10 games gone: judge the season so far

[Anderson]

6/10

[Guest icemanblue]

As if me of all folk would need a shotgun for that lot.

 

I'd bite your fucking face off, son.

[Ronaldo]

You'd not last 5 seconds in my world, bitch.

[Sifu]

For me, there has been that hint of increased positivity this season and that's basically down to us playing some decent football here and there (well, compared to at this point last season anyway). However, our inconsistency is really letting us down - you just never know which Newcastle United is going to turn up on the day. We're now 10 games in and we still haven't got an established formation/style to play to and that really is the primary contributing factor to our inconsistency and that is down to the man in charge - Pardew seems to know who our best players are but it has really looked the case that he doesn't know how to use them and gel them into a cohesive team - the fact that he admitted a few days ago that he doesn't know where to fit Ben Arfa, our most technically gifted player, into the team after working with him for the best part of 2 years speaks volumes like...

 

All in all, an indifferent start to the season but if the current trend in our results/performances continue, it'll be mid-table with us pushing for 10th.

[manorpark]

It seems that most of us now seem to realise that each season (for as far ahead as I can imagine) is going to be pretty much identical.

 

There may be some slight/minor variations, good or bad, but basically they will all be identical.

 

That is, as long as Ashley owns the club, his will "will be done" (by Pardew, or whoever, or whoever).

 

It is quite amazingly sad, speaking as a "Glory Hunter" who got his first Season Ticket the season after we won the Fairs Cup, and who lived through the (very similar mentality) Westwood / McKeag eras, and then tasted the FRIGHTENING EXCITEMENT (when 'anything' was possible) of the Sir John Hall/Keegan/Shepherd/Bobby Robson years.

 

Now this!

 

My Dad had a phrase he used when people didn't look healthy, he used to say "you look like death warmed up" . . . but even he would not have expected NUFC to be "specifically planning" to be like death warmed up, for the next season, and the next season, and the next season . . . ad infinitum.

 

Some members don't like to read things like this, I know.

 

 

[Guest neesy111]

Can't judge us because of how inconsistent we've been.

[Wil]

Can't see us finishing any higher than we are now under this manager, a better one would have us at least up with Southampton and Everton. On the positive side, in periods of some games there does seem to have been evidence of an attempt to play more attractive football this year, which is some improvement. But the whole thing hangs by a thread really. If we lose Remy for any length of time, or any top players at xmas, we can easily slip down 5/6 places by the end of the season. Overall, given how other teams have strengthened, it feels like where we are now is basically as good as its going to get under this regime.

[triggs]

5/10 WNB

[Guest bimpy474]

As if me of all folk would need a shotgun for that lot.

 

I'd bite your fucking face off, son.

 

You'd not last 5 seconds in my world, bitch.

 

<a href="http://reactiongifs.com/?p=8524"><img src="http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/funny-defense.gif"></a>

[Belfast Mags]

Meh

 

For every good result we'll record, there'll be an embarrassing fuck up to counter balance it.

I suspect we'll be bang in the middle come the end of the season.

 

As I said, meh

[merlin]

Can't see us finishing any higher than we are now under this manager, a better one would have us at least up with Southampton and Everton. On the positive side, in periods of some games there does seem to have been evidence of an attempt to play more attractive football this year, which is some improvement. But the whole thing hangs by a thread really. If we lose Remy for any length of time, or any top players at xmas, we can easily slip down 5/6 places by the end of the season. Overall, given how other teams have strengthened, it feels like where we are now is basically as good as its going to get under this regime.

 

This - a very good summary.

[nufcjb]

ok but could have been better..the Hull and mackems result being the matches we should have done better..Everton too if we hadn't been so f***ed up in the first half..

[loki679]

There's a shocking lack of ambition at the club and the best way we can describe ourselves right now is 'meh'.  Very little chance of us going anywhere in either direction and just basically treading water.  This'll be another nothing season of nothingness.  Just another team of also rans happy to make up the numbers and keep that lovely TV cash and free advertising rolling in.

 

Having said that, on the playing side we are at least looking better and our football doesn't make your eyes bleed or give you a sore neck anymore.  It all just feels a little bit pointless.

[Jayson]

Good points:

 

Playing more attractive football.

Anita, Cabaye & Remy have been very impressive for the most part. Shout out to Gouffran & Ben Arfa's early season form.

Have matched several top sides in recent games.

We're scoring more from indirect freekicks recently.

 

Bad points:

 

Expectation to win creates poor performances

Players cant keep composure/belief in ability when they go a goal behind like the other top sides.

Similarly one poor defensive mistake normally leads to others & complete dissarray.

Pardew doesnt seem to be able to fix this.

 

To have a good season & be more consistant we need to keep clean sheets really. The scoring is atleast more consistant atm, defensively we've been a bit suspect.

