Where do we go from here?

[Christmas Tree 4669]

Not a knee jerk it's all crap thread because it isn't.

 

But we can all see problems within the team and we don't really have the personell it appears to resolve this situation. We also have a manager who I'm still happy with, but who does seem unwilling to try new things from within the squad.

 

Add to this an owner who isn't going to hoy money around.

 

I'm very happy with Krul, Coloccini, Cabaye and Ba.

 

Then comes okay'ness with Williamson, Tiote and Santon.

 

That leaves the rest as misfiring for one reason or another.

 

Added to our woes are long term injuries to Taylor and Marveaux who still occupy wages and will therefore cloud any decisions on incomings.

 

Hopefully we have also put to bed any idea that Ben Arfa is some great saviour.

 

I've never played football manager but my main priority in January would be sorting out the wings. For me it matters little if we play Best or HBA if we don't have wingers attacking, creating space and getting crosses in.

[Holden McGroin 6457]

Our wings in general arent great (apart from Jonas who I am happy with)

 

We could do with Santon getting a chance to prove himself at RB, a new LB, Obertit to be replaced and a new striker of sufficient standard to work alongside and replace Ba while at the ANC.

Edited December 31, 2011 by Holden McGroin

[Park Life 71]

Not a knee jerk it's all crap thread because it isn't.

 

But we can all see problems within the team and we don't really have the personell it appears to resolve this situation. We also have a manager who I'm still happy with, but who does seem unwilling to try new things from within the squad.

 

Add to this an owner who isn't going to hoy money around.

 

I'm very happy with Krul, Coloccini, Cabaye and Ba.

 

Then comes okay'ness with Williamson, Tiote and Santon.

 

That leaves the rest as misfiring for one reason or another.

 

Added to our woes are long term injuries to Taylor and Marveaux who still occupy wages and will therefore cloud any decisions on incomings.

 

Hopefully we have also put to bed any idea that Ben Arfa is some great saviour.

 

I've never played football manager but my main priority in January would be sorting out the wings. For me it matters little if we play Best or HBA if we don't have wingers attacking, creating space and getting crosses in.

 

Pardew out.

[Happy Face 29]

Not wanting to do a Leazes, but apart from Taylor we can still put out the same team that went on the 11 game run that so many people felt vindicated Ashley.

 

Don't worry about kneejerking at all, that was the sport for Sept/Oct. To point out Simpson/the Taylors/obertan ain't good enough now is being slow on the uptake.

Edited December 31, 2011 by Happy Face

[Gemmill 44113]

Is it down to the lake I fear?

[Guest CabayeAye]

We need to get shot of Obertan if we can, just to get him off the wage bill. Also, kill Smith, Perch, and Simpson and build from there.

 

Squad would ideally end up being:

 

Keepers

1. Krul

2. Forster

3. Elliot

 

Full Backs

1. Santon

2. New LB

3. Raylor

4. Fergy

 

Centre Backs

 

1. Colo

2. Saylor

3. New CB

4. Williamson

 

Wingers

 

1. Jonas

2. New RW

3. Marveux

4. Sammy Ameobi

 

Centre Mids

 

1. Cabaye

2. Tiote

3. Guthrie

4. Gosling

 

Strikers

 

1. Ba

2. New CF

3. Ben Arfa

4. Shola Ameobi

 

Young players who might make it

 

1. Abeid

2. Vuckic

3. Kadar

 

Therefore, we need 4 new players, provided we don't lose any. Although we have a thin squad, it's not thin on numbers, it's thin on quality. Therefore we can afford to lose the following provided we get our new LB, CB, RW and CF in:

 

Harper

Simpson

Perch

Smith

Obertan

Lovenkrands

Ranger

Best

Xisco (the cunt is still ours!!!)

 

And if Pardew refuses to change his ways and continues to bang his (our) head(s) on the wall, we could do with a more flexible manager come May.

[Park Life 71]

Ben Arfa is not a striker. He's a midfield schemer.

[Guest CabayeAye]

Ben Arfa is not a striker. He's a midfield schemer.

