If we'd played them the week after Man City we'd have been laughing, but they were excellent at Villa on Saturday and it seems their French contingent are finally getting their act together (including soppy bollocks Cabaye)
major danger in Ben Arfa, allow him on his left foot and we cud be in bother, hopefully Figueroa will have him in his pocket and play him down the line as opposed to letting him cut in from the right where he seems to cause the most danger. For me Quinn to come in and help out down the left side with Brady moving more central, would suggest Koren to be benched for this one, we need more graft and in Brady and Quinn both are capable of putting their foot in. creditable draw for me in this one, hopefully.
http://www.themag.co.uk/the-mag-articles/newcastle-v-hull-five-years-on/? ...'Hull City's infamous win at SJP' What a cumguzzler
Bit of a mixed bag of views on this thread regarding the toon. Very surprised that someone compared Aluko to Ben Arfa though, we're talking about a player that played a major part in getting us to 5th two years ago, he's played in the champions league for two different clubs and has a fair few caps with the French national team to his name (I'd say Ben Arfa can win us between 12-18 points this season, he's already won us 6 after only four games) compared to a player untested at Prem or European level and has made his name mainly in Scotland and the Championship. It's a bit of on non starter for me, although that said I do believe Aluko to be your biggest attacking threat as he's looked very quick and far from afraid to run at the opposition defence from the games I've seen so far. Also think Huddlestone has been outstanding for you in the early part of the season. Regarding the game itself we've won 3 of our last 4 in all competitions and have only conceded one goal in the proccess so I'm hoping that we're gathering a little bit of momentmum, especially as we have a fully fit squad. At home to a newly promoted team I'd be hoping for a win and my prediction is 2-1 in our favour with Cisse finally to open his account for the season. Before a ball was kicked I had you boys down as relegation certainties, however I now believe that to be far from the case from what I've seen of you this season and your performance away at Many City was much, much better than our sorry showing against them for our opening game and the minimum you deserved is a point in my opinion. It's a shame for you guys that you didn't get Shane Long, always rated him and reckon he'd have made a huge difference for you. Anyway hope those of you that travel up to Newcastle for the game enjoy the atmosphere and the night out after if you're up for the whole weekend, but just not the match itself (as you did last time you visited our place).
Many ******s follow Hull City. Aluko and Ben Arfa are quite similar, but only in terms of playing style, not quality. Aluko has been good so far, but he can improve He's been excellent. He had a bit of a wobble in the first-half on Saturday, with a few dodgy passes and some missed tackles, but has otherwise been fantastic, and he'd have been a great addition to bigger and better sides than us I've gone for a 4-1 Toon win Out of interest, I've had a browse of a few Newcastle forums and there are a lot of comments about "we should be beating sides like this at home". I agree, but it amazes me how nobody ever says the same about the likes of West Ham when they're promoted to the Premier League... It's only clubs like Hull City...
Alright lads? Seen a couple of your games this year, the misses is a Hull fan (Originally from there before she moved to the bright lights of the north east ;-).) and been reasonably impressed with you. I had a feeling from the way you scraped up last season you might find it difficult this year but you couldn't have a better manager for the situation. I'll predict a 14th place finish for you lot. Good luck. On Saturdays game. Can see a Newcastle win. Apart from the City game (Which we surrendered from kick off) we've done well. The scores 1-0 vs Fulham, 2-1 vs Villa flattered the opposition. Could of beat Fulham by 4 or 5 and likewise with Villa too. Our poorest performer so far is Cisse, he just stands still, expects the ball to drop at his feet. Really needs a kick up the arse. Ben Arfa has been brilliant, back to full fitness it seems. I seen someone compare him to Aluko which has baffled me and I also seen someone say "Show him onto his right foot" - 1. It's not that easy as he drops his shoulders so quickly to get past a player and 2. He has a lovely right foot. See his goal vs Villa last season for example; with Remy playing too teams can't really double up on Ben Arfa as you're leaving space for Remy, Cisse and Cabaye making his late runs in and around the box. Our back 4 without Steven Taylor looks a lot more solid. The last two games is the first time in a while (Since Ba left) that we've been able to pick a team that we've wanted too and it's been showing. Tiote got a little knock which has helped us as Anita is a much better footballer and we keep the ball so much better with him, Cabaye and Sissoko in the middle. On Hull your only threat I think is Aluko and Coloccini has played better players and had them in his back pocket. Man for man Newcastle are better than Hull all over the pitch, and we've got a momentum building so I'm gonna go for a 3-0 win to Newcastle. But I wish Hull the best of luck this season and hope you stay up as I'm fond of the club and city.
