The Toon Army Thread

[NUFC Tiger]

How good would it be if we stayed up and Pardew and the Mackems were sent down?

Honestly, I can't imagine many better scenarios! (though I do have a soft spot for Palace admittedly).

If it comes down to us or them, I know who I'm choosing to go down.

International break probably comes at a good time for us. Gives Rafa more time to work with the squad (those not playing internationals) and to hopefully get a few players back.

 

[robertg22]

Honestly, I can't imagine many better scenarios! (though I do have a soft spot for Palace admittedly).

If it comes down to us or them, I know who I'm choosing to go down.

International break probably comes at a good time for us. Gives Rafa more time to work with the squad (those not playing internationals) and to hopefully get a few players back.

We desperately need a proper left back in the side - Dummett and Haidara aren't much chop but will need one of them to be fit. Colback being suspended for two games could be a good thing, he was a liability. Even Sissoko played a bit of left back yesterday and did a better job lol

 

[Golumless]

Big positive from that game is it was a comeback goal instead of us losing our shit and throwing away two points.

Hopefully, and i do stress hopefully, that should help build a bit of confidence. Getting a result against Norwich is huge though.


Edit:
also a little gem from twitter (stolen from elsewhere, of course):

 

[NUFC Tiger]

We desperately need a proper left back in the side - Dummett and Haidara aren't much chop but will need one of them to be fit. Colback being suspended for two games could be a good thing, he was a liability. Even Sissoko played a bit of left back yesterday and did a better job lol

Yeah so true about Colback - lucky he wasn't sent off and was a good substitution by Rafa to take him off IMO. He was getting frustrated.

The worry is Mbabu, Dummett and Haidara seem to all be due back on April 2 (hopefully one can come in sooner). I wouldn't be against Sissoko at LB to be honest. Might make him accountable - offered little again yesterday.

Colo should be back so maybe they'll push one of Mbemba or Lascelles wide?

Big positive from that game is it was a comeback goal instead of us losing our shit and throwing away two points.

Hopefully, and i do stress hopefully, that should help build a bit of confidence. Getting a result against Norwich is huge though.


Edit:
also a little gem from twitter (stolen from elsewhere, of course):

Haha saw that on facebook earlier - had a good laugh at it!

Definite confidence booster coming from behind and against a bogey team. Scumberland player's would have been more relaxed IMO than ours knowing they've won 6 in a row and that the pressure/expectation would be on us.

Norwich winning wasn't ideal but if we can beat them, we're a good chance to at least beat them in the race to avoid the drop (we have a game in hand on them too).

 

[james Dean]

How good would it be if we stayed up and Pardew and the Mackems were sent down?

Why the negativity towards Pardew? For me he was shafted by the club. Did an amazing job in 11/12 and apart from when he grabbed that players neck I feel he was always a solid coach. Much better than McLaren at least.

 

[robertg22]

Why the negativity towards Pardew? For me he was shafted by the club. Did an amazing job in 11/12 and apart from when he grabbed that players neck I feel he was always a solid coach. Much better than McLaren at least.

You must be new here.. Like NUFC Tiger I also have a soft spot for Palace (went and saw them at Selhurst Park last year, loved it!) but Pardew can GAGF. These guys cover the topic pretty well. http://sackpardew.com/facts/

Yep he did a better job than McClaren but that's like arguing cancer is better than aids.

 

[james Dean]

You must be new here.. Like NUFC Tiger I also have a soft spot for Palace (went and saw them at Selhurst Park last year, loved it!) but Pardew can GAGF. These guys cover the topic pretty well. http://sackpardew.com/facts/

Yep he did a better job than McClaren but that's like arguing cancer is better than aids.

I think this season has shown that none of the issues addressed there can be attributed to Pardew. We have become worse in just about every area listed there, although at least the losing streak to Sunderland is over

 

[robertg22]

I think this season has shown that none of the issues addressed there can be attributed to Pardew. We have become worse in just about every area listed there, although at least the losing streak to Sunderland is over

Just because we have hired someone worse than Pards doesn't mean that he did a good job. He is incompetent.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

The problem with Pardew is he has a habit of starting off well with a club before it goes pear shaped. I genuinely wanted him to do well at Palace (and he started off well for sure) but they haven't won a game since December I think? Not to mention Pardew is the only manager to lose I think to go 6 or 7 defeats in a row at 4 different PL clubs (Charlton, West Ham, us and Palace).

I don't think he can shoulder all the blame - wasn't helped by the management mess at board level and a lack of investment but even then, we slowly became more accustomed to mediocrity under him. Big defeats, derby losses, runs without a win, relegation battles even...they were all hallmarks under him sadly. Look at guys like Moyes who even with limited resources was able to get the best out of the team he had. Pardew definitely had some quality players to work with (quite a few internationals).

He wasn't the sole reason we have fallen so far but he was a part of the regime and happy to tow the company line.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Anyone seen this? Quite worrying remarks - or maybe he is hinting he's had enough and wants to sell up?

I wonder if Rafa would want to stick around even if we stay up and Cashley is still our owner...

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/spor...ys-regrets-buying-11075959#ICID=FB-Chron-main

Speaking in an interview with the Mirror, he said: “Do I regret getting into football? The answer is yes.

“I have had tonnes of fun in it but I haven’t been able to make the difference I wanted to in football.

“I wanted to help Newcastle, I wanted to make it better, that’s what I wanted to do. I haven’t seemed to have had that affect.”

“All I say is, there is a bank account, when you have emptied it, it’s empty, don’t come crying to me for more money.

“That have had a proper go at it this season, I think everyone can agree with that, but the results haven’t been ideal.”

Asked by the Mirror how much was in the bank account, he said: “Virtually, nothing now. They have emptied it.”

