agreed. we weren't complaining when o'neill did turn it round last year only for us to fall away due to a lack of quality/depth. if players aren't playing how the **** can he just drop them (all) with our squad? maybe, just maybe he perseveres with players to try and keep their confidence up....as brittle as it is. maybe he tries to take the positives from games rather than just annihilating everyone for being **** at their job. how do you know he's not rollocking players in the dressing room. yes we're ****, but with our squad what th **** do we expect??? if a young managr came in, would he have the gravitas to bring players to our gaff? if not, then how the **** would that work. and yes, i like saying **** a lot....
I pissed myself at this I've come to the conclusion that the North-East is cursed in football terms, and every bright horizon will turn out to be a false dawn. No other explanation.
To be honest, I think our predicament is largely down to European games, suspensions and an horrendous run of injuries. We'll be OK when we have a full squad back. Can you say the same, I wonder?
Taken from another perspective... we don't have any European game to worry about (will be nice when it happens and it will). How do you know the injured players will return and what if you pick up more injuries? What if you make the next round of Europe? Can the squad cope? What if Mike decides to cash in on Tiote and Ba? Is this the man you believe will guide you to glory over the next 8 years? please log in to view this image
It looks to me asthough he ought to practice straightening up his tie and placing a bit of gel on his hair before he embarks on taking the toon out of the bottom 6!
But wasn't the new Bobby Moore playing last night? Apart from Cabaye who I rate but who has been poor all season, who was actually missing that would make you that much better? Tiote is no top class player and Steven Taylor is pure shat as a footballer imo. You had both first choice strikers available and you all kept telling us all last season that your fringe players were good enough anyway? Did Ben Arfa play? He is a miss but I think you're trying to convince yourself more than us and it doest quite wash. You're in the same **** pot as us. 4 straight defeats now and suddenly Monday is a huge 6 pointer and must win game.
Nar mate, Ben Arfa didn't play. I don't think you'll have heard many black and whites saying our fringe players are premier quality, maybe two or three in a couple of years. We're desperately thin on the ground and we should have bought pre season and we're paying the price now. Monday is a huge game. Still rather be in our boat than yours. No offence like. But you're right, we're both ****e at the moment and it's not right.
Ben Arfa would be a miss in anyone's team tbh but him apart (Cabaye isn't cutting it this season anyway) after that there isn't much to change things either. We BOTH need new faces in the new year, if this season isn't to be totally lost.
Our biggest problem this season has been getting our best 11 on the pitch at the same time. Been rare that that has happened this season. Europe has crippled our league form but I still believe that will come back. Cabaye has suffered in my opinion from not getting a full pre season. Played about 30 mins if that. He has been playing catch up all season in terms of match fitness and now he is injured. Another massive problem for both sides is the lack of an option on the bench to come in and change a game. That's where we are hit massively. Our bench against stoke was full of player who aren't ready our have shown very little to warrant a game. But we have no other options. That's where injuries are hitting most. One player I think is a massive miss is Ryan taylor. His delivery and set piece threat are a huge miss.
Our bench looks about as threatening as a hamster with false teeth. On Tuesday we had Colback, Vaughan, Campbell, Saha, McClean and Bramble as alternatives? Awful.
Alreet Jarra? Is the Europa league even worth being in? I mean it was ok when it was straight knockout but now you have to play so many extra games & for what? The prize money is ****e.
It's only going to be worth it if we win it and let's be honest, that's not going to happen. Was great to qualify for it but if it is the sole purpose for our shocking league performances so far then I can live without it like. It's a good experience for us as fans to get away etc but as far as financial gain, hardly worth the effort. I hope he takes a load of kids over to Bordeaux. We've got a tough game away at Fulham the Monday night after the Bordeaux game.
