I miss the passion we used to have

When we were under Hughton, with the likes of Nolan, Barton, Carroll, we had a lot of players who were a bit rough around the edges, but the side had a lot of passion. We weren't a quality side, but we were happy just having a go, and finishing mid table. We loved Hughton, and everyone was happy.

The attendances were averaging around 47-48k, and the boo boys ****ed off for most games. When we're doing well, we'll get 50k+, but it comes with booing and ****ers who only care about glory. When we're an average side with no expectations, we get around 47-48k, which is fantastic and also no boo boys.

We've become a side with a lot more quality recently, and it's seen us play some fantastic football at times, and I believe we'll play some fantastic football in the future, and we've shown potential in the last few matches, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of passion at the moment.

I guess that's the price of success. You get a lot of mercenaries in your team, but they're damn good players.

I also notice that the atmospheres of clubs with good teams are **** most of the time, and the atmosphere at our place was much better in our first season up.

I sort of wish we'd never improved so much in a little space of time, we kept Hughton, and slowly improved over a length of time.

I ****ing hate the 3-4k boo boys that come to matches while we have good players. They ruin the ****ing atmosphere.

I've had a few drinks in me tonight, and it's my first drink in about 6 days, but **** it. I just had these thoughts in me for the last couple of days, and I need to express them.

 

This is the place to let rip Tash.

 

Sorry if I'm speaking with a lack of coherency, but I think most people will get my point.

 

I certainly wouldn't mind having someone like Nolan back in the team now. He is the kind of player that will unite a team which is what imo we lack at the moment. Colo as captain doesn't really work for me.

 

Colo led fantastically well last season. He has shown that this season on occasion so its still there somewhere. His performance in the derby tells you that. His form has been so poor that it complicates everything including your captaincy. Its easy when you are playing well, you have no worries about your game and the other stuff just feels natural. When you are playing poorly it becomes difficult as you worry about your form, your leadership suffers. He looks a man to me who is struggling to rally the troops because he is not doing his own job. He needs to break through that and remember his role in encouragement at all times regardless of his form. I'm sure the players respect him enough to listen rather take a "are you really in a position to give advice" type attitude.

Pardew has to understand what makes his captain tick though, and find a way to reinvigorate his self belief.

I kind of know what you mean on the fans Tash, we have some who only want to know when we're doing well. Their first port of call is sack the manager, the players are ****s. We need to learn to relax for me.