The Newcastle United Blog

112 responses so far ↓

• 1 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 5:31 PM

  What AP says is the truth.
  It’s like reading for 2 exams in a week.
  Ridicoulus.

• 2 Sharkattack // Oct 31, 2012 at 5:42 PM

  bullshit!!!!other teams can do it. why cant we???

• 3 Sharkattack // Oct 31, 2012 at 5:43 PM

  bullshit!!!1other teams can do it. why cant we????

• 4 Ashton // Oct 31, 2012 at 5:43 PM

  He has to be the laziest manager in PL. Bitching in every interview he has ever given this season about preparing for two games in one week is just silly!.

• 5 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 5:53 PM

  Uuurgh, i wish we had moderator so a proper discussion could take place.

  - Laziest manager in the PL
  - Bullshit.

  I swear the average IQ on kids these days is declining.

• 6 eaststandgeordie1982 // Oct 31, 2012 at 5:56 PM

  Happy 5under1and day everyone.

  You can see where hes coming from sorting out tactics for 2 games in a week but when your not using most of your first teamers in europa surely they can focus on the tactics fir the league game and the rest on europa?? Just a thought like.

• 7 toonLYF // Oct 31, 2012 at 5:58 PM

  Liverpool are going to be gunning on Sunday. They always step up to the plate at Anfield against teams who are competing for the same PL positions.

  We are going to need to fly out the traps, not give them an inch and NEVER sit back, if we want to win this match. Still one of the toughest places to go despite their current situation.

• 8 Ashton // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:12 PM

  Dannyo

  Don’t you think it’s a bit torpid of him, to whine so much about preparing for two games in 7 day. Most respectable managers do so, and you don’t hear them blaming this aspect of football on everything.

• 9 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:16 PM

  Sharkattack
  Other teams are struggling with it to though and always do both fulham and stoke had poor league campaigns when in europa
  Manure arsenal and citeh seem ti be labouring in there performances either domestically or in europe
  Spurs and liverpool are also struggling to get going this season in both campaigns

  Its not as if we’ve stopped picking up points is it top of our europa table 3 points off 5th in the league we maybe labouring with performances but with the exception of chelsea most teams are struggling to balance the two even ferguson has complained about the schedule

• 10 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:19 PM

  @Ashton
  Every single manager that has been unexperienced in handling Europe has moaned about the same subject.
  Listen to Pulis, Jol, andd probably many others through the years.
  And the way EL is played has changed over time too.
  It used to be knockout stages only. So it has added more games.

  This is the first year for AP to handle this, and obviously he’s trying to come to grips with. How to train for the use of two different gameplans in a week.

  We all moan about new difficult things. Everytime we have more than one thing to handle, when we have only handled one thing for so long. We moan.
  It’s human. Let him get on with it. There’s surely a golden middle way here, but he’s yet to find it. Probably cause we’re only a few games in plus playoff.

• 11 archaeomag // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:22 PM

  It is different from last season – similar squad – more games – it is not rocket science – players like Santon are putting serious miles on the clock.

• 12 nimo // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:28 PM

  lazyiest manager. get real..every single player comes out and says he’s into every little detail.. all the managers moan about it, redknapp more than most. pulis . moyes . rodgers. fergie jol to name a few.. it is hard on the squad we have, the travelling more so thantthe playing probably .. and all these saying he’s tactically inept. the only games he has played 4-3-3 we have been getting beat easy until he changed it back to 4-4-2 most notably the everton game. get off the guys back and stick to your champ manager

• 13 Ashton // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:28 PM

  Dannyo

  That’s his problem and job. Europe shouldn’t be an excuse to our shambolic way of playing, because it’s not like we are using the same team in both the league and europe, far from it. Teams like Liverpool and Spurs are doing this. Spurs played with their strongest team against a Slovenian club in Slovenia!! You don’t hear AVB whining all the time about such a thing.

• 14 Graeme // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:29 PM

  If he can re-train them to get the ball on the floor, instead of playing hoof-ball from the back, completely by-passing the creative engineroom of the team, we will probably fair far better than we have in most league games this season.

  Liverpoo will be coming at us down both wings, non-stop and no doubt Enrique will be desperate to get his name on the score sheet. We need to be on top of out game, from first whistle, for a full 90 minutes to have any chance of a result at Anfield.

• 15 tequilamag // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:33 PM

  It`s a long season Newcastle will reap the benefit of rotating the squad at the back end of the season when other teams are running out of steam.

• 16 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:35 PM

  Nimo
  Exactly every manager complains about it every year
  People seem to think because we play a different 11 in europe it doesnt effect the traing the squad has to do when it does as tues/wed is about preparing for europa which only leaves friday and light training saturday to prepare for subday

• 17 Ashton // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:37 PM

  nimo

  But we are basically playing with our second team in Europe so far. And we’ve only played 3 games two of them at SJP!! Unlike the other managers who play with the same team twice a week and they don’t moan and blame it for every negative thing. Can’t you see how silly this seems.

