Jagten

Has done little to deserve a slot tbh. He's been relatively poor in the limited opportunities he's been given this season, but I'm not sure how he has managed to fall behind Sammy and Obertan. Obertan deserved to be on the bench based on his performance on Thursday. I agree, but he was given a huge amount of opportunities despite being consistently rubbish.

Has done little to deserve a slot tbh. He's been relatively poor in the limited opportunities he's been given this season, but I'm not sure how he has managed to fall behind Sammy and Obertan.

No Marveaux again, either. Boo.

Simpson's a reasonable defender, I accept that, but I thought Ferguson was generally OK, and I very much doubt he would have contributed anything more than him today. Potential clearances off the line aside.

Thought he was one of our better performers today. Looked more comfortable on the right, too.

Why's that?

Some of the responses in here are ludicrous. Today was the first time he played in the position where he enjoyed the majority of his success at Ajax. His skill set will not be highlighted when he comes on for the last 30 minutes at 2-0 down, but when he's played from the start in a team that has a focus on ball retention with his role being to dictate the tempo as a sitter in a 1-2.

Has that actually been confirmed btw? In various quotes from him saying he believed he could get £10m for it and it would pay for a new player for us every year. I think Bayern Munich get less than half of that. I could be wrong, mind.

FFS.

theres a twitter post with some guy who had a pic with colo yesterday (i think), colo told him he was fit. normally I would say its bollocks but pre spurs a similar thing happened when saylor told someone at that i would be himself and perch playing. Yeh, this is it:

Valencia is injured. They are likely to line up in a 4-4-2 diamond with Rooney behind RVP and Hernandez. How do you know this?

Think he looks increasingly competent at LB, and he's more capable defensively than some are suggesting.

Shola will probably start. We'll inevitably go with a 4-4-2, and Shola with Ba is more suited to our direct approach that inevitably comes with that formation. Plus, it worked last time.

Man Utd did not play 4-4-2. In the second half they did which is when they was on top. No, I don't believe they did. They took Giggs off, moved Kagawa to the left and Rooney played in the hole.

Man Utd did not play 4-4-2.

http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2012/10/01/shane-ferguson-pushing-for-big-game-spot-61634-31938850/#ixzz282Fwh8LG

The sad thing is there's plenty more like you at SJP. Yeh, I'm a rubbish fan. Sorry.

I don't think distribution from the back has been our issue, our inability to perform any sustained build-up play from midfield is a greater concern. The options for our midfielders (other than the defence) are so limited.

Krul Santon - Taylor - Coloccini - Ferguson Anita - Tiote Cabaye Ben Arfa - Cisse - Ba/Marveaux

Yeh, Benitez, who has won La Liga and The Champions League, is not a better manager than Alan Pardew. It's a pointless debate, anyway, the board clearly have a huge amount in faith in Pardew, and a change of management is not something that is likely to happen.

I didn't really want to do this, but off the top of my head (there's probably more): Martinez, Jol, Benitez, and Frank de Boer. Frank de Boer would probably turn us down but he'd be my preferred choice.

I think we could improve on him relatively easily. Not to say I think he's a bad manager, I just don't think he's as brilliant as some would like to think.

We massively improved our team for little outlay, replacing players like Kevin Nolan with Yohan Cabaye. It is no coincidence that our league position drastically improved.

Good point.

You said he's put "a lot" of things right. You've named one, which I don't believe he was key to.