Dr Gloom

sounded like an entertaining match, shame but about the result. for those who saw it, how did ben arfa look?

How Long About 24 years. My dad's an Evertonian and forced me to support them until I was about 8 and started going to the match. Why the Toon? They were my local club. Everton when I was 8 were far more successful but you can't compare watching the odd game on telly to going to watch your home town club live. Location Havent lived in newcastle since 1997. Currently based in London Toon Games? Fuck knows. Stopped counting a while back. Went regularly between the ages of 10-17 but these days make about 5-6 games a season, mostly away fixtures in London with the odd home game over summer or Christmas. Where we've been/are going? We're currently doing as well as I can imagine us ever doing under this owner

nice to see sammy on the bench

massive blow. our most important player alongside coloccini. anyone know if it's a bad one or just a knock?

we might actually see a team with more of the players we want to see starting - ben arfa, marveaux, santon etc - than we do in pardew's first choice 11.

Leeds has some shitholes, no doubt. I was mugged by 4 hoodies in Hyde Park on the way back to a mate's house after a night out as a student. but the city centre is really nice. Good shops, bars, restaurants etc.

Fuck me, the hell slide was savage! It was basically just a 15ft verticle drop

Staying up late posting on here for no reason when I know I'm getting a 5am alarm call from the barn. Why do I do it? Oh, and people that fart on the tube, and the tube full stop.

Fuck me, that place brings back some memories. If the rat and the super looper are still the best rides going, I don't think it's worth it

we're crying out for another striker AND another centre back. another full back wouldn't be a bad shout either. shola's injury means we're looking at lovenkrands from the bench again. and an injury to colo is just too horrible to contemplate.

i think the performances on the pitch in the main haven't been as good as the results, with one or two exceptions, notably spurs at home last week. it's surely only a matter of time until we lose. a string of defeats look on the cards too with man u, city and chelsea all looming. we're more likely to keep the good run going and bounce back with the best players on the pitch rather than on the bench.

absolutely. but let's be honest, we're unlikely to keep this up are we? getting back on topic, i'd like to see us get the better quality players currently on the bench in the starting line up before it all goes tits up in the hope that we can keep the run going as long as possible.

Still think Cabaye will prove to be no better than Nolan? don't think i ever said that tbf. at the start of the season, cabaye didn't look capable of playing alongside tiote in a 4-4-2 as he was sat way too deep. good to see he's not doing that anymore and he's starting to look a player. the point about nolan's goals and leadership qualities stands though. they haven't been replaced. It's a fair one. We won't get 11 Kenin Nolan goals this season, that's for sure. We'll probably get a hatfull of Ben Arfa, Ba and Cabaye goals to replace them though. And as for leadership, I'd follow Colo into no-man's land, let alone out of the tunnel. without wanting to stray off topic too much, ba is carroll's replacement, not nolan's. i'll be surprised if cabaye and ben arfa's goal tallies combined for this season match nolan's from last time around.

Still think Cabaye will prove to be no better than Nolan? don't think i ever said that tbf. at the start of the season, cabaye didn't look capable of playing alongside tiote in a 4-4-2 as he was sat way too deep. good to see he's not doing that anymore and he's starting to look a player. the point about nolan's goals and leadership qualities stands though. they haven't been replaced.

it's all about team realistic. don't think we'll go down but can't see us staying where we are. anywhere aroud 8-12th would be a decent finish given the lack of investment in the squad, and that's despite the good start.

I can see why Pardew is playing it cautious - we're on a good run and he's playing it by the book by not dropping anyone as long as we're unbeaten - but isn't it time to see more of our recent signings? He doesn't want to rush Ben Arfa back - I get that. But he must be ready for a start. He might not last the full 90 but let's see how he can influence a game from the off. Marveaux has looked lively but it's all been cameos off the bench. He must be worth a go though ahead of the disappointing Obertan. And same goes for Santon. He should really be starting ahead of Simpson or Taylor. I'd like to see all three given starts in the premier league before our horror run of fixtures next month. See if they can make a claim for a start against the big three.

Precisely. I wiuldnt be surprised if pardew were to get the sack soon. It was at about the same stage last season, after in unexpectedly good start to the season that hughton got the chop. I'm all for the club being run in a way that isn't going to ruin it, but there's a balance to be made between investing too much and barely spending a penny. The club had no excuse not to invest more in the squad after getting 35m for Carroll. And while the first team looks good, and is playing well, a few injuries will end all that pretty swiftly.

It'll never happen, surely

Thought Spurs were lucky to escape with a point. Watching that performance shows we'll do alreet this year. The squad lacks depth and the options up front is still a concern but the first team has some quality and an excellent fighting spirit, which you can't put a price on. I'm starting to think with a bit of luck with injuries, top 6-8 might be achievable.

Can we Deadman? Can we?

where the fuck is there left to put one? they're running out of space surely?