  Also he isn’t the most tactically gifted manager in the league. And the 433 didn’t work against Everton because the players positions were wrong and we weren’t that much better in the second half because we conceded 3 perfectly good goals in that half as opposed to one in the first.

• 18 davybtoon // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:39 PM

  Of course it effects your team, it’s funny really bcoz I think our Europa team has been brilliant but our league form ain’t been great but it ain’t that bad only been beat off Chelsea n man utd, although we ain’t playing great football were getting results n I would take getting results over pretty football n not getting results

• 19 nimo // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:40 PM

  Ashton and as tads points out were playing teams that have been training with European football for years or teams that have had all week to prepare for the game

• 20 nimo // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:43 PM

  n also i don’t think pardew is a great tactician very rare he can make subs t change a game in my opinion but he seems a brilliant man manager n no i don’t Want to see long ball football but if you watch now the second one of our so called play makers the other team has 2-3 players ready to pounce

• 21 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:43 PM

  Davyb
  Agreed mate

• 22 archaeomag // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:43 PM

  @Aston
  Are you saying other teams have better managers and players than us?
  . .And is this why they beat us?

• 23 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:43 PM

  @Ashton
  I’d argue that Liverpool and Tottenham have tougher groups to play in than we do first of all.
  2nd, when we faced Bordoux, we fielded a strong team aswell.
  AVB is well versed in Europe already, being there with Porto, Chelsea and now Tottenham.
  So he thinks he has a formula for it.
  BUT, with both teams being supposedly stronger, none of them are on the same points we are in the EL, and one is worse off in the league too.
  Yet we are always fielding the weaker teams more often than not.

  What AP speaks of is preparation on the training ground. He knows NUFC fans have impossibly high expectations, so of course he’ll talk of the difficulties.

  It is your job to do what you do, but i bet you moan about the same things AP does, just in different regards.

  The difference is, AP has a camera in his face and is put in the paper every day of the week.

• 24 tequilamag // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:45 PM

  People are already moaning that young players don`t get a chance, if Pardew didn`t rotate they would have even less opportunity. The El has been great for the development of players like Fergie and Bigi and is excellent preparation for them when they do make the step up to regular first team players. For me Pardew is doing an excellent job.

• 25 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:45 PM

  @tequilamag
  I could not agree more with that comment.

• 26 Ashton // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:46 PM

  nimo

  If you think that’s a legitimate excuse for our display and the way we are playing in the league then well.. I don’t agree with you.

• 27 davybtoon // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:50 PM

  Pardew is best manager we’ve had since bobby, fans get on my nerves they want European football then when we get they don’t even turn up to the games even though the tickets are dirt cheap, arm chair bloody supporters who are quick to put the team down but never quick to praise

• 28 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:52 PM

  Tequila
  With our fans you just cant win play our first team he’s getting blamed fir stunting our youngsters growth plays our youngsters were showing a lack of ambition!

• 29 tequilamag // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:52 PM

  Cheers Dannyo, also agree with the comment about fan expectations, a cursory glance at this blog will tell you that Pards does not have a hope in well in pleasing everybody.

• 30 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:52 PM

  @nimo
  I think the comment on Pardew not being a great tacticitian can be somewhat discussed.

  I think he prepares excellent for games, especially for the teams that really don’t change their system to fit their opponent. Stoke and Swansea last season are excellent examples of that.
  I think it becomes tougher for him when he meets managers and teams who set many of their players to match his players.
  As APs team is sometimes guessed a week in advance.

  So, in terms of preparation, i can’t think of anyone better tbh. But when it comes to adjust and perhaps the subbing at times, he seems to react a bit too slow, and have too much confidence in some players.

  I sense that has changed a bit this season. He knows players more now and fields players to fit the oppositions players. Like how he explained the choice of Perch over Biggie and Anita this weekend.

  Also, his emphasis lies with his man management, not that much on tactics during games.
  Still works i say.

• 31 Ashton // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:54 PM

  Dannyo

  All I’m trying to say is: We have the potential and the players to play so much better in the league. But we are not. And this shouldn’t be blamed on our European endeavor as frequently as Pardew does. Because it’s so early for that and we are playing with our second team and only have played 3 odd times so far. It makes no sense what so ever.

• 32 eaststandgeordie1982 // Oct 31, 2012 at 6:58 PM

  Thats right davy nobody gets their seat where i am on a euro night it pisses me off, we should be filling the stadium at those prices they will all turn up when we get a good team in the comp or get further in it, i know i was there every game to get behind the lads we all need to do the same.

