LucaAltieri

Probably worth a punt, then. This time last year Rob Earnshaw came storming out of the gates for Toronto looking like a world beater. I'm sure Defoe will kill it too.

Isn't he doubtful for the game? I heard he took a knock about a week ago?

For what it's worth, Brazil will win the world cup. They're a good side playing at home. That's the sum of it. Nothing to do with managers etc.

I'll be doing it on a farm for crying out loud. My friend owns a farm, he employs a farmer to rear animals and grow crops. It's not like I am just going to find a random lamb in the wild and kill it. I've actually helped do this with a pig once, quite some time ago when I was staying with an indigenous tribe in Costa Rica about 10 years ago. One of them where the women all have their nips out?

Except for in the sentence, "I'm killing it in the bedroom."

During a 0-0 with Denmark? I'm shocked.

It's jarring and unnerving seeing a thread where Flip is an authority.

Can't believe it took them this long. The second the UK was awarded the 2012 Olympics the moaning began.

Prejudice isn't necessarily a conscious decision. Often people will find other reasons to rationalize their bias and/or not even be aware of it.

He doesn't, like. In what way is Newcastle responsible for him not playing regularly? We didn't buy him to stick him on the bench. If he hasn't adapted quickly or isn't performing as well as others in his position then who is to blame? If Yanga-Mbiwa had gone to Man City would he suddenly be twice the player and starting week-in/week-out? Bullshit, if you ask me.

I get what Kaka is saying. In my own experience I have a few African friends who were born in the UK. They still identify with what they would describe as being their "home" countries. At the same time I knew a couple who don't seem to care where their parents/grandparents were born and just feel at home here. However, none of this has any relevance as to whether or not people should be treated any differently based on their skin color/ancestry. As Newcastle fans we should know better. We regularly adopt people as geordies. Nobby Solano is about as far from your standard Newcastle native as you can get but no one would argue he's not a geordie. Same applies to Sir Les, Keegan (born in Doncaster), Tino, etc. They identify with us, we identify with them regardless of how similar or different they look or where they were born. And that's the important part. If a player identifies with being English then we should be treating them just the same as we do everyone else - ie. hyping them to impossible heights so they can't possibly meet our expectations then slaughter them in the press when they inevitably fail. It's the English way.

A little annoyed it wasn't a 4 or 5 goal margin but it'll do.

Based on what, their superb form in premier league matches?

I wonder if all the knackers whining about how we're not going to win another game all season will fuck off for a couple of days now?

Fucking Pardew, no ambiti... err, too much ambition. Head in the clouds. Taking shite.

If that's your sole criteria then we improve the majority of players we touch.

Carr and Pardew have very different jobs. Carr may be bringing Pardew the best players available for the money but Pardew, when picking his team, has to consider many differing factors other than "who are the best 11 players?" Pardew has to account for the opposition and their weaknesses, the shape we're going to use to exploit those weaknesses, who has played well in training, who is fully fit, what are the individual players' attitudes like - is their head in the game or not, are the alternatives in that position better, are they in need of game time, does the shape require someone more solid or with more flair? Carr doesn't have to deal with any of that. I rate him. His record at Newcastle has been very good. But none of that comes into play when Pardew, or any other manager, is picking the team. "My chief scout said he's ace so I need to play him week in week out," is a shitty way to pick a team. Might as well make Carr manager at that point. Completely missed my point didn't you? Carr has bought what he deems to be good players, I wasn't talking about whether Pardew played them or not?! The fact is, yes he chooses what players to play an in what position (generally the wrong one) but the point I was making is what players have truly progressed under him? How many have gone off the boil, regressed or failed? My argument is either Carr isn't very good at spotting talent or Pardew, when, if and how he plays them is causing them to regress. It's nothing to do with who he plays and when or where he plays them as you suggested, I have no idea how you thought that was a pertinent argument? If you're just talking about HBAs development then fair enough. If you're making any argument about HBA being in the team (which most in here are) then it's completely relevant to the point. To address form in general: players hold more responsibility for their own development than managers and coaches do. There are plenty of examples of players who have improved under Pardew, the most obvious one being Perch. Williamson is having a good spell right now. Cabaye had both good and bad spells. His value increased significantly in his time here. Colo has dealt with a lot of personal issues but has had his head kept in the game and been one of our top performers. If Pardew gets shit on because some players aren't performing then he gets credit for those that do. Of course that's never going to happen on here. Playing well = well done Mr Player, sir. Playing badly = Pardew is such a cunt. Or, in your case, complete denial anyone has ever had a good spell under Pardew's management.

Carr and Pardew have very different jobs. Carr may be bringing Pardew the best players available for the money but Pardew, when picking his team, has to consider many differing factors other than "who are the best 11 players?" Pardew has to account for the opposition and their weaknesses, the shape we're going to use to exploit those weaknesses, who has played well in training, who is fully fit, what are the individual players' attitudes like - is their head in the game or not, are the alternatives in that position better, are they in need of game time, does the shape require someone more solid or with more flair? Carr doesn't have to deal with any of that. I rate him. His record at Newcastle has been very good. But none of that comes into play when Pardew, or any other manager, is picking the team. "My chief scout said he's ace so I need to play him week in week out," is a shitty way to pick a team. Might as well make Carr manager at that point. There's a massive problem here. Our 'manager' decides to play players such as Shola and Taylor instead. Aye, I'd be slotting HBA in at centreback, personally.

http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20140228/coloccini-to-miss-hull-trip_2281670_3691566

Carr and Pardew have very different jobs. Carr may be bringing Pardew the best players available for the money but Pardew, when picking his team, has to consider many differing factors other than "who are the best 11 players?" Pardew has to account for the opposition and their weaknesses, the shape we're going to use to exploit those weaknesses, who has played well in training, who is fully fit, what are the individual players' attitudes like - is their head in the game or not, are the alternatives in that position better, are they in need of game time, does the shape require someone more solid or with more flair? Carr doesn't have to deal with any of that. I rate him. His record at Newcastle has been very good. But none of that comes into play when Pardew, or any other manager, is picking the team. "My chief scout said he's ace so I need to play him week in week out," is a shitty way to pick a team. Might as well make Carr manager at that point.

Tim Sherwood has a triangle for a head.

Done.

Nice to see Fraser Forster on the fringes.

They hadn't sent us any e-mail but went into our application and saw that it was successful. Tickets to all six games in Salvador. Going to be some s*** this World Cup. Just done this. Got all the tickets I wanted in Porto Alegre (my base). Didn't get England v Uruguay tickets, will just try and buy some outside the ground on the day. That's excellent. Just remember that buying tickets outside the arena is a criminal offence in Brazil and also if you really want the ticket try through the first come first get phase on the 12th of Marc at 12PM CET. Is it all the games in Porto Alegre? You'll have some cold World Cup, the morning must be freezing cold for Brazil. Never been there but could easily imagine morning reaching 3 - 5 degrees. I presume the games I didn't get are sold out though so I doubt they will be any tickets on the 12th? Will the ticket thing be enforced strictly? It's also a criminal offence here under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 but it happens. Aware that Porto Alegre won't be hot, but I don't choose where my friends live! Also spending time in Rio and Sao Paulo. Make sure you get out of the cities for a bit. They're all dirty, over crowded, hell holes. If you get out you might even be able to find a parking spot somewhere.

He's a very good young player imo, could learn a lot playing with Bradley. They should really find a way to hold on to him. Laba loaned to Vancouver.