 

Striker is the wrong word for that group. Forward is probably more appropriate. I consider Ben Arfa to be a AM or a 'second striker'. I don't think I could push Barfa into the midfielder group, simply because I wouldn't want to play him as a standard CM. He would always be advanced.

[toonotl 2916]

Approaching Deanoness here.

 

Granted we need players in those positions but we all know that. However, most of us also know that there is no point going on about it because the January window will see us sign one player, a CB, if we are lucky. What we need and what we will get are poles apart and will stay that way for the foreseeable future.

[Guest CabayeAye]

Approaching Deanoness here.

 

Granted we need players in those positions but we all know that. However, most of us also know that there is no point going on about it because the January window will see us sign one player, a CB, if we are lucky. What we need and what we will get are poles apart and will stay that way for the foreseeable future.

 

Sadly, you're probably right. This means there is indeed no point in going on about it. Furthermore that means the answer to the thread's original question is:

 

We will continue to support the club despite the owner bleeding millions out of us, continuing to strip the club of all dignity and living in the knowledge that we will never even get close to winning a trophy because as soon as we get a good enough squad to do so, the owner will 'harvest' his players for his own personal gain.

[toonotl 2916]

There's no need to even go that far. Just enjoy watching the team play, support the players we have, and bitch about how the ones that aren't used properly could be used better. Seriously, there is no need for overt doom and gloom, you'll end up like Leazes and who wants that?.

[Guest CabayeAye]

There's no need to even go that far. Just enjoy watching the team play, support the players we have, and bitch about how the ones that aren't used properly could be used better. Seriously, there is no need for overt doom and gloom, you'll end up like Leazes and who wants that?.

 

Fucking hell mate, I'd have to have a lobotomy to end up like Leazes! That's not being a doom merchant, he's just a full retard!

[Lake Bells tits 1]

Our wings in general arent great (apart from Jonas who I am happy with)

 

 

Jonas has been appaling the last 7-8 games?

[toonotl 2916]

There's no need to even go that far. Just enjoy watching the team play, support the players we have, and bitch about how the ones that aren't used properly could be used better. Seriously, there is no need for overt doom and gloom, you'll end up like Leazes and who wants that?.

 

Fucking hell mate, I'd have to have a lobotomy to end up like Leazes! That's not being a doom merchant, he's just a full retard!

 

Now now.

[Christmas Tree 4669]

Rob Lee on talk sport just throwing his two penneth in saying the wings are the route of all our current problems. Isnt impressed with Jonas but absolutely slated Obertan.

[toonotl 2916]

With good reason to. Jonas at least gives 100% and has the excuse that he has to babysit Raylor. Obertan is just plain shit, no bottle whatsoever. Gutless.

[manc-mag 1]

Yes it's right we don't have much product on the wings. Obertan has come in for an actual fee, Pardew doesn't have the money to buy again instantly when players don't come up with the goods. We're not top material shock horror (is anyone actually shocked by this though, if they are I'm astonished and I despair in equal measure tbh). Whatever happens its not going to be quick enough for most people. Listened to a good few years of Leazes constantly saying expectations have been lowered on Tyneside but iyam it swings the other way just as quickly as is the case now. We've had decent wingers in the past and shit teams have just walked through the middle of our midfield and defence (literally) because we're push overs.

 

Last night wasn't a great performance and if we go on to get nowt against Man U presumably all the despair will get worse, when in reality we need to be making progress by first trying to pull away from the 'rest' of the division with consistency in the run-of-the-mill games that we usually get fuck all out of, but have done well in this season.

[Tom 14011]

(is anyone actually shocked by this though, if they are I'm astonished and I despair in equal measure tbh).

 

Yep, I think anyone with a measure of reality isn't that shocked. We've got 30 points by New Year so I'm fairly over the moon with that.

 

For what it's worth I think Marveaux was supposed to start ahead of Obertan.

[Monroe Transfer 0]

With good reason to. Jonas at least gives 100% and has the excuse that he has to babysit Raylor. Obertan is just plain shit, no bottle whatsoever. Gutless.

 

Exactly. He worked so well with Enrique because they had full confidence in each other's ability. If Enrique needed a bit of extra cover, Jonas was there to help him out. If Jonas needed a bit of support offensively, there was Enrique to help him out.