• 33 Ashton // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:02 PM

  davybtoon

  The squad we have right now is the best since Sir Bobby if not better. Our performance in the league is no where near as good as we are capable. Our tactics are all wrong and we have been so lucky in the league that if someone wants to make sure that there isn’t a God should watch our games against Everton, WBA, Norwich,Reading.

• 34 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:07 PM

  @Ashton
  I see what u’re saying, but i don’t share the view.
  It is because it is early days the complaints and hardships are there for AP.
  You have to remember, our side was virtually unchanged for the first 14 games last season.
  Also he had a week to prepare for each game.

  AP has probably a much bigger workload nowadays himself, and until he finds what clicks for him, the complaints and thoughts on the subject will still come.

  Yes, we have potential to play better, we had a 7 win trot towards the end of last season. And the start of this season has been like the rough patch we had after christmas last year.

  It’s about form for me, it’s not just formations and tactics, it’s quite clear that injuries and lack of form for a big part of our squad has been absent. Especially our bigger players like Cisse and Cabaye.

  The potential will be reached, and it will become even better once we get a damned CB. Willo is strictly average for me.

• 35 davybtoon // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:08 PM

  Ashton – am getting really sick of fans saying we’re lucky, u make your own luck by hard work n graft n if we are lucky we would not of had the injuries we have this season
  We’re 4 pts off 4th n we ain’t played well yet were only gonna get better not worse

• 36 Ashton // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:15 PM

  Dannyo

  Form is not the major reason why we are playing so poorly. Ben Arfa is in form so is Cabaye and Coloccini and Ba is in the best form of his life the same could be said about Santon. Ben Arfa and Cabaye are shackled in the 442 which Pardew adores so much. And it’s costing us and that’s his fault. Our best players( Cabaye and Ben Arfa) don’t perform well in the 442 with hoofballing tactics.

• 37 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:18 PM

  @Ashton
  We played 4-3-3 for an hour against WBA.
  Altho we dominated the first half, i thought Cabs was largely quiet.
  Altho his deliveries from set pieces has improved.

• 38 AS MAGS // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:19 PM

  FFS what’s up with people, we have a great group of players. Not a huge squad but a close nit squad, all in it together. Pardew is getting us through our schedule as best as he can, players are returning from injury, youth is being blooded in Europe. 1 thing apart fom nit picking fans at the moment is the hissing that Obertan received when he came on as sub, hangout of order. I love Pards to bits, he has created a bit of a siege mentality around the club, think he took that fon his pal Mourinho. Us against the world. Long may that continue

• 39 nick_9 // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:20 PM

  I’m going to be controversial here and ask if we really have high expectations as fans? Granted a few youngsters and wums expect us to finish in Europe or win the league but the majority seem level headed. We have a club with a very good fan base, good revenue and now a good wages to turnover ratio so surely we should be up there with the best right? Obviously some clubs are untouchable over the course of 38 games but the majority we should be able to match or better? The majority of fans I see on forums or at the game seem to downplay our chances of Europe again after failing to push on in the last window and struggling so far.

  As for Pardew again I am going to be controversial and ask if we are much further on under him? Granted we have come along way since the championship but people forget we was half a match away from finishing seventh but let a 3 goal lead slip in the last game. Is the team playing any better then that side? I wouldn’t say so at the moment but obviously we finished fifth so something must be working right? Or did everything just go our way last season? I personally feel that last season was a much easier season due to a lot of teams not performing and us having two great finishers firing them in. It certainly helps having two strikers who could each challenge for the leading scorer in the league. Anyway back to the original question of do our fans have high expectations? I personally don’t think so, any realistic fans knows it would be very difficult to finish 5th again, other teams have strengthened whereas we haven’t really and have Europe.

  Controversy aside I would love to see us try out a 4:2:3:1 formation or a 4:3:1:2.
  Santon colo Taylor ferguson
  Anita tiote
  Ben Arfa cabaye marveaux
  Ba

  Or if we are chasing the game:

  Santon – colo – Taylor – ferguson
  Anita. Cabaye. Tiote
  Ben Arfa
  Cisse. Ba

• 40 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:20 PM

  @Ashton
  Also, players and AP says they work on passing, and have supposedly improved on the area.
  But i still find players that aren’t comfy on the ball kicks it up and has the vast majority of the blame for “hoofball tactics” as u call em.
  They will cease to exist once AP gets his wanted men into the squad.

