It turned out to be a good weekend. Winning’s never a chore but with Huddersfield and everyone else in the promotion places bar Norwich losing, some weekends are better than others.
Swapping places with Sunderland, at this moment in time, looks likely in a delicious moment of revenge for last season. Look, I know it was our fault we went down but for them to stay up in our place? It’s a pain that took a while to subside.
Overall, it was a good performance on Saturday. Gayle took his goals well, as did Clark; Shelvey was at the heart of everything good, including the three goals. His range of passing – on his day – is immense; I just wish those days were more often. So should he if his desire to earn more England caps is to become a reality.
There weren’t any bad performances as such although some were under par. We missed Matt Ritchie’s delivery. Atsu has the pace but his final ball has yet to find the consistency of the Scot. But as with Shelvey, we have to find a way of playing without becoming reliant upon any one player.
Some are obviously more important than others but reliance is unhealthy, particularly when more and more demands are made on players.
All three goals had predatory instincts about them. Clark’s run was timed to perfection whilst Gayle’s habit of being in the right place at the right time is a good one to have. It’s more than I thought he would bring to the side when he was signed. He wasn’t overly impressive at Palace last season; moments of brilliance interwoven with weeks of indifference.
Not anymore; he is in-form and on fire. If he doesn’t snare twenty goals this season, it will be a major disappointment.
And whilst the forwards and attacking midfielders get all the plaudits, some others need to be praised. Karl Darlow, for example. It must be hard for goalkeepers to keep their concentration for 90 minutes in one-sided matches such as Saturday’s. He did and produced the saves when we needed them.
The usual word of caution though. It’s as if the footballing gods are telling us not to get carried away. Brentford’s goal was sloppy, poor and conceded from another set-piece. We’ve taken 25 points out of the last 30 so mustn’t grumble too much but we need to get that problem sorted because at some point it will cost us dear.
As it happened, Saturday wasn’t that day. Barnsley tonight, another three points beckons. A quick returns beckons. Let’s take advantage of it.
I have a bit of leftover space in my budgie cage if Rodz is interested. Fresh newspaper down as well……
GeordieTwo(Quote)
I’m watching Spurs while listening to our match. No sign of Sissoko… oh dear.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
2-0
Gayle again
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Gayle!!!! Yes!!!!!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Gooooaaallllll… Gayle force part 2.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Eff me, Gayle’s all over them scoring charts! 11 goals in how many games?
Fans Should Own the Club(Quote)
Barnsley are finished! Gayle never come back from this!
Fans Should Own the Club(Quote)
get innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
0.2 Gayle you beauty
and Norwich are level too
kimtoon(Quote)
Gayle is better than a wild squirrel! He’s a wondrous woodchuck!!!!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Isn’t that 11 in 11 for Gayle?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
2-2 at Fulham!
Fans Should Own the Club(Quote)
I’m going to go out and ride my goat around the back yard to celebrate this one!!!!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Sissoko finally on for the spuds
Dubai Toon(Quote)
fulham 2-2 Norwich
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
we are top of the league
we are top of the league
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
And Villa losing. Marvellous.
Shamrock(Quote)
Still no subs from Raffa… ?
Dubai Toon(Quote)
*drawing even. Or not winning. Or still not improving. Or not Gona get promoted. Getcha bed sheets oot!
Shamrock(Quote)
I don’t trust Fulham to hold that lead.
Fans Should Own the Club(Quote)
You can see both goals here if you scroll down a bit. 2nd one’s a beaut.
Fans Should Own the Club(Quote)
D’oh! Goals here. Scroll down.
https://twitter.com/NUFCinnocent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Fans Should Own the Club(Quote)
Did he just say bree off for Edam… sounds a bit cheesy…
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Trust them FSOTC mate. I’m beaming some leftover positivity waves at them as we speak……
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Scrap that… hearing things… getting old ??
Dubai Toon(Quote)
And 7 in his last 4 league games I believe
MDS(Quote)
Are we over-reliant on Gayle? What if he gets injured?
Fans Should Own the Club(Quote)
Colback coming on….
GeordieTwo(Quote)
No, we’re not over-reliant on him FSOTC mate. We’re absolutely reliant on him! I’m a little worried about that……
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Probably. But worry about it if/when it happens. For now, just ride the wave
MDS(Quote)
get in! top of the pops!
Gashley(Quote)
Ahhhhh!!!! The victory, she is glorious!!!!!
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Good job lads, can’t complain with that second half.
kimtoon(Quote)
all done!
Fans Should Own the Club(Quote)
Well another good away win… we are top of the league! ???
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Top of the fargin’ league!
Fans Should Own the Club(Quote)
great result and another clean sheet
sorted
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
First time we’ve been top this season. Let’s hope we stay there. Great away win and that’s 8 wins out of the last 10 games…
Stuart79(Quote)
Looking at the hapless scum this season, and relegation may yet prove to have been the best thing to happen to NUFC. – in the long run.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
But that shows how hard the league is. Great run of form and still only a 1 clear, although we lost first two of course
Stuart79(Quote)
Ipswich get first win in ages tonight, will they get a second on Saturday ?
kimtoon(Quote)
Looks like we have clicked.
Shamrock(Quote)
if we get promoted it will definitely be the best thing that could of happened. I tried telling troy the **** really needs to hit the fan before Ashley acts.
Sooo glad WE made Pardew leave 😀 . No more lacking ambition as long as Rafa is here
Gashley(Quote)
we may actually walk it 😯 😉
Gashley(Quote)
bruce get’s his first win by looks of it
kimtoon(Quote)
It took Rafa two games to suss this league. If it was Macca he’d be saying ‘judge me after 15 games’ still. 🙂 class apart. (Not that I would expect solid wins in the prem, just stable form)
DJG(Quote)
Our next three games are against struggling sides also. Basically it’s a chance to cement top spot and never look back.