Sounds like we'll be going back to shoestring budget life soon - even more worrying if we go down and need to rebuild the squad...

 

[james Dean]

I think it's time to face reality and admit it's more than likely we'll go down. Who is realistically going to stick around to play in the championship? I can see all of these players leaving
Krul, Janmaat, Shelvey, Wij, Mitro, Perez, Townsend, Sissoko, Colo (retire/go home) and Saviet

 

[scon]

Unable to find any reason to believe a single word uttered by Cashley.
If we do go down and I hope we don't,it may prompt the prick to sell the club which could only be a good thing.Can't wait to see the back of him.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/03/21/graham-carrs-newcastle-future-in-doubt-under-rafa-benitez/

This could be good news...Carr was good a few years back but I think he's lost the plot recently. Rafa hopefully will have the reins to spend on players he wants, in areas he thinks need strengthening.

 

[robertg22]

www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/03/21/graham-carrs-newcastle-future-in-doubt-under-rafa-benitez/

This could be good news...Carr was good a few years back but I think he's lost the plot recently. Rafa hopefully will have the reins to spend on players he wants, in areas he thinks need strengthening.

Yeah he is very average. For every good signing like Perez we have several like Cabella and Thauvin that have been a disaster.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Yeah he is very average. For every good signing like Perez we have several like Cabella and Thauvin that have been a disaster.

Apparently we were offered Payet and turned him down due to his age...and then spent double for Thauvin and Cabella. $24m...and to think we need defenders and strikers badly too...

I think he's passed his expiration date

 

[NUFC Tiger]

I think it's time to face reality and admit it's more than likely we'll go down. Who is realistically going to stick around to play in the championship? I can see all of these players leaving
Krul, Janmaat, Shelvey, Wij, Mitro, Perez, Townsend, Sissoko, Colo (retire/go home) and Saviet

I reckon Perez and Mitro might 'potentially' stay - though both would have suitors for sure. Both seem to genuinely love the club. Could just as easily be sold to raise cash sadly.

Would hope Shelvey, Townsend and Saivet don't have relegation release clauses but they probably do...

Of the players I reckon we could keep:

Darlow, Elliot, Lascelles, Anita, Dummett, Colback, Armstrong, De Jong, Mbabu, Riviere (probably no interest from anywhere, who knows, might find his scoring boots at a lower level lol).

• Hopefully Mbemba but he might get some interest...
• Haidara might stay - though potentially some Ligue 1 clubs might come sniffing.
  
• Aarons most likely won't renew his contract in any case.
  
• Saylor is gone whether we stay up or go down I reckon.
• Ameobi only got a 1 year deal but maybe we'd offer him a new one given he's spent this season in the championship anyway and would have some experience in the division. Bigi and Vuckic could be in the same boat.
  
• Thauvin will be back from loan, might be handy in the Championship as well if we don't sell him off.

Either way, not much of a squad. Some quality for that level but would need to flesh it out for depth. It's a long, brutal season. Not sure we'd come up as easily as we did last time which is a worry...

Hopefully doesn't come to that either way. Still 8 games to go, got to keep positive. We're still in control of our destiny. Trust in Rafa

 

[robertg22]

Rob Elliot injured in an international overnight.... sounds like a bad one.. we are screwed!

 

[Zidane98]

Rob Elliot injured in an international overnight.... sounds like a bad one.. we are screwed!

Emergency keeper signing? I think you guys surely qualify for that.

 

[robertg22]

Emergency keeper signing? I think you guys surely qualify for that.

Nah, we still have Karl Darlow (who sucks, but still) and Freddie Woodman (England U19). If we didn't qualify for an emergency keeper signing last season when all of our keepers went down and we had to play Jak Alnwick, we won't now..

 

[Zidane98]

Nah, we still have Karl Darlow (who sucks, but still) and Freddie Woodman (England U19). If we didn't qualify for an emergency keeper signing last season when all of our keepers went down and we had to play Jak Alnwick, we won't now..

Not sure what the rules are on it. I thought both senior keepers out for the season should just about do it.....

 

[tige19]

Elliott ACL from what I'm reading.. If Rafa keeps us up then it'd have to be on par with his CL win at Liverpool as far as a tough assignment goes.

I read a ripper article about how Rafa has said that he has complete control and has been extremely happy with things, god I hope we some how manage to stay up as this guy is an absolute champion and class act.

 

[Brad Goodman]

Elliott going down makes it much harder for us now, I'm convinced we'd be about 8-10 points worse off if he wasn't around.

On the plus side, Championship football is back on Foxtel next season.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

Massive loss is Elliot - arguably was our player of the season IMO until that point. Shattered that he'll also miss the Euros now - would have almost been a shoe in to start game for Ireland I think.

Big shoes for Darlow to fill now - he had a taste of PL at West Brom (was at fault for the sole goal I think from memory) but seems to be highly rated (at least he was at Forest). Have to get behind him and hope he does well.

A more settled defence and organised team than the last time he was between the sticks should help.

Huge game against Norwich this weekend. Can't afford to lose. Would nearly say it's a must win against a fellow battler.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

PS good luck tonight robertg22 and Abba Lonie - hopefully its a cracking game. I have sneaky feeling your boys will get up...

Fingers crossed we'll both have a win to celebrate when the Toon play though

 

[robertg22]

Taylor starting
Anita at LB
Tiote CDM (where the hell is Saivet?)
Cisse starting (where is Mitro!?!)

Mbabu on the bench though. Hope he gets a run.

Come on lads!

PS good luck tonight robertg22 and Abba Lonie - hopefully its a cracking game. I have sneaky feeling your boys will get up...

Was a shocking game but a great last quarter. Watched the last 10 mins a few times today haha. We stole it for sure!