• 41 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:22 PM

  Dannyo
  Cabs is very off form he’s had one decent performance against the mackems but has been non existent in a few games for us this season, alot of the lads looked shaky against WBA even captain colo had a bit of mare with lukaku and long they run him ragged all game hopefully with a full weeks training they will be a different team against liverpool

• 42 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:23 PM

  @tads
  Spot on, and i have faith we can pummel Liverpool a bit too.
  I’m not as nervous for that game as i was against scum

• 43 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:29 PM

  Dannyo
  Was actually saying last week to WWYCD that i felt more confident about the liverpool game than the WBA game, west brom always seem to punish us regardless of how were playing at the time!
  Liverpool i think have gone backwards under rodgers and really believe there not the threat they were, the main concern being sterling would be tempted to stick santon at RB to deal with him think he’s to direct for simpson

• 44 Ashton // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:30 PM

  Dannyo

  Our tactics were wrong in that game. Even with the 433 we were playing long balls toward Shola and Ba all the time. Our goal is a testament of that. So it’s only logical for Cabaye to go missing in such scenario. Also we were far better in the first half where we played 433 than the second half(442) and we were horrible in that game in general.

  Last season when we were playing 433 we actually passed the ball instead of hoofing it. That’s why Cabaye played his best football for us during that period.

  I feel like some people will totally misunderstand this post

• 45 tarie4 // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:36 PM

  Ashton

  Cabaye is in form??? What games U been watching mate..

• 46 AndyMac // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:40 PM

  If you accept that most Thursday night teams have differed wildly from the following Sunday then yiu’ll have to accept that its down to pardwho to motivate the appropriate team accordingly.

  Sheeet he’d be whingeing like a chav before giro day if he’d had to play the same team in both matches.

  Let’s face it Pardwho’s experience of European football can be written on the back of an old “Park Drive” packet and still have space for the “Top ten football formations” he hasnt used yet !

• 47 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:47 PM

  @tads
  Liverpool has a great ammount of reasons to have their poor start.
  - Rodgers is a new manager, completely new style
  - Rodgers handling of Carroll would maybe have player question his man management and struggle to put their trust in him.
  - Allot of the coaching staff was change
  - Liverpool has a club has changed allot of their “directors” and quite a few employees in general.
  - Poor start to the season
  - Rodgers a largerly unproven manager overall, being picked for one of the big clubs in the UK. Daunting task perhaps?

  I can’t say too much on his thoughts on picking teams tho.
  There is too much instability for them now, and it’ll take a good while to get back on their feet. And maybe it becomes too difficult for Rodgers in the end, who knows.
  I just know that come Sunday, beating that 18 year old hold they’ve had on us at Anfield, has never been more possible.

• 48 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:49 PM

  Andymac
  So at the time of his appointment which experienced european manager was available?
  Or which experienced european manger could of paid compensation for to leave what would pressumably be a top team to take over a midtable club with a strict transfer budget?

  The whole club is on a new chapter that includes the board the manager the coaching staff and a a few if the players who have little to know european experince you cant build a club to compete for honours in a couple of seasons were in the process of putting in the foundations you could argue that europe came a bit to quickly for us, but we got there through hard graft and belief, belief held only by the club because half the fans on here didnt think we had a hope of even finishing top 10
  The whole club is learning and theres bound to be ups and downs whilst its doing that

• 49 nick_9 // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:49 PM

  Noticeable difference is trying to play it out from the back instead of hoofing it. This went missing when krul and collo were injured but I noticed it more in the first half against west brom. I’ve said it a million times that nobody wants the ball or moves into space. Bet game I’ve seen us play is probably the west brom away game that we won 3:1

• 50 Ashton // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:49 PM

  tarie4

  Spain. He was France’s best player playing against Xavi, Xabi Alonso,Busquets.. Nothing major though..

• 51 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:52 PM

  Dannyo
  Completly agree that they are the for the taking lets hope the boys are up for it hopefully colo can keep suarez as quiet as he did at our place
  Personally dont rate rodgers too highly think he was a rash appointment

• 52 AndyMac // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:56 PM

  toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:49 PM

  Andymac
  So at the time of his appointment which experienced european manager was available?

  Fatuous comment as well you know. |Who was or wasnt available bears no relevance to the point I made earlier. Pardwho has had very little (2 games) European experience before this season began.

  He claims he’s learned from the great masters Mourinho and Wenger yet still presides over some of the dullest, unimaginative football seen at SJP for a long while.

• 53 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:57 PM

  @AndyMac
  The last 3 lines there are true.
  Hence my reason for saying, that we’ll have to put up with the “moaning” until he becomes more experienced.
  That only comes with more games.

• 54 Magpie from Lithuania // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:57 PM

  @dunaneek, nice formation, but i think this would be more balanced:

  ——————————Krul—————————

  ——————–Colo————Saylor—————

  Santon————Bigi———-Perch——–Jonas

  ———Benny————Cabaye————-Fergie

  ——————————–Cisse———————

  Good wingbacks, skilfull and quallity wing forwards, creative attacking midfielder and one box to box midfielder EPL standart and CDM capable of doing his duties. Defense pair is solid too.. Keeper is as good as always. For me the only question is Cabaye. if he could find his form we’ll win.

  back up plan:

  subs: Obertan IN, Jonas Out (Fergie LB), Sammy IN Perch or Bigi Out, And Shola IN for Cisse if he doesn’t score in 75min..