DJG(Quote)
If ‘Uddersfield don’t win tomorrow we’re leaving them in our dust here like. 🙂
DJG(Quote)
We only won once in 15 league visits to Barnsley. Not beaten them there since 1983 until tonight!
Shamrock(Quote)
if we can be top two going into jan 2017 then I think we should go up
kimtoon(Quote)
We have 5 going to ACON but only Diame is starting for us at the moment. Normally that would have thrown a spanner in the works but we seem to have a deep enough squad to cope.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Gayle is just smashing them in for us at the moment isn’t he? He’s the type of striker that we’ve needed for the last few years since Ba. You know, someone predatory who is capable of scoring the “easy” chances when they are served up to him, that we can build a winning formula around rather than just pumping it towards Cisse and crossing our fingers.
I’m still a bit concerned about how we’ll line up in the Prem – will he and Mitro work? And what happens with Perez? Goof is in some form right now but he is hardly a long term solution as we know.
Newkie(Quote)
I can see a new striker coming in next season to play alongside Gayle.
Shamrock(Quote)
totally agree Sham, Rafa will know that we need more fire power if we go up, still think we need a playmaker of PL standard if we go up too. Shelvey is doing well now but wasn’t so consistent when we were in the PL. Diame isn’t setting the world alight either at the moment. Think Ritchie and Atsu will do ok in the PL though. Don’t think Rafa trust Mitro at the moment and I can see him being shipped out at some point.
kimtoon(Quote)
Sham – so would you get rid of Mitrovic then? If his head was all there I think he’d be fine for the Prem, but I’m not sure how much I trust him and Rafa seems to think less of him than I do. Both he and Shelvey, given the outlay on them presumably have to start or we shift them on… It would be nice if we can get someone to click with Gayle and Perez in a sort of front three, but that might be wishful thinking.
Kim – agree on Diame, he’s a squad player and nothing more, he will do the job in the championship and he will give us some depth in the prem but I would hope for some improvement on him when we get back to the prem.
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie, Mitro just has just not delivered. Not sure if he can do a job as back up next season but he’s not shown he can be a regular starter yet.
Shamrock(Quote)
Mitrovic should be ashamed of himself. His been here longer than Gayle and probably gets more money than him. Higher transfer fee but Gayle’s much better.
Stem(Quote)
Shamrock 10 million for Mitrovic would be difficult to get now. 6 goal a season striker isn’t going to attract many clubs. Carr responsible for him imo.
Stem(Quote)
There’s still time for Mitrovic as a back up player and I’m sure he will prove me wrong at some point this season.
Stem(Quote)
I think Mitro’s head is shot. He has immense talent but his mind races and he gets too emotional. Result is missed chances and flash points resulting in poor discipline, breaking down moved and hurting the team.
To be fair to Troy, he called this not long after Mitro signed. I can’t see a big improvement coming from him, because you can’t change how a person is wired. He will have his good moments, but for the most part he won’t justify his fee.
Shamrock(Quote)
I love Mitro’s passion like I liked Ketsbia’s but sadly he isn’t delivering and I really thought he’d tear up this league. In fairness he’s not started much, but even so.
kimtoon(Quote)
a great result but i still worry about Dunmmit at l/b,i think Rafa has him in for his height in set pieces but his defending is very poor at least three times their right winger was left open a better class of winger would have really done us some damage,something ime sure Rafa would not have missed
icedog(Quote)
Has anyone worked out why Jesus Gamez is at the club yet?
Shamrock(Quote)
Yeah, I was kind of hoping a run of games would get him the confidence he’d need to start playing well. Let’s face it, you can’t judge him on last year when Schteve came in to an already dismal side where Carver had destroyed confidence and then seemingly made it worse. Even our “star” players looked poor. But the league is still so tight we can’t really justify playing him when we need the wins…I was hoping we’d see more sub appearances for him when we were 2-0 and comfortable but Rafa isn’t a huge one for gambling.
Still, he’s much better than Rivi and his technical ability pisses all over Carroll’s so I still have some hope for him.
Newkie(Quote)
Lovely stuff. We must be odds on to win the league now (not trying to get ahead of myself mind).
P.S. I love Gayle, signing of the season for me
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
There’s still time for Mitro. Rafa’s barely picked him up to now and who can blame him when Gayle’s got 11 in 11. I’d give him a start instead of Diame who’s been very disappointing. Doesn’t have to mean an automatic 442.
Another thing that could work is Ritchie as the No 10 instead of Diame or Perez with Atsu on the wing. Clever player is wor Ritchie although he lacks the pace of a genuine winger.
Georgio(Quote)
I don’t think it’s a case of Rafa not rating Mitro…Yiu just really can’t sit Gayle at this point until he cools off.
I know we are getting ahead of ourselves here but to be competive in the Prem we definitely need a LW, at least two CMs, and possibly a striker. Still unsure about RB/LB as the jury is still out on Yedlin and Lazaar
MDS(Quote)
Newkie I somewhat disagree Mitrovic missed a lot of easy chances last season. It’s hard to feel sorry for a player earning 60 grand a week, not forgetting the 15 grand a week win bonus he recieves. I don’t think he deserves that much. Perez and him have a simular goal ratio.
Stem(Quote)
new thread:
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2016/10/19/to-the-summit-now-lets-stay-there/
Andy The Magpie(Quote)
Riviere could hit a barn door if he tried. His only goal was a lucky deflection. Mitrovic is better than him I totally agree. I should be more grateful 😆
Stem(Quote)
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