The College Dropout Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 Cisse was literally the best striker in the world for the 6 months from when he arrived. He would get one or two half chances a game and score a worldy with each shot. I remember our tactics distinctly, Pardew had no idea how to set us up for when we had the ball. Plan A was to put Ba and Cisse on the last defenders and have Cabaye and Tiote sit on the toes of Colo. All our defenders and keeper were tasked with lumping it as far up the pitch as possible, which would bounce of an opposing defender's head and fall somewhere inbetween our attack and midfield who were too far back to contest the second ball. Then, once the opposition had the ball, Tiote and Cabaye would press for the mistake and try to launch a quick counter if they won the ball. If not, let Krul receive a long-shot or similar from the opponents' attack and repeat the process. It was god-awful to watch and I hated every match I saw. Even at the time I was saying that were doing well in the league despite Alan Pardew, and without him I think with the players in the form that they were, we would have finished 4th. People complained a lot but it was better than it's given credit for. We were a counter-attacking team. We let teams come on to us. We worked hard, had talented players that kept teams at arms length - often through determination, bravery and hard work rather than excellent coaching but the players were motivated and up for it. And the lads had quality and belief in themselves to get us enough goals to win matches 1-0. Man United 3-0 was an excellent example of that. The team worked tremendously hard, battled away, won their individual battles through determination and skill. Then we scored 2 worldies to secure the win. A 25-yard freekick in off the bar iirc and another from a long ball to Shola beating Evans, then Ba beating Ferdinand for pace and strength and topping it off with an excellent finish. Ba was tremendous at scoring goals from minimal chances. We played better stuff in the second half of the season with Ba, HBA, Cisse and Cabaye all together. Again, on the counter, through quality of individuals rather than coaching but oh well. Kind of like when Burnley finished 7th but with better quality. It depended too much on thin margins, team spirit, bodies on the line to be sustainable with a small squad and a few more matches. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howaythetoon Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 When Pardew let the players play, we did, when he didn’t, it was up to individuals to bail us out in the end it was a mess. That 5th season was the flukiest season we’ve ever had. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Crooks Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 When Pardew let the players play, we did, when he didn’t, it was up to individuals to bail us out in the end it was a mess. That 5th season was the flukiest season we’ve ever had. He tinkered like fuck because he'd read a book or something. Patchy because he has no idea at this level - hence why it was the exception that proves the rule. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 Pardew's very streaky as a manager. He can sometimes get a team on to a good thing through motivation, confidence and team spirit. His lack of a plan going forward can be a benefit to someone like HBA if he does a job the other way. When he had us "front foot" we would often get battered because he can't coach it. Keep it tight at the back, then when we get the ball give it to YoCabs, Ba, HBA, Cisse etc. That's how we won most of our big games. Swansea the best example. Kept it tight and defensive and just killed them with quality and confidence in attack. Once the confidence goes, Pardew has no idea. Bruce is a bit of a Pardew in that sense. But I don't see him getting enough confidence in the players and the players don't suit his style. Bruce would do better than SMC mind. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
timeEd32 Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 The six wins in a row in the second half of that season with Ba-Cisse-HBA up front was probably the highlight of the Ashley era, despite the fact Pardew was manager. That included an incredible half away to West Brom, Carroll's return to SJP and Enrique in goal, a counter-attacking masterclass away to Swansea, and Ben Arfa's wonderful goal against Bolton. Then we got hammered by Wigan 4-0 and lost 3 out of 4 to finish the season, only saved by Cisse's miraculous goals at Stamford Bridge. It's been pretty much downhill since then with only a slight blip from Rafa. I just want to care again like I did in 2012 (and before). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 Aye that six-game spell was ace. The first third of that season was a lot of fun as well. Ryan Taylor over the wall, two Ba hat-tricks, Sammy's winner at Scunthorpe in the cup, a really good 2-2 draw at home to Spurs when Shola scored a peach. It was great. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 That was an outlier of the Ashley era. He's never intended for us to challenge that highly. I think the worst aspect of the Pardew era was Pardew being the focus of hate. He was doing the job he was intended to do. SMC's ineptitude was also a distraction. It was only under Rafa, who attempted to build a sporting organisation that the majority on here properly turned against MA. He's never been interested in sporting success. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 Because there is no god, Brewce will probably end up doing what p*rdew did where he fluked 5th, despite a string of awful managerial decisions. Doubly infuriating because Fat m*ke has given Brewce money to spend, but let Rafa walk. If there was any justice, they'd get relegated, but the way things have been going, I can already see the s*** eating grin on fatty's face when Sky Sports are interviewing him and sucking him off because Brewce has got the club into the top half. No way in a month of Sundays we are finishing 5th again, not unless Joelinton turns out to be far better than his stats would suggest - and if that is the case we will have to eat humble pie and give credit to our scouting team. That season we finished 5th we had a front three of Cisse, Ba and Ben Arfa, that would frighten a lot of teams tbh. I think the pundits are right, survival will be all we are looking for, whether that means finishing 12th or 17th doesn't really matter. Sorry to be pedantic but I can't let Pardew get away with this. We actually kept a fully fit Ben Arfa on the bench until the second half of the season. Alan preferred Obertan. Later, Sammy Ameobi would render both Frenchmen defunct. We had some unreal attacking talent nonetheless. The main difference when Ben Arfa was allowed to take part is that in the second half of the season we started to actually play some good football. In fact most of us commented that he had stumbled upon his best line up by default when we got injuries and he had no choice but to play Ben Arfa. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johneddy Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 Because there is no god, Brewce will probably end up doing what p*rdew did where he fluked 5th, despite a string of awful managerial decisions. Doubly infuriating because Fat m*ke has given Brewce money to spend, but let Rafa walk. If there was any justice, they'd get relegated, but the way things have been going, I can already see the s*** eating grin on fatty's face when Sky Sports are interviewing him and sucking him off because Brewce has got the club into the top half. No way in a month of Sundays we are finishing 5th again, not unless Joelinton turns out to be far better than his stats would suggest - and if that is the case we will have to eat humble pie and give credit to our scouting team. That season we finished 5th we had a front three of Cisse, Ba and Ben Arfa, that would frighten a lot of teams tbh. I think the pundits are right, survival will be all we are looking for, whether that means finishing 12th or 17th doesn't really matter. Sorry to be pedantic but I can't let Pardew get away with this. We actually kept a fully fit Ben Arfa on the bench until the second half of the season. Alan preferred Obertan. Later, Sammy Ameobi would render both Frenchmen defunct. We had some unreal attacking talent nonetheless. The main difference when Ben Arfa was allowed to take part is that in the second half of the season we started to actually play some good football. In fact most of us commented that he had stumbled upon his best line up by default when we got injuries and he had no choice but to play Ben Arfa. And what will Bruce stumble across I wonder Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 Just voted 15. With Steve Bruce ffs! as an option could hardly pick another one. I think this is the first time I have ever voted for relegation at the start of the season. Did he hand Carver his only win in that season when Hull went down? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Parka Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 Need a new manager to stand any chance. He's beyond clueless Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzgerald Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 15. And it's the best thing that could happen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilko Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 15. Fucked with this fat lesbian-lookalike gimp in charge. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Edgar Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveItIfWeBeatU Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 It's going to be a real shit show. How unsurprising. I wonder how Mike Ashley, Lee Charnley and all their friends in the media will spin it after the fans are proved correct about Steve Bruce being a terrible appointment? I voted 10 when 10 was the highest option available. The poll should have been reset when someone added numbers up to 15. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest covmag Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 I’m at 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazza ladra Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 Ashley out Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chopey Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 Everybody out Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JH Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 9. Annoys me that the press are just like "Rafa started poorly and turned it around" as if there's nothing between him and pigeon woman. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chopey Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 So after the January transfer window Bruce gets sacked and the Ashley does another interview where he says he got it wrong and the next bloke in charge will be a proper manager with full control and the merry go round just keeps turning Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rompe Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 Bookies see us going down, for what it's worth. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johneddy Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 Stop being cynical 2 games in and we could still be challenging for the top 6 by Christmas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Crooks Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 Rafa also got us promoted as champions and 10th. He’d earned his stay of execution. What has this clown done? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzgerald Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 9. Annoys me that the press are just like "Rafa started poorly and turned it around" as if there's nothing between him and pigeon woman. Fucking pigeon woman ffs :lol: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToonArmy1892 Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 We are going to be like Villa that season when they were pretty much relegated before Christmas. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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