  —————————Krul—————————-

  —————–Colo————–Saylor—————

  Santon——————-Bigi—————–Fergie

  —————-Benny————–Cabaye———

  ——Obertan———–Shola————-Sammy.

  IMO,
  Santon, Jonas and Fergie are much bigger threat going foward (and with that in mind opposition has more questions – easier to defend). Santon, Jonas and Fergie can defend as well as Simmo if not better. Santon could cause more problems crossing with his right foot, over lapping benny who cuts inside to shot with his magical left. Jonas is a good Left Wing Back wich tends to cut inside, he can take on his man, or by cuting inside create some space for fergie to put a nice cross. Cabaye could pass a through ball two cisse as well as dictate the tempo of the game with his range of passing. Perch and Bigi in my eyes are good pair to have protecting cabaye’s back. Cabaye also usually defens well. I really would like to see my formation against liverpool. I stated my case so i’d like to hear something from you (Blog Readers and Writer). Thank You.

• 55 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 7:58 PM

  Andymac
  Dullest football?
  Allardyce roeder kinear souness all dull football

• 56 jawballsaswallwell // Oct 31, 2012 at 8:00 PM

  AP feeds the media everyday, but what percentage of what he gives them is accurate and candid and what percentage without real substance. That second half was very poor and Newcastle have lacked rhythm all season. Maybe he is struggling to get the time he wants on the training pitch to prepare. Is that the reason we aren’t firing, I’m not overly convinced or particularly reassured by what he had to say.

• 57 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 8:06 PM

  @Ashton
  So we’re moving on from moaning about the EL and the PL juggling i take it?

  On the tactics, i’m not defending the 4-4-2, but maybe, atleast, there are reasons for it?

  Problem is, we don’t get anyone close to frontmen and quick enough. Cabaye is the only one that gets near to Ba & Co, but, when he is the ball holder, Jonas & Tioté stay deep, so either the frontmen come too deep or we smash it up to them!

• 58 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 8:13 PM

  @jawballs
  I think it may have something to do with workload.
  Probably allot for AP, but at the same time, u can’t force players to come to work every day of the week.
  U have an entirely different competition to handle altogether.
  Much more travelling, perhaps a different style of footy to tackle than what we play in the UK.
  There are so many aspects to this.

  I wouldn’t be surprised if there are interviews for a new coach on the steps here to divide the extra workload.

• 59 darrenfletcher88 // Oct 31, 2012 at 8:19 PM

  What’s the crack lads,haven’t been on here for a while

• 60 Tsunki // Oct 31, 2012 at 8:27 PM

  So Pardew does his obligatory soundbite for the club site news section basically just saying how stuff is and he’s a whiner and moaner? Yep tough job just mentioning something and getting stick. Club ‘Reporter’: ‘ whats the weather like, Alan?’
  ‘Rainy this week.’
  Nufcblog.com blogger :’ Stupid Pardew tactical idiot cant manage rain every other manager has rain in their week just another excuse no to play 4-4-3…..’
  - and seamlessly we move into another tiresome 442/443 debate which was exhausted ages ago. I cant imagine a manager setting his team out every week to play 443 no matter what, how long before he just sends the opposition the team sheet and his tactical maps a week before the game, its just as predictable. You cant set out with the same formation all the time, your opponent will spot it and change his team around accordingly, so will you etc. You start out with the formation you think exposes their weaknesses and exploits them, then you find they anticipated that and you change it about. We have some people on here trying to set us up like a school team.

• 61 jawballsaswallwell // Oct 31, 2012 at 8:29 PM

  I accept he’s essentially working with two separate starting 11′s and that his own time is stretched, but isn’t he basically working with the same group, but with a focus on different players for different games. I don’t see how the players are necessarily underdone, if that’s what he’s saying. Is he using too many players? Perhaps as we progress further in the Europa, we will see more of a settled group for all games and find better rhythm.

• 62 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 8:30 PM

  @Tsunki
  Out of all that, i’d like to know just two things.

  Which manager is the genius being able to field a 4-4-3?
  And why does no one notice the extra player on the field?

  4-4-3… I see now why that tactic is far superior to 4-4-2!

• 63 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 8:33 PM

  @jawball
  U have to think of the days they lose aswell mate. They travel before and after the game, sometimes losing 1-2 days of training aswell.
  Stack that on top of so many extra game to prepare for.

  There’s no problem for me to see why AP moans.

  And yes, i think the EL side will settle a bit, and as we progress further, i think AP will also use stronger players to a degree.

• 64 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 8:35 PM

  Tsunki
  Yup pretty much sums it up!!!

  Did someone says a a little while back that hernandez was available for about £10mil? Cant see it bieng true but if it is christ what a player you get for that!

