scoobos

I wanted to do this year but couldn't think of any decent defensive midfielders - I don't really watch anyone other than the toon. I thought ACN was every year - ooops! I'll edit this with some recent players shortly, but I reckon it'll be the same story - I doubt anyones sporting the 45% ratio Tiote has.

I must be watching the wrong tiote. Tiote - 23 Sep 2012 Newcastle Norwich Yellow 26th sept Man Utd - Yellow then again 04th oct vs Bordeaux , then next match 07th Oct Man Utd , both bookings then again 25th Oct - FC Bruges , then again next match 08th Nov , Bruges Apart from that hes got a 50% ratio, with his only clean patch being 4 games between nov and dec. Last year he did three in a row three times - Africa Cup of Nations 3 matches from 26th Jan to 12 feb and again 04th march to 01st april then again 02 may to 13th may

We might have to agree to disagree on this one. Roy Keane (peak) 1999 season (you win on this one !) 50 appearances 9 yellows. 18% Makelele (2000 season) 54 appearances 9 yellows. 17% ratio Owen Hargreaves 2007/2008 37 appearances 4 yellows 10% ish. Tiote this year - 22 appearances 11 yellows 1 red 48% ratio on yellows. Tiote last year 28 - 14 yellows 50% ratio and in case you think I picked superstars vs tiote, 1 a bit closer to home Mr "yellow" himself. David Batty 1999 24 appearances 10 yellows - still less than tiote's current ratio. I'm not a tiote hater, I think hes got great potential, but I added with his ANC commitments we just cant rely on him being available for 20% of a season. Anyhoo, just my two cents.

He didn't really reveal his reasons in that interview. Candidate for shitest headline of the week. I reckon he might even stay for good .

I don't take it from the internet, its just my personal view. I don't really understand why people think he doesn't have a discipline problem. As well as the skills you list, I'd expect a proper DMF to also factor in having high discipline for this role - simply endlessly harrying opponents is not enough , if it means hes going to do something stupid in every single game. All I'm seeing is a run of appearances, both for his country and club that are consecutively getting yellows match on match. That said, I thought Cabaye's attitude was rubbish when he first arrived and hes (mostly) proved me wrong.

Past his prime for the toon I said. He was magnificent when he arrived, but I reckon we've seen his attitude drop (perhaps due to Pardew trying to play him as box to box) . I'm sure he'll go on to do good things with a more discipline based manager. You wouldn't see him picking up endless needless yellows under Fergie.

This is the problem for me. His yellows annoy me because Perch & Williamson usually get them from errors or "accidents" - but Tiote's seem to be all rage driven. Tiote is a GOOD player, no two ways about it , but that makes his excessive disciplinary problems all the more annoying. Yesterdays match was a prime example of what I mean - I don't want a player we have to mitigate for due to him missing matches through nothing more than ego or stupidity. I don't think these views make me a dickhead either - I would seriously prefer a more levelled player in that dangerous position. His role attracts yellows imo , but having someone with his mindset playing it is an accident waiting to happen.

He used to live next door to me and was a great neighbour to have. He did his back garden up like a mini football pitch and used to do the lines and groundskeeping , his nephew must be becoming a canny player by now. I remember Gazza shat in his shorts as a prank once. He moved to Surrey to be all posh a while ago tho. Back to footie, I would have enjoyed him in the side, but he'd struggle to have got regular games.

I'm starting to WANT him out now. The fella's clearly got some serious attitude problems. He was the same last night as well, he isn't learning. I reckon you can almost predict when hes going to lash out now - with his smacked arse expression. My mates reckon every team needs an arsehole, but this guy is starting to do my head in.

I reckon Perch put in a good account of himself on the weekend. Tiote needs to calm down, I wouldn't grumble if we shipped him (for a replacement) in the summer. I can't see his smacked arse look doing team morale any good either if he carries that attitude around the dressing room / training ground. When he's at his best he's a brilliant DMF , but I can't help but think hes already past his prime at the toon, for reasons unknown.

I understand, but that said when you try and shut up shop and lose for 3 or 4 matches I think its worth just trying "same as the first half boys".

I posted this in another thread, but I reckon Pardew is trying to play defensive counter with 1 up front every single time we go a goal ahead. We've seen him shout "no more" to players after scoring, but we aren't Man Utd and if the play is causing the opposition more trouble with balanced play I'm not sure reverting to defense is a good idea. That said, he might be trying to condition the team to learn how to defend a lead - given his super long contract... who knows what's in Pardews mind, but he certainly has a talent for getting players together once transferred in.

I'd go with that, I wonder if Pardew thinks he's playing football manager and telling his team to play defensive counter every single time we are ahead. Either that or he's "training" the team to try get them able to defend a 1 goal lead. Even the chelsea game had me worried for a short while when we came out for the 2nd half.

Really good point that. Jonas puts everything in and I'm happy with that over someone whos absent for 90% of the time. Marveaux just released possession as soon as receiving it , every time on Saturday. I want players who want the ball.

I reckon the team put in a good account of themselves, Bale has a face I just want to keep punching - but he's been absolutely outstanding today. Fingers crossed for gouffran.

Cabaye's been outstanding again. Sending tiote on I reckon Pardews like "take the fucker out son."

WHS.

He didn't have to come out and say anything to be fair, so I am glad at some of the candid comments. All we can do is wait and see, we aren't going to change ownership or anything. I reckon it was a case of "we're going to lose 50mil if we go down" lets spend a thrifty amount. I really cant understand how we apparantly targetted Ba as a gamble , half expecting a knee injury and then he says that he didn't expect injuries. Obertan and Cabaye were brought in with problems (toe / groin) and a lot of our team seem to be bought suspiciously cheaply, makes me think they have undisclosed medical issues or buy out release clauses like Ba. Everyone knew the squad was too thin.

I reckon we should make as few changes as possible, get tiote on the bench for now - we look like a winning team at the moment. The only thing that worries me is physcial tiredness of certain players.

sorry went a bit hard on the acid, I meant Aston Villa.

Yeah, I'm not so sure this "youth" plan is working. That said, their are a couple of exceptions - but most of our youth targets are a bit too unproven for me.

I must be fickle, I think we are out the battle as soon as we won that 6 pointer over Reading, given the performance against Chelsea I cant see us dropping more points than QPR for example. A season of two halves would go down well for me, with us up in the top 6 by the end

Hahahahahaahahahahaahaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaargggh <deep breath> hahahahahahahahaha ........... etc.

I'm revising my prediction to 5 - 1 from the 17 I expect sissoko to score. Can anyone smell linden trees?

Leave the team as is I reckon. The only person I reckon had a bad one in the last game was Cisse. If we do that I expect a victory of at least 17 - 3. With sissoko turning green and ripping though his shirt after his 5th hat trick.