Nolan’s happy Hammers! Newcastle 0-1 West Ham

Newcastle succumbed to defeat yesterday losing 1-0 to West Ham United at St James’ Park, with old boy Kevin Nolan on hand to do the damage.

A defeat is always hard to take, especially at home, but when you suffer defeat in the manner we did then questions have to be asked.

A lack of urgency, composure, goal threat and many other things combined ensured yet another abject display was on offer, with West ham seldom looking like losing the lead once Nolan had put the away side into a 37th minute lead. Something needs to change and it needs to change sooner rather than later.

In a first half devoid of any real goal threat the best Newcastle could muster was a shot from Papiss Cisse which went well wide. Hatem Ben Arfa tried to create something with the ball at is his feet but alas everything he tried he failed. At least he was trying though…

It feels odd writing this but it wasn’t until Kevin Nolan was in the right place at the right time to turn a wayward shot into the back of Tim Krul’s net to give the away side the lead eight minutes before half time.

In truth you would be hard pushed to deny West Ham didn’t deserve to be in front.

Half-time: Newcastle 0-1 West Ham

I’d like to say the second half improved for Newcastle, but it didn’t. Demba Ba thought he had equalised but the officials judged that his header hadn’t crossed the line and that Jussi Jaaskelainen had done enough to deny Demba against his former club.

Mike Williamson almost bundled the ball over the line before Hatem Ben Arfa went close direct from a corner, but there really wasn’t a lot to shout about from a black and white perspective. Indeed Andy Carrol could have wrapped up the point for West Ham but for a smart save from Tim Krul, who nearly connected with a header at the other end on a last ditch foray up front.

It wasn’t to be though and that was that.

Full-time: Newcastle 0-1 West Ham

So where do we start? The players need to take some of the blame for being woeful again. The only player I’d give any real credit to is Davide Santon who did alright. Ben Arfa tried also so I’ll give him that. The rest need to sort themselves out and get going again before this season drifts into obscurity.

Alan Pardew also needs to take some of the blame. He is paid to keep players happy, it’s part of his job, but he is mainly paid to get results and whether that means dropping out of form players or playing players in positions they perhaps would prefer not to be played in the he has to make the call. He can’t keep trying 4-4-2 hoping it clicks, he needs to be proactive in trying to make things click. In fairness he didn’t try the tired excuse after Europe post match, which is what I thought he’d try…

Of course he hasn’t been helped by chubby and his not-so-able sidekick Derek, who seem to believe that one first team player per position is enough leaving Pardew with little or no options when it comes to trying to drop players or shuffle the pack.

Next up, Swansea… A must win.

Howay the lads!

Newcastle: Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Mike Williamson, Davide Santon, Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez, Shane Ferguson, Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba

Subs: Rob Elliot, Vurnon Anita, Gael Bigirimana, Romain Amalfitano, Sylvain Marveux, Gabriel Obertan, Shola Ameobi

West Ham: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Joey O’Brien, Winston Reid, James Tomkins, George McCartney, Mark Noble, Mohamed Diame, Kevin Nolan, Matt Jarvis, Yossi Benayoun, Andy Carroll

Subs: Raphael Speigel, Carton Cole, Modibo Maiga, James Collins, Guy Demel, Gary O’Neil, Robert Hall

Attendance: 51,855

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.

416 thoughts on “Nolan’s happy Hammers! Newcastle 0-1 West Ham

  1. @Michael12
    Okay to prove how nul your argument is: you can replace every single point you make on Cabaye with HBA:
    @Solanostrumpet: Kevin Nolan is superior to Cabaye in goals and assists. That was my point.
    There is a league table for goals scored, that tells us Nolan is superior to HBA and many mids as well this is fact. If there was a league table for assists then that table would show Nolan is superior to at least HBA . Nolan has mitigating circumstances in this comparison to HBA in that he neither takes free kick nor corners which are both further opportunities for HBA to fashion chances for his team and yet Nolan is still superior.
    On the other hand If there was a league table for Fan opinion HBA would be at the top purely based on the fanatical zeal of many Newcastle fans have for him.
    I’m not interested in distance covered, yellow cards etc unless you can show tome how that translates into something crucial or match defining like a goal or avoidance of a goal.
    In short Kevin Nolan is a more crucial player than HBA.

      (Quote)

  2. So if all the points you are arguing that show Nolan is a more important midfielder than Cabaye can equally be applied to HBA does that mean you think Nolan is better than HBA 😯

      (Quote)

  3. Also Cabaye has one less assist than HBA and the same number of goals, despite not taking penalties, and he provides more defensively. What does that mean, is Cabaye playing better than HBA this season?! 😯
    Only taking a portion of someone stats to suit your argument is never a reflection of anything Michael.

