Rangers vs NUFC game

exactly, 1 week before each Derby, other than that he can ...

 

Now now, the words you wrote in invisible ink aren't allowed on not606.

 

it wasn't invisible ink

it was just that I was distracted by the most interllectual programme on TV
and I had to listen to what he had to say..............
ah!, Peter Griffin at his best

 

Nah just pre season. Competitive fixtures are the time to judge. Always is the case to be honest. I've seen teams have horrendous pre seasons and then start like a train. Not that we have much hope of doing that on the first day

 

Yeah one of these zero hour contracts everyone is kicking up such a fuss about! To be fair to him he has put a few away during pre season

 

I've said it before I'll say it again. The likeliest reason Shola only performs well at the start of season and then proceeds to suck is because he can't keep himself in shape for an entire season.

He's been great for us in the first half of our Championship season, then got an injury, and two seasons ago he started off in the best shape we had seen him, and then plays his way out of shape as the season went on to become the true Strolla.

He just can't keep in shape...



though some might argue round is also a shape..

 

I think Shola only performs when he knows there's a chance he could be shipped out to Sheffield Wednesday. He's done it the last few seasons - watch his performances when the transfer window is open, he makes a manager think he might be a good option then as soon as the window shuts he just puts his feet up.

Pre-season doesn't mean a great deal. Man U have lost some stinkers, I don't see us finishing North of them. Arsenal have been very average, same applies (their reserves lost 7-0 vs mighty Luton!!), but it's still unlikely we'll see NUFC finishing top 4. HOWEVER, there were some very alarming things to come from the game vs Rangers. First, it's more or less the same tactic that got us into such deep, deep trouble last year. We only had majority possession because we were against such low-rent opposition, it's of concern that we couldn't command the game more or score at least twice. Pardew's praise of Jonas again sends shivers down the spine, when it was again an ineffective performance from him with our centre and right side being the sole threat, Santon aside.

I don't know - I just have the uneasy feeling that the circus isn't far from returning. Various scenarios are presenting themselves, most of which result in Pardew being sacked and Kinnear....no, must not bring the board down today....

 

Jonas must have something that Pardew likes.

 

Something on yesterday's game from NUFC.com

Not bonny on Clyde

Result:
Rangers 1 Newcastle 1

Shola Ameobi continued his scoring run as he grabbed his fourth pre-season goal to save his side's blushes with a last minute equaliser at Ibrox on Tuesday evening.

Rangers went ahead after just five minutes following a soft penalty award. The spot-kick was dispatched past Tim Krul by Lee McCulloch.

United dominated possession in the first period but were restricted to long range shots in this not-so-friendly pre-match kickabout.

The Magpies remained disjointed after the break but the numerous substitutions haven't caused us to lose our rhythm as we never had any...!

Once again, Ameobi provided the face-saver with a good finish at the very end of normal time.

Team: Krul (Elliot 46), Debuchy, Santon (Dummett 63), Coloccini (Yanga-Mbiwa 73), S.Taylor, Sissoko (Marveaux 63), Tiote (Anita 73), Gutierrez (Sa.Ameobi 80), Cabaye (Gosling 80), Cisse (Sh.Ameobi 73), Ben Arfa (Gouffran 46).

Subs: All used.

 

Personally think you're burying your head in the sand a little bit.

Yes it is only a friendly, but you look at Chelsea, Spurs, Sunderland, Man City, Arsenal, Everton and they're all playing friendlies against other Prem teams or the very best European teams and they're winning/competing in these games. We're playing scottish/lower league teams and failing to win or put in convincing displays. I'm mainly looking at Everton, Sunderland & West Ham (all teams we're likely to be in and around). Surely they're getting more from their pre season by playing against clubs of higher calibre?

To only muster a draw at Rangers is a touch embarrrassing and the performance by all accounts was also far from spectacular.

 

Well, Ashley has put his own interests well ahead of Newcastle time and time again, what's so different this time out? Personally, I think the pre-season has been a fcking shambles. After 2012, when we were supposed to go to South Africa but it fell short due to organisation problems, what did we learn? Not a fcking thing - we went back in for talks with the same goddam organisers, only for the same event to collapse again. Absurd, dreadful senior management as usual. So what did we end up with? A holiday in the Algarve then some games in Scotland. We have no idea what's coming - we're in severe danger of being monumentally, embarrassingly blown away at the Etihad. Difficult to see quite what's changed since Liverpool dished up our worst-ever result and the pre-season has just looked like more of the same, tactically inept rubbish we were dished up last year. I can almost hear the words of Graeme Souness - "good players win games, not tactics".

It further baffles that Pardew has said on more than one occasion that we will be playing 4-4-2....but we haven't lined up that way even once. I worry again that Pardew just sticks players in with no real gameplan. The bastad was in the press again claiming his honesty makes him alright in the fans eyes and that his longevity in the role is because of what he's achieved. The fcker wouldn't have been in the job if we didn't have such a twot owning the club. Worrying times ahead, maybe?

