Stoke City v Newcastle United - Official Build Up / Matchday Thread

Jesus why did Shola play for 90mins? I just don't undertand it - I really can't. 13 years of wretched, stinking ****. He will not be missed IF he ****s off in the summer but I have a horrible, tumour like feeling it won't be the last we see of the parasite.

 

I'm sorry, but both the players and most importantly, Pardew, have to take the blame. Yeah, we 'only lost 1-0' and Stoke are brilliant at home, blah blah blah etc - Stoke didn't even have to try to win. The 3-5-2 formation was useless and the personnel employed even more so. Apart from a couple foray's forward, what exactly did Saylor do? Noone seemed to know their position or the system we were playing. Gouffran has reverted to being a **** Ligue 1 player - Pardew must be the only one who thought he was worth leaving on the pitch. The substitutions were abysmal, as usual. Why axe Gosling, when he's playing his best game for us EVER? Cisse wasn't great, but jesus, Ameobi was actually counterproductive. I refuse to take the fact that we didn't get hammered, as a positive. I think I actually hate Alan Pardew. Even typing his name, let alone looking at his face, makes me angry.

 

Defended well, his primary role? We played ok first half and the system worked quite well, just toothless up top. We were ****e 2nd half. Subs I agree were ****. Saylor had a knock so that was fair enough. But Shola? Gouffran? Bizarre from Pards.

 

Indeed. Even his voice now sickens me to the point of bringing on a particularly violent bowel movement.

 

I'm not saying he was bad, but he didn't seem to know where he should be while part of a back 3. He did his bit, but was hardly under great pressure. I noticed Willo and Colo defending more than Saylor. I was alluding more to the fact that the system didn't appear to be properly rehearsed. It definitely wasn't a glowing reference for MYM's ability, which I'm sure would have riled you no end.

 

Krul 5 Could have done better maybe with the goal seeing it again
Saylor 7 Solid
Willo 7 Solid
Colo 5 Shaky
Anita 7 Tidy enough
Dummet 6 Didn't do much wrong but offered little going forward
Gosling 7 Had a decent game, should have scored but good for him
Tiote 7 Did ok
Gouffran 3 Terrible again
Shola 1 No comment required
Cisse 2 Only gets a 2 so I can make Shola worst

MYM 6 Average but at least none of his usual clangers
Armstrong 6 Tried but had little impact
HBA 2 Forget the knock, he just isn't bothered

 

No letting your feelings get in the way of these ratings eh?

Gouffran wasn't great but did ok in the first half linking up play for Dummet and Gosling to get forward. Disappeared in the second half a bit though

I thought Dummet did ok going forward and created a few what would have been chances if we'd had a goalscorer in the box

I accept Shola's time is up but he created both Gosling and Anita's chances. Not saying he was good but this was far from his worst performance.

 

I thought Colo was poor. Kept rushing out for no particular reason and seemed unable to clear his lines. I thought Willo and Saylor looked fairly good. It looked well rehearsed to a point first half. Obviously Shola and Cisse must have been arguing over who was the ****test when they were talking about actually scoring though. 2nd half we just seemed to become disillusioned with our forward line and Gouffran's inability to offer anything at all worthwhile. And Stoke improved which they are entitled in their form and nick at home.

Put Remy in that team, we'd have probably found ourselves ahead and its a different game. We are missing creativity and our squad depth in terms of attack has been **** further back than I care to remember. When did we last have a full complement of forwards?

 

Shola was terrible for me. Yeah he created Anita and Gosling chances but generally was utter ****. Didn't win a 50/50 all day, nothing stuck and in his primary role of offering a goal threat was non existent. Anita put 3 or 4 good balls into the box first half, him and Cisse made no effort to run or get on the end of anything. Just all a bit clueless up top. Gouf while I though he was not horrific 1st half was at best a 6. I actually forgot he was still on till about 85mins which is scary.

Pard though wants shot. To leave Shola and Gouf on while Gosling got hooked was quite unbelievable.

