Christmas Tree

Let them write all the crap they want as long as the fans don't start believing it all. I know I have watched a team all season that hasnt quite hit the right chord yet but has been dogged and Lucky. As for picking players out We all know there's quite a few deserve special mention long before we get to our French prodigy. A top 7 or 8 finish would still be a massive result imo especially given the loss of 2 or 3 players to the African cup in January. Lets just quietly look towards some decent additions in January and next summer without too much upheaval and then see if we are good enough to bite at the heels of the "big" boys.

Well match day started in the Tree household with the best of Frank Sinatra over breakfast followed by copacabana, the monster mash and a good dose of Trololol to set up a really positive day. School run over, feeling ready to rumble and looking forward to slaying the stoke dragon tonight. 5-1 to us. Marveaux to start and Ben Arfa off the bench to get his first goal of the season.

Having looked forward to this game all week, it has to be said that this thread has been pretty sober reading during the day and my enthusiasm had been blunted. However my positive vibes have returned and I think we will come away with all three points.

Best just been on Talk Sport saying he feels a world better and if picked will play.

Hard to argue with any of that.

But he's not back to full fitness........Hence the reserves I give you, the Ben Arfa Fan Boys......... http://www.bilerico.com/2010/06/hear-see-speak-no-evil1.jpg

Bought a pair of Nike trainers at Sports Direct today.

Laughable! I just want the fella to be included on merit, not on past glories for other clubs. Get in the reserves, graft and come back on fire. It's not a hard concept really.

I don't think I've seen anybody "write him off"? Suppose it is half term ;-)

:lol: Missed the Everton game did you? One goal mate, seriously? Remember John Barnes against Brazil. I really hope it comes off for him at NUFC, but it simply just might not happen for him here. Thats football.

Reality hits you hard Bro! Seriously, if the Ben Arfa worship was taken out of peoples comments this thread would be a lot more readable. Excuse after excuse. Some will demanding he plays in goal shortly just so that he is on the pitch. Lets just agree that so far he has never yet "done it" for Newcastle and looks some way away from doing it just yet. We cant afford to carry him and as some have pointed out, the team has done very nicely so far. Also worth noting that Pardew wasnt even here when he played last season so will be even less willing to carry him. Being able to turn it on in training means nothing if you cant do it for real. Hopefully, this chap will see the benefit to be gained from a few appearances in the reserves. If not I fear it will be a tantrum filled few months til January.

This second half will show how good Pardew is. Can he see who isnt up for it? Can he make those changes? Can he fire them up? 60 minutes to save our season

well this is shite.

Just come in from the boozer so apologies if already mentioned but Radio Newcastle saying Blackburn only sold 2000 tickets for tonight.

It didnt really start because of any of the points you have made. Everyone knows he needs to improve and everyone accepts it will take time. No biggie It kicked off because Christmas Tree ( i feel stupid calling someone that) insinuated he may be a bad apple based of the fact he hasnt played a reserve game. A theory he has pulled out of his arse basically. Then shit went down. http://www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/Smileys/Newcastle-Online/icon_lol.gif A nice revision of history. Well done I said IF there was any truth in the press rumours that he had refused to play THEN he could be considered a BAD APPLE and should be moved on. Nice try though

Thats a very good post and probably sums up where quite a few of us are.

From what I gather, Toontastic.net were delighted to see the back of CT. Not true at all. Some toontastic posters find it hard to communicate with someone who is a glass half full sort of chap and would rather cast a dark cloud over everything connected to NUFC. Did I give as good as I got? Yes Did I choose to stop posting on Toontastic? Yes Did I and do I still get on very well with the majority on Toontastic? Yes About being a glass half full chap...I suggest you use that philosophy with Ben Arfa. Yes he might lose the ball sometimes, yes he might be a precious character who is difficult to handle but (here comes the glass half full bit) He's fast He's skilful He has a tremendous left peg He opens up defences like a can of beans He cost £5m instead of £15m He's fucking mint. All of which I agree with.

I'm looking at the paintballing video on nufcTV and don't have a clue what he looks like. Hes even funnier on the predictions video with Carver and Stone.

There's some truth in that like. Certain players go through stages of being virtually untouchable on here, and Ranger was one of them 2 years back. Perhaps so, but in this case a mountain is being made of a molehill based on idle press speculation. Is there a genuine concern wrt Ben Arfa? I don't really see anything so I'm at a loss to see what the fuss is about. I agree, but the mountain was caused by the fanboys. The original post was pretty tame and relating to an article in the press. Surely Newcastle articles in Newcastle papers are fit for discussion on the Internet?

As the yanks say....."Put up or shut up"

From what I gather, Toontastic.net were delighted to see the back of CT. Not true at all. Some toontastic posters find it hard to communicate with someone who is a glass half full sort of chap and would rather cast a dark cloud over everything connected to NUFC. Did I give as good as I got? Yes Did I choose to stop posting on Toontastic? Yes Did I and do I still get on very well with the majority on Toontastic? Yes

He is a WUM though. Any evidence of that on this board? Thought not

Silly boy Discussing an article in yesterdays papers is hardly Wummery. Maybe I should have posted in joined up writing. Its also a good measure of a man to judge people how you find them and not on the say so of others. If I took Leazes Mags / NE5 word for this place I should find they place full of teenagers from china!

Spot On tbf

Personally I think the ground looks pretty impressive from all angles. Imo the best view of the game itself is end on so either the Leazes or the Gallowgate. I would definitely give 1892 a miss. I had a ticket there for a few years and it is very dull. Also worth getting to the city early on the day and soaking up the pre match atmosphere in the pubs. Not everyones favourite but I think its nice to say you've done the strawberry. Have fun anyway. (Might also be worth writing to Derek and letting him know of your trip and see if theres anyway you can get into training. With their new find "niceness" you never know.