 

I really wish Pardew wouldn't come out with stuff like "we're only in for a defender", "we're only after 1 player because of the market" etc. It's as if they've set a target and we should be happy if they meet it. Instead just do whatever you can, you might find a bargain along the way. Not that I'm saying we should take everything Pardew et al say at face value in the first place.

[Tom 14011]

The buck doesn't stop with Pardew though does it? So why would he say things only for the board to reject it?

 

I think he got burned last year with the Carroll saga with all the 100% nonsense, how people can't see this is beyond me.

[Toonpack 9112]

Admittedly, I've seen little of him, but I'd be tempted to play Santon RW, he'd give Guitierez type cover when we're in defence and he looks reasonably pacey and skillfull going forward.

 

When Tiote's off at the ACN, I'd also consider giving Vukic a run with Cabaye in the centre (or even before if Tiote's form doesn't pick up very soon).

Edited December 31, 2011 by Toonpack

[manc-mag 1]

The buck doesn't stop with Pardew though does it? So why would he say things only for the board to reject it?

 

I think he got burned last year with the Carroll saga with all the 100% nonsense, how people can't see this is beyond me.

 

Aye, why the fuck would he make a rod for his own back. People seem to have some vague notion that by coming out and saying 'we need a striker' it will put pressure on Ashley to go out and buy a striker. No it won't....some owners yes, but not Ashley, he doesnt feel that sort of pressure at all. All it'd do is cost Pardew his job. And I mean that without compensation too....I wouldn't be surprised if his contract isnt so locked down that it contains caveats that he cannot go to the media and state the need for players without prior agreement from DL.

[Monroe Transfer 0]

The buck doesn't stop with Pardew though does it? So why would he say things only for the board to reject it?

 

I think he got burned last year with the Carroll saga with all the 100% nonsense, how people can't see this is beyond me.

 

Aye, why the fuck would he make a rod for his own back. People seem to have some vague notion that by coming out and saying 'we need a striker' it will put pressure on Ashley to go out and buy a striker. No it won't....some owners yes, but not Ashley, he doesnt feel that sort of pressure at all. All it'd do is cost Pardew his job. And I mean that without compensation too....I wouldn't be surprised if his contract isnt so locked down that it contains caveats that he cannot go to the media and state the need for players without prior agreement from DL.

 

I didn't say any of that though (if you're referring to my post), particularly the thing about putting pressure on Ashley. DIdn't imply that at all.

 

I know he gets asked questions, it's not like he's said these things in press releases. I'd rather he was just more vague.

 

On the other hand, you could call it honesty on his part.

[manc-mag 1]

The buck doesn't stop with Pardew though does it? So why would he say things only for the board to reject it?

 

I think he got burned last year with the Carroll saga with all the 100% nonsense, how people can't see this is beyond me.

 

Aye, why the fuck would he make a rod for his own back. People seem to have some vague notion that by coming out and saying 'we need a striker' it will put pressure on Ashley to go out and buy a striker. No it won't....some owners yes, but not Ashley, he doesnt feel that sort of pressure at all. All it'd do is cost Pardew his job. And I mean that without compensation too....I wouldn't be surprised if his contract isnt so locked down that it contains caveats that he cannot go to the media and state the need for players without prior agreement from DL.

 

I didn't say any of that though (if you're referring to my post), particularly the thing about putting pressure on Ashley. DIdn't imply that at all.

 

I know he gets asked questions, it's not like he's said these things in press releases. I'd rather he was just more vague.

 

On the other hand, you could call it honesty on his part.

 

It wasn't directed straight at your remarks, more a generalist point. I think he's just getting peoples frustrations projected on to him at the end of the day, which is completely understandable in one sense, but doesn't alter his bargaining power at all.

[Phil 6]

I dont see the reason for panic. If this seasons objective was a top 10 finish. We are doing pretty well.

 

With regards to transfers - January isnt a good time to buy unless they are in the final year of their contract or the selling team has a replacement lined up.

 

In my opinion we are only desperate for a full back. Hopefully it will be Cissokho.

 

Wingers arent my biggest concern as i feel a decent fullback will improve our wing play.