Lush Vlad

I don't think this is fair at all. He started the season without Perez, then he brought him in, then dropped him again. De Jong never played, now he's had a (very short) run of games. Mitrovic was starting and then he dropped out. Whether you agree or disagree with the current lineup is one thing, but I don't think it's fair to say that McClaren never changes things. He just doesn't change things every game. Keeping the same team and tactics, against Villa. Was always going to be a mistake IMO. I know it is easy to say that in hindsight, but I think plenty of others on here, were suggesting we should be changing it up and probably starting Perez and Mitrovic. He's changed things before due to desperation. In case you didn't notice, we were getting battered most weeks... Not sure where we found the 'winning formula' beforehand? Didn't we settle on the Gini and Sissoko wide, Perez behind Mitro, for quite a few games. Due to a couple of half decent performances and also getting a win (s*** game against Bournemouth). Mitrovic and Perez were dropped off the back of poor performances/defeats, after that. He even said pre-match that he was tempted to change it, but kept the winning team from the previous two weeks. Cisse being injured and de Jong missing that sitter and generally doing f*** all the last two games, might be a blessing in disguise. That said, the tactics used against Liverpool and Spurs. Might be more suited against Everton. I still don't think I'd start Cisse, mind. Maybe I'm being premature. I just feel like if everyone is fit. So long as we get a result. We'll just persevere with the same team week in, week out. Regardless of opposition or who is in form and showing up well off the bench. Then we'll wait until a defeat or two. To suddenly realise we've been figured out and not every team we play is the same. It reminds me of Pardew so much.

It wasn't just the fact that he let the ball sail over to an unmarked Ayew. It was how he totally stood off him after that. Don't rush in so gung ho and get skinned. But FFS, at least close the shot/cross down. Really poor from him and I'm a big fan of his.

Pretty sure the chance Gini fucked up, was from Perez's cross? As for the Mitro one, he doesn't need to smash it like a shot, when the surface is already zippy (it was at the time, it was before it started to get waterlogged). I don't remember it being a particularly difficult ball. It was just an easy cut back. The pass to Perez was well behind him as well, even though Perez probably should have done better. He is so frustrating. Still one of the only players to create anything, or offer any purpose going forward. Yet his final ball/decision, is often poor. He bottles so many tackles and headers and all. For his size, he's a bit of a tart really. Which is strange, as when he gets the ball to run at players, he looks like an absolute brute and manhandles defenders for fun. Yet another enigmatic, infuriating NUFC player.

This is a great point mind. It is indeed. Not seen it argued as well as that. But haven't people basically been saying this on here for quite a while now?

Agree on Cisse. I said it after West Ham and I stand by it. I'd be happy to never see him play for us again. Can't stand watching him. He's an appalling footballer, his touch and decision making leaves a lot to be desired and I don't think he's been arsed about being here for a long while now. Maybe the club have been trying to peddle him and it's fucked him off? Who knows. Either way, he's not worthy of a starting spot in our team. Not sure about de Jong either. Too slow and ponderous. Doesn't offer as much as Perez and I'm just not sure what his position or role in the team is? Really reminded me of Pardew with the team on Saturday. He's found a winning formula and he's just going to stick with it. Totally ignoring players on the subs bench that are clearly superior or more suited, than those in the starting XI. If Gestede had started, I think Villa would have won comfortably. The prospect of relegation seems very real again all of a sudden. Any team with a tall centre forward, is going to create a lot of chances against our woeful back 4.

Agree with this. I thought Anita was half decent though TBH. Actually made some decent tackles, ones that I don't usually see him make and all. Outmuscled their players a couple of times, which is unheard of for the wee man. Like you say, neither are suited though. When the sub was being made, I knew it would be Anita. Even though Colback was yet again, playing like a complete and utter shithouse. When we were pressing high in the first half. Even Cisse and de Jong were successfully getting to their man and rushing them into playing. Colback, on more than one occasion, would end up the wrong side and just get rolled and turned easily. He's a pathetic footballer. Absolutely stealing a living. I haven't disliked an NUFC player this much since Lee Bowyer. At least he had some ability, though.

Nailed it.

Who's your next messiah? Jasper Carrott? I think he's a Brum fan? But can't think of many famous Brummies. Nevermind any that support Aston Villa.

We don't have any full time players that are excellent for 90 minutes. Sissoko in terms of impact on our team is in our top three or four players Do you have an alarm that goes off, every time Sissoko is criticised? Agree with a lot that you say about him, mind. He certainly isn't crap. Just wildly inconsistent, for a number of reasons.

You lot? As in the one person saying it. Try again.

I thought all Muslims wanted Christmas banned at him doing kick ups in his Santa suit.

Same. I'm going to my work's Christmas do 2 hours early, so I can sit in the bar and watch this. The free bar won't be open by then. But I'm still hoping to be happy drunk by the time it opens and the meal starts.

