Abra Dubravka

Steve Bruce has ruined Matt Ritchie. Rafa had him wing back, and I thought he looked good in that position. I see that he tries, but he's another player that's being set-up to fail in this shitshow. Players Bruce has ruined; Lejune, Schar, S,Longstaff, Lascelles, Hayden, Almiron, Ritchie... Players that Bruce has brought, already ruined/not quite ruined; Steve Smith, that 3rd choice Keeper, nobody, and Hendrick (I think he was already faulty when we got him)

What I admire about Zlatan is that he hasn't really changed his style in the last 15 years. He's just got better, and better and something he was already great at. Whilst he made PSG and Ligue 1 look easy, he'd have been brilliant had he been in the PL a few years earlier. He was amazing in the PL the one season he did play. He's like Ronaldo - the older they get, the smarter and more efficient they become. Had an injury at MU that everyone thought was the last of him, and didn't kick another year onto his deal if I recall - so he went to MLS and has come back stronger than ever. It's possible Zlatan and Ronaldo can play at the top level and score until they reach 40

http://www.brainlesstales.com/images/2013/Jul/loose-cannon.jpg

Llambias wanted Pardew cos he was more 'Hollywood' than Hughton. And cos he knew him. Aye, Hughton had his writing on the wall after siding with the dressing room over the player bonus stuff right? I'm sure I heard recently someone said that Ashley wanted 442, and that's why Pardew was a fit. It's stuck in my mind though, the Ashley 442/English... remember thinking how obvious it was when I heard it, of course he'd want a 442!

Source is amiss right now, but swear I remember reading/hearing someone say that Ashley hired Pardew on the back of he wanted an English manager, and he(Ashley) wanted to play 442?

What offends me the most with him is that I see him walking so often. I get that you don't need to sprint around for 90mins, but say opposition is playing into a LB from a CB, I always see him on the far side strolling in to 'close down/mark/close passing lane' of a midfielder, almost instantly the ball is then played into that midfielder - Joe sprints at him, and gets passed around... Haven't spotted it last few games, but over last season and a bit watching him I've noticed more than a few times he gets knocked onto the floor, and just slowly gets up, a kneels on one knee for a second or so before just loafing back into position - I don't think he's lazy personality wise, but it's obvious his hearts not in it whatsoever. Fans watching, that comes across as being a lazy useless b******, and that's fair. He sums up what's wrong with this team, and a living embodiment of Newcastle United. No talent, and no energy. Lad is totally gutless. The c*** doesn't even get booked, or lash out when he gets fouled, shows no passion or desire whatsoever. Doesn't even try and win fouls when holding up the ball - ffs, that'd actually relieve the total barrage and defensive encampment! Always hated Jonas in Pardew days. Never scored, never assisted, never really created anything. Right footed, played on the left, pass inside merchant. What I ended up seeing is that he locked down a side, stopped a team playing through that left side. He got the ball, won a foul, or passed it to someone more talented.

Was far too young to appreciate this guy. My first ever shirt was a Robert 32 the summer he signed, still remember how buzzing I was wearing it to the park that day to play football. Looking back, 9 years old, had no clue who he even was, never seen him play or even if he was any good In an effort to spread some positivity, he's by far my favourite Newcastle player, Cabaye closely followed Anyone in that generation above myself care to share a Laurent Robert story?

Never seen this like? Been thinking for a while now that something stinks with this transfer. Club wanted him when Rafa was here, and he rightly told him get to f*** - he's s****, then sign him 12months later for a record fee. Get the £40M figure was happily publicised by the club to appease fans saying we don't spend, and is likely clause related, but still - it's going to surely be upward to £30M, even being paid over a couple of years. Looked on a Hoffenheim forum through translate the other week, and they seemed to think he couldn't score, and he was a limited, functional player. That was when Nagalsmen was there I think - so he was likely instructed on every facet of his game, and knew where to run at every given time, and knew he had to run, run, and run. Now he's allowed to be a plodder Anyone more in the know - who's actually running any sort of recruitment at the club?

What's the Foie Gras Fergie got against Ritchie anyway... He only plays him now at LWB. Accepted, Rafa played him there, but 541 with Rafa was at times magnificent, and Ritchie gave us great balance on that left side. Playing LWB now just exposes Ritchie defensivly. He cannot defend space, or one-on-ones, and is a weak link in a very rusty and already disorganised back line. Play him left of midfield instead of Joe, and at least he'd give some balance to the side. He always tries to play forward, and has actually still decent technique, albeit he's slow and can't beat anyone. Playing Joe wide stinks of him having a clause that he has to play. Brucie's already said he can't play up top on his own and he sucks at that, yet now he's a left midfielder...

