Starts of with him predicting a 1-1 draw. Rodwell must turn his career around Jack Rodwell has got all the ability in the world but he has hardly played any football since joining Manchester City from Everton in 2012. It is all very well him saying "I was fit and available and I could have played in a lot more games" but, in reality, he was not anywhere near the City team. Unfortunately for Rodwell, his career has not just stalled, it has actually gone backwards. He really needs a good season to turn things round. Sunderland are still pushing to sign Fabio Borini permanently from Liverpool to ensure they do not have problems up front again too. But what helps them look stronger in that department is that Steven Fletcher is going to be fit for the start of the season, and he has already struck up a partnership with Connor Wickham over the summer. Lawro's prediction: 1-1
Well Mr Lawrenson, thanks for your remarkable insight into the game ......... how would we manage without you and your inside knowledge
Newcastle to lose 2-1 to man city.... I think they'll be right royally turned over.. a piss poor keeper, a hapless defence, a midfield with zilch premiership experience and a non existent front line
I remember reading he'd been dropped - oh well another season of boring rhetoric and the usual dire predictions for us
City were shocking vs Arsenal, they're not ready for this season yet by the looks of their side, they look unfit and lazy. It depends on what Newcastle do on the day for me, they can win that game if they play well, but then there's the Pardew factor. Their RB is solid by the way, he'll be one of if not the best RB in the league in a couple of years I'd say, unless Pardew plays him as a striker, which he will. Cabella's also brilliant, they've bought a couple of top players there. I'm having them in one of my coupons but at the same time, there's every chance they could get turfed 6-0 by City as you say.
Newcastle CB's are shocking, collectively as a whole the back four are ****. De Jong who mysteriously left Ajax (as captain) and CL football to play mid table for the toon has only ever played in the Dutch league. Cabella, may do the job or he may have the temperament of Ben Arfa. Their additions aren't exactly world class and have zilch PL experience. Newcastle have been on the slide since the turn of the year and I honestly don't know how people are tipping them as a top 10 team. Man City will hammer them.
I think Newcastle are a reasonable side but agree that some people are overestimating them. They've replaced 3 good players with a handful of inferior signings and have other players out of form. Krul was excellent but now he isn't, I think that will make their defence shakier this season.
Krul, Cisse, Collicini are all on the slide. Can you imagine having to play the likes of Williamson and Steven Taylor?
http://www.myfootballfacts.com/Mark_Lawrenson_Predictions_2013-14.html this guy keeps and eye on them.
I think your views are a bit biased mate, they have two quality CB's on their day in Coloccini and MBiwa the latter of the two I watched extensively in his days in France, Williamson seems a bit average and Taylor is a sack of ****. Pardew is a rubbish, awful coach and manager though, he'll never get the best out of any player, so yeah they're all essentially ****. Their RB, Janmaat is a stunning footballer though by all accounts, I'd have him in my side over Rafael all day long. Cabella doesn't have a temperament like Ben Arfa, he's a grafter and he's technically very gifted. You won't like to hear this but at some point you're going to see how good that kid is and you're going to probably hate it! De Jong, I've seen a few times, and he's a solid player, no he's not world class but no team in England apart from Arsenal have signed a 'world class' established player. I don't think Pardew will get more than 6 games if they start bad, all the signs are for him to get the boot early doors if he doesn't produce the goods. Then it just depends who the next nugget is that agrees to take the reigns. They need to start well or they might see the return of their hero Joe Kinnear!
Just re read the Old news regarding Lawrenson's role for the BBC he's being axed from the MOTD team only (to be replaced by Rio Ferdinand) - so it means we can look forward to another coming season of threads of Lawrenson's dire predictions -
I bet Rio's got some funky suits lined up for his MOTD appearances! He'll give us a few laughs along the way with his clobber.
I'm not biased at all. I'm just amazed at how people are tipping Newcastle when the majority of next seasons squad have had such **** year. About Cabella. Watched much Montpellier? If he was technically that great then why didn't a top french team or somebody like arsenal come in for him in stead of joining the revolving door that is Newcastle. I've seen De Jong as well and he looked ok in a piss poor league (Altidore) still confused as to why he joined Newcastle...very odd. Luckily for Newcastle this season that they have a relatively easy start playing Man City and then not another top 7 team until spurs away at the end of October. p.s. there's been a few more then 1 world class player signed... Costa and Herrera for example.
The last sentence sums up everything for me mate, Herrera is only proven in one league yet you call him world class, Costa is as slow as they come, he'll struggle in this league unless it's virtually put on a plate for him, luckily he has all kinds of talent supplying him. Cabella scored 14 goals in the league from midfield for a team that struggled to avoid relegation, he was the top scoring midfielder in the league mate, if you don't think that's an achievement go look at the PSG midfield! He outscored and out-assisted James Rodriguez! I remember watching him take the Arsenal midfield to the cleaners at the Emirates. I'm a fan of French football and trust me he's the real deal. I can't answer why none of the 'bigger teams' chased him but I'd have been delighted if we signed him, it's certainly not a reflection on his ability. I've got no doubt about it that he'll leave Newcastle in 18 months, 2 years maybe for more than £20m unless Pardew plays him as a CB, which he might. Van Nistelrooy also played in the Eredivisie by the way, void point.
