Lush Vlad

Think Sammy is injured as well? Ferguson has just played two full games in four days and has always seemed the fragile type. Not done a great deal in the league for us when he's had the chance either, still looks a bit out of his depth IMO. I wouldn't mind seeing Marveaux in the position he played against Brugge. But we all know it's going to be 4-4-2, with Obertan replacing Jonas.

As in you saw him that night as well or you saw him in there again last night? Away on International duty isn't he?

Yeah just watched them all. That Gaston fella should win. Ridiculous bit of skill. Who the fuck even attempts that?!

At least it'll give us some natural width, if nothing else. Ferguson's looked totally out of his depth in both PL games he's started this season, but if Pardew puts faith in him, i think we'll see him grow into it. He can reach the byline on his stronger foot, so that'll be a novelty. His crossing from deep is good as well. If it's 4-4-2, he'd be my first choice for the left-wing in Jonas' absence. Agree. There is also a chance we might have a go at 4-3-3, with Obertan Sammy or Marv further up the pitch in his place. Nah, who am I kidding? 4-4-2 with Fergie coming in. We'll lose Jonas' workrate and ball carrying ability, but we'll almost certainly create more going forward whoever comes in. We've got so many left footers in reserve, it'd be good actually have some width down that flank as you say.

Alcohol free beer!? I did find it odd that I couldn't get any at the Bordeaux game, reason being it's a UEFA regulation. I was so pissed I didn't realise though and I didn't think it tasted weak or lacked a kick or anything? Just thought it was Jupiler? There were actually a lot of empty seats in that corner. I was right tight to the fence and the safety net first half and couldn't see much our end (luckily). But I ended up moving to where me mate was and it was a great view. Not sure if loads got turned away, loads didn't make it as they were so fucked or if everyone just stood where they wanted, but there did seem a lot of seats spare. Might have been a combination of the three I suppose. First away day in Europe and my only gripe was the walk. But I'm 23 years old and not too obese, so I can't complain really. It was better than Vicarage Road that's for sure

I was there from about 11am Thursday until 10.30 am Saturday. Went with the missus and another couple, but just went to the game with me mate. So had a quieter one on the Friday, but we still spent about 800 euros between us. Spent most my money on the first night mind. Luckily my phone ran out of battery, so I just had a late one with me mate and then got told off by the wench when I got back to the hotel Such a weird change in atmosphere around town from the Thursday to the Friday!

we had to pull him back in, does all the chants on the mic in sam jacks on match days, was trying to do it out the window but he got a few renditions of 'who the f***ing hell are you' and 'we'll sing what wee want' he got a bit emotional got a canny video of someone doing a klinsman in that pile of rubbish not sure what gans through peoples heads tbh haha some bloke was wading around in it, in what can only be described as budgie smugglers Went to school with this daft fucka... ...canny lad usually. Seen him outside in the street as well. Trying to start chants only about 10 people knew the words too and kept doing that bloody magpie ranger song, can't stand it personally. Looked off his nut on shall we say, 'chemicals' as well Didn't see much aggro. Some bloke jumping into a load of cardboard boxes. A pissed up fella who asked "Hoo, excuse me love, dya mind if ya get your tits oot"to some pissed off looking local bird. Some twat that tried to kick a cyclist, missed and fell head first into a moving car and three lads that were stood on the back of a moving trailer singing the "We're drinking in Brugge" song. All of this was on the walk to the game and didn't see any actual bother as such. That's as bad as it got from what I saw. Most locals I spoke to said there was less aggro and damage than when Birmingham where there, and that most of us just seemed like alocholics. About right really It's a beautiful city, stayed until the Saturday morning and loved every minute of it. The beers are lethal. Even Jupiler (lovely drop I thought) is Stella strength, so you're soon on your way. Kasteel beer was the strongest I had I think. 11% it was. Strange when you just choose to have a local beer, then it comes out and it's 8%. No warning or owt most the beers were decent mind. The bars must have made some serious money last week!

I think he's looked poor and wasted whenever he's played on the left. He should be further up the field. Whether that's wide in a 3 or in a free role I don't really care. Would just be nice to use him properly.

This season, pretty much fuck all. Depsite the fact we looked a bit rusty, I loved the Spurs game. It was fairly promising, we beat a decent/top 4 team without Colo, the weather was glorious and I was pissed all in all, a good start to the season. Since then, it's gradually got worse. We play some nice stuff in Europe and that's been fun at times. But we don't look clinical and we'll get murdered when we play a decent side in the knockout rounds. The football in the league has been nothing short of dire. Whilst we did paper over the cracks last season with some great results and wonder goals, I don't think we were this bad TBH. I said before the WBA match, it was the first time I wasn't looking forward to an NUFC game for a long while. Felt like a chore to be sat there watching it. Same shit every week, 90% of the fans saying the same things, yet every week we stay the same or get worse. Probably all change if we beat Swansea, I'm fickle like a lot of fans

This. He was hit and miss against Liverpool and he tried to do too much at times yesterday. Despite this, he was still one of our best players over the two games. The fact he's the only player that can breathe attacking life into this moribund (classic Partridge) team is a huge worry. As you point out, we have nobody else that creates, beats a man or looks to run with the ball. I can't quite believe he is getting stick, when there are so many other players performing terribly on a consistent basis. Baffling.