 

A tradesman performing the same as Pardew would be out of the door.

 

Don't forget, Ashley runs the club in line with Jan-Dec finances. So Pardew, like Hughton before him, will be given until December to prove his worth before being shoved. Mark my words - anything lower than around 12th by Dec, and he'll be gone.

 

I think a defeat to City and anything less the 3 points from the two home games that follow and he'll be gone. I really don't think he'll get long at all this season.

 

See, what you actually need to do - given Ashley's track record - is to try and come up with the least rational sequence of events. He'd be sacked if we beat Man City.

 

Entitled to your opinion of course but I'm not burying my head at all. I'm well aware what pre season is about and the bearing it has on competitive fixtures. I'm not convinced you are to be honest. As I say have a look back through history. There is a reason why all managers don't worry much about pre season results, you get no points for them. It is 90% about fitness and working on structure etc. Personally I think you're being a bit naïve and to be honest are still hung up on last seasons failures. I think your opinion is unsurprisingly coloured by your hatred of Pardew.

For example lets take Man U (who I think we would all expect to be challenging for the league). They've won a couple, lost a couple, drawn a couple, conceded quite a few goals. Only yesterday, close to the season, they scraped a draw with AIK of Sweden. What do you reckon they'd do to them in a competitive fixture? Pre season we finished 5th what happened? We lost to Orlando, drew with Kansas, beat Columbus, only beat Darlo 2-0, lost to Leeds. We were very very average throughout. You mention Everton but regardless of opposition they've lost 3 of their 6 games. Yes two defeats to Real and Valencia but they also lost to Vienna and it could have been more. Does this mean Everton are looking vulnerable? No of course not.

Competitive results are all that counts. I'm surprised people still put so much credence in pre season fixtures. You could win every game handsomely and still have a crap season. They simply count for zero all said and done.

 

Haha,no need need to try and patronise me fella There is a difference between differing opinions and disrespecting someones opinion I'm aware of what pre season is about and results don't really matter. However, both team shape and fluidity do matter and we've been very average in both aspects pre season (to the degree where it doesn't look like too much has changed from last season).

I don't hate Pardew, I actually like his passion for the club etc...I just don't rate him but there's a big difference between hating someone and thinking they're no longer up for the job.

 

Wasn't patronising you at all or disrespecting your opinion. I could take "you're burying your head" like that but if that is how you feel I'm looking at things I don't mind you expressing it. Equally though I don't voicing my own view on your slant on things and the way you view pre season. You feel I'm ignoring pre season, I feel you are attaching way too much significance to it. we have shown good signs at various stages this pre season. I think you'd have to accept though that it is a bit over the top to describe a 1-1 draw in pre season with Rangers as embarrassing. OTT for me which is probably because of your views on him. Embarrassing is Leyton Orient.

I accept it may not be hatred but I do feel your not rating him leads to a negative slant on anything which happens with him in charge. Just my opinion

The proof will always come in competitive fixtures. You have already decided Pardew isn't up to it, I'm still in the wait and see camp. One outstanding season, one poor one, I expect to form a proper opinion on him this season as he is in that crucial third year.

 

I wouldn't say suggesting someone burying their head is patronising, I'd possibly say that suggesting someone doesn't know how pre season works and what it's about is though...still, each to their own and if everyone had the same opinion this forum would be pretty pointless I guess

For me, this far in to our pre season schedule a draw with a side playing in a league that is probably on a par (quality wise) with the conference is both a little embarrassing and worrying given it was near enough our first eleven. If it was our very first pre season game it would be a different story.

All I'm saying is it's a touch disappointing for me as a supporter to see Sissoko being used on the wing, Jonas being played wide left in a front three etc. Regardless of whether these are friendly games or not, it is clear that neither of those players should ever occupy those positions in a competitive game so the fact they're being played there when we're trying to gel the team together/build a game plan for the season ahead is a slight concern.

A counter argument to that though is that I'm happy Pardew has admitted training was too easy last year and it's very good that he's rectified it by bringing in Faye Downey as the players are looking in very good shape. Debuchy looks like the player we all thought he'd be now that he's finally up to speed.

I don't expect us to beat City, that's just unrealistic. I expect them to have more of the ball etc. However, I do expect us to try and retain possession when we have the ball instead of going long. I also expect the gap between the midfield and Cisse to be smaller than the 60 yards it was for the majority of last season.

Will I be on Pardew's case if we lose? No of course not. Will I have a bit of a moan if the points mentioned above (regarding the City game) aren't on show for all to see? Yes I will.

And will the majority of fans want Pardew out (rightly or wrongly) if we don't get four points from our opening three games? I'd say most probably.

 

Guys, you're using anything as a stick to beat Pardew with. Do you not remember the last this time four years ago, when we lost 6-1 to Leyton Orient?

Anyone care to remind me what happened the following season?