 

I was thinking earlier what his Number 1 worst performance for us was - there have been so many abominations over the years I'm not sure I could narrow it down to just the one.

 

Agree about the sub. Was disappointed to see Gosling go off. The only thing I can think of was Pards thinking it was the best way to keep shape - but got it wrong IMO.

I wasn't saying Shola was good by any means (or cisse). We are ****e up front and have been all season. I don't even think Remy is as good as people say - he's had some **** games too - he just looks amazing alongside Shola and Cisse.

 

He's had some real shockers. Depends how you look at it as to whether his worst would be this season. He hasn't got near enough to the ball enough this season to **** up as often as he did when he played alongside Shearer or Owen. He used to be far more involved in games back then which gave us more opportunities to see him forget to take the ball with him on a run or to see an air shot.

He had a few decent ones too though back then

 

Oh yes, not doubting it, Colo has been poor since he's come back into the team. The disillusionment seems to have taken hold with the whole squad - even those who haven't played all season, aren't immune to it. I don't think we were bad first half, but I don't think we looked comfortable with the new formation. Saylor was playing furthest right of the back three, no? It just seemed that allot of the space down our right, was to do with the fact that Saylor wasn't sure of his position. Thus leaving Anita exposed on several occasions.

The creativity in our team has long since left. But that's not to say we should be completely devoid of creativity. We may be missing our 'key cog' in the sprocket, but I refuse to accept that PL standard players are unable to cross a ball in a effective/penetrating fashion, or make the most out of a set-piece. This has to be one of the most damning criticisms of Pardew's 'coaching' - how can a team be so completely inept, when carrying out attacking set-piece's? I don't even know why we bother bringing players forward and setting up like we're going to attack the ball with any conviction. We may as well just re-start play and try to muddle our way into the box again.

God. I'm running out of steam. I seriously wonder why I bother watching us every weekend and expect things to be different? I'm sure that's the definition of insanity?!

 

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Not sure what point there is taking such messages to the ground? Do they think Mike Ashley has had a personality transplant and will see their views and think, "hmmmmm... Alan baby, it was nice knowing you"?!

Pointless exercise at best, counter-productive at worst.

Glad I missed another awful performance, I actually volunteered to work while the game was on... That's where I'm at now. I resent myself for buying tickets to the Swansea game now, it'll not be a pleasant experience, even with my lovely lady to take my mind off things.

 

Another predictable defeat.
Gouffran another in the team on reputation only. Been abysmal now for weeks.
Why if we play 3 at the back is Dummett in the team? Baffling. Surely a chance for Bigi would have made more sense.
Gosling no world beater but an ok squad player for me, gets the pointless stick previously dished out on an unjustified basis to Perchinho and Willo.
Ben Arfa gets so many wanting him on the pitch because he is the only player we have who actually realises that to score you have to take people on and attack. Who else does that for us? People cry out for us to attack and be entertaining and call the only player we have who gives us that option sh***. God knows he has many limitations but for now is he less of a goal threat, or less entertaining than Dummett, Shola, Cisse (this season) or Gouffran (since Xmas).
Armstrong needs more than 15 mins too. Yes he is young but as many like Rooney have shown if you are good enough or going to be good enough then you are old enough. Certainly for more than 15 mins anyway even in our poor team and formation at the moment.
Time for Shola to be left out but i dont agree with slagging him off. Never been good enough but has had his moments, been loyal, been there as emergency back up at times and cant be blamed for accepting the contracts pushed his way. Hope he gets his chance in the world cup, but leaves here now.
Stuck by Pardew for continuity but he has to go now. Like to see someone exciting who still has enough to prove to still maybe consider coming here like maybe Laudrup.

 

According to Pardew:

The wind and the ref are to blame for us losing.

Also the fans have turned on him because of the evil local press stirring things up against him, not because performances have been consistently abysmal.

 

Cnt. Plain and simple. The team selection said it all for me, desperate, aimless, pointless. Shola on, wtf. 3-5-2, wtf. Gouffran in the middle of midfield, wtf. Just go, fcking get out of the club.

 

Pards is in danger of becoming a hate figure.