PaddockLad

I suppose you could call Charltons position in that a "false 9"?...anyway, the accepted wisdom at the time was it was 433, and that's what Charlton himself says. It was very fluid, the front 5 all capable of great movement and flexibility and the fullbacks overlapping in support. Cohen and Flowers were said to have pretty much invented modern fullback play under Sir Alf's guidance,Martin Peters was later said to have been 20 years ahead of his time, Geoff Hurst scored a hatrick but Alan Ball was man of the match. The greatest goalscorer England has ever produced only good enough for the bench. A truly great side,whatever the formation was...

So say we get Bent,Remy,Sinclair and this Rolando gadge, and let Perch,Shola,Gosling and Simpson go, would that be a good summers business?...things can and will go wrong,but I think the only purchase that's at all doubtful of those 4 at the moment is Remy, due to his wages. Bents wages will be set off by a low fee, theres no way any fucker will pay 8mill. Am not really sure what folks are hoping for, we've been told not to expect too much after Januarys splurge. Am not suggesting that all is completey well and good, but there weren't too many complaints on Feb 1st. The cuckoo in the nest is Kinnear this time round, so we'll have to see how it all pans out with him at the helm.

Is that your own interpretation of it?...thats fair enough but not what my old man says or what's in bobby Charltons book either...both said Sir Alf played 433 and was slaughtered for it in the press, until he won the world cup that is

True. And anyone who can't recognise that to solve this its Ashley who needs to get his arse in gear is equally as clueless. I like Fish's formation a lot but it looks very offensive for a Pardew side where its mostly safety first. The only difference is Cabaye being pushed further forward which we didn't really play, we played mostly with two lads sitting in. We'll see what happens, no one leaving(?) a full pre season for the players bought in January and Pardew reading this thread should see us top 5 at least

He didn't fucking buy him though...he was bought for him. Pardew's comments are frankly bizzarre, but it may be down to modern player power as much as anything. Wouldn't be at all surprised if Pardew is in the habit of asking players what they feel their best position is, and if Pardew got a bit of a shrug from Sissoko as an answer he's likely as much in the dark as the rest of us. He played in behind Cisse and in the right hand channel pretty much due to Ben Arfa being injured, then when he ran out is steam Ben Arfa waddled back in. Let's see where Pardew picks him when he's got a full squad...am sure someone will tell him what to do...

Did we need another central midfielder then?....

It was known by the brand name "two dogs" in the UK in the 90s...alcoholic lemonade...don't know if CT missed out back then or he's been sold something pretty old under a new name...am thinking the latter...

That's the thing, they aren't wingers, it confuses and bugs the tits off me when people say "Pardew played so and so on the wing" its a blatant misunderstanding of the system. England won the world cup with a team that played mostly 433 and they were called "the wingless wonders".

/Aye in an ideal world another LF and a big hitting ST/ anyone care to translate? I'll guess left forward but am stuck with sexually transmitted for the other..

Your hopes and dreams for the club are one thing, the reality is something else. Ba's contract allowed him to leave for the right price, the fee for Nolan was huge for a player at that stage of his career, Barton or Colo? I've got it from a very good source Colo would have left if Barton hadn't. And Carroll was a no brainer. Yes, it took time to replace some of them, and yes, some of the replacements have or will move on. That's how were doing it at this club and the financial reality is that's how we've got to do it. Ashley paid for relegation, but he's not put a red cent in since then. In view of that, we've done ok.

perhaps you're right, can't remember too much tbh. Seem to recall there was a bit underlying unease about what was a very strange summer, but most balanced that with not having let anyone go. There wasnt the outcry that greeted jks appointment, thats for sure. Point is, Ashley got his arse in gear in January and got a lot of praise. Would making only a couple of "treading water" signings this summer be worse than only signing Anita last summer? Suppose that depends on if we let anyone go and whoever said we may be waiting for a huge official bid for Cabaye before we get down to serious business could be on the money. After appointing Kinnear, we're due a half decent decision on something, as its never completely horrific (although we'll have to see if jk is manager by Christmas ) or a fabulous bed of roses. It mostly ends up at the lower end of mediocrity.