• 65 Tsunki // Oct 31, 2012 at 8:35 PM

  and by 443 i mean of course 433 thats how bored i am i have stopped counting ha ha

• 66 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 8:36 PM

  @tads
  Which Hernandez?
  Man Us or Swans?

• 67 Tsunki // Oct 31, 2012 at 8:46 PM

  darren @58 – really depends on how long you’ve been away.

• 68 Graeme // Oct 31, 2012 at 8:49 PM

  Luckypoo 0-1 Swansea – Oh dear, so sad lol

  Couldn’t happen to a nicer group!!

• 69 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 8:50 PM

  Dannyo
  Manure

• 70 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 8:51 PM

  Cmon swansea!

• 71 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 8:54 PM

  Dont know if anyone is watching the chelski manure game but looks like utd have found a right gem in that powell kid he’s only been on 5 minutes and already had cech at full stretch and could of set up a goal if it wasnt fir welbecks greedyness in not leaving the ball for nani

• 72 Tsunki // Oct 31, 2012 at 8:55 PM

  jawbs – what we have with Euro and PL are essentially a League side and a league development side, blurring into each other as injuries and suspensions dictate. Relative and expected lack of experience means some adjustments have to be made to accommodate both, with varying success. Its not clicking prettily at the moment admittedly, but the results are far from shameful. Seems its not just fickle club directors who have little patience for managers with a job that takes time and experiment.

• 73 Tsunki // Oct 31, 2012 at 9:00 PM

  tads – yes looks like he has a snappy shot on him. At the other end though, sturridge is a ball-greedy glory-seeking show off who has no idea how to stay onside or pass. Plus when he has an off day he looks really stupid.

• 74 bettyswallocks // Oct 31, 2012 at 9:01 PM

  Pardew must be able to see that the team is incoherent and disjointed with no flowing passing hence his comments about working on the rhythm,

  I think the directive from the hierarchy is to put the emphasis on grinding out results however dour it is as a spectacle.

  Where as other chairmen and owners insist on a modern entertaining style even if the team is winning matches, i m sure our owners are running it so much for the financial implications that they don t give a toss about entertaining the fans who fork out their hard earned to watch that crap.

• 75 Dannyo // Oct 31, 2012 at 9:02 PM

  @tads
  Nah, can’t belive that. He’s a good player, not goals galore type, but can both score and assist allot.

• 76 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 9:07 PM

  Tsunki
  Lol just think when carroll left ppl want £20mil splashed on him!

  Dannyo
  Nah i doubt its true but if it was clubs would be queing up outside old trafford to sign him!

• 77 Tsunki // Oct 31, 2012 at 9:11 PM

  bettyswallocks – interesting theory but I think its managers who try to protect their jobs by nailing down the hatches and grinding out results. I think Owners are more interested in having an entertainment spectacle and good results in tandem to keep the ground full and shirts moving out of the shop door. It will have been ashley and co who will have incentivised our push for europe, exposure there is a vital step in exposing the attractiveness of the club brand to a wider audience. Playing like our unwashed throwbacks down the rod will certainly not achieve that.

• 78 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 9:19 PM

  Tsunki
  Watching this in starting to think welbeck and sturridge are 2 of the most overrated young english players in the league

• 79 Tsunki // Oct 31, 2012 at 9:25 PM

  good pen shout there mind.

• 80 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 9:32 PM

  Norwich 2-1!

• 81 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 9:34 PM

  And swansea 2-0!

• 82 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 9:38 PM

  Wootton what an idiot!!!

• 83 Tsunki // Oct 31, 2012 at 9:46 PM

  ha ha ha you know what I just realised I commented on the chelsea man u game and I’m watching it way behind on the sky+. Quick, where are the neggers I need to be called a grade A moron or something.

• 84 davybtoon // Oct 31, 2012 at 9:52 PM

  Chelsea have assembled an amazing squad when you think they lukaku n that keeper from ath Madrid to add to the squad n it’s a young squad

• 85 Big Pappa Cissé // Oct 31, 2012 at 9:52 PM

  Wooton is single hand-idly dumping Man U out of the cup

• 86 Graeme // Oct 31, 2012 at 9:57 PM

  Chelski 4-3 Manure
  Norwich 2-1 Spuds
  Liverpoo1 – 3 Swansea

  What a great set of results this could be lol

• 87 Charlietoon // Oct 31, 2012 at 9:59 PM

  .Here’s how I would line us up against Liverpool

  ………………………Krul
  Santon…….Taylor…….Collo………Fergie
  ………………….Anita….Bigi
  ……Hatem,,,,,,,,,,Cabaye……..Jonas
  ……………………..Ba

  Bench – Harps, Sammy A for Jonas, Cisse for Ba, Perch and Simmo

  We need to stifle Suarez and crowd him out of the game. Jonas has not been in great form but I think he will be able to contain sterling and also get past him and draw some fouls. Swapping him out with Sammy at some point would be a must I would not mind giving Marveaux a start but only Par Obviously if Ba is injured it’s a straight swap for Cisse

• 88 Graeme // Oct 31, 2012 at 9:59 PM

  Norwich and Poo are final scores, Chelski – Manure extra time

• 89 toonarmydownsouth // Oct 31, 2012 at 10:00 PM

  BPC
  You reckon you can place bets on players getting released??