Yeah there's a bit of delusion over Aluko to be honest. Everyone thinks he's amazing but in the first month of this season, and the last month he played before getting his injury last season he's achieved absolutely nothing. 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 contributions that led to goals. He's a talented, entertaining player but for some reasn his talent always seems to be wasted by a poor final ball, missed shot or whatever. Whether that is down to a lack of quality players around him or because he simply isn't as good as he looks I don't know but he clearly isn't as good as Ben Arfa.
Agree with your last paragraph, I think the reason is that If you look at West Hame in their first season back they had Nolan, Carroll, Jarvis (whom they stupidly paid over 10m for), Jaaskelainen, James Collins etc. Now I'm not saying any of those players are better than what you (maybe Carroll when fit and Nolan) but as they're all well known in the premier league and apparantly "premier league proven" (even though they've all played at teams that have been relegated) the pundits instantly assume they're all solid prem players. People like Merson, Phil Thompson etc don't bother to research players like Aluko, they ignore the fact the despite never playing in the prem that McGregor has played in the champions league and for Scotland against the very best and hasn't looked out of place. It's like us with Ben Arfa, they all said we'd taken a chance on him which is rubbish, he took a chance on Newcastle. He's bigger and better than our club currently and if he keeps up his current form there will be every chance that come the summer a top four team will be after him. Media pundits don't like change as it shows up their limited knowledge of some players/teams. I do think you'll be involved in the bottom 6/7 of the table but I also believe you have every chance of stopping up too, I mean hell an injury to Colloccini and Ben Arfa and we could easily be down there with you as we have good first 13/14 players but after that we're weak. Bottom line is I wouldn't pay too much attentiion to the so called "experts". In your first four games you've looked anything but a team that doesn't belong in this league. I also feel for you with the name change etc, we've kind of been down that road with the stadium etc so hope that you're able to resolve that one too. I mean you're a football club not some American basket ball team, Hull City Tigers sounds ridiculous just as the Sports Direct Arena did. Anyway I'm sure I'll back be back over for a visit again both before and after the weekends game
Are Newcastle any better than Manchester City ? No i think not. If we play as well as we did at Man City and we can score a goal or 2 then a Hull win it is. FACT. Not that far from the truth actually. Glad you think so then. I think you do like. Indeed. People just like Erik. His score prediction prove it. In saying that, 4-1 is one of his kinder efforts. When it comes to daft posts your Top of the shop. But thanks for the mention.
SPaRE TICKET AVAILABLE FOR THE GAME - COST £20 CASH For reasons which dont matter on here one of my drinking mates cannot make it so his ticket is available for just £20. Let me know and i shall pm you the information of how to get it. Cheaper than cheap actually.
It'd be the same if Leeds went up this year. They'd probably spend nothing and have Luke Varney up against Vidic et al, and yet they'd still be considered 'contenders' for Europe on account of having a big fanbase Some people are just full of ****
TWS are actually @ Newcastle next wednesday in the coc So we may just get to see if any of what you post is indeed true in a small way ?
What does a League Cup game have to do with 'pundits' making table predictions where they put smaller promoted clubs in the bottom-three, no matter who they've signed?
Yeah, I definitely wouldn't class Ben Arfa and Aluko to be the same in terms of skill, but are very similar in terms of play style and what they bring to both our teams. I think there is potential for a good match on saturday.
