Article: Pessimism turns to Optimism | Football, Newcastle

Noticed everyone is suddenly happy! Even that **** with the donkey as an Avatar has shut up..

Good performance from the new players, can't wait to see them in a game where they can show off (Sunderland?) and can't wait for them promised 'two signings' HWTL!

 

Definately mate

 

We were poor for the main part of the game sir. The draw is a good result, however it was plain for all to see we need strikers and 2 of them

 

Changed very little for me. We played well today but had two clowns up front. If we don't get a striker and a left back its going to a long hard season. Defence were excellent, even Raylor at left back. Midfield struggled at times but Arsenal are difficult to get the ball off. Cabaye struggled with the pace a little as you'd expect but he got better suggesting he'll adapt quickly. Tiote was good until he ran out of steam and started to play a few loose balls. Not at his best but what can you expect when he has been jetting all over missing training. Jonas was superb defensively but we didn't really get him involved in an attacking sense. Barton was the top performer in there and looked really sharp. Then you have dumb and dumber. I want to wait on Ba because it was his first game but he just doesn't look like a footballer. I don't want to see the flair of players like Cabaye, Ben Arfa etc wasted because our team doesn't function because we have nothing up top. Shola getting a two year contract is a joke. We'll never move forward with him in our ranks. He's just awful. I'm always optimistic as what will be will be, but I'm a realist and the weakness of our frontline could cause real problems

 

Agree with this.

Bambi strikes again, what is wrong with Shola he cant stay on his feet.

 

I rather hope you don't mean me. I've said nowt. For ages. Yonks. Donkeys in fact.

 

or onside.....

 

Ba had that problem too.

Pardew is going to have to go back to basic's and explain the rules of offside to them.

 

Not sure I'm optimistic based on yesterdays performance, however I've maintained we are only 3 good players away from being a top 10 side.

 

Nothings really changed for me based on yesterday. I was pessimistic before, and until we sign another 2-3 players I'll still be pessimistic, we were poor for large parts of the game yesterday, hence Arsenal at one point having 62% possession. I know it was Arsenal but I doubt even the likes of Stoke or Bolton would be chasing shadows that comprehensively.

Defensively we'll be sorted if we can add a decent LB. Yesterday was proof of that, Coloccini for me was outstanding and it's hard to believe he's the same player that we had here 3 seasons ago. Attacking wise, though, I am really struggling to see how we're going to hurt teams this season. Obertan looked sharp when he come on, and I thought that Jonas was probably our best attacking player yesterday, he was the only player even attempting to take the Arsenal defence on. Hopefully Marveaux (any reason he wasn't in the 18) and Ben Arfa can aid that, but I must admit I wasn't impressed with Ba, I thought Shola was much better than him for the first half yesterday, and that can't bode well for the future. Substituted at HT on your debut?? Has that ever happened before?

Cabaye was outstanding in pre-season but I thought he was sloppy yesterday, really wasteful in possession and was too easily shrugged off the ball for me. He also got sidestepped way too often, it was as if Arsenal were just tempting him to dive in and he fell for it everytime. I still think he'll turn out to be a cracking player though, I doubt many midfielders are gonna shine on their debut against Arsenal.

All in all, I think we're still a team in transition. Defensively we're solid and I think we're going to be difficult to beat this season, I just worry about what happens up the other end of the pitch. Add a another 2 strikers and keep Ben Arfa fit and I think we might just be able to creep into the top 10.

 

Well we defended quite well for once but on the other hand we didn't offer anything in attack. Gutierrez had to track back often to help Raylor , so we didn't see much of him. Barton's delivery was poor, Cabaye's passing was crisp but nobody was making runs on the wings and the middle. Tiote was a brick wall but his passing let him down time and time again during the match. And as for Ba and Ameobi , both have their qualities but clearly they can't work together and Pardew has to find something else for the derby. I'd prefer seeing Loven and Best upfront and Obertan in Barton's place ,on the right ,to bring some pace and creativity in the team ...

 

Been saying since January we have the weakest stikeforce in the Premiership and so it continues unfortunately

 

I think we will be worrying in attack unless we sign another striker but I'd like to see us against a team that hasn't been one of the top clubs in the entire duration of the premier league.

 

There are no words to describe how badly we need a striker and left-back!

 

Good point for you lot but going off Match of the Day last night Arsnel seemed to have all of the play with out a cutting edge. The real message from the game is that Arsenal will be out of the top 4 if thats all they have this year.

 

They cut out nearly every single bit of good play we had.

 

Well thats par for them for both clubs

 

Not nearly, they cut out EVERY attack we had and all of our decent passages of play and movement.

Believe it or not we had some glimpses of what we can do with this side at times. However, a LB and a striker are needed as well as not playing Ba and Ameobi together again, ever!

 

I agree, please drop him next week.

 

I think Best needs to start at Sunderland looked good and nearly scored!