• 90 Graeme // Oct 31, 2012 at 10:02 PM

  Charlietoon – not a bad team, but playing Jonas out there is a complete waste of time and effort. He has no end product; couldn’t cross the road mate, let alone put a ball in the box.

• 91 Big Pappa Cissé // Oct 31, 2012 at 10:08 PM

  @ tads

  They have probably suspended betting already

• 92 Big Pappa Cissé // Oct 31, 2012 at 10:09 PM

  brilliant from Hazard that like

• 93 Graeme // Oct 31, 2012 at 10:11 PM

  Chelski 5-3, 116 mins – should be game over!!

• 94 BelfastMagpie // Oct 31, 2012 at 10:17 PM

  What a match.

• 95 Big Pappa Cissé // Oct 31, 2012 at 10:21 PM

  Sure was

• 96 BelfastMagpie // Oct 31, 2012 at 10:31 PM

  Anybody see the Clattenberg banner in the Man Utd end?

  Referee – Leader – Legend Ha ha

• 97 jawballsaswallwell // Oct 31, 2012 at 10:34 PM

  Patience is one thing, elieing eerything that comes out of AP’s mouth another. i’m not wholly coninced y what he has sa

• 98 jawballsaswallwell // Oct 31, 2012 at 10:49 PM

  Patience is one thing, believing everything that comes out of AP’s mouth quite another. Just because he says it, doesn’t necessarily make it so. I can come up with a host of other plausible reasons for not playing well, most of them doubtless wrong or only partially influential. I’m prepared to be patient, far less prepared not to to think for myself and question.

• 99 bettyswallocks // Oct 31, 2012 at 10:59 PM

  I do have respect for Pardew for what he has achieved with limited resources and a very strict regime who are now finlly paying for their learning.

  He has obviously been given a strict criteria to follow based on a business model that allows no extravagance.

  However having said that I can t help but notice that the fans have nt really accepted him.

  Evan after a good victory there is no real sincere chanting of his name.

  Why do we think that he is still on trial after all this time and his copnsiderable achievements last season,

  I suggest the Jury is still out because we have nt yet bought into his brand of football

• 100 toonLYF // Oct 31, 2012 at 11:14 PM

  alot disagree with Ashton on here…

  “All I’m trying to say is: We have the potential and the players to play so much better in the league. But we are not. And this shouldn’t be blamed on our European endeavor as frequently as Pardew does.”

  but that is absolutely spot on.

• 101 beefman13 // Nov 1, 2012 at 12:21 AM

  toonLFY, you summed that up well, he sticks with certain players and systems and we can all see he needs to find the balls to drop certain senior players?

  he talks about gaining fluidity well if he keeps on playing players who pass either sideways or backwards most of the time then your not going to get that.

  surely tiote cabaye and anita should be working together non stop with each other in training to get that concrete understanding with each other.

  Marveaux had a poor game v everton but those tactics we employed just dont suit the lad, surely he is worth another chance, same with anita, our style of play at the moment is miles and miles away from ajax were he played, lets freshen it up anita cabaye tiote when back are very good passers of the ball as is marveaux, add in ben arfa santon fergie Ba amd there is anucleus of a terrific passing and moving game.

  I feel our way at the moment has become stale and predictable , we have not dominated one game in the prem this season and scraped by in most.

  AP talks about tired players after a europa league match but we know the team changes about 70 per cent for that game so that argument dosnt wash for me plus the champions league boys have it tougher beacuse you go with your strongest team in the champs league and the prem.

  That said i prefer to watch our europa team more than the prem team we normally put out.

• 102 joe // Nov 1, 2012 at 12:35 AM

  To be honest, our most in form player currently is Demba Ba. Him playing off another striker like Shola in a direct footballing philosophy is his best position. And the 4-4-2 AP seems to favour is catered exclusively to his strengths, and rightly so! If you have a goalscorer on fire as he is at the moment u set up the rest of your team to accommodate him! Even if it means yr other so called creative “flair” players suffer a bit. Goals win you matches. Flair and creativity are great but are just other means to an end. I’m pretty sure that once Demba Ba stops scoring at will the 4-3-3 which brings out the best in Cabaye and Ben Arfa will be tried again. But for now, I’m happy with the way things are going, even if it means putting up with not so entertaining football for the forseeable future, but if that means Ba keeps on scoring, then long may it continue.

