Stuy_O

It could have but once a referee decides it's not then it's a booking, especially after the way he went on at him. Yeh he's got to caution him, Ba was to eager to go down tbf. Defending was rather clumsy.

Coulda been a penalty that for me. That flick of the leg was awful.

Santon is younger,and a lot less experienced than Simpson. Its slightly unbalanced to compare the two imo. I'm not Simpsons biggest hater but he's one of the weak links in our side (or was) and he offers absolutely zip in the final third of the pitch.

That's not a glowing endorsement of Barca's midfield. We currently have zero trophies.

I think it's more as a defence against the 'he's put loads of his own money in' argument used to show his generosity. He had to, as did anyone else who was going to buy the club. So it's hardly something worthy of praise. A lot of it was for the perfectly sensible stadium redevelopment payments as well, so there's even less to praise for. More a fact than a defence, but yes. This debate polarised years ago into people like me who can't stand the bloke and people who want to lick the sweat off his sphincter after he's been out jogging in his rubber gimp suit. Until he gets that SD s**** off SJP I'm sticking with he can f*** off. Brutal imagery.

Wonderful

All far to positive this, feels odd.

Still seem rather clumsy remarks to describe Mbiwa's next employers. Not saying he aint got a point either by the way.

Philippe Auclair ‏@PhilippeAuclair Nicollin about Mapou's move to NUFC: 'It's not my fault if he's an idiot [un ane]. Newcastle really isn't a good choice' (cont'd->) WTF!

iirc he put it well wide aswell.

just reminded me of that miss against West Ham

Plenty of people made the point back then on how the lack of activity in the summer will bite us on the arse, was glaringly obvious. Everything else has since unravelled.

Crikey my prediction of 10th looking optimistic now, and that was one of lowest place predictions.

Do you honestly believe not using your left foot doesn't matter? Can he not be trained to use it, when he has to? I wouldn't have thought so, no. He's had years of his professional career to use it and has shown no desire to, so I'd find it a bit unlikely if he could suddenly train it up now to the level of being comfortable using it a lot. I'd have hoped he could use it for absolute basics, but I agree he is very one footed. It does add some imbalance but his problems at the moment are his positioning, not really what foot he's using. I think they're related. When you know you want to use your right at LB you have to compensate by being in a different position to classic full back. When a player doesn't make a left foot challenge or pass, but then makes a right foot one a few seconds later, it's easy to forget/ignore the fact that the left wasn't used. But that doesn't mean that using the left would not have been a better outcome. There are left foot basics that don't get done, such as clearing the ball down the line (instead coming inside and using your right), getting to the by line and crossing, slide tackle when your opponent has passed you (like yesterday). I've even seen when he's had to pass past a player down the line, and the left was an easy pass, but he played it with his right and the ball went two yards to the left of our player and went out. It all adds up, and it doesn't make anything run smoothly down the left since Jonas has a similar issue. He has a tendency to ball watch, which in turn affects how he marks players. He could be equally comfortable on both feet but if he keeps allowing players space it won't matter.

Good addition but can't bring myself to fully get excited about it, given the shambles that is us.

Do you honestly believe not using your left foot doesn't matter? Can he not be trained to use it, when he has to? I wouldn't have thought so, no. He's had years of his professional career to use it and has shown no desire to, so I'd find it a bit unlikely if he could suddenly train it up now to the level of being comfortable using it a lot. I'd have hoped he could use it for absolute basics, but I agree he is very one footed. It does add some imbalance but his problems at the moment are his positioning, not really what foot he's using.

Do you honestly believe not using your left foot doesn't matter? Can he not be trained to use it, when he has to? Unnatural yes but hardly beyond the laws of fantasy. Sure he openly stated he prefers left back. He's been our best player for the most part of this season, but his confidence is totally shot. Like mentioned above he needs a rest.

Still think he's a good player and more than capable of being a competent left back. He's just completely lost in the midst of this crisis, form has evaporated.

Just got in to read all this. An initial burst of joy then everyone gradually getting depressed at the thought of him not coming. Let's face none of us know a thing, this is just something fresh to cling on to in terms of hope. Hope we get him, doubt we will.

Not now, maybe with an hour left in the window or something. Desperate times.

Aye, think they've got it about right. Not strengthening sufficiently in the rest of the window will see a lot of fans patience snap, and Pardew will have to take his share of the blame as even if he has no direct involvement in incomings he simply has to be making the case in sufficiently compelling terms. And also, the point that any guff he spoutes about his squad not being good enough is superfluous once the window is closed and we fail to bring anyone in. The (majority) are still on his side, but their's only so much even the most level headed of fan can sit through.

The summary of the whole fiasco on .com is absolutely brilliant. Well worth the read. Spot on aswell.

The evening will soon be upon us when we're sneering at David Craig when he's stood outside sol, saying no movement in newcastle. I can see it f***ing now Him being away from SJP is a bonus I suppose. Apart from that, growing increasingly worried now.

So another day of absolutely nothing then. Brilliant.

Decent point was raised before that though. We've let go of three forwards since the start of the season and are yet to replace one.