more injuries but we do have De Jong/Aarons/Thauvin to come in, in forward positions. Priorities should have been a LB/CB/DM before another striker IMO.

Yeah, I'd concede that it was definitely flattering but we wasted nothing other than that Dummet cross. Incisive and clinical, it was great to see.

He's so fucking slow to react to anything. Ball bounces for a 50/50 between 2 players and it immediately becomes a 0/100 if it's Colback expected to nick it.

Stick some wings in there as well man. 6 of them, 6 wings? Fairy.

Good start in terms of these 6 games being our opportunity to get out of the mire. Ignoring the Krul injury it's frustrating as we're otherwise a centre half, a left back and a defensive midfielder away from looking solid as well as exciting going forward.

Who stuck money on 6-2 around HT? Odds?

First hatrick since Ba?

Front 4 have been outstanding going forward, however bad the defending's been.

Jesus Christ FC. Get murdered on crosses.

Ah fuck, 3-2

YES

Well done. Massive call it was too. By far the most expensive midfield signing in our history.

Our passing is dire.

Ah fair do's

It's one game. Away at a decent side, which they didn't lose

Three names, no Mike Ashley and you randomly pick Dom Littlewood. i loved that, i thought it was only me that found him an annoying little fucker, small man syndrome cunt I can't fucking stand the annoying bald nonce. Al Moody off here knows this so he wrote to his agent before my 30th saying I was his biggest fan etc. I ended up with a personalised signed photo. Funny fucker

It's bollocks that what a manager says to the press isn't necessarily exactly what he thinks? And also that what he says to the players might be different behind closed doors? You honestly believe that? And I do think he's said some daft things btw, particularly saying 'judge me after x games' which was just setting himself up for embarrassment if we had a bad start, and the 40 points party thing is weird. Your peeve was that manager's quotes aren't worth dissecting and I absolutely think they are. To say comments have no real effect on players is laughable, we've seen evidence to the contrary for years. Positive (Keegan) and negative (Pardew) clearly do.