4-3-3.. Coffee... Smell?

Probably.

 

theres some sky psychological witchcraft at work with the look of that table. Has me infinitely more excited than the exact same table on the BBC website

 

Wouldn't be a good idea to post it on their board at the moment.

 

Agreed

 

Formation is just a loose structure - and it's what you do within that structure that's most important. But, as it's an easily discernible tactical choice, fans tend to give it an added importance.

We didn't even play 4-3-3 today, btw.

 

If we beat Hull I may just start to believe we may have a decent season again.

 

A few wins and a bit of confidence can do funny things

 

I still don't want pardew as IMO he should have gone in the summer for his overall performance and the way he deals with the press (highlighting our players are for sale etc)

However credit to him yesterday for the way he set up the team and the subs they actually made sense.

Sadly it has taken him over 12 months to realise what we all thought.

What makes the entire thing so hard to take is our starting 11 is v good and we can take on most teams outside the top 6 however out strength in depth will be the reason we struggle this year.

 

To be as fair to Pardew as he deserves (he did have his share of boneheaded moments last season) this was the first game when we could field a realistic 3 prong threat. HBA wasn't around for a large part of last season and we didn't have anything like Remy. A 4 - 3 -3 isn't nearly the same sort of option unless you have three really dangerous people up front.

 

Very true. It'll happen again this season if/when we get injuries. Without being cruel, the likes of Sammy/Shola/Obertan aren't going to give it the same feel

 

Is it because Arsenal are missing so it looks like we're 7th?

 

Could just do with a nice cup of black coffee at the moment, I guess I'll have to make it for myself.

 

Very good results the past two games or so. But I'm not willing to give Pardew the credit yet, as the team has picked itself by default the past few games.


When Jonas Saylor and co. are fully available for selection again, if Pardew still makes the correct choice and we do well again, it'll really mean that most of us were all wrong about Pardew the whole time!

 

All joking aside the jury is still very much out on Pards. Its only his 3rd full season. He has been so polarised in performance in that time that it is difficult to get a handle on his style of football and genuine level. I'd like to see him guide us to a nice comfortable mid table finish. Its still frustrating though that he will be handicapped by a lack of attacking options due to inactivity. They may well buy in January but it often too late as it takes time to bed in. So when the injuries come to the front line attacking talent, our level will drop off and he'll be forced to try and play a more negative or direct style. With just two attacking players (central striker and attacking wide man), we could have achieved a little more.

 

An interesting stat I just read:

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11662/8924843/weekend-review

Scroll down to In Praise of Pardew

"Pardew's willingness to show more adventure is complemented by the stat that Newcastle have averaged the fewest number of long balls per game in the top flight this season. The Magpies may still be some way from making a full recovery, but they should avoid the catastrophic campaign that was predicted after a chaotic summer."

Quite impressive, if true. I haven't managed to witness every minute of every game, far from it, in fact. But I have noticed there's been a discernible difference with our approach to games. Even the first few turgid displays, had a greater emphasis on playing the ball on the ground.

So, kudos to Pardew! We're at least trying to play better football (finally!!), and that has to be down to the Manager.

 

Great find. I've watched near enough every minute and have been hugely heartened by no hoofball. Definitely got to be the manager. We may have tried hoofing it against Citeh a bit more, if we'd actually touched the ball. But really good news. I think it's a few factors - a fit Ben Arfa, mobility from deep (Anita/Sissoko), and a proper inside forward (Remy).

 

It's all coming together, Yewrope here we come.

 

I still think the long ball stats are massively skewed and only tell you part of the story. The simple thing for me is our football has improved as confidence has returned.

 

Improved massively lately and been a joy to watch.