Ok, so you want us to challenge the likes of Liverpool and Spurs (I'm presuming this is an "at least" scenario"). Ok, now I have a frame of reference to your expectations. Do you think the current 1st team is better than that of last year? (pre Carroll departure) Do you think the current squad is better than that of last year? (pre Carroll departure) unlike posters such as mancmag, and others, I'll give my view. If I'm wrong, I'll admit it. But I'm right, as always. The current team is not as good as a year ago. The current squad is not as good as a year ago. The club is, in the long run, heading downwards, the expectations etc have dived. Why do you think the commercial profile and crowds are down ? Ok, I'll give my player by player comparison to explain why I think the 1st team is stronger than it was last year Krul - Harper Much of a muchness to be honest, although the former has bags of potential and by your own admission looks more capable with crosses Simpson - Simpson I think he's improving, but he's still an average right back Taylor - Taylor Again, I think he's average Premiership, but his confidence is growing as his his understanding with Colo Coloccini - Coloccini Best defender at the club (now) plays well with Taylor and is the best CB to pull on the shirt since Woodgate imo Santon/Raylor - Enrique Raylor is clearly a shit left back, Santon hasn't been seen yet so I can;t really compare. However, Jose Enrique was not only the best defender at the club, he was arguably the best left back in the country and he wouldn't look out of place in any club. Obertan - Barton Barton is a better player, Obertan is a better winger. I don't think Gabriel will keep his place when Marveaux, Ben Arfa and Jonas are all fit and flying. I would say we'll miss Barton's application, he's clearly a good footballer, but I think the midfield is better without him (I'll say why in a bit) Cabaye - Nolan. This is a no brainer, even in 7 games Cabaye is 10 times the player Nolan is. He's fitter, more mobile, more astute with the pass, he works harder and he will give us goal scoring options outside the box. Tiote - Tiote The man is a beast and will grow and grow. He will be better this season than he was last. Jonas - Jonas Spiderman is a good Premiership player, regardless of what some people think, you can't underestimate his contribution. He provides a much needed way of carrying the ball away from defense, he works hard all game, wins so many free-kicks (by fair or foul), corners etc. Best/Ameobi - Ameobi/Lovenkrands Best has had a good start, whether he can continue is a different question. However, The choice between Ameobi and Best is a much more pleasing quandary than Ameobi or Lovenkrands. The latter is finished. He may pop up with the odd cup goal, but I'd rather Sameobi or Vuckic or even Ranger got their chance ahead of him. Ba - Carroll This is tough. Ba looks a good Premier League striker; mobile, physical, decent touch, decent finish. Is he as good as Carroll? only time will tell, personally? I don't think he is. I think Carroll will become a more imposing player than Ba. For this club at this time, obviously I'd rather Carroll were still here, alongside Ba, but as it stands we've lost 1 15 goal a season striker and replaced him with another imo. Overall, we've improved the midfield to such an extent I'd definitely say the squad was stronger. In Cabaye we have a player of genuine quality, and the central pairing has been praised , to me, by fans of all manner of clubs. People are saying that it's the best centre in the premier league. This is why I think that losing Barton and Nolan isn't a death knell. I think when Ben Arfa returns and we have guile to go with the steel in the centre we will genuinely have a top 4 midfield. Up front isn't so great, but then it wasn't great with Carroll and he's not exactly pulling up trees. I'm not just talking about scoring goals, but his overall play has been poor by all accounts. Whereas Ba has been on fire. I truly believe that with the addition of a decent striker at Christmas we'd be the form team again. The defence as individuals aren't spectacular, but we've conceded the fewest number of goals in the English League. That can only be down to hard work on the training fields and astute tactics. Would I have Enrique back? In an instant. However, Santon may well be a good addition. I understand your frustration, but I think you've taken a stance and will now not be swayed from it, regardless of the evidence before you. re: your last statement, I think expectations were dropping even before MA bought the club. Under Shepherd and Halls I didn't automatically assume we'd be challenging for top honours because I saw Chelsea suddenly come into vast sums of money. I saw Wenger's experiment pay off to such a degree it was impossible to imagine that 7 games into a season they'd be floundering so badly. I saw the Man U juggernaut grow stronger with each passing season. The only thing I was sure under the previous regime is we'd spend around £15m in the transfer window. We still finished bottom half of the Premier League under the previous regime roughly as many times as we finished in the top half. When Dalglish took over from Keegan, I expected Champions League, when Gullit took over from Dalglish I expected Europe. When Sir Bobby took over I expected survival. Souness? Relegation. I don't think it's fair to say Newcastle fans' expectations have dropped since Mike Ashley. They've been steadily depressing for a while. Ever since the unblievable highs of Keegan's first reign came crashing down. I also don't think it's fair to say that in reducing our expectations we're being anything less than realistic. You yourself have said that you expect to challenge Spurs and Liverpool, not go for the title. Is this not evidence of your own expectations getting in line with reality? With the league as it is; all the power with the super-rich, Newcastle United simply cannot compete. With or without Shepherd and Hall at the helm. They could spend as much as they could muster, it still would pale in comparison to the half a billion the Etihad Arena has seen grace it's pitch. Half a Billion! But none of this matters, unless you finally, eventually, stop having the same argument everytime you come on here. excellent post, a good upsum of our situation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpIpI1ga1WM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzexP58si0w