Don't think he has the character now, in his 60's, no real reputation any more to have merit giving out bollockings and ripping into people after performances. Just can't see players taking him, or the message seriously. Most of them would have played for coaches far better than the Steve's, who would have had a 'philosophy' that they would have lived and died to uphold within the dressing room. Even Shelvey played for Daglish at Liverpool, he'd have seen things, and been no doubt verbally booted up the arse, why is he going to bother listning to Steve Bruce when he knows he'll last longer at the club... 20 years ago, when Bruce was still a somebody, and Div1 journeymen on 5k a week were all digging in as one to get Birmingham promoted in the dream of getting to PL... Yeah, can see he'd read the riot act to them and spark them into life.

Coming from the farer side of my nature... Can see Brucie would actually like this to work out here, and be able to get wins, get up the table, and build support from the fans. He'll know that managing Sunderland was a mistake, and he'll be embarrassed for it now managing us, and having to appeal to our fanbase. The high point of his career was at Birmingham, and he must be looking back knowing he's been on the wane for years now. That can't be easy in the upmost fairness to him. I do believe he's trying his best, and even more worryingly actually doing his best to make it work. Unlike other managers under pressure at clubs, who dial it in waiting for the sacking, and have all but checked out. It has to be the biggest challenge of his career yet, and it probably does hurt him being so inept at it all, but his talents have never been so out of touch - it's not 2004, it's 2021! Expectations even from us are low, but the challenge here for him is too much, he's not up to it at the top level now.

Add in the canteen not being open... His blood sugar levels are going to be all over the place coming weeks. Might have been going through a rough spell at Sunderland, but at least Denise in canteen had pie, mash and gravy with apple crumble to sooth his problems Poor bastard is now stuck with the sports science geeks and their protein bars, and recovery shakes :'(

Something feels different now to when there was pressure building on McLaren. Seems since the Brentford loss it finally clocked with the non-Newcastle people, that the blokes a bag of s***... Lose all the games we weren't went to win anyway, then Sheff U the nation has picked up again we're s****, and Bruce is actually not doing a good job. Pressure seems to be building stronger and quicker now from the outside (non-NUFC fans) on Bruce, than it ever did with McLaren. If Bruce thought last week was tough, can see week coming building up to Villa being twice as bad; considering the whole he's dug for himself, and rope he's left hanging for himself with his comments this week gone. Deep outside chance of winning away at Villa, then two more games we've outside chance of drawing - even if Ashley doesn't sack him, he's going to be close to walking soon enough... Got to be worst pressure he's facing the coming week in his career, and that's without playing in front of a home crowd in nearly a year

Can't see it happening, but honestly wouldn't even feel angry if some club came in for him this window, and he went. Would think fair play to the lad, thanks, good luck... My level of caring about this club is at such an all-time low, I genuinely feel sorry for talented players like Wilson having to put up with this constant multi faceted amateurish bullshit. We don't deserve nice things.

Bruce to his Jamie Redknapp's face tonight. Good bloke, and doing a good job

"WELL Y'NU, ALWAYS A TUFF PLACE 2 CUM...."

By the time his contract is up...

Literally being paid 80k a week and a match bonus to play Power League

Embarrassing stuff when you compare how Palace nullified these the other day, with not so dissimilar setup and approach. 442, sit deep defend, counter. No excuses anymore from Arrigo Brucci and his 442

Doesn’t help herself does she. Total moron.

I don't know why, bar Almiron and Wilson, the rest of them have just been walking around. Been noticing this for a while. No energy in the side. Players look worst conditioned out of any team I've seen this season. When there is an approach to drop off and concede possession your going to get the run around, but when we need to go and push forward we're all shattered. Players look done in for at 60min mark for weeks now. Imagine fitness/conditioning levels of Leeds, City, liverpool compared to these tossers. It's actually the one thing you have total control over in football - fitness and 'effort'

LDWLLWWLDLLDLLLL as it stands Villa away, Leeds then Everton up next. Hope that canteen is open soon

Enjoying Arsenal's use of Dr Dre classics after they score

Yep, and that still makes me want to weep. Makes me miss the halcyon days of moaning about how bad Obertan was Well i wouldn't go that far Not saying he’d do any better here at all, but at least back then he’d get into the final third before cocking it all up

Yep, and that still makes me want to weep. Makes me miss the halcyon days of moaning about how bad Obertan was