      (Quote)

  4. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    @Trumpet

    I find your argument stunted.

    Cabaye is a complete midfielder slightly lacking in pace. ? Surely a complete midfielder needs pace. 😯
    He can defend, he can attack, it depends where Pardew plays him? Surely a complete midfielder has the ability to defend and attack at will? 😯

    You think he could be world class playing with Tiote if we got the rest of the team in order?
    Really? I’ve watched him for 2 years now and I’ve never noticed he’s got the ability to be world class. 🙄

    Do you never watch other teams? They do have midfielders who can defend, attack and pass equally as well. You are deceived by his good looks and French name. 😛

      (Quote)

  5. Cabayes listed as a box to box mfd so he’s capable of playing dmf or amf ,it just depends how Pards sees best to utilise him I suppose. He has actually scored twice for use this season and Nolan has scored 5 times for the Hammers ,just 3 times more yet he plays more advanced.Not quite the gulf people seem to think. Cabs had a fair few assist last season as well to be fair, and we should use him more for pens imo as he used to be Lille’s pen taker with a good success rate .

      (Quote)

  6. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    Nolan has only scored 3 more than Cabaye?

    Wow! 5 goals in 11 games. That’s **** ! 🙁 🙄

      (Quote)

  7. @Troy
    Name this wealth of other midfielders in the Premier League as equally talented defensively and offensively..
    Yes I think he can attack and defend at will, he did last season during our good run anyway. I think Pardew instructs him to try and sit deep.
    You don’t think he has the ability to be world class, I do, just my opinion, one that I know a lot of football fans share.
    Shearer was often described as a complete striker, yet he lacked pace, no?
    You often complain that Cabaye never gets forward, do you not think 2 goals and an assist is a pretty good return for someone who has essentially been playing in the same position as Carrick/Barry/Ramires etc?

      (Quote)

  8. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    @Trumpet

    You’ve just named 3 for me without even thinking about it. 😉

    Half the teams in the premier league have a Cabaye. Stop fooling yourself.

      (Quote)

  9. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    Shearer was never referred to as the complete striker once he lost his pace. 😉

      (Quote)

  10. Troy – Shearer was never the complete striker just completely the best we’ve had.

    Is it just me or is Ba now starting to resemble a certain Oba Martins. You know, poor control, selfish, wild swipes at goal. The only good african strikers I can think of were Eto and Drogba and we must have seen dozens of them in the PL

      (Quote)

  11. Troy ,but does Nolan not get more forward than Cabs? and therefor get more shots chances at goal. I’m not for or against either player ,I like both ,just pointing out the differences , also don’t forget Cabaye has been injured part of this season too.

      (Quote)

  12. You would rather have those 3 over Cabaye 😕 Ramires is the only one I’d even consider.
    You honestly believe Carrick/Barry have more attacking ability than Cabaye?
    Shearer never had a great amount of pace but was still described as a complete striker.

      (Quote)

  13. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    @Kim

    To be fair, Nolan has been playing off the second striker and its unfair to compare them this season.

    I just enjoyed winding Trumpet up who is fooled by Cabayes good looks and French name. 😉

      (Quote)

  14. Lol@ Troy ‘You are deceived by his good looks and French name’ I think they are deceived.

    @Solanostrumpet: I think you are mistaking what I am claiming. I pointed out Nolan is superior in attacking and fashioning chances (And lets consider here Cabaye takes free kicks and corners which give him greater opportunity to outscore Nolan in assists but despite this he is still behind Nolan). Cabaye is superior in terrain covered, fewer fouls, more tackles and few not very not so important, game changing and crucial things I will give you that.

    You also point out The kid gave me statistics on the contrary I did not ignore them you did and guess what? The stats he provided agree with me that Nolan has been a generally superior Midfielder to Cabaye.

    As to your Question if Nolan is better than HBA it is an open question better at what? Important or crucial are perhaps better means by which to rate them. But again I will use The Kid’s stats seeing as you value them. the answer is Yes. Nolan has been Better than HBA.

    My argument has been comparing Cabaye and Nolan because Cabaye was a direct replacement for Nolan.

      (Quote)

  15. Interesting how just one surprise defeat brings out the strangest of arguments.
    There’s not a lot wrong with the team that a bit of movement off the ball wouldn’t cure. At the moment they all stand and just watch each other. And make each other look poor!

      (Quote)

  16. @Georgio: That’s not true. HBA, Ba, Santon, Williamson, Collocini in general have all looked good this season.

