Half full or half empty after Spurs?

Half full or half empty?
Half full or half empty?
So we lost to Tottenham, away at Tottenham, which isn’t a bad thing when you look at the bigger picture.

Yesterday they looked like a team capable of taking a Champions League spot and with Gareth Bale in the form he is in currently they have a player who is right at the top of his game driving them on.

That defeat halted a mini revival that had seen United record back-to-back victories over Chelsea and Aston Villa, but it was always going to be a tough ask going to White Hart Lane and getting something out of the game even though, in my my very humble opinion, we matched them for periods and could have got something out of the game ourselves. No real complaints though, the better team won.

The question really is how does the defeat leave you feeling? Granted we dropped a place courtesy of Manchester City’s defeat at Southampton (maybe that makes our defeat at St Mary’s seem a bit better?) but we’re still six points clear of the bottom three and four wins and a draw away from the points usually required to guarantee safety.

Did the defeat yesterday set alarm bells ringing again or did we show enough for you not to be so worried about losing knowing that we should have enough throughout the rest of the season to see us safe?

I’m in the latter camp if truth be told. Defeat is always horrible but I think we still showed enough to suggest that we’ll be more than a match for a lot of teams we are due to face in the coming weeks.

However we’re only ever a game away from disaster and suddenly our next league game against Southampton has taken on an extra importance and seemingly some extra difficulty following their win yesterday. Anyone who thinks that match will be a pushover is kidding themselves. Mind you, three points is a must.

So, how are you feeling today?

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

176 thoughts on “Half full or half empty after Spurs?

  1. I’m not too bothered by it to be honest. We got 3 points at our place and looked good for a point there until something special from probably the best player in the league. (RVP and Suarez are good as well but Bale is a bit like a cross between the two so for that reason he is probably the best and certainly the one in form). It was nice to see Gouffran get off the mark and it knocked the stuffing out of them for the rest of the first half to be honest. I always had in the back of my mind that we have Southampton at home next but it is slightly worrying that they have this new super coach and have just beaten the champions 3-1. 😕 I’m going to the Europa game on Thursday, would be nice to see a strong team with the likes of Mbwia, Anita, Obertan and those that are knocking on the door getting a game. How nice does that feel that we aren’t relying on totally inexperienced players.

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  2. Pottle I agree mate Goofy Cisse and Benny will rip a few teams apart 😉 and im looking forward to it.
    I will even say that some team will suffer a bit of a hammering from us, and before the window I wouldn’t have even thought that, and it’s not just the new players themselves its the lift our other players have had from it

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  3. Did I just read a comment saying Bale is better than RVP and Suarez? 😯

    Anyone watch the Villa v West Ham game?

    How **** is Andy Carroll? He is a woeful player with no technical ability. Just a big lump. I wouldn’t pay £2million for him, let alone 8 or 9.

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  4. Annoying that the home leg is this week and not next week cus it’ll be a long journey back and I hope it doesn’t effect the team for Soton.

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  5. The kid
    My dad said last night that in the form he’s in he’s better than Ronaldo. 😯 I gave him a clip around the ear 😉 . He made the point that Bale is better at defending and has an epic throw-in.

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  6. Bale is in good form, but he was kept quiet for the majority of the game and only looked good when we gave him loads of space to run into. (chasing the game)

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  7. Villa win 😯 , so Southampton game is massive now. Cannot afford to lose at all.

    I hope it is not another Reading game.

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  8. Debuchy is not slow (without doubt quicker than Anita who at 5’6 speed is deceptive). Debuchy has been unfortunate to meet arguably the 2 quickest players in the league but he’ll cope with most wingers. There also seems to be a misconception about Perch’s height, at 5’11 he is filly 5 inches taller than Anita and the same as Tiote. I’m not saying that he’s as good as either but brings something different to the role. For I nstance he is not so impulsive as Tiote and is quicker than both. Just saying – because some seem to think he is physically inferior.

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  9. Tonytoon
    Perch isn’t quicker than Anita, and his distribution isn’t as good as both Vurnon and Cheick.

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  10. Regarding the article- definitely half full for me. We played the 3rd place club even on their home turf, and had several players completely gassed due to the midweek internationals. The difference was a couple of moments form a brilliant player.

    Get Benny back cuz he can do the exact same things and may have been the difference in a match like this one.

