Remember last season...

When Ameobi had 23 starts and Lovenkrands had 22?

When Perch had 11 starts?

When Sol Campbell had 5 starts?

When Alan Smith had 10 starts?

When Ranger had 4 starts?

Yes, that all happened, and yes, we still finished 12th, even potentially being as high as 9th or so if we didn't give away that 3-0 lead against West Brom on the last day.

Now we're putting out a team with the likes of Coloccini, Saylor, Tiote, Cabaye, Krul and Ba week in, week out, with sub appearances from the likes of Ben Arfa and Marveaux, is it any wonder that we're currently doing so well this season?

 

Hopefully add a couple more in January too and finish top 8 at least

Hope we get no key injuries like

 

I can't remember smith starting 10 times?

I remember he played the first few games of the season but he was injured until West Brom on the last day wasn't he? He actually played a blinder on the second game of last season against Villa in the 6-0 win.

 

Still can't understand how we beat Aston Villa 6-0 with this team:

Harper

Perch - Williamson - Coloccini - Enrique

Routledge - Smith - Barton - Jonas

Nolan

Carroll

 

How time has changed

 

Because Villa were in crisis at the time.

 

Last season we had "big game players", but we only had big game players, couldnt perform against sides in the bottom half.

 

Yeah true. Our team was bit like QPR's is now. Some good players, but some Championship players lol

 

The starting eleven against Villa was quite shocking when you look at it now, and how many first team players are left from it.

Harper
Perch
Enrique
Coloccini
Williamson
Barton
Smith
Routledge
Carroll
Nolan
Gutierrez

Mike Williamson was amazing that game!

Edit: Beaten to it, by quite a few minutes !

 

And Routledge

 

I remember thinking before the game that we are going to get hammered haha

 

Smith and Perch were named on the bench against Wigan. Begs the question, why?

Perch is a decent CB at reserve level (it's his best position) but if he's our current backup to Colo and Taylor while Willo is out, shows how much we need a CB in January, though Kadar's stated he wants to break into the first team.

Smith is the puzzler, we're really heavy on CMs, is he really our best holding midfielder after Tiote? Something very fishy about that, especially with Gosling, Guthrie, Abeid etc waiting for their chance.

 

Talking about it has brought back memories of Chris Waddle's commentary that day !!!!!

"The problem was Carew hit that pelanty [sic] too well" - No he didn't, he didn't hit it well enough, that's why it flew over the bar.
At half time - "Newcastle could easily be 3 or 4 nil down by now" - Really? 3 or 4? When we're 3 - 0 up? How do you work that one out you useless ****?

 

Haha. Wonder what his thoughts were on the Manchester derby, flukey win for City probably.

 

SMB lol

 

Pardew says he rotates the bench nowadays as theres about 20+ fit first teamers and he doesnt like them feeling left out.

 

Its probably because he is a 'good pro' lol

 

I was worried that he would make a tactical appearance since Wigan are such a scrappy side nowadays and Smith is known for his grit (bad tackles) and determination (yellow cards).

Can't wait for him to leave, such a massive drain on the club and went way down in my estimation by his unwillingness to go out on loan.

 

Yeah, be glad at the end of the season when him and Mr Lover Lover get released