Alex

Tiote and Colo are absolutely key to the way the side plays though from providing a springboard for attacks to retaning possession instead of just hoofing it and so on.

I bought wor lass a Tag and didn't even get a nosh out of it.

Tbf though CT, as was pointed out when HF and David Kelly were discussing this, Tiote, Colo and Krul have only played about 20-odd minutes together in a league game (Sunderland away). So the gaping holes have been there. That's 3 massive players in very key positions and that will have an effect on how the more creative players are able to do their jobs.

I was at Venice airport once flying back to London and there was a queue for a flight next to ours. Just looking at them I would've put money on them being British as they were proper clips. The flight was to Brussels.

Not one of your better poems like.

Aye but Ghent's a lot closer and I haven't been It's meant to be good though. I've been to Brussels like. Sounds a bit snobby but I'd just probably like to extricate myself from Newcastle's pissed-up travelling support for a couple of hours. They're great when you're at the match but sometimes they can do your heed in. I like Belgium too fwiw. Funny place but I like it. They do chocolate, chips and beer well, I'll give them that.

Big sandwich, mind.

Like I said, I take your point but when the ifs and buts start extending into several games then the argument becomes a lot less water-tight imo. Last season by this stage it started to become clear there was a hell of a lot more to our good start than luck imo. I know we didn't play Man Utd in the first 10 games last season but comparing this season to last season re: that fixture puts the stark contrast into focus too. Also agree with CT about lacking shape and a pattern of play and we're by no means the only people to pick up on it. Putting aside cold hard facts, stats etc. though it just feels a bit disjointed and lacking in flow this year whereas you could see where we were going last year. I'm not laying the blame at Pardew's door though as I've stated - bad luck with injuries etc. and inadequate additions to the squad have stitched him up.

I think we played better and looked more solid like, especially in those first 10 games or so. Purely subjective though tbf, unlike the league position and results which were clearly any but representative of a poor start. I take your point though, in that were perhaps riding our luck at times.

Aye, I wondered about that like. After 10 games last season we were 3rd and unbeaten in the league.

Look man, you're either on the wind-up or you're not all there. Any attempts at serious input are a complete waste of time. I feel a bit bad even taking the piss tbh.

Rattled

There's something more than a bit tragic about these barmpot theories / attention-seeking threads like. That's the thing with the internet though, if it was down the pub you'd just pat him on the head, say aye and go back to ignoring the sad sack.

That's what we want you to think.

I reckon conspiracy theorists like wolfy here are actually agents working on behalf of the Illuminati.

How do they work though?

I've asked him. He says he doesn't know how they work either.

I want to know how it works though. Edit: Actually, the bloke at works got some. He's tighter than a bad chest so there has to be some financial reward in it. I can ask him if you like.

If I was there I'd probably catch the train to Ghent tbh.

Lille should've just let their established French international walk for next to nowt I suppose. It's well-known Ashley's drives a hard bargain so the fact Lille didn't just roll over doesn't mean they were the ones taking the piss. And since Debauchy wants the move, his comments should be taken with a pinch of salt.

That's probably as good an assessment as any tbf.

Jesus' blood is canny. Also the Jerusalem Kirk is worth a look and it's creepy as fuck. It's nice just wandering round though tbh.

Largely agree but I blame Ashley more. To use a well-worn phrase he didn't 'back his manager' adequately and Pardew's performance last season deserved to be supported with more signings. I also think a lot of it is down to the Ba situation and keeping him happy. I don't really blame Pardew for that though. He didn't negotiate the contract with the clause and Pardew is also in a tight spot because he knows that if Ba leaves in January he's unlikely to get the funds needed to replace him properly (given how little a sale would raise) plus the already badly needed areas where we need to strengthen. The manager is having to do his job with one hand tied behind his back so I see him as trying to be progmatic rather than being a coward. Agree about certain players looking to leave if we don't build upon what we've done in the last couple of years. That said, he might splash the cash in January since players will have 6 months less on their contracts etc. So long as the deal is what he considers 'good value'.

I'm not exactly panic stricken because I thought last year was a bit of a freak and only bringing in a few more players was likely to sustain our position but I think that's, while perhaps a touch OTT, not far off the mark, CT. I still think something like 6th place is very achievable however. Which is all Ashley is aiming for basically (at best, all things being equal).