I actually liked the look of him. Mixed bag from those in the crowd, some said he was shite, some were impressed. Can cross a ball, set pieces were half decent, tidy in possession and when we weren't using the Taylor/Williamson diagonal hoof, he linked play well. Would like to see him be a bit more direct at times, as he doesn't look slow and has great ability on the ball. Could have had a pop a few times in the first half and refused the chance, should have scored a sitter as well. All in all though, I thought he was decent all things considered. If we played the 4-2-3-1 in the league, he'd have more of a chance of getting a game.

I'm finding it hard to enjoy sunderland's plight, as we hardly look much better at the minute. We really should be with the players we have, but the style of play and tactics aren't much better and certainly aren't any more pleasing on the eye.

Strange how we've pretty much exclusively played or at least started with a 4-3-3 in Europe. Granted it's been against lesser opposition, but we actually retain possession, pass it short and use the ball. All of this with our 'back up' players...... More worrying, is that Pards often says the right things in interviews. Speaking about lack of control, too direct, don't create enough, need more options from set pieces etc. But then nothing changes whatsoever and after all this time, we're still playing the same tactics as when he first rocked up. Yet we don't have the likes of Barton, Carroll and Nolan to make those tactics effective! It's frustrating, if he sees these problems, how in the fuck does he not know how to change them or at least address them? When was the last time anyone genuinely enjoyed our style of play and thought we dominated a game from start to finish in the league? I think it was Stoke home last season. Feels like a chore to watch us these days.

I don't think Diame would have took the piss and walked through the middle of the pitch if Tiote was playing today. I think people massively underestimate his contribution. Even when he's having a bad game, he presses, looks for the ball, tries to actually pass and covers a lot of ground. He can be a liability, but he's a bully and we miss him when he's not playing. Especially when we persist with this horrible formation. We bypassed the midfield a lot today, but at the same time, they were non existent for large spells. Too powder puff and lightweight.

Sorry, what? mental Is littlelunchbox Gary Birtles? Gary 'GET THE BALL IN THE BOX' Birtles. What a monumental cunt that man is.

Sorry, what?

Worryingly, didn't a load of West Ham and Charlton fans predict this? Great start, but within a season or two there will be questionable tactics and decisions and the results will drop off. Plenty said he's a one trick pony, I just wrote it off as bitterness on their part TBH. But it has to be said, their analysis looks to be pretty accurate.

I've ran out of adjectives to describe our dire performances this season. We're so fucking shite it's embarrassing. No guile, creativity or pace to our play. Everyone wants an hour on the ball. We never get into the box. We never pass it patiently in the final third. Just aimless hoofs up field to a defence that are happy to sit deep and defend against wave after wave of clueless attacks. I wonder what excuses Pardew will come up with this time?

Didn't expect him to start, but a bit of a shame HBA isn't travelling. Would have liked to see him get a cameo, although in fairness, that would mean we would be losing the game! Please Marveaux and Mehdi are in, fingers crossed they make the matchday 18. Hope Cabaye isn't risked. Elliot back fit is a good thing as well. He's looked better than Harper this season.

Stopping down near Folkestone tonight and driving over in the morning. Should get there for about midday. Already got a name of a load of bars around Eirmarkt and T'Zand to try out thanks to a helpful Brugge fan. Can't bloody wait.

In a nutshell for me, top post. Ba and Cabaye going off killed us. But despite that, we were a bit too negative for my liking. Sitting that far back and punting the ball away time and again isn't really an effective way of defending a one goal lead.

I actually thought for the last 25-30 mins of the first half, the movement was better and there was a bit of fluidity to the front three. HBA was popping up in different positions, Ba was drifting wide allowing Cabaye and HBA to advance through the middle and Cisse started to come off the line. Had them on the ropes for the last part of the half. Then Ba went off, then Cabaye and we fell apart. Trying to defend a one goal lead with less than 100 passes was always going to be a struggle. If we can play like we did at the end of the first half and on the front foot, then we'd actually get the best out of HBA. It would help the majority of the team TBH. I actually thought his defending was pretty good considering. Won a few headers, tracked back and made a few more committed challenges by his standards. But that is just not his game and I don't expect him to be doing it for 90 minutes.

Think he offers more than a goalscorer/poacher type like Bent and Owen. But ATM, he's out of form, confidence looks shot and we're not playing to his strengths. Add to that the fact he's played out wide a few times when he is in the team, or as part of a front pairing that hasn't gelled at all. You can understand why he's not shown much. Still, despite him playing badly and lacking any service, he's still bagged three goals (one was a fluke of course). He's an instinctive finisher. Let's start getting the ball to him in areas where he can flash one in. Not 40 yards from goal, out wide with nobody else near him.

Whats this about? Wireside using the word interrupt when he meant interpret on a few occassions. A few posters not grasping he clearly meant that, so some petty arguments ensued about the misuse of the word. Wireside eventually ended up saying it was because of auto correct on his phone, which was clearly bollocks. Yeah, it's funnier if you read the thread, doesn't really work this way

Slays me every time Never gets old This. One of my favourite gif's ever.