The Toon Army Thread

[scon]

Bloody clever goal.Takes real judgement and subtlety to outfox an entire penalty box full of defenders and have the keeper wondering what it was you just did.
It's class and that burglar cunning goal scorers are born with,loveit!!

 

[scon]

Cabella has certainly made strides in adapting and Collocini is just the skipper

 

[robertg22]

COLO
YES

What a cross!!! Janmaat has been huge!

 

[robertg22]

Would probably take Sammy off now for Gouffran.. want a bit more security on the ball

 

[scon]

I don't really think Perez is playing for it but he's been given nothing all game.
Ameobi has not had a good game;mentally lazy not switched on reactionary bit of a passenger for mine.So yeah get him off!!

 

[robertg22]

Credit where credit is due, Dummett has been fantastic

 

[robertg22]

Why on earth would we sub Colo off

 

[scon]

No probs with Dummett at the back will get better too.
Rest for Colo and it gets others on to keep'em involved.
Sammy wouldn't play again til something changed for mine.

 

[robertg22]

I probably still prefer Sammy to Gouff..

 

[scon]

Can't have that potential and that lacksadaisical for mine.Better the straight workhorse til flash boy wakes up.
Hope we see Taylor to Perez another 200x;both real team players.
Great performance and very solid win.Played some bloody good confident football.
Plenty of good performers out there tonight.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

bleh! Fell asleep with my laptop on last night (knew lying down on the bed and getting comfy wasn't a good idea!)

Fantastic result though. Think we've conceded 1 since we started our winning run (not a bad effort for a team that looked like it couldn't defend against against a team of kindergarten kids earlier in the season).

That Perez goal...wow! He's got a lot of confidence. Apparently was getting interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid but chose us (presumably) for more first team opportunities. Fair to say he's grasping his chance now. Not looking too bad for $1.5m, another Carr special it seems.

Colo's goal was great too (wonderful cross by the man of the match Janmaat - who needs Debuchy haha) and was nice to see him getting excited in front of the fans (first goal for him in 3 years I think I read) and he dedicated to Jonas. He's having a bit of a renaissance in form too.

I think Dummett should be playing at CB from now on. He was there against Man City I believe. Lets us play Haidara (or Santon when fit) at LB. Dummett looks much better as a CB than a LB IMO.

 

[robertg22]

Yep Dummett was great. His defending was top class and we look better when he isn't getting forward having shots from the half way line.
Abeid tried a Tiote special last night a couple of times haha, must be a Pardew play.
Still not a Colback fan and would love to see us replace him with Tiote.
Sissoko has been immense. He is pretty much our best player.

 

[scon]

Farkin great:
Newcastle's Coloccini out for 'four to six weeks'
Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/coloccini-my-goal-was-jonas#zb2qSG04ObbqaBCr.99
Although we do have a bit of back up just a pity when he's come back to some very good form and leadership.
You'd want a gun to mark that Anichebe.

 

[robertg22]

That's all we need! Lucky Dummett has stepped up... will be partnering one of Willo or Saylor, depending on matchups I reckon..

 

[scon]

Pharkenfark:Rolando Aarons blow for Newcastle

 

[NUFC Tiger]

It's still a ways off but I'm a bit worried about the January period for us with the Africa Cup of nations. We'll potentially lose Cisse (hopefully Perez can stay fit and Riviere or Chucky can come on and help) but in midfield, we'll lose Tiote and Abeid which could be a big blow.

In good news, Ryan Taylor scored a hat trick over night for the U21 side (2 goals and 1 OG unfortunately). His 2 goals were mint though!

(think you need to click the black square for it to play).



The result puts us on top of the league!

 

[NUFC Tiger]

On the Colo injury, I think they recalled that young kid Remi Streete from loan (a CB) so maybe he's going to be cover.

With how the young brigade have been performing of late, I wouldn't mind giving him a chance too. Perez, Aarons, Abeid, Ameobi, Dummett, Haidara...

Armstrong is meant to be get a chance too according to Pardew.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Also, the SackPardew folk released a statement to the BBC (they were invited for a response in relation to our recent up turn in form).


SackPardew BBC full statement
http://sackpardew.com/articles/statements/sackpardew-bbc-full-statement/
The narrative that is currently being pushed is that Newcastle United fans are “fickle”, which we are keen to dispel. Our stance remains the same, we firmly believe that Alan Pardew is not the man to take the club forward. It would be fickle for us to let 5 games change opinions borne out of more than two years of wretched performances.

A good run of results will not alter our position. Throughout his managerial career Alan Pardew has shown the ability to put together a run of results. These are typically short lived and usually come after new players have come into the side. The much referenced 5th season was followed by a disastrous 2012-13 campaign in which Newcastle were briefly 90 minutes away from relegation. Last season, following the loan of Loic Remy, Newcastle went on a run of 7 wins in 9 games. When the results stopped coming, Newcastle went on to record 20 points from 26 games. Modest peaks and devastating troughs are a consistent trait of his management. This has not just happened at our club. Before joining Newcastle, Alan Pardew was a manager sacked from a third tier job (Southampton have done well without him) and hounded out from Charlton after relegating them and leaving them anchored to the Championship drop zone. In his second Premier League season at West Ham, he oversaw the club’s worst form in over 70 years.

