Well lads, Toon fan in peace here... First up, WELCOME TO THE NOT606 PREMIER LEAGUE! I'll confess I find myself watching less and less Championship football. Since we came up I tried to stay loyal 'cause I loved our time in that league (winning is good fun, eh?) but due to our own fairly stunning run of form I've not seen much of you boys and have no idea what to expect...SO... I'd like to know who you consider: 1) your star player/players 2)the youngster/flair man to watch 3) the underrated workhorse/steady man 4) your playing style 5) your expectation for the season Just to make it fair, I'll do the same for the Toon... 1) Star Player: Tough one, we've signed some cracking lads in the past two years, Coloccini made it into most Teams of the Season, Cabaye has established himself in the France starting XI, Tiote is a beast, Krul is like a wall, but my star man has to be Cisse - he looks like a goofy teenager but holy **** can that boy score a goal! 2) Toss up between Ben Arfa and Santon, both were amazing signings (never people I expected us to even consider if I'm honest). Ben Arfa's feet are frighteningly good, he has pace, a cracking shot and more recently passing ability. Santon was described as 'the next Maldini' and towards the end of last season you could see why. Strong at the back, great going forward, one to watch next season! 3) Gutierrez. Works so hard for the team without always winning plaudits. He played LB, CM, LM, LW, LF last season alone. Does the dirty work and has a ridiculous engine. The worrying thing for him is that in all the 'fantasy XI' teams our fans discuss, he is dropped for a more established CM most of the time. 4) Pardew has mixed it up a lot this season, against 'footballing' sides like WBA and Swansea we set up to let them keep possession and then punish them on the break which worked well, but our best football came from a 4,3,3 formation with Ba and Ben Arfa out wide and Cisse through the middle. 5) Mid table and upwards. Our players will be in high demand, we've got European football to distract us and a relatively small squad. Top 8 and 2 good cup runs and I'll be satisfied, Top 8 and a trophy and I'd go insane! Anyway...Good luck and enjoy the transfer silly season!
1) star player/players - Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana 2) the youngster/flair man to watch - Morgan Schneiderling 3) the underrated workhorse/steady man - Guly De Prado 4) your playing style - a very slick passing game nearly as good as Swansea's 5) your expectation for the season - a tad more than just avoiding relegation. All of this depends upon who we sign over the next weeks of course. PS Would you like to buy a very fast Belgium?
1. Star player (s) Lambert and Lallana 2. Young/flair player Schneiderlin...still young, was French U21, natural skill and feel he has more to give 3. Underrated workhorse Difficult one, but have to include Jos Hooiveld at CB. We love him so not strictly underrated. Scores goals on Tuesdays, so will have to transfer that to another midweek day 4. Playing style Patient, passing football. One goal involved 26 passes. 5. Expectations We are enjoying ourselves and probably have too high expectations. Our Chairman wants Champions League. I hope for just below middle this year. Have to give special mention to our wonderful, Tigger-like manager, though Match of the Day will have to be lengthened by 10 minutes just for his post-match interviews.
let's be honest my Geordie friend ..... any trophy and any position and you lot would all go insane. You must be desperate for that elusive trophy win. You could always follow our lead and drop down a league or two and win the paint pot!
1) your star player/players - Lambert and Lallana 2)the youngster/flair man to watch - Morgan "Le French God" 3) the underrated workhorse/steady man - underrated - Guly; steady man - Jack Cork 4) your playing style - Keeper to full back to keeper to CB to Keeper to CB to keeper to CM to keeper to Full back to keeper (just until the Northam get fed up and shout "get it out" 5) your expectation for the season -I'll take 17th now, but would hope (depending on signings) to be 16th-12th
1) your star player/players - Adam Lallana, Ricke Lambert, Jos Hooiveld 2)the youngster/flair man to watch - Morgan Schneiderlin 3) the underrated workhorse/steady man - Dean Hammond 5) your expectation for the season - Survival
...the bit that isn't talked about is that we are now a very well run club with massive financial backing - but unlike the Chelsea's and the Man Citiy's of the world, won't be breaking the bank to buy success. My expectation is that we survive next year and gradually build from there. We also have a world class youth acadamy, and if the players that generates stay with the club - watch out (think of the players that we have sold on over the last few years because we have been outside the top flight). I think the new financial rules are also hugely to our advantage. The future is bright, the future is red and white
1) your star player/players Lallana, Lambert. 2)the youngster/flair man to watch Definitely Morgan Schneiderlin, he should thrive in the PL. Also Jay Rodriguez should he join. 3) the underrated workhorse/steady man Jack Cork 4) your playing style Slick, passing football but will send it long to Lambert as well. 5) your expectation for the season 17th will be just fine but I think we'll finish 11th-15th.
