The Nags will still be training at 1/2 speed compared to us. If you look at the teams when we won at sid james last season are they really any better compared to how we have improved our team?
This is why I don't get the hubris coming from some of the Mags and the lack of confidence from a couple of our lot; on paper I like a few of the Mag team better but it's virtually the same team that played last year and they won't be playing on paper it'll be grass, just like it was last year when they struggled as badly as us. What improvement's have the club made? One additional goal-poacher on loan. The still have Pardew setting the tactics - and he seemed to have more excuses that tactical ideas last year. Unless Kinnear is going to have an influence of course... Some talented players in a side which seems to have no direction and a lot of behind the scenes drama, a sackless manager and an oaf of a DoF, owned by someone who cannot decide whether to make money or make the fans suffer for their treatment of him over the Keegan farce a few years back. Now don't get me wrong... I don't know enough about a lot of our new players to feel over-confident but I sure as **** have a lot of respect for the guys who brought them in. I'm certainly expectant for the coming season and looking across at that Noocarsle team it's not one I think we should be remotely afraid of.
on the subject of their fullbacks, santon has cracking wide man written all over him, he's very good going forward, and much like danny rose i think would suit the wing as neither are great defenders. Plenty of time for both to improve though.
Spot on. There's 18 other teams we both need to be worrying about instead of wondering is this player better than that one between our teams.
He is comparing the teams and in particular looking at how we match up as individuals on paper. Its a team game and is played on grass not paper. There are a multitude of different factors that affect how a team perform from fitness, to mental preparation, to tactics, to general management etc etc. I just think it is foolhardy to look at the squads and think "they are better than us". Of course it counts what player you have, but its only part of the jigsaw for me.
They were nearly relegated last year, because their back-ups are nowhere near as good as their first team. We were nearly relegated because we were ****. We have improved....
When we beat 'them' home and away we will know we have improved. Personaly, I think we will beat them at home and draw away. I'll take that. Last year the Mags were slagging off Debuchy, Santon, Tiote, Cisse among others. It could easily be the same this. Our run of home games from the start of the season are frigging horrible, wouldn't be suprised if we are bottom 3 after a dozen game. If we are clear of the bottom 3 we will be in good shape to push on. Need 7 points from first 3 games and then hope we are playing well and confident to pick up points home and away. I think we will, from this season compared to last, have improved markedly. PDC will not allow himself ( or SAFC) to fail.
And their back-ups are worse, especially with the likes of simpson and perch leaving with no replacements.
serious question, forgetting the rivalry. how good are some of your new players. When it comes to Fantasy Football and Money, I'm as mercenary as the next person and have no problem in putting in SAFC players. Fletcher did me no harm last year in the Telegraph League and helped earn a penny or two for me. Likewise with Philips many moons ago. But, as a rule SAFC and NUFC players are not great points scorers in most formats, Premier League, Sun, Telegraph etc, so should be avoided like the plague. I'm curious about Giaccherini and Cabral.Not so much for the Premier League or Telegraph but for The Sun where transfers are limited. Possible bargains to be had. My tip for you in return - Never Pick One of Your Own.
You can always rely on this character to downcast. He does make some valid observations however is overplays our weaknesses and ignores Newcastles own failings. We have seen root and branch changes at Sunderland whilst I;m afraid Newcastle have little more than window dressed and have been humiliated into approaching QPR for Remy, the epitome of a football mercenary and injury prone to boot. He makes no mention of the undeniable improvement in fitness and the performances we have witnessed with our own eyes via Sky coverage of Hong Kong tourny.
Cabral is class, European experience and has really stood out against English teams. Problem for Fantasy leagues is that he's a DM and you really want goal scoring midfielders for points. Giacc looks a different class. Lots of assist points to be had. don't know much about our new defenders. Jozie is still unproven at this level so would be a risk. I'd go with Sess mate, he's looking really sharp and switched on. I think he's going to have an outstanding season. Fletch is also an option, although he's not fit yet, he knows how to score goals, difference between this season and last season is he's going to get a lot more service next season. And Norma!
I don't normally do the Official Premier League, so i'm a bit up in the air with that one on the points system at the moment. So Cabral is a DM. The way the Sun Dream Team that may not be affect him too much the way you score points. He is the lowest price for a MF (bargain). Probably unsuitable for other formats. Downside is he wont be playing in Europe (not a dig by the way - its just Euro games count in The Sun). Giacc - not so sure about, for his price in most of the formats, he doesn't seem good VFM compared to proven points scorers. But could be worth a punt if he can be easily transferred out. Fletcher was in the top 6 in The Telegraph last season until his injury - he probably would have finished in top 5 for strikers. Sess is a non-starter I'm afraid. Way off the mark in Sun/Telegraph although I've not had a good look at OPL site. Thanks and Much Appreciated for the insight. Remember never pick you own.
You're quite welcome. On Cabral, fe does look like he likes to get forward but I don't think he'd bag more than 3 or 4 goals. Ha ha, I've gone with a midfield of Giacc, Sess, Lamps and Mata for my OPL team.