Many of the on-pitch problems that have been noticed by fans for months have only just been remedied by Alan Pardew within the last few weeks, and many through luck more than judgement. Plenty still go unresolved. We are loath to credit Alan Pardew for the increased involvement of a number of players who have found their way into the side through injury. The outstanding Mehdi Abeid had not started a Premier League game for 3 seasons before grabbing his opportunity in a League Cup tie. Likewise, the currently prolific Ayoze Perez only went beyond a substitute once Emmanuel Riviere and Papiss Cisse sustained injuries. The club deserve immense credit for finding Perez, particularly chief scout Graham Carr, but it is well-established that Pardew’s involvement in transfers is minimal, and long may that continue.

There has also been little difference in the style of play. Newcastle’s possession against West Brom was 43%, whilst the previous three games were in the mid 30s. This is not sustainable for a successful league season and only maintains Newcastle’s status as also-rans, there to make up the numbers and play the underdog. Stopping the opposition from playing will only work for so long at a time. Independently of results, Pardew’s inability to implement a cohesive, attractive and effective style of play will continue to plague his managerial reign. There is the technical ability in our squad to showcase a fluid, aesthetically pleasing and effective game plan in the manner of Southampton or Swansea.

Alan Pardew offers neither consistent progress in terms of results, nor entertaining football and as a fervent supporter of the club’s current regime, he is not a unifying figure that the club’s fans can ever stand behind. Whilst ‘stability’ is often offered as a reason to keep him in post, it is self evident that his very presence and the manner in which he gets his results creates an instability that will continue to damage the football club in the long term.
*****************************************************
I think they have a point, Pardew needs to find consistency. We can't keep having these winning runs and following it up with a equally (or worst) runs of poor form. Losing is fine, happens to all sides but when we get drubbed (3,4 or 5-0, that's pretty embarrassing) and those kinds of performances need to be stamped out.

That being said, I think Pardew's done a good job recently and deserves credit for turning it around. He's still got a long way to go IMO to truly winning over most fans again but for the moment, I think most supporters (and him) are just happy to get some wins and confidence into the team. Certainly more enjoyable to follow the team when we're winning!

 

[robertg22]

They've got a good point re: Perez - Riviere seems like an afterthought now

 

[NUFC Tiger]

They've got a good point re: Perez - Riviere seems like an afterthought now

Yeah, that's true, especially since Perez looked really good since his debut against City (was unlucky not to score).

I'm hopeful on Riviere, he might need a second striker next to him. That being said, it hurts a bit when we were linked to Sahko from Metz (who went on to join West Ham). He's up to 6 goals I think? Perez has been a great find though. Kid has a bright future!

 

[robertg22]

Yeah I haven't given up on Riviere. I hope to see a Riviere/Perez combo when they're both fit.. could work..

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Not an ideal international break for us lads with reports Abeid, Colocinni and Steven Taylor (lol...he didn't even play for England) picking up injuries.

Colo's definitely out for 3-4 weeks apparently and think the same for Taylor.Abeid is rumoured to be out for 2 weeks with a broken toe.

Might have to play Dummett at CB again (which is good, think that's his best position) alongside Williamson. Haidara and Janmaat as full backs.

Anita should come in for Abeid but leaves us a bit light in midfield with Tiote also still having a few niggles.

Keep your fingers and toes crossed we don't pick up anymore injuries in defence! Would be nice to have Yanga back to add a bit of cover...

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Was also interested to read Cabaye will "definitely" return to the Premier League in January.

I'd love to have him back. We sorely lack a set piece taker and Cabaye was unreal at those.

He wants game time and would surely get that with us (especially if Tiote and Abeid are off at the Africa Cup of Nations for January/early February).

Another interesting little story (pretty bad if true though not surprising given our terrific PR work in recent years!).

'roughly translated':

“A club fans and my teammates are going to be forever grateful for the support they gave me. Anyway, in mid-December, coach, Alan Pardew, decided it was best to find me … And this club told me I just rjoined me, 20 days after having surgery and when all you wanted was to train and well. Although I knew it was going to cost to earn back a place, I never complained because I did not play. So what he did I will not forgive. Like, I still believe that it was a purely footballing issue rather than anything coming from the other side.”
http://whatculture.com/sport/newcastle-jonas-gutierrez-will-never-forgive-alan-pardew.php

Not ideal for the club and not something you want to disrupt the team heading into a busy schedule of fixtures.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Team:

(4-3-3): Krul; Janmaat, Williamson, Dummett, Haidara; R.Taylor, Sissoko (c), Colback; Cabella, Perez, Ameobi.
subs: Elliot, Streete, Anita, Gouffran, Armstrong, Ferreyra, Cisse.

Not bad, surprised Anita didn't come in for Abeid. Pardew opting for Ryan Taylor. At least we 'should' have someone who can take a freekick in the side now!

Good to see Chucky on bench too. Let's keep this run going!

 

[robertg22]

Has been a long couple of weeks waiting for tonight! I think he has pretty much selected the best possible team given the outs.

I think this is going to be a tricky match, Zamora and Austin will give us a few headaches - predicting a 2-1 win though. Ayoze and Cabella to score!