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  11. Definitely half full for me also. First half we more than matched them.
    Hopefully Gouffran will be back for the next game as he was our best player for me. Cabaye was very, very good again – really found his form since he’s come back. I mocked it, and I still think if true it is ludicrous, but maybe there was something in Cabaye’s head dropping when the Debuchy deal fell through.
    Thought Coloccini and Saylor both played very well mistake aside. Mapou is probably going to have to adapt to the league, so I’m quite happy for Saylor to keep his place with Mapou being eased in gradually.
    Huge next game – win and we can start looking towards solidifying mid-table.

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  12. Four first team players in one window really is terrific work from the board. Does anyone feel with the starting XI we have that it could be improved in any areas? As in if we persuaded Coloccini to stay and none of the others were sold.

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  13. THE KID @86
    Can I just ask, do you think Suarez or RVP would have single-handily destroyed us yesterday. Bale should have easily had a hat-trick and they are strikers Bale is more of a midfielder! That is Ronaldo like which ever way you look at it. I also think Michu is up there but doesn’t play for such a fashionable club, which seems to matter in these things.

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  14. Tonytoon & the kid
    It may not be decisive but I’ll check FIFA later to settle the dispute, for the record Anita is quicker though.

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  15. “Can I just ask, do you think Suarez or RVP would have single-handily destroyed us yesterday”

    Umm, yes, as they pretty much single handedly destroy teams on a weekly basis.

    I’m not having this ludicrous comparison of Bale and RVP/Suarez. Bale was comfortably kept quiet yesterday until an error allowed him the space to run 1v1 against Krul. After that he was superb, but we were throwing everyone forward so of course he is going to have a field day.

    The levels of intelligence of both RVP and Suarez far exceeds the likes of Bale, which is why they are very, very rarely kept quiet in any game.

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  16. ANDYMAG
    Every time I watch Ronaldo these days he looks like a right lazy git, certainly doesn’t track back or anything like that, he strolls about most of the time he doesn’t have the ball as if he should be a passenger. So I agree with your dad on that! I think the fact the Bale makes the chances look so easy has confused one or two. He still had a lot to do after burning past Coloccini for his second, the way he runs with the ball at top speed is the mark of a top player. The technique he used for the free-kick was good as well. He makes it look so easy people don’t realise how good he is IMO. I’m not saying he is THE best, there is no direct comparison between different types of players anyway, but how anyone could not respect the form he is in at the minute just baffles me. He absolutely destroyed us yesterday, probably with a bit in reserve.

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  17. SOLANOSTRUMPET i think we need 2 new strikers in the summer ,not too replace Cisse but too add depth .Their is no way Shola should be near the first team next season and i think possibly another Keeper . Harper cant have much left in the tank . That said though the young lad Alnwick is supposed to be a decent prospect so maybe him as 3 rd choice . Thing is the players we bring in are too add depth in quality and not out right first choice , so in that respect we have made massive strides in the last window .

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  18. The kid
    I would also add that RVP and Suarez have two feet whereas Bale’s right foot is basically just for standing on. If he had two good feet he would’ve scored that volley at the end of the match, was practically a tap-in.

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  19. ANDYMAG
    So if we were in a position to sign Bale, would you not take him because of his right foot? 🙂
    I would also add that Suarez and RVP are ****** and Bale seems a decent lad.

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  20. Andymag,
    Messi’s right foot is **** too… doesn’t make him worse than van Persie Suarez. He is ten times the players they are.

    Bale for me is a very similar type of player to Ronaldo, perhaps when at the top of his game. He is just as good. Not as consistant though.

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  21. DJG
    I agree that the form he is in is amazing and I personally prefer him to Ronaldo but Ronaldo is a more technically sound player.

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  22. ST are you finally admitting that I might have been right about Cabayes head dropping ❓ .
    For me it was clear that his heart wasn’t in it, look at hi now and it’s not just that he’s playing better but you can see a mile away that he is happier and enjoying himself.

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  23. JJ
    Messi isn’t **** with his right foot, he just prefers to use his better foot as we all would. The difference is that he can use his weaker foot when required but Bale can’t.
    DJG
    Of course I would want us to sign him as he’s a class player, just saying that I don’t believe he’s at the level many believe him to be. Agree about him not being a ***** thing too. Him and Messi stand apart in that, can’t think of another player that is as good that isn’t a knob.