• 103 Jamiemac // Nov 1, 2012 at 12:48 AM

  Ba being injured means it’s a great opportunity to revery back to the 4-3-3

  Krul
  Simpson Saylor/Williamson Colo Santon
  Perch Jonas
  Cabaye
  Benny Cisse Sammy

  Would be happy with either Saylor or Williamson CB. Perch and Jonas are 2 very good dms, haven’t seen enough of Anita to make him warrant a start. Also haven’t been overly impressed with Bigi yet either. Having 2 dms gives Cabaye a free role which suits him. Also allows the 2 full backs to get forward. (especially Santon) From recent performances Sammy deserves the start on LW ahead of Fergy/Marveaux.

• 104 Jamiemac // Nov 1, 2012 at 12:49 AM

  *revert

• 105 beefman13 // Nov 1, 2012 at 12:51 AM

  joe, to be fair Ba, if fergie playes he has more chance of getting more goals and other players also creative flair players is what SJP is all about and the crowd love us going forward the more you create the more chances you get and the more different goal scorers there will be.

  Maybe AP will stick with jonas and perch for the liverpool game but for me at home it is pure sacrilidge to play them in the middle, and to be fair the amount of one on ones west brom had four i think to our none and lukaku peiercing through our defence i would argue that we got away with it and those two mentioned just dont work in midfield.

  The scousers are going to be chomping at the bit after their defeat tonight to get back to winning ways, i feel if we persist with the negative midfield we will get beat simple as.

• 106 Jamiemac // Nov 1, 2012 at 12:55 AM

  Those leaving Simpson out of their team for Liverpool are mad. By far a better defender than Santon and Fergy. We’re going to need the defensive qualities away from home especially against suarez and sterling!!! Ridiculous!

• 107 beefman13 // Nov 1, 2012 at 12:59 AM

  jamiemac, im surprised you put sammy ahead of fergie in your line up, honestly as skilful as sammy is he is no were near as good as fergie fergie is much more consistant than sammy without a shadow of a doubt i have watched them both coming through the ranks sammy is still good ball bad ball, fergie very rarely gives the ball away and for me should start every game for us without question.

  Fergie and adam campbell are the two best younger players imo at the club, two intelligent footballers who dont waste possesion but are very creative.

  On sunday, jonas lost possesion more times in one game than i have seen fergie in his whole time playing in the first team at the toon!!!!

• 108 beefman13 // Nov 1, 2012 at 1:07 AM

  jamiemac i will beg to differ on the defender issue how often have you seen fergie get done playing at left back, if you rack your brains you will find its not very often.

  lets not make out simpson is some super defender cos he isnt even that for me, he may well play on sunday but if AP goes perch and jonas in the middle get ready for the old finger nails to take a hammering cos for most of the game it will be all man on decks.
  i would still rather play santon at right back than simpson, maybe not that much defensive wise between them but santon is second in the whole of the prem forwards or defenders for beating players and going forward. incredible but true stat.

• 109 Santon03 // Nov 1, 2012 at 5:05 AM

  Basically most of us including me are still hoping expecting our brand of football should be like “the entertainers”.
  Maybe what AP said explain a few things why we are not as good as we should be, that this is new to him and still need to adjust. He put 2 different teams for 2 competitions, I like Europa team better than EPL team. I like Europa team playing style, they manage to control the game better and they have done wonderful job, we are the only team that haven’t conceeded any goal. The Europa team is closer to “the entertainers” style than EPL team which supposed to be the main squad and have better players. Maybe AP should switch EPL team to play in Europa and Europa to EPL.
  I’m one of those moaning about youngsters should play more, maybe because they will do better job than under performing 1st team players. So many news and comments here saying that this youngster that youngster is amazing, for example like Campbell. I would like to see Campbell to start or at least play more than 13mins, I would like to know how good this kid is, I want to see it with my own eyes and have opinion about him, I don’t want to take other people words about how amazing he is.
  I would certainly choose Campbell over Marveaux, he has been here for 1 year and he has done nothing.
  Comparing Marveaux, HBA has much worse injury than him, but his work ethic and determination to prove a point is way better than Marveaux. If Marveaux doesn’t change his attitude, in January I hope the club put him on transfer list. It’s already November and he has done nothing since August.

• 110 eaststandgeordie1982 // Nov 1, 2012 at 7:16 AM

  Bayer leverkusen havnt concided in the el either…

• 111 eaststandgeordie1982 // Nov 1, 2012 at 7:20 AM

  *conceded

• 112 Jail for Ashley // Nov 1, 2012 at 8:02 AM

  I finally managed to get the goals from Saturday in a Premiership round up,couldn’t help but notice the first goal was a long punt from Krul followed by a flick on from the six foot odd Ameobi,those thinking we would ‘revert’ to hoofball as they like to call it if Andy Carroll came back need to think again.