StoneColdStephenIreland

There actually seems a bit of thought going into the "long" balls that we play now, whereas last season it was just hit it long and hope someone gets onto it.

It would take at least a few seasons to build the club to get to that point, which is why the transfer window after we came 5th was a huge time for the club to push on and show ambition to want to be in the upper echelons of the league. I'm not saying we should have spent big money then, but small steps to start the process should have been done then but instead we went backwards.

The clubs ambition is to get top 10 and thats it, no more. What player wants to look back on a career and have a top 10 finish as an accomplishment, instead of possible trophies and European competition on the highest stage. I'd be gutted about him wanting out if we showed a little ambition for trophies etc, but over the past couple year I've started looking at things regarding the club with less emotion than I normally would, because I know as a club we're going nowhere anytime soon.

Can't blame him if he wants out, he's gonna win nowt here and isnt gonna get European competition playing here with the way we're run.

FIFA 14 got delivered yesterday so now Ive got to wait another week, probably more of it teasing me

I tried a few different options and now i just stick with advanced forward as that seems to get the best out of them no matter who i play. JUst finished my 4th season with the Toon and came 2nd. I'm getting Zouma on a free and a few young brazilians to loan out too.

Anyone have problems with strikers? Mine just never score. Cisse was a shambles, along with Guidetti, Doumbia and now Fierro. Theyre all good strikers on the game just never score and get an average rating of about 6.7 a season. I'm 4 seasons in and its the only part thats letting my team down. Candreva on the right wing got me 20 goals last season, and Vitinho, Bakkali, Douglas Costa, Lodeiro all pop in with about 8-10 goals each which is saving my goals problem.

Its an alright tackle. Got the ball, just unfortunately the trailing leg got caught up with his ankle. No way that deserves a ten game ban, the three Larssons, Dossennas and Cattermoles tackles were worse than that and all over the top of the ball.

I'd bring in Dummett for the suspended Debuchy, put him LB and switch Santon to RB. I'd stick with the same formation and bring in Ben Arfa for Shola and give him the free role behind the striker.

Amazing how Mbiwa didnt knock that in the back of the net. He's facing goal, been knocked off balance and still manages to hook it away. Awesome defending.

I would kinda agree with this, Sissoko just hasnt looked confident at all recently and has been a passenger, alot like Cisse has been for us. Although it might be a tough call to switch it for this game, I think Anita should be feeling hard done by being dropped when he's been in the better form between him and Sissoko. If we play a fluid 3 up top of Ben Arfa - Remy - Gouffran and have them interchange positions at points during the game it could trouble their back 4. Their CB's are slow and I think Celustka is their only natural full back. We should maul them going forward. Let's go there and attack them and get the fans on their back, because if we try to be solid and not get beat we're asking them to beat us, as it'll be hard to keep a clean sheet with Willo and whoever is in for Colo and Mbiwa.

Ben Arfa has to be ahead of Cisse. Cisse has done nothing all season and doesn't warrant starting the game over Ben Arfa, who has been hot and cold this season, whereas Cisse's been freezing caad, these past few months. Finally though it's good to be able to have to make this choice instead of being forced into it through injury and suspensions.

A half decent womens team could have defended them tbh

Were gonna win 3-2. Cisse double and a Remy goal. It will be beautiful.

I've never felt so emotionally uninvested in the club in a long time. If anything bad or good happens I just don't feel arsed about it, I just wait for the next bout of bad news to happen.

You're too stupid for words if you believe it could in any way be Carr's fault for the lack of activity. We had bids accepted for Gomis and were in talks with Bent, pulled out of the Douglas deal. Carr done his job scouting those players. It's then up to the negotiations, which Kinnear is "in charge of" to sign these players. Stop believing the Clubs BS and see with your own eyes their was no ambition to better the club this summer.

We'll have spent more on Kinnears bar tab that we have on signings by September 3rd.

Unsettled midfielder Yohan Cabaye is set to return to the Newcastle fold this weekend, manager Alan Pardew has confirmed. Cabaye has not yet featured this season after a failed £10million bid from Arsenal that Pardew suggested had turned his playmaker's head. The Gunners have yet to return with an improved offer but, despite admitting the France international could still leave before the transfer window closes on 2 September, Pardew expects him to turn out against Fulham. "What I have said to Yohan Cabaye is I expect him to play this weekend," Pardew told reporters ahead of Saturday's visit of Martin Jol's side. "Until another bid comes in from Arsenal that is accepted or not that will be the situation." Pardew has dodged claims that Cabaye refused to play against Manchester City and West Ham but has been angered by a situation that has undermined his plans for the new term. "It is quite simple - we need to resolve the situation," he said after a goalless draw against the Hammers. "We need to get ourselves in a position where if he stays, great, and if he doesn't stay we need to get someone equally as good. "It's difficult at the moment. We have big clubs filling our players with disharmony."

We put a bid in for him below their estimation and made it publicly known that we had put the bid in. The player kicked up a stink and wanted the club to let him go, and went on strike. Then Sochaux never lowered their value and we never increased it. Gomis is only being forced out because he's had his head turned by us declaring our interest in him and putting a bid in for him, then Gomis wouldnt sign a new contract.

Arsenal are giving Ashley etc a taste of their own medicine. Bids were put in for Gomis,Maiga and probably a few more and they wanted out, but then we never followed up our interest. Now Arsenal have done the same with us, but will no doubt actually follow through with their plans because they want to acheive something, unlike us.

None of them wanted to be the link between the midfield and Striker, so Reid and Collins just dominated aerially. So when Ben Arfa got the ball and drove infield, they were both making the same run, instead of creating gaps for each other. It's annoying because Shola has never been a target man, he's never dominant enough on the ball or with a defender, he's built like one, but just doesnt have the mentality of a target man.

We have no momentum at all. We don't look like getting any from the owner, the manager, the players or the fans. It's a continuation from last season and it doesn't look like it's gonna get better. The whole club needs a lift and that will only come from signing players. We need some desperately or its gonna be a long season.