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  24. Marv is a tidy player always wants to go forward good vision , nice touch , but seems the last option for Pardew.I think Pardew thinks everyone should track back,why should the likes of benny and Marv defend when their job is to kill the opposition in the final third. We have enough defensive mids to do that.ie tiiote Anita gutti r Taylor perch even mbwia said he’d play there. Marv left Ben arfa right.more crosses more goals.its a disgrace Tiote was sitting on the bench on sat when bale was allowed to run around unmolested. Walker made sure he got our key player , Tiote would probably have done the same to Bale

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  25. Andy maybe boyfriend is a bit strong 😯 😆 but he’s clearly his best mate and it was clear that Cabaye put himself out about getting Debuchy and he was basically publicily tapping another teams player up, and Debouchy responded in the same way and left himself in an awkward position which he has already touched on, and IMO there is no way in this world they would have both done that unless the Club had gave them all the indications that they would have then stepped in and got him out of lille once they had caused the unrest.

    George @ 115 I am all for Marv getting in the team ahead of Jonas but the only thing I worry about is that he can go AWOL for long periods in the game 😕

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  26. Not nit picking or owt but I just dropped onto what I thought was another meaty ‘are we still rubbish?’ article and find everyone talking about Ronaldo, Messi, RVP, Bale… a bit surreal. I assume that it signals the exhaustion of discussion of yesterdays affairs then? 😀

    I think Perch had a pretty torrid first half, the non-jump was just a part of a pretty out of sorts display for hi poor lad. Colo is beginning to show signs of distraction, maybe like us he is looking to the end of Willo/Colo and the ushering in of Mbiwa/Stayla but his mistakes cost us yesterday. I dont necessarily buy into the ‘isnt Bale wonderful?’ thing 100%, there are a few teams who have someone who can pounce on the opportunitieswe supplied, its been mentioned Suarez and RVP, You can say the likes of Fellaini or even the dreaded Duff or horrible Insomnia on his day it doesn’t matter – the CB’s and the Goalie are the positions where mistakes are costly and, unless we win, unforgiveable hence the demonising of Williamson. But I’m not taking yesterdays defeat badly, far from it, it was a **** sight better than the pants removal I was expecting only a month ago so move on…

    Now, about Santon……… 😉

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  27. Walkers got form, the sly little get. That one wont appear before an FA panel though.

    Marveaux is a player who has to be positioned right, or his off switch is flicked. I also think he needs to start to get into his stride, putting him on for the last ten minutes and somewhere that doesn’t suit him is like fatal combo.

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  28. He only got ten mins at spurs you can hardly warm up in that time.subs need a bit longer I think.

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  29. Kid I don’t know what it is but it seems that most games he is electric then all of a sudden he just goes missing, I can’t see any reason for it he just seems to switch of and coast.

    Tsunki to be honest I didn’t think there was much in the Walker Gouffran tackle, but I would say Cabaye was a lucky boy because his tackle was bad 😯
    As for Perch I don’t really think it’s his fault and I do feel a bit for him and Willo as they were both bought to help us bolster the squad in the Championship as that is the standard they are but I presume because they are cheap we have kept them .

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  30. George @ 120 if that was in response to me I agree with you, and even though I said he goes missing I think he should start and then if he goes missing bring Jonas on

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  31. I’ve always hated the habit some managers have of leaving it far too late for their subs to make an impact. It sometimes works to confuse an opponent or waste some time, but to change a stalemate I think you have to be bringing a player or two on when there are at least 20-30 mins to go. I cant fathom how a manager can watch his team struggling and a goal or two behind and leave it until 85 mins to get new bodies on the park. That just helps the opposition imo. imho that is.

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  32. re. Marveaux. I think he is the sort of player that could have a good game in the Europa league. Obertan has had a few good games for us in Europe. When we signed Marveaux people said he was a winger. Having watched him for a bit I don’t think he is a winger. He is more like an attacking midfielder or even a no.10. With the control to dribble through the centre and the vision to spread it out to a wide man. Since Benny is out on Thursday, I would love to see Marveaux start in a no.10 role.