Were we tight in January?.... I don't see any point whingeing on about who wed like to sign, there's been plenty of compliments for Ashley and the way he deals with transfers in the past. No real evidence to suggest he'll fuck this window up. Not many real complaints about last summer on here at the time either, despite it being blatantly obvious that we'd need to strengthen because of Europe. Ashley has been good and bad for NUFC, mostly bad iyam, but this is the hand we've been dealt. He spent big in January, he's not going to do that again 6 months later and he's probably thinking thank fuck we don't have Europe again. Lack of ambition doesn't really cover it, but that's where we are.

I liked him. He made me laugh CT with his new found "actually the Guardian is ok" shite does too. The worst way to judge anyone is by what newspaper they read.

So would I, but I think that's unlikely, can't see Ashley stumping up for two new strikers without letting Cisse go....we can all play fantasy football but you've got to look at who's signing the cheques. He spent a fortune in January and the club is on record as saying that at least two of those we brought forward from the summer so I wouldn't expect too much. Am not sure if we'll go for Bent, at 29 he's basically writing off millions and he's not done that in the transfer market. Wages would appear to be a problem with any move for Remy, so am thinking this may just be their agents feeding the red tops a line and seeing if anyone bites.

I'd like to echo CTs comments and state that the failure of the recent so called "golden generation" of footballers at major tournaments is also down to Thatcher as well.... has there been a bigger bunch of greedy ,selfish, new money counts representing this country?...

His mate from the Davis Cup team is being treated for cancer, I'd imagine the royal Marsden is where he's being treated?.... the anti Scottish stuff today makes me laugh...Murray, and every other professional athletel in history, won it today for himself,not for GB,UK,Scotland,England,Wales, Ireland or ducking Tahiti....kindle doesn't let me post rude words,who knew? Murray wasn't winning for the glory of any nation today, he did it for himself and his mother, I imagine. Fair play to him for that.

Because Scots saying they hate the English is a big wind up on the Scots side (which you are beautifully illustrating this evening ) and largely isnt true. Most Scots and English rub along fine, but there are exceptions on both sides. Regardless of race creed and colour there are cunts of every nationality,everywhere. You're verging on joining that "elite" group if you cant work out that Murray has no problem with the English.

My old man fathered 3 children in England with an English wife, despite cheering every team playing England at any sport as far back as I can remember (which is actually 1977 when the porridge wogs invaded Wembley and broke the goal posts ). He also stayed up late to watch England beat Poland 3 nowt at Mexico 86. I had to get an early night so he taped it for me too as I had college exams the next day .He knew how much Pedro playing at a world cup meant to me. He also said that was the best England had played since 66 and he was right. We watched the Paraguay and Argentna games together, and he calls Maradona worse than shite to this day. So as you can see, the waters are a bit muddy on this...try to be nice now, theres a good lad

NEWCASTLE UNITED SUMMER 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1jM5Jmhg8M8

So Murray's entire backroom staff (bar Lendl) and his missus are from where again?..... he made a joke remark as a teenager and has been hung out to dry ever since....he doesnt show much ignorance now mind, which is more than can be said for some...

Well yeah that's how its been up to now, but there are signs it could be changing..if we sign Bent it by no means puts what's gone on in the last 3 years to bed but it will be a distinct change of tack. We'll see.

Would there have been any takers for Anelka for a year?.... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23188032

Perhaps as a parting gesture he could explain it to the the supporters?....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk-news/2013/jul/04/stone-head-roman-geordie-god dont know if its coincidence, but the barnet on this character looks suspciously similar to Keegan's late 60s/early 70's pre perm mop top....as I say, its likely just coincidence....

Agreed.