Mag in peace. This isn't a dig, i'm just taking an interest in your team since we play each other in 2 weeks Your team at this time last season - -------------Mignolet--------------- Bardsley---Mensah---Bramble--Onouha Elmo----Cattermole--Henderson--Malbranque ----------Bent-------Gyan This season - ------------Mignolet------------------- Oshea**-----Brown---Bramble----Bardsley Larsson---Cattermole---Gardner------Richardson ------------Gyan--------Wickham--------- **Who will play here if Oshea isn't fit? Sorry if i got the line up a bit wrong, but that's who i'd play if i was SB. Do you reckon you're a better team now? I don't understand why you'd get rid of Henderson, Malbranque AND Zenden. They were 3 reasonably creative players. I think Gardner will get more goals than those players, but he's not one of the most creative players, in my opinion. I reckon you're tougher in midfield, in terms of strength, but in my opinion, your creative spark has decreased a little. I know it's silly to say things like that before i've seen your team play properly, but i think you've lost some creativity. I also think fully fit your defense is a little bit sturdier, but i think Oshea will be on and off for you lot and Bramble is someone you need to improve on lads. He may have had a decent spell last season, but he's a ****ing Ape. Leon Best and Shola raped him in the derby games, and if that doesn't worry you then i don't know what will. I think you have improved in some areas and weakened in others. However, i'm not going to be too critical, seeing as i've not seeing your reformed team in the PL yet. It will be interesting to see two new teams fighting in the derbies Lets keep the comments constructive and respective please. You can give your opinion on our team, as it's only fair, but i'd like your opinions on your own team also.
We have a decent enough manager who has delivered steady progress - remember we have been the top NE side for three years now.. I trust Bruce enough to believe that he has certainly not weakened the side. A lot of players in - yes- but mainly to replace the several loan players who have not returned for this season.
Well you have left out Sessegnon our most creative player by far. We are definatley stronger than last season.
If we get Bellamy in yes I think we are streets ahead on what we had last year. Henderson for me was a little workhorse but not a lot else I dont think he will be missed that much. Steeeeeed will be a miss not for his creativity but for his ability to put his foot on the ball and keep hold of it. The midfield finally looks like it has goals in it so happy with that. But the main thing for me is the cover we have now. If anyone of our main players gets injured we have just about every position filled with someone who can come in and do a job for us. Bent the **** is a massive miss but its looking like Sess and Gyan are striking up a decent partnership Di Jong looks a great prospect from what I have seen of him while Wickham looks another one for the future but shall he be called upon I think he will do a job. So yes I believe we are MILES stronger then we were last season and cannot wait for it to start now....Krancjar & Bellamy would just top off what will have been a great transfer window for us. What about you do you think your lot are stronger or weaker now???
Aye I noticed that aswell, would be a decent article without that bit, you really dont do yourself any favours Tash.
You had one shot on Target at our place last season. How can you say best and shola had the better of Bramble? If o'shea is injured I'd expect Elmo at right back or Bardsley rb and Richardson lb
Sessegnon alone is more creative than that entire midfield put together. Larsson can take a set piece, a massive weapon in the Premier League that we haven't had for several years. Gyan isn't a newcomer now, and unlike last year hasn't had a World Cup to deal with. We are CONSIDERABLY stronger overall, we may not have 20 goals guaranteed from Bent, but we should get 12-15 minimum from Gyan, and Seb, Sess, Whickham, Ji & Gardner will easily surpass the other 5. Can i request you edit the ape remark, as i'm reluctant to remove what is other wise a decent article.
Tash re your stupid comment about Bramble - I have given you the benefit of the doubt on a number of occasions after some pretty dodgy comments but it seems you do not want to leave your inherent racism at the door when you come on the forums. It's a shame because I don't think there's any real malice in you. Mind you if I was black i'd probably want to smack you one. Anyway; I think it's a waaaayyyyyyyyyy better side than this time last year. Bent was the only loss I was bothered about (Steeed and Bolo were heroes of mine and I loved having both as Sunderland players but it was time for them to make way... Henderson was a no-brainer for the money and I didn't ever see him as key - maybe in another few years) I personally love that we have Brown and O'Shea as they have what we lacked last year - bags and bags of experience and confidence, cannot see us giving away so fraking many late goals this year. Gyan and Sess look like they've learnt a lot with us last year and although I haven't been to the games (I'm in Canada until late September) people tell me that Sess looks like he's going to be immense. I'm not really counting on Ji or Whickam as they're only potential at the moment - might end up being great but who can tell. It's no secret most of us think that we're weak down the left but Steve Bruce knows that too and it seems he will be given the money to strengthen there if anyone becomes availiable. Maybe it's impossible for Newcastle and Sunderland fans to ever have a balanced view of the other team because I think last year you had an average team with ****ing AMAZING backbone and committmet and that seems to have gone. Your young French players may turn out to be amazing but I do not worry about them like I did with Caroll. With Carol and Nolan gone, Barton in a bad place (is he a Newcastle player is he not? Will he travel to games by himself and get changed in the toilets??!!) and Enrique looking to leave you seem like you have a much weaker team to me - certainly unproven in the Prem and yet most of you seem to think you're moving forward. The ONLY proof will be at the end of the season (derbys are important for the bragging rights but at the end of the day league position will show who's become stonger and who's lost their heart) so I guess any pissing contests people get into at the moment about which is the better team is pretty pointless. What about you Tash? Are you happy with Pardew's new Newcastle?
also mensah / ono were'nt ours they were just on loan. personally i hate the whole loan thing and like players to be more invested in the team but i can certainly see how we have benefitted from it, now the team listed is all ours. thats an improvement on its own in my mind, nevermind the different players which is another issue all together
Apart from getting neither team right and upseting both sets of fans with the ape comment you are doing well tash, kep up the good work.
Sorry lads but I don't think Tash was intentionally being racist with the ape remark. What I think he meant was that Titus is slow & lumbering, off the pace if you like. At least I hope that's what he meant!
So do I mate but after calling another black player a "Black Bastard" I can't help but feel it's ingrained racism.
It was Sol Campbell he said that about. Maybe we should show big Sol, see what he thinks? Ouchhhhhhh!