    ———————Krul——————
    Debuchy–S.Taylor-Mbwia–Santon
    ————-Anita——Cabaye———
    Jonas———-Marveaux—-Obertoon
    ——————-Cisse——————

    I think Pardew might try and bed in Cabaye/Tiote/Sissoko though.

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  33. Big Dave – dont disagree about Cabs as we know he can be a very naughty boy and on another day could have seen worse than yellow. I thin the way the lad followed through his clearance was clever but deliberate. Just how I saw it. 👿

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  34. I think their players can not be 100% match fit either as they have had their winter break since December and they are having a warm up match with Whitley Bay. Try and hit them fast and knock the stuffing out of them I reckon. Need a good lead to take to their place. 😀

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  35. Having a stronger side is fantastic but the story remains the same, getting points. We have 4 games coming up in Southampton, Swansea, Stoke, and Wigan from which we need to take at least 7or 8 points. That would put us in good position going into the final 8 games of the season. If we slip up and lose 3 of the next 4 it will be very uncertain again. Surely with the squad we have now and players returning from injury we should have no problems Pardew? If we do your position remains in danger I would think. Ashley thinks he’s been a clever boy but it was him that got us into this mess in the first place. There was no need for it whatsoever. Don’t pat yourself on the back until the end of the season Ash/Llam.

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  36. Andy @ 124 yeah your right he was one of Hooters and Calderwoods bargain buys to bolster the squad, but IMO he is still a championship player.

    Tsunki I agree that Walker was a naughty boy but I think it was just a foul the type of clip that you see loads of times in a game 😕

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  37. I guess that makes me a glass half empty man but only because of the mess Ashley forced us into last summer. He probably was told by Llambias and Pardew that we had a fine squad with nothing to worry about but that’s what you get for hiring a drinking buddy Ash. On the brighter side the team is much more enjoyable to watch now and surely we will finish much higher in the table next season. We do need another striker though and cover at CB if and when Colo leaves.

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  38. I tend to look for weaknesses in the team that need improving rather than spending a lot of time with praise but I still think we have done the business in January. However I remain unconvinced by Cisse. He is not a great all-rounder, his strength is striking once completely free on goal. That doesn’t happen often enough with us and he has wasted a lot of half chances where he ballooned the shot over the net. I’m also no convinced that Carroll would be a great buy in the summer. He is very slow and often can’t keep up with a fast counter-attack. We seem to be built more for the counter than anything else with players like Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Marveaux, Gouffran and even Cisse so why throw in a big man with no pace? I would prefer another pacy striker with good passing ability who can quickly join the counter-attack.

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  39. Geordie2 >”Don’t pat yourself on the back until the end of the season Ash/Llam.”
    there was a few on here after the window closed patting them on the back saying how well they did

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  40. Yes, Marv was poor. 😳 He was either put into, or forced into, a withdrawn role, as the whole team was at sixes and sevens after Pardew re-arranged things.

    As the game wore on, Spurs played on our biggest weaknesses, a lack of good organisation and a lack of confidence of the players in the game plan. Our starting 11 included a couple of championship players, and we will never compete with top clubs when we fail to mould our best players into a strong team.

    “Take away two or three vital errors”, and Colo and Sayls were my candidates for MOTM. Unfortunately, they cost us the game. Yeah, Perch was the card board cut-out of all time, but how many times have we lost games by giving away silly free kicks outside our box? I’m sick of saying it on here. We defend set plays as well as we capitalise on our own; we’re ***** at both. This is the manager’s remit. 😳

    Once again Pardew showed the opposition too much respect on our travels and failed to mastermind a victory. Our away record has been absolutely abysmal this season, a testament to Pardew’s ineptitude, and a sad indictment of his time in charge. Always at a loss to detect the dangers and re-adjust accordingly with words from the sidelines or tactical substitutions, he moves to plan B when it is far too late. Unfortunately, plan B is invariably Shola Ameobi, the man who gives a masterclass in taking the heat off the opposition in the latter stages of a game by giving away needless fouls. 😳

    Pardew has been saying he’s now got the personnel. He can’t use Benny’s absence as an excuse now. I haven’t heard what he’s said, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he sought to claim Bale was unplayable. It’s funny how these top players always fill their boots when they play us. 😕

    I am heartily sick of NUFC not being able to win a game away from home. It’s pathetic. Yeah we won at Villa – but by the skin of our teeth. 👿