I feel we definitely would, to a degree. I used to sit up in the L7 corner and I feel the majority that used to have their tickets there, would certainly get stuck in. As I posted in the sunderland thread. I certainly don't think it would be such full on hatred and seemingly the whole ground celebrating. Unless of course it was a big club, like one of the top 6. If it was someone like Everton or Villa before all this shit happened. I don't see it.

I want Leicester to win. The Premier League has gone to shit. Every year, you can guarantee it will be 1 of 4 teams that are going for the title, before a ball has even been kicked. You can usually say it will be Chelsea, City or Man U to win it. At least in recent times. Then you usually have another 2 or 3 teams max, that have a genuine shot at the top 4. It's boring as fuck. I'd like to see someone break the cycle. No better year to do it, either. City keep fucking up. Arsenal always seem to come up short. Man U look awful. Chelsea have fallen off a cliff. Liverpool are still all over the place with their results. Spurs are Spurs, no doubt they'll finish 5th. Obviously they're doing far better than we did. But it kind of reminds me of our 5th place season. We also timed it well. As Chelsea and Liverpool were crap that year.

Ouch. Does sound pretty painful. Still should have just walked it off. Puff.

Did he have oxygen and get stretchered off? What is the injury, exactly? A nasty cut to the knee?

That seems to be the general level of 'banter' on there. Is that Spurs' version of RTG?

Would like to see it. But we won't ever get it, because Colback won't get benched. I was thinking something kind of similar to Keegan's 4-3-3 that he played with Martins, Viduka and Owen up top. Owen (de Jong) actually went a bit deeper, Martins (Perez) was the runner and Viduka (Mitrovic) was the target man. I think we had a midfield 3 of Barton, Geremi and Butt. So whilst that was more solid. The 3 you propose certainly has more legs and ability on the ball.

I can kind of see KI's point here. But you're dealing in hypotheticals and trying to suggest we'd celebrate like we won a cup, if we relegated a club like Everton? Even with their strange social media hatred for us, I just don't think that would be the case. There would be some piss taking, some cheering, some bother outside the ground, sure. But I really don't think you'd see hundreds of grown men hugging each other and jumping up and down like they had won something themselves. They were going on like the win had saved them from relegation FFS. I really don't think you'd see SJP rocking with pretty much every fan going berserk. It's a strange one. As I know a few Villa fans and I used to have a bit of an affinity for them, as I have family who live in Erdington and it was my first away trip when I was a kid. I've been 4-5 times, it's a great ground and there used to be a good atmosphere. Can't say I have ever seen them celebrate so wildly, though. I've been to a 4-1 loss and a 1-0 loss there and all and that day we went down was just insane. They were giving us a load of stick beforehand. But TBH, I was shocked and surprised at how they went on at the end. In fairness, I had a few older fans come up to me after the game and shake my hand and offer a few kind words. I had a long walk back to the car and I was caught between wanting to cry like a school girl and fight everyone in sight. There were a lot of young charva fans trying to goad our lot into kicking off. Just to top it all off. I went out on the beers in Sutton that night. It was grim, other than after a funeral. I'm not sure I've ever had a more depressing drinking session :'( It might be a bit petty, spiteful and small time. But if they are down or close to going down. I'll probably get a ticket for that game near the end of the season and bask in their misery. Knowing us, we'll probably get hammered 3-0, or we'll probably be in the bottom three with them

http://i.imgur.com/zOWspvR.png

HSE supervisor. That or a traffic warden.

Is it harsh to think he should have saved Dier's header? Got a pretty strong hand on it and would have been a hell of a save if he pulled it off. But I think he'll be pissed off at himself for not keeping it out. Was good apart from that though. Made some great saves and was fine with some routine ones as well.

Ayoze is grimacing in pain. I think both his knees have gone from having to hold up Gini and Mitro. Mitro should be fined two weeks wages and be made to go on a celebration awareness course. Awful behaviour from him. It's just not on. I fucking love Mitrovic and love that he is a mad cunt. Yesterday was the first time I have got pumped about a game in a long while. He played a big part in that and rekindled some of my love for football Him and "AY-OOZ", as McClaren likes to call him. Should be starting against Villa. They have were looking promising as a partnership and prior to the last 20 minutes yesterday, I don't think they've been on the pitch together since the Leicester game? Good to see the chemistry is still there. They could be here for years to come.... Well, until Ashley cashes in.

He seems to run a lot. Other than that, I can't say I notice him doing anything. Although I think he did put the free kick in for the first goal?

Nah. Was a waste of a shirt the majority of the game today, and that is quite often the case. Didn't see the game like but just saw highlights and he created two absolutely brilliant chances like And Shearer thought he was "absolutely outstanding" He was shite in the first half and looked to be sulking about and seemed so half arsed. Got a bit more room in the second and whilst a bit wasteful at times, he was back to his best with some really powerful runs and was responsible for most of our good play. Played a lovely through ball for Cisse, too. On SDJ. I quite like him. He is probably our best passer of the ball, always looks to play it early and into the right areas. He seems a really crafty player. He is just so immobile and I'm not sure what his role will be for the rest of the season. Mitrovic and Perez are too good to be riding the bench every week. But then I don't see where de Jong plays, if we start them two?