Must say yesterday's game was the best game I've been to in ages. Two quality teams battling it out. I don't expect a result at WHL but i was hoping for a draw against your side. Based on what I've seen so far, you are, in my opinion, better than Liverpool. Better midfield, better strike force, not much between both your defenses. What i want to know is, what did you think of our team? I know we're not as good as you are, but do you think we're a side that could push for 7th? Were you impressed to a degree? cheers lads
The first half was pretty dull, but the second half more than made up for it. I hope you guys trounce 'Pool, Chelsea and Arsenal when they visit your ground You certainly should have no fear of them, from what I saw yesterday. You have a good defence and more than enough fire-power to hurt any team.
Your lot were impressive. You were unlucky to go behind on both occasions given the balance of the game and showed a lot of character to get back into the game and equalise twice. I stand by what I said before the game that you don't have any one really outstanding player but as a team, particularly as a squad you have a lot of quality. Shola's finish was pure quality. I don't know where you'll finish, every team goes through good and bad patches during the season and you're definitely in a good spell at the moment. My main worry for you guys is how you'd play if you lose one of Cabaye and Tiote, or even both. I don't think there's any reason that you shouldn't be looking to top 6 as a target though.
I was surprised how low key the first half, but the second half was the 'canny cracker' I hoped it would be. Overall a better advert for football than the Pool v Man U game, I think. A draw was fair, and I think you could easily finish 6th, but a lot will depend if your squad has a lot of injuries or not. But so far, from what I've seen this season, but given that Arsenal are likely to do better than they have so far, I'll tip Toon for 7th place. Above the Mackems for sure
Personally I think you are more then a match for most of the prem and I think you will also get a result against pool and arse! I reckon 7th is a fair target but any higher then that will depend on injuries as the squad will be stretched if you lose a couple of key players You are moving in the right direction and although I wasn't impressed with Hughton being given the boot, Pardew has come in and brought in quality players for not much money when everyone was writing him off. What has happened with Mike Ashley - he hasn't been in the papers for a while?
As others have suggested, it may be down to injuries and suspensions as to where you'll finish. Your substitutes were all good players, who will probably push for a starting place, but if you lost Cabaye and/or Tiote for any substantial time, then your form could suffer badly. You'll lose Tiote for quite a while for the African Nations Cup, for a start. You may also suffer from some predatory interest in the January transfer window.
Agreed lads. I personally would take not signing anyone in the Jan transfer and just keeping everyone, even though Tiote and Ba are going to be away for a few games for the ACN. Tiote is the one we just can't lose, but i don't see him going really. He's already turned down Chelsea, and i don't think City or United would want him, he's a good player but not good enough for them atm. Cheers lads
Well he didn't turn down Chelsea, he just refused to discuss speculation linking him with them. Tiote would walk into the Arsenal side at the moment...
How the mighty have fallen! I'd love to agree with you, but they're still a Champions League side with a big wage bill at the moment. Wenger might be able to sell him on the idea. He might finally be the replacement for Vieira that they've been looking for, but the manager may not want to disrupt the development of Song, Coquelin or Frimpong. Thankfully!
I thought Toon did well tbf, not much to add to the above really, though i reckon if Shola had another 100 attempts at that shot with his wrong foot, they 'd all end up in row z!, nevertheless a great strike. Most teams will be more than happy to come away with a point from St. J's this season, and I'm no different. Tiote will be playing for someone else next year if he plays like this all the time, very impressed with him...not so sure about one of his fans though! Mrtiote The signature picture, please log in to view this image 2 Q's. 1. Is he bald, I can't tell if its hair or tree? 2. Is he a member of staff at what looks like a secure institution?
A small exaggeration, perhaps?? He looks a good playe. However, if he doesn't learn some discipline very quickly, he's going to spend as much time sitting in the stands, suspended - as on the pitch.
Agree with that. Looked a very good player in my eyes but his blatant kick at Modric in the second half that he got booked for could quite easily have seen another ref pull out a red card. There was a point in the first half too where Benny went round him twice in quick succession and he then dived in but Benny was gone already, if he'd caught him there that would have been a definite booking. Though apart from that side of his game, he was very neat with the ball and has that tenacity that Sandro and Parker have, definitely Newcastle's best player and without a doubt good enough for a top 6 team. If we didn't have Parker and Sandro already plus Livermore, who was Spurs' MOTM for me, I'd certainly have him at Spurs. He'd be a great signing for the goons in my eyes, SO MAKE SURE YOU HOLD ON TO HIM!!! Overall was a great game, however I'm never travelling by coach to Newcastle and returning on the same day! Killed me!
Might as well chuck my two pennies in from a neutral point of view. I agree Spurs have a better squad than Newcastle and indeed a better starting 11 on the whole, therefore they're going to be the favourites in this fixture. I don't agree that Newcastle don't have one single stand out player though, because Cheik Tiote would walk into the Spurs starting 11 because simply, he is head and shoulders above Parker and light years ahead of that youngster Livermore that started vs Newcastle (no offence intended towards Livermore). Parker managed a bobbled pass through to Defoe via Adebayor and was credited with an assist, that was the full, entire extent of his contribution. Had he not made that pass, which was near enough impossible not to make, after the talented Luca Modric put him in a lot of space, his game would have once again paled into insignificance. Compare that with Cheik Tiote who absolutely bossed every Spurs player in his sights, and you cannot simply tell me that he's not a stand out player. Jermain Defoe deliberately kicked Tiote which was completely ignored by the referee, his assistants, the Sky pundits after the game and most importantly the FA. He kicked him because he couldn't take the fact that Tiote had embarrassed him. There's no argument to be had, Tiote walked out of St James' with the Man of the match award, which he fully deserved. I've said it before, Parker is a work horse, but that's all he is. He'll get stuck in during a midfield scrap, but ultimately his job is to sit in front of the defenders and stop the flow when teams are attacking, which is Tiote's job also, but he does it better, evidently. Just for the record, here's the rest of the Newcastle team that would get into the Spurs squad (not necessarily starting 11) in my opinion: Cabaye - range of passing is top notch. Coloccini - consistent and quick. In fact, Tiote, Cabaye and Coloccini would probably turn Spurs into serious title contenders. Hatem Ben Arfa - if he can rediscover his best football. Tim Krul - because Friedel is 93 years old.
It was 12 points LOL EDIT: Thank **** I can laugh about it now, it definitely wasn't funny then. Still haunts me a little every so often tbh.
You're pretty much spot on about Parker. But, that's what we needed - someone to mind the back door. Every team needs one, IMO. At least his passing is better than Palacios' - although that wouldn't be too difficult.
Based on the one game, I can see your point about Parker. This was his worst game yet for Spurs, he's been excellent for us in other games. Strong in the tackle, and neat with his passing. Can also get forward pretty effectively - one or two very telling passes already. He was pretty well liked when he played for you guys, don't remember the workhorse tag being bandied around much then!
