Rayvin

Obertan was never going to score that but superb layoff. Couldn't make out who it was from my stream though...

Well this was more straightforward than feared.

We have zero ability to retain any form of meaningful possession in the final third...

Sigh...Cisse...

That does seem to be true. On the other hand, Short is a bit of a pillock; As long as NUFC's interests are aligned with Mashley's, I think we do well. It's only when the two diverge that we get shafted. Short on the other hand just isn't a very good chairman.

I don't understand why Leeds have taken so long to re-emerge... they don't look likely to return to being the established top flight force they once were any time soon. Anyway, I'd be disappointed to lose this of course. Would be nice to think we could make a go of the League Cup this year even if it'd put us in contention for the dreaded Europa League.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/sep/18/barcelona-gerardo-martino-tiki-taka This was an interesting read - about the invention and growth of 'possession football'. Newcastle were involved in the very early stages (1912) as what appears to be the first English club to adopt it (we've obviously regressed since then...) Bobby Robson was also one of the key proponents. Good article though cos it traces the growth of the thing through key individuals across different clubs and eras.

That is staggering... you'd think that would be enough for people but apparently not.

I'd argue we were better to be honest, just mentally weaker.. certainly with Shearer anyway. Although he probably would have tipped the scales their way had he gone to Manchester.

I reckon that a couple of years ago it was obvious that Messi was better. These days, I actually think if it's just that 'Messi is the best' is what people are used to. Ronaldo is amazing, and I'd pick him over Messi myself, even if the latter is still better.

I thought Aeris needed to start these for us to continue winning...

This is actually a fair point - although I do feel like we actively try to sell the players even if its for high prices. And remember that the chances are we'll only see about half of the amount reinvested. I reckon we'd have taken 15 for Cabaye even though we frequently said it would be 20+

I still don't really understand why there is a significant undercurrent of anti-Pardew malaise. We've discussed at length who the alternative is. Also, I remember reading this piece in the Guardian back at the start of last season: http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/sep/28/alan-pardew-eight-years-contract Also see this one from the season where everything was rosey: http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/nov/01/newcastle-united-alan-pardew-plaudits If the guy was obviously getting things right then, even in some of the areas that you guys are criticising him, he can't surely have forgotten how to do it. I think this gives weight to HF's version of events. I acknowledge that this media source (especially given that it's Louise Taylor) is not necessarily reliable - but I thought it worth including. That's not to say that people like McFaul who attack him because he's an Ashley loyalist are wrong mind you, as there's definitely something unpleasant festering there - but even so, I don't know how I'd manage it any differently. He clearly wants to succeed for himself and his reputation - he's never struck me as content to just pick up a pay check. I think most of the discussion/argument here is centred on people defending previously held opinions. The truth is, I would think, that none of us are all that sure what the reality is, especially after a game like the Villa one where we suddenly looked alright again. Time will tell, but if he keeps it up like this, will people have the stones to come out and say they got it wrong I wonder? You don't see a lot of that around here.

So perhaps we can cross reference against a possession graph? Or is that a bit over the top...

Whole thing was a bit disappointing but at least he appears ready to put it behind him. I doubt the fans will give him a hard time either to be honest.

They did to be fair... I paid some and they paid some but it was a pretty expensive course that I couldn't have afforded without them. The payback diminishes in value over the two year period so I could get out for less earlier but I actually appreciate the gesture. You may be right though, I've not looked into it really.

That graph with our long ball usage is the most encouraging thing I've seen about the club for some time; I really do end up torn on Pardew, I supported him for longer than most but did begin to think he was out of his depth. Then we get games like this and you start to think maybe he does know what he's doing. Actually looking forward to our next game for the first time in ages.

I thought it was a fair enough piece (in reference to the points about how we would have taken to him, despite his fascist leanings). I rather fancy that the Newcastle support would have been split between despair and denial if we'd hired Di Canio; probably depends on how desperate the football club is. Sunderland were pretty desperate.

Does the fact that these players are under contract not mitigate this though? What we're essentially talking about here is the acceptable time period in which to buy and sell contracts; the players wouldn't be at liberty to just move anywhere anyway unless they paid their way out of their contract - if they do that, then presumably they could go wherever they pleased - with or without the transfer window. I think you have to consider that at club level, the players are commodities as much as they are employees. I have a contract at work tied in to some professional development they offered me, and the gist is that I can't leave for two years unless I want to pay back what the business put in. I would assume that footballers have this option too (albeit paying back what's left of their contract rather than what has been spent).

Do you not reckon that's just most people these days? There's considerable amounts of research supporting the notion that people who are generally normal and decent human beings turn into raving 5 year olds when online. You will not have had this growing up. Also, you have to look at it in the context of the time - everyone's fans are doing this. See Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal. If you're saying that what MA has done is still better than what came pre-Keegan then fair enough; but I have no reference for that so, to me, he's just a massive bell end. I'm not going to go back and read all the old clippings of our buying and selling players for some context =/ I guess the fact that you can remember it is the difference between you and me (and other irate younger fans). Not that I'd ever be caught raving about any of this on Twitter...

Right now maybe, but McCarthy has so much fight and enthusiasm in him that I think over time he'd be a better player. Probably not a lot of time either.

I like the idea of new people being discussed, but can we please get at least one transfer over the line...? I remember that week in January when we bought anything that moved...another of those please.

You really shouldn't post all that stuff online mate...especially as it's your mam's. Unless it isn't and you're faking, which I kinda hope you are?

Ok fair enough, I was exaggerating. Ultimately my point should have been that he has to be better than not bringing in a striker at all. You would hope.

Is this how all the fan meetings go?