Oh without a doubt! Although we were talking on our board a while back about what we would rather have had - a League cup or 2, or the Champions League days that we DID have...Asprilla's hatrick against Barcelona Shola 'The-lovable-donkey' Ameobi scoring against Barcelona, Bellamy against Feyenord - they were incredible, and the majority said we wouldn't trade in those memories for a successful day at Wembley Having said that, I'd bite your hand off for a trip to watch us lift the...errr...Capital One Cup???
Llallana and Lambert I've seen enough of but very interested to see Morgan Schneiderlin...We've got our own crop of young French lads (Mehdi Abeid - beast of a CDM with awesome defensive ability to boot, head and shoulders above the rest of our reserves) Romain Amalfitano (who we just bought) Yven Moyo (not seen too much, but heard very good things).
I doubt you'd be able to tell Schneiderlin's impact from watching highlights alone, he's a 90 minute player. Doesn't rack up goals and assists but is so brilliant through the match in control and distribution. Have to say, my favourite Newcastle player is Cabaye, love watching him. Do you still have that mug Nile Ranger?
1) your star player/players Lallana and Lambert. 2)the youngster/flair man to watch We've got 4 youngsters who have just come up from our rather good academy so depending on their appearances, Luke Shaw, Callum Chambers and James ward prowse. But as everyone has said Schiederlin will walk the prem. Another bloke to watch who isn't that young but could have some flair is our currently injured Japanese front man, Tadanari Lee he scored our goal of the season and is a full international. 3) the underrated workhorse/steady man Cork, Hammond, Guly, Hooiveld(although we love him) and SUPER KELVIN DAVIS (ex mackem ) 4) your playing style We pass a fair bit but we aren't adverse to hitting lambert who is stronger and better in the air than 90% of centrebacks and has a stunning first touch. We tend to work the ball down the wing and then work it in the box either on the ground or too lambert. 5) your expectation for the season I EXPECT survival by the skin of our teeth, I HOPE we can come between 15th and 10th. P.s was the 4th youngster stephens? I can't remember.
1) your star player/players-Lallana and Lambert 2)the youngster/flair man to watch-Lallana,this boy has such great flair with his twisting and turning cruyff turns here and everywhere. 3) the underrated workhorse/steady man-Cork 4) your playing style-Total football with a hint of hoofball to Lambert or as Gus Poyet would say "They go Lambert". 5) your expectation for the season-10th to 15th but wouldn't be surprised with a top 10 finish.
1/ Has to be Lambert and Lallana with a mention for Hooiveldt who has been a revelation since arriving 2/ Again has to be Spiderman 3/ Guly who has done well for us though some of us are still waiting to see how he fares in the Premiership, though he can hardly be called a steady man. Sometimes wonder if he knows himself what he is about to do. 4/ We like to play a fluid open style but know how to pump the ball forward as well. 5/ I am hoping for a mid table finish and a good cup run. Please let us meet Pompey ion one of the cups.
1) your star player/players Lallana, Lambert. 2)the youngster/flair man to watch Definitely Morgan Schneiderlin, he should thrive in the PL 3) the underrated workhorse/steady man Jack Cork or Guly 4) your playing style/ We can paly the passing game but can hoof to Lambo when needed 5) your expectation for the season/ 8th and i am putting my money on a top 10 finish.
