Hughesy

Great plan apart from the fact that we'd have a ridiculously thin squad...

Almost the entirety of your post is bollocks. Myths. He has a decent pass ratio, because he passes 3 yards to Enrique, usually backwards or side passes, fair enough. Passes forwards or inside usually go stray. His retention of the ball is a myth too, as he often runs into a defender or 5 and loses it, likewise his stray inside passes contribute to that. Does he try to win the ball back when he loses it? No, he fiddles with his hair, or curses the sky. Myths. He has a decent pass ratio, because he passes 3 yards to Enrique, usually backwards or side passes, fair enough. Passes forwards or inside usually go stray. His retention of the ball is a myth too, as he often runs into a defender or 5 and loses it, likewise his stray inside passes contribute to that. Does he try to win the ball back when he loses it? No, he fiddles with his hair, or curses the sky. That's an impressive level of crap in one post...

Good point - it was noticeable that Liverpool doubled up on him as soon as he got the ball for most of yesterday and pressurised him from his first touch. Not sure what many players could do in that situation. Thought he had a good scond half actually - ran with the ball well, drove Johnson back (who had been looking threatening) and generally caused Liverpool problems.

What's annoying is that I keep clinging to any shred of hope that it isn't Pardew - almost convincing myself that it can't be true. Only to know deepdown that it is true and Pardew will be coming.

Just lost for words. Almost doesn't seem real?

It does seem like Paul Barron did a good job for us, but I always used to find his half time crosses into the keepers quite amusing. Generally because his crosses barely got in the area and were usually about waist high. Someone should have told him that our keepers wouldn't be trying to catch Jonas' crosses..

Sadly none of Ashley's decisions have been made with anything like the logic you suggest, the man's a mong. Tbf, he's a Billionaire, he may not know football but somethings triggered this. He won't appoint someone like Pardw, Curbs, it'll be someone with some kind of prestige, whether that be a s*** manager or not. Someone like Kinnear...?

Would only consider dropping Shola if he is carrying an injury.

I agree but then the player would then ask for the difference from the club. Agreed - so it makes no difference really.

Huddlestone and Tiote are different players. Huddlestone clearly has a better range of passing and a better shot, but Tiote is a far better tackler and about 100 times more mobile. Depends what you want in a central midfielder.

I must be psychic.

Isn't that the same for teams all over the world though? I can't believe many teams outside the established elite of most leagues could cope with losing 2-3 key players and still produce.

He wasn't too bad at Toulouse..

Albert was not better than Woodgate.

Did you think Hughton was going to come out and say that we'd had a bad window and that the squad was crap?? Especially if he knew that he wouldn't get any extra money as a result of saying that? That would be stupidly counterproductive.

It wasn't our tactic against West Ham, Sunderland or Arsenal. So not sure if we can now be labelled as a team that uses the same tactics as Allardyce??

Well yes. But also having sufficiently developed leg muscles.

One thing I've noticed about Krul's kicking is that he doesn't seem to be able to kick the ball very far. Needs to get down the gym I think..

How much would a striker like Kevin Gameiro go for (directed to any French football experts)?

Booing nationwide does seem to have increased quite a lot over the last 2 or 3 seasons. It now seems that any team that is losing at home gets booed off.

I did read the OP and the posts that followed it. It was more a reference to the posts that followed rather than your post - so your rather precious response is a bit surprising.

in a way i'd be happier had we beat blackpool, wigan etc and lost at arsenal and everton as being a newcastle fan i'm more likely to think that our good away form is very temporary and that the poor home performances are where we are actually at. sorry but it's years of supporting this club that has conditioned me this way. I would rather be winning the matches against Blackpool, Wigan etc as we are giving 3 points to our relegation rivals. Although beating Arsenal was great, I'd rather give them 3 points and have taken 3 off a lower half team.

Are people not in danger here of looking back on the past with rose tinted spectacles on? You can't expect the atmosphere at every single match to be exceptional. It never has been like that so I don't see any reason it should be now. I absolutely love it when SJP is bouncing - utterly fantastic to behold and it does add an element to the match day and I do like the atmosphere that goes with away games. But.. and I know I will get slated for this.. I am there fundamentally to watch the football, not to sit back and watch people sing. I'd take a good performance and 3 points over a good atmosphere...

In fairness the Chelsea defence did pretty much part straight down the middle... good goal - but goal of season?? More importantly why do Henderson and Cattermole wear their shorts so high?

Tragic we sold him tbh. Nah utility player at best, would not get into our back line currently You utter moron.