    So what was the problem yesterday? Squad not good enough, team selection, tactics or what? Why can’t we compete better on our travels with four new recruits? I just think the fans are so used to us getting beat, they’re just pleased if we put up a half decent show. Perhaps this squad isn’t good enough and Pards still needs another five quality recruits to be able to put some team’s bait up good and proper away from home? Or perhaps Pards himself is the problem? He seems to have escaped a lot of criticism and I can’t think why. 🙄 Oh yeah, Spurs are such a great team! 🙄

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  41. I also remain unconvinced by Pardew. Does he have a good long term plan for the type of squad he wants? If he and Llambias are still after Carroll I have to wonder. What exactly has Carroll done in the last 2 seasons? What is his goal scoring record when he plays? For me he will never be a top goal scorer in the Prem. His head has been swollen by the huge transfer fee and the wages he has received but he definitely hasn’t earned them. He can be part of an alternate style to a fast break team but then Pardew would have to build partly at least to Carroll’s strengths. I just can’t see it working with our French connection who love to play short passes on the ground and make fast breaks. It’s worth a lot of thought before we go after Carroll next summer I would say.

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  42. Aye Big Dave I’m not for counting our chickens yet mate. We have a lot of difficult matches remaining and for me Pardew tends to panic fairly easily. The stronger squad will make it easier for him but he will still have to deliver the points and keep us up at the very least.

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  43. ———————Krul——————
    Mbwia–S.Taylor-collo–Santon
    ————-Tiote——Cabaye———
    Jonas———-Marveaux—-Obertoon
    ——————-Cisse—————
    team to play metalist

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  44. I’m not blaming Ashley for getting us into this mess. Pardew said he was happy with the squad at the start of the season. I don’t buy this conspiracy theory that Ashley forced Pardew to utter those words. There was no reason why Pardew couldn’t have been fully supportive of Ashley, and still given a realistic appraisal of the squad if he had reservations. Pardew thought the squad would finish top half and I don’t recall anyone predicting this season’s shambles or the embarrassing records we have picked up along the way. It was injuries, suspensions, Europa League, the kids aren’t as good as I thought they were… none of which stacked up. Now there can be no excuses!

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  45. 3 goal cushion we can send the kids for the 2nd leg and the 1st team has 10 days to plan for the southampton game

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  46. Thinking far ahead but what would be a reasonable finishing position next season? I would think we have to again climb into the top half of the table which has been the Ashley goal all along. If we remain in the bottom half is Pardew still the manager for us? I would have to say no. I’m only in favour of sacking him based on results and a willingness to bring in a better manager however. If Ashley were to sack Pardew and then bring in another buddy from down south it would be pointless.

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  47. So much would depend on Cisse with that lineup TAE @137. I would try to field a stronger side with Sissoko in there as well. Leave Jonas out for me and try Marveaux on the wing. Obertan is a risk as well. This is not a weak European side we’re playing now. We can always sub out first teamers if we get a good lead. I would go with:
    Krul
    Debuchy Mbiwa Colo Santon
    Tiote Sissoko
    Marveaux Cabaye Anita
    Cisse
    At least to start. If we get a 2 goal lead then we can try some subs.

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  48. BIG DAVE
    think toon might go for it at home meself, would not want the 1st team having such a long flight home from the return leg,a few days before what is now a huge game for us v southampton

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  49. Don’t you think we would have to field a strong side if we want to advance Big Dave? There are no league games to worry about for 2 weeks now. It does take the risk of injuries but it’s our last chance to do anything more than just survive the season. Maybe I’m too desperate for some success for the club. 🙁

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  50. Nice to see the club effectively stole Shola Ameobi’s ACON medal since Nigeria won it tonight.

    Loyalty earns you so much.

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  51. Geordie2 I would say we would need to be in the top 8 pushing for top 6 with the squad we have now. I agree with you also on it being pointless sacking him to just bring in another buddy ( JFK )

    I just can’t understand that some are willing to put all the blame on Pards but don’t have the Balls to call for his sacking, because I can assure you if I thought as poorly of Pards and that he was to blame for the state we were in and I thought we could get a better manager, I would be loud and clear in calling for his head

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  52. TAE @ 143 I agree with the team etc I just don’t think we’ll put that strong a team out. But as you said with it being a bit of a break before our next game maybe we will, I hope we do

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