[Cronky]

We're improving, as some of our newer players find their feet in the Premiership. More improvement still to come if our younger players - thinking of Dummett and Sammy particularly - can step up. Ought to establish ourselves in the top half, with hopefully a good Cup run.

 

Still light in the striker department, where we're hoping to avoid long-term injuries.

[aussiemag]

We desperately need a striker in January. Someone who is strong in the air and can hold the ball up. Gomis might be the guy.

[Dr Venkman]

Good points:

 

Playing more attractive football.

Anita, Cabaye & Remy have been very impressive for the most part. Shout out to Gouffran & Ben Arfa's early season form.

Have matched several top sides in recent games.

We're scoring more from indirect freekicks recently.

 

Bad points:

 

Expectation to win creates poor performances

Players cant keep composure/belief in ability when they go a goal behind like the other top sides.

Similarly one poor defensive mistake normally leads to others & complete dissarray.

Pardew doesnt seem to be able to fix this.

 

To have a good season & be more consistant we need to keep clean sheets really. The scoring is atleast more consistant atm, defensively we've been a bit suspect.

 

That's a belter.

[Happy Face]

Good points:

 

Playing more attractive football.

Anita, Cabaye & Remy have been very impressive for the most part. Shout out to Gouffran & Ben Arfa's early season form.

Have matched several top sides in recent games.

We're scoring more from indirect freekicks recently.

6th most prolific attack in the league

 

Bad points:

 

Expectation to win creates poor performances

Players cant keep composure/belief in ability when they go a goal behind like the other top sides.

Similarly one poor defensive mistake normally leads to others & complete dissarray.

Pardew doesnt seem to be able to fix this.

4th leakiest defence in the league

 

 

 

[Guest Roger Kint]

Any reason the options make bottom half sound better than top ten?

[Happy Face]

Think we've seen enough to banish any fears people had of a relegation dogfight.  We can and do bite ourselves on the arse too frequently, but we've got the players and the spirit to bounce back from those blips and pull out a performance/result like Liverpool/Chelsea.

 

I don't think anyone is deluded enough to think we'll be having any more European flirtations under Ashley either, whoever the manager is.  Liverpool and Spurs have their shit together now and are firmly positioned with the top 4 of recent seasons.

 

The only question is where we finish in the middle group.  And looking at the upcoming fixtures I'm inclined to look up rather than down.  Whatever we can get off Spurs and Man U would be bonus points but we should take a very good haul from Norwich, West Brom, Swansea, Southampton, Palace and Stoke.

 

I think we should be above Southampton by the time we've played them.  they have Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Spurs in addition to us in that period.

 

The only other team above us we can conceivable catch is Everton.  Their coming fixtures are tougher than ours but not ridiculous.  Either way though, 7th or 8th come bed time on boxing day will be a good position to be looking into 2014 with optimism.

[BrettNUFC]

It's a plus the likes of Debuchy/Yanga/Gouffran/Anita are all showing signs of coming on tremendously, they are still improving and adapting to the league and there is more to come from them. Tiote/Cabaye both are starting to find their previous form which seen us finish 5th in which they were instrumental. The major negative in our current side is the fact our number 9 is still woefully short of the standard we need him to be at. We can't keep playing Shola and we can't put the entire burden on Remy to the score goals. Pardew needs to get his act together and find a place for Ben Arfa in our side as well, preferably right wing.

[BrettNUFC]

Think we've seen enough to banish any fears people had of a relegation dogfight.  We can and do bite ourselves on the arse too frequently, but we've got the players and the spirit to bounce back from those blips and pull out a performance/result like Liverpool/Chelsea.

 

I don't think anyone is deluded enough to think we'll be having any more European flirtations under Ashley either, whoever the manager is.  Liverpool and Spurs have their s*** together now and are firmly positioned with the top 4 of recent seasons.

 

The only question is where we finish in the middle group.  And looking at the upcoming fixtures I'm inclined to look up rather than down.  Whatever we can get off Spurs and Man U would be bonus points but we should take a very good haul from Norwich, West Brom, Swansea, Southampton, Palace and Stoke.

 

I think we should be above Southampton by the time we've played them.  they have Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Spurs in addition to us in that period.

 

The only other team above us we can conceivable catch is Everton.  Their coming fixtures are tougher than ours but not ridiculous.  Either way though, 7th or 8th come bed time on boxing day will be a good position to be looking into 2014 with optimism.

 

 

This is exactly the same for me as well. Pretty much what i've been saying since the summer.

[Ikon]

Too bad Anita wont play unless Tioté/Cabaye/Sissoko are injured/suspended, as Pardew the multi cunt prefers tall/big players no matter what .

 

Should be an automatic starter no matter what (when in current form)

[mouldy_uk]

Slightly better than expected, but still pretty 'meh'

[Willow]

It's been very average but we were all expecting such, due to zero transfer activity. We'll limp along until January, which is when we'll hopefully purchase a player or two and finish in 11th place somehow. 6/10 so far.