Just the fact he started Bassong away at Newcastle, straight away was really alarming.Well, having just read Chris Lakey's article on Wednesday's debacle, I'm back to giving AN till Xmas only, as IMO, he handed Newcastle the initiative, which they took with ‘open arms’, ably abetted by Bassong!!!!
Lakey used the words 'Achilles heel' which absolutely nails it.Well, having just read Chris Lakey's article on Wednesday's debacle, I'm back to giving AN till Xmas only, as IMO, he handed Newcastle the initiative, which they took with ‘open arms’, ably abetted by Bassong!!!!

Just the fact he started Bassong away at Newcastle, straight away was really alarming.
The end to the game, was even more alarming/******ed.
I've stuck up for him a lot on here....
He hasn't learned a f**king thing!!! It's actually amazing that the same f*ck ups happen over and over again.
Lakey used the words 'Achilles heel' which absolutely nails it.
Yet we plod on, to-ing and fro-ing from Prem to Champ because nobody is prepared to address it but instead just content to 'paper over the cracks' by offering contract extensions to muppets like Turner and Whittaker in the vain and misguided hope that it will 'eventually sort itself out'![]()
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Newcastle were the first proper challenge.Well, we're certainly descending to the depths here. Have we dropped into the relegation zone without my noticing? When I last looked we are second in the table in spite of the debacle in the last 2 minutes at Newcastle. This could well be the time to bring in a new manager while they're gointg cheap. Nigel Pearson anybody? Hasn't worked out well at Derby, but never mind that. Then there's Villa's manager, who spent £29m on new strikers who have propelled them to great heights. If only. Let's go for it guys.
First of numerous as the season progresses. Which once again (though the horse has long since bolted) begs the question did we really need to spend circa £18m on Naismith, Maddison and Pritchard, who are all ostensibly vying for the same position on the pitch - at the expense of a new, good CB to partner Klose and/or a good striker to give Jerome some respite?Newcastle were the first proper challenge.

Dunc is gonna jump on you and rapidly hump!First of numerous as the season progresses. Which once again (though the horse has long since bolted) begs the question did we really need to spend circa £18m on Naismith, Maddison and Pritchard, who are all ostensibly vying for the same position on the pitch - at the expense of a new, good CB to partner Klose and/or a good striker to give Jerome some respite?
Old ground, Still rankles. Apologies![]()
Well, we're certainly descending to the depths here. Have we dropped into the relegation zone without my noticing? When I last looked we are second in the table in spite of the debacle in the last 2 minutes at Newcastle. This could well be the time to bring in a new manager while they're gointg cheap. Nigel Pearson anybody? Hasn't worked out well at Derby, but never mind that. Then there's Villa's manager, who spent £29m on new strikers who have propelled them to great heights. If only. Let's go for it guys.
Yeah, maybe but I can deal with it without resorting to insults and stuff.Dunc is gonna jump on you and rapidly hump!
You mentioned that you thought something once, and it's sort of happened....He's going to be a tw*t all over you for that!
sI don't think so, no.Yeah, maybe but I can deal with it without resorting to insults and stuff.
Just take him to a pub with no 'premium' lagers on sale and you'll bes
Excellent post Rick.
It's not so much the fact that we are still 2nd in the Championship, as AN's team selction and substitutions that have made me look at him less favourably. That and the fact that he doesn't seem to have learnt much since our last visit to SJP 11 months ago.
Yes, both Villa and Wolves have spent £Ms, but neither are really getting the team to gel - in AN's case, I'd far rather he had played Godfrey instead of Bassong on Wednesday and yes, he may well have made a misake which cost us a goal, but the fans would be in a more forgiving mood - I know I certainly would be. I was at the friendly against Coventry and he read the game well, as well as being able to pass mostly to a teammate, something some of our senior players seem almost incapable of doing at times.
First of numerous as the season progresses. Which once again (though the horse has long since bolted) begs the question did we really need to spend circa £18m on Naismith, Maddison and Pritchard, who are all ostensibly vying for the same position on the pitch - at the expense of a new, good CB to partner Klose and/or a good striker to give Jerome some respite?
Old ground, Still rankles. Apologies![]()
I didn't say they were? I said Toon away was the 'first of numerous' potentially tricky fixtures we still have to negotiate. I'm not one who attaches massive importance to the league placings of our oppo so far but there is a table on here somewhere which does highlight what a comparatively 'easy' opening 9 fixtures we had.Why are the next 12 games more challenging?
Excellent post Cromer and I'm less worried re the striker, as the goals seem to coming from other players in much the same way as they did the last time we were in the championship, but I'm DEFINTELY worried if we have to rely on Bassong as cover for Klose/Martin/Bennett.First of numerous as the season progresses. Which once again (though the horse has long since bolted) begs the question did we really need to spend circa £18m on Naismith, Maddison and Pritchard, who are all ostensibly vying for the same position on the pitch - at the expense of a new, good CB to partner Klose and/or a good striker to give Jerome some respite?
Old ground, Still rankles. Apologies![]()
Dunc is gonna jump on you and rapidly hump!
You mentioned that you thought something once, and it's sort of happened....He's going to be a tw*t all over you for that!
I didn't say they were? I said Toon away was the 'first of numerous' potentially tricky fixtures we still have to negotiate. I'm not one who attaches massive importance to the league placings of our oppo so far but there is a table on here somewhere which does highlight what a comparatively 'easy' opening 9 fixtures we had.
Nor did I (anywhere, ever) suggest that I'd written off Oliveira? You seem quite good at inferring a hidden agenda when there are none?![]()
My interpretation is that the Toons battered us for the first 30 minutes. AN made a very astute formation switch which worked wonders. We shut up shop towards the end and it didn't work. If if had, everyone would have been creaming themselves.
It's football and sometimes doing the right thing doesn't work out. I still see AN as our long term manager.
What a difference three days (and a fit CB!) make!Last night at Wolves we looked to be getting closer to that with sharp passing and dominating possession away from home. We should have won by more.
