BrettNUFC

Not sure that's quite true, we seem to monitor players for a while. You're right though, if you mean we rely too much on stuff like short contracts and unhappy players etc. Who's to say? The only people that tell us that are notorious liars. And even so, if the 'monitoring' definitely does go on then the evidence points towards it being based on upcoming circumstances, than the player being the right player. Because we generally tend to go back for the same player hence him being monitored for a fair period of time, obviously not saying this is the case with every signing but if we are niggling away at a player over the summer, the likely are odds are that we will start tugging away again come January. Ashley seems to prefer spending in Jan so probably shouldn’t come to much surprise that he hasn’t invested heavily over the summer, chances are we will grab a couple in Jan regardless of what position we are in.

A few are now starting to doubt the standard of quality we have bought simply because we have been in poor form and certain individuals who have the supposed quality haven’t stepped up in times of trouble and have folded. Personally, i'm with you, our transfer policy is decent, yet it’s flawed simply down to lack of investment/ambition. The talent we currently have on show is massive, if we keep them fit, get confidence and belief instilled back into them, this team could really start to flourish again. I think it's foolish to question certain individuals ability simply because they have had a long period of poor form and low confidence, all players can be affected by this regardless of how talented you are.

Pardew is right, basically we need to steer clear of injuries and just basically ride our luck with them as the lack of investment from above him as made things more challenging. We do have a good side and their is a couple on the bench who can impact games however injuries to key (especially offensive) players will see us massively affected. His downfall here is once again trying to polish the turd which Ashley has dropped on his lap. Talking about overdrafts and such is just pathetic but i’m not going to hold too much against him for this, he's just very poor at trying to back Ashley up when he's made it perfectly clear he is rather disappointed we never got anyone 'over the line' and left us short in attack and like stated vulnerable to injury.

Agreed, was like when Pardew ruled himself out of the England vacancy, showed a lot of respect for both country and club. Nice touch when managers can do this unlike Redknapp at Spurs.

Don't pretend you're on our side

It was all reefatoon

And all his class he showed for one night comes tumbling down It was bound to have been said jovially when talking about the match - fair play to him for turning out IMO Naaaaaaaa i'm taking it like he said it with a horrible zest in his voice with sheer arrogance in his body language.

Reefatoon is bringing back the faith man, leave him alone.

And all his class he showed for one night comes tumbling down

Any blackburn goal gifs knocking about?

Pards thread starting to heat up, the internationals must be over, time to knuckle down and wait to pounce on Pardew again…

Doesn't last night help? I would have thought it would bring a bit of positive buzz around the place. It made reefatoon more depressed

Not having that either like, unless they were skint and on the bones of their arse after Capello...

Surely not

Any wild cards been played yet? Who's all in after 3 games?

Would be canny to see a 7 a side type tournament at SJP like the 5's at the arena with NUFC legends and Sporting, Ipswich, PSV, Barca etc legends each summer for charity. Make a day of it. I'd buy into that. What did you people make of the crowd last night? I was in the East Stand and thought that the songs/chants were fairly low key considering the players that were on the pitch. Few Shearers, few Andy Coles, few Nobby Solanos, couple of one bobby robsons/Shay Givens/Gary Speeds, lots of one Steve Harpers, shit loads of one joey bartons. About all there was really. Low key as you say.

Was the wrong man for the job from the start, nevermind.

Yeah, the whole speaking out against the regime counts in his favour, too. It was also his first return to St James', whereas Nolan's had a couple. I can't say his reception bothered me, at all. There was a lot of love in the air, and I don't think it was that important to recognise each player according to their 'success' here. Maybe it was just me baffled then

Even if this was the case, Nolan did far more in his time here than Barton yet he wasn't given anywhere near the admiration Barton was given, found it very strange how much loving he was actually getting considering how much of a rollercoaster career he had with us.

Thought it was a fantastic occasion, was great seeing legends grace our turf once more. However the game itself never lived up to expectation, the announcer was clueless and the majority of Newcastle fans were kernts for licking Barton's arsehole so much when there was far better players out there who we could have been showing our appreciation to and deserved that sort of reception Barton was given. Was a nice touch bringing the Speed lads on, very moving.

That game defined the term, a game of 2 half's. Switched around this year, been starting off poor, then picking things up second half, strange. Looking our record at Villa it seems decent enough, hopefully we can improve it again on Saturday.

What's our record down at Villa in the PL? Sure it's one of our better hunting grounds, usually fancy us putting up a good show when we play them down there.

Unfortunately

I'd love that but no doubt Jonas will be fit and it being away it'll be more like Debuchy Taylor Colo Santon Sissoko Cabaye Tiote Jonas Cisse Shola Taylor and Shola aren't starting, Jonas could but i doubt it, Tiote is a big possibility, if fit.