loonyTOON

The best thing virgin could do would be to buy the rights and rename it st James park. Because they'd become the savours of the North!!

Was interesting to read what Ben Arfa has come out with today, about us playing direct which is hard for him because he likes to play a passing game. We started the season well because we didn't play direct (as we used to, ie hoof from back to front). I think we've struggled a little because we aren't getting the ball on the deck. Cabaye is an amazing craftsman in the middle of the park, spots passes a mile off. As soon as we stopped playing on the deck, we started to drop points imo. Does anyone else think our style of play has shifted slightly from beginning of season? I'd like to see us tonight attack from the deck. Start Ben Arfa behind Ba and play the ball on the deck. Use the wide men and get the full backs involved. Also get Cabaye in the middle linking up with Arfa with quick short passes. Ba doesn't need the hoof, he needs supply to feet. We've seen him turn a defender and score, so why change it? I'd like to see a 4-3-3 tonight: Krul Simpson - Colo - Willo - Santon Tiote - Cabaye - Raylor/Vuckic Jonas - Ba - Ben Arfa Obertan would be a good impact player from bench around 65-70 mins when legs are starting to go, and have him run at full backs. I'd like to think we'd get something if tactics are right. If they're the same 4-2-2 with Best and Ba, I think 3-0 to Manure.

I'll watch how I say things :-D

Pardew didn't sell him mate. Jeez, been a bit picky aren't we? I think you know what I meant

Nice to see Carroll go into our dressing room and Pardew dragging him in. Does he realise he sold him in Jan?? Does anyone else get the feeling that we could see Carroll back at Newcastle either in Jan or summer? Shrewd bit of business if we get him back for peanuts compared to what they paid

And look, Ben Arfa doesn't start.

A call from who ffs? Attention seeking 'ITKs' probably the most pathetic thing on the internet. Fuck off man you massive bell end. Nice disclaimer too I work closely with the marketing/media team at NUFC, you massive bell-end!

Just had a call, and at this point in time, Ben Arfa doesn't start. Although was told the starting XI has not been finalised.

Who calls it electronic these days? Although studying music explains a lot about the irrational comments on here. Music students here are a breed of their own.

Jermaine Beckford was signed from Wealdstone by Leeds Utd in 2006 when he was 22. So it is possible that the guy could have something. Whether its prem standard or not is another question.

You're a hater but you provide no facts whatsoever to back up your arguement. that's not what I asked though. You didn't answer the question. You would blame him for playing him too early and him getting injured because of it. So what do you want from him? I can just imagine you're one of the disgraceful fans who boo Obertan at the home games.

What would happen if Pardew played Ben Arfa and he wasn't ready, wasn't fit and he got injured because of it right before Ba left for ACN? It would be all Pardew's fault for poor management.

AH is spot on and I'm surprised cabayeaye, aeris et al are still arguing against. And all you say is "Ben Arfa, Ben Arfa, Ben Arfa". Change the tune.

Many apologies to you guys, fell out of wrong side of bed this morn.

I don't think he'll start. We've more chance keeping him quiet as most of the defence trained with him, and we should know everything we need know about him. Suarez would be the better shout if Dalglish thinks. Saying that, he bag a hat-trick now

This has been said before, but could it be a decoy? So they can work quietly to recruit someone who is wanted by bigger clubs. I fully expect no striker to come in, but it's just a thought. Ie, De Jong has been linked with other clubs in prem right? Liverpool or arsenal if I remember correctly.

You bunch of fucking dickheads. Pardew a coward tactics-wise - wasn't he the manager last season who turned to a three man defence during a match? One decision that the commentators both agreed managers never seem to do anymore. Isn't he the guy that has changed the way we play and now we actually play more football? I remember thinking a few years ago we are always going to be known as the direct play team. Big fuck up front and hoof him it. Yes we play that at times, but we also seem to play a lot more ground play, thanks to the likes of Cabaye, Tiote and obertan to an extent. That's one thing I'm starting to get pissed with is the criticism of Pardew. I said this over Xmas to a randomer, no wonder no-one wants to buy the club from Ashley. Ffs - Blackburn and QPR were seen as better investments. Who would risk the millions on a team whose fans can easily turn on manager or owners? I wouldn't and I love NUFC. Pardew was no-ones first choice, and a lot hated just because he took over from Hughton. The guy deserves credit where it is due, and you's are just picky bastards who are never happy. It'll be your faults when you start to call for his head and we end up with another Kinnear. Ben Arfa subbed on was down to Pards, a game changing sub. If he had of started, yes we could have won by a few, but we could have also lost. The long ball tactic maybe came from the fact that there is where Bolton have struggled this season. I also want to ask the question - if you were a young lad playing in a foreign country, having your first run of games in the league, would you get better and perform well when your own fans are booing you? Answer is no. Give obertan a chance. I would put money on him playing amazingly if us fans started singing songs about him. Get behind him and help the lad get his confidence. I never thought nufc fans to boo individual players. Let's not be ruthless.

The original post was at half time, when I happened to read the thread, and had nothing to do with the match. I watched him at st James when he came on the other day and a few of his runs, he lost the ball stupidly, when he could of offloaded, and we next dealing with a counter. Obertan just needs confidence. It doesn't help when your own fans are giving you shit. I like the guy, and think in time can be a great player for us like Lennon or Wright-Phillips used to be. But he needs to gain confidence and have us behind him. I also think its shit that people on here are ribbing Pardew for not starting Ben Arfa. If folk on here could manage a team half as well as they can right shit on here, then the footballing world would be full of Geordie managers. Pardew knows what he's doing, ffs look where we are right now. Ben Arfa will start when he is ready, and I have no doubt he'll keep his place in the side once that happens. But he is a luxury that I hope sometime soon we can accommodate regularly.

Or he could have started and we could have lost. You cant say we'd have been up at the half had he started. He's come on, and been an impact sub like I said. Like he did last week with an assist. Until he learns to do more that just offensive duties, he's a luxury. I've not seen the game today, so I can't comment on Best. I might be Looney, but I know that we need 10 outfield players that give both offensively and defensively. If he starts chasing back when he loses the ball, and looks a little more interested when we're out of possession, then he should rightly start.

Rubbish. He's a luxury we can't afford at the moment. Until he's fully up to speed, he is the best impact sub.

Worry about Ben Arfa is he's a luxury player who we can't afford to have at the moment. I can't remember a player who is as gifted as him play in black and white, but he is only an offensive player. He reminds me of Ronaldinho in that never tracked back after losing the ball and was fairly lazy off the ball

Who stole my penny farthing?

Again, another post thats crazy!! If he isn't going to show the willingness to try, to put the effort in, then he should be benched. Yes in an ideal world I'd love to have him roaming free up top, and just waiting for us to have possession. But there aren't many teams that we can do that against. It was completely tactical today though in that Shola was there for set pieces.

Fucking typical!!! 1 bad game (because of injuries) and everyone heads for their pitchforks. 30 odd games Pardew has had at Newcastle and before today only lost 8. You tell me the last manager that had us playing football like we have this season. Get to fuck! Someone with the power pls close this post. Waste of time

"Ooohh yeah Santa! I've got 16 days of fucking your missus before you can come and sort me out!!"