    There are individuals in our team that are not performing and not because of one player making another look bad like Shola making Cabaye look bad or Krul making Simpson look bad.

    I concede that a lot going wrong this season is in fact Pardew but even if we had a Guardiola, Cabaye will still be very, very average at best.

      (Quote)

  17. @Michael
    Chances created/game? Is it Cabaye’s fault if strikers miss them?
    And you corners argument can doubly be used as a reason why Nolan would score more as he is available to score from them, no?
    Sure you can make a case for Nolan contributing more than Cabaye offensively this season, though they’ve played opposite ends of the field for the majority (and I would still say Cabaye is more talented in this aspect).
    However you claim outright that “Any day of the week I would take a Kevin Nolan over a Cabaye. ” & “Nolan is not world class and yet is vastly superior to Cabaye.” And I just find that nuts.

      (Quote)

  18. Nolan has scored more and assisted more because S/A game plan is built around him. Just like ours was in the CC and in the prem whilst we still had Carroll. He’s a great “fox in the box” or just outside the box and he’s great at picking up the lose balls and firing a shot in, particularly with service from good wingers like Jarvis and forwards like Carroll and Cole.

    Is Nolan playing better than Cabaye so far this season? Without question. Are West Ham more organised than us and are they playing to their strengths more than we are? Definitely. Are their squad as a whole on better form and playing better than us? Yes again.

    Would I rather have Nolan playing for us than Cabaye? No chance…

      (Quote)

  19. As Homer Simpson says : Aw, you can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. Forty percent of all people know that.

    Dont think you can argue one player is better than another by using stats.

      (Quote)

  20. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    @georgio

    You say;

    Georgio
    52 mins ago
    Interesting how just one surprise defeat brings out the strangest of arguments.
    I think it’s been a culmination of **** performances and it certainly wasn’t a surprise defeat. 😯
    You say;
    There’s not a lot wrong with the team that a bit of movement off the ball wouldn’t cure. At the moment they all stand and just watch each other. And make each other look poor!
    Is that not the main part of football? Pass and move? 😯

      (Quote)

  21. @SolanosTrumpet:

    “And you corners argument can doubly be used as a reason why Nolan would score more as he is available to score from them, no?”

    I can concede to that argument.

    “Nolan is not world class and yet is vastly superior to Cabaye.” And I just find that nuts.”

    This statement was made in reference to the stats I was comparing the two by. Goals and assists. Naturally there are other things as a manager you may want and for some people Cabaye’s lack of goals and assists can be overlooked if what else he does justifies his selection.

    Nolan’s lack of contribution in defence, distance covered and whatever other attributes / stats Cabaye is superior to him can be overlooked because his goal threat and assists.

    There is a compromise in both cases. If I had both in my team then I repeat, any day of the week I would take a Kevin Nolan over Cabaye.

      (Quote)

  22. @GEORGIO
    November 14, 2012 at 15:55
    Michael @319 – Williamson????? He’s the worst central defender we’ve ever had.

    I’m afraid this is the sort of mental block that many people here suffer. You don’t like him so you cannot acknowledge when he is performing. I’m strictly speaking of this season. Williamson has been reliable and puts in performances which are very good. Certainly in comparison to top central defenders in the league Williamson has nothing of which to be ashamed. Aerially he is among the best. I’m not a williamson fan but I must concede he has been doing well.

    As with any defence, the more you are probed the more there are opportunities to be breached. That has been the case with us this season. Certainly in

      (Quote)

  23. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    Just been mowing the lawn. What’s happening? 😯

      (Quote)

  24. Kim I just finished about half an hr ago got myself a cuppa came on here thinging there would be plenty of gossip to catch up on 😯
    Did you watch the game tonight ? I had it on and got to look up for the replays of the goals 😀

      (Quote)

  25. I thought I would check out how this blog was getting along and I see Michael is back…

    According to Michael, Cabaye is…

    “Neither good going forward” – WRONG – Avg. 1.7 key passes per game(chances created)

    “nor in protecting defence.” – WRONG – Avg. 3.4 tackles per game + Avg. 2.5 interceptions.

    Opta’s definition of a key pass – The final pass or pass-cum-shot leading to the recipient of the ball having an attempt at goal without scoring.

    http://www.whoscored.com/Players/12376/

    Simply comparing goals and assists is schoolyard analysis. There are far too many variables to take into consideration. There will always be variables with stats, but it’s common sense that the more granular you go, the more variables you eliminate and the more reliable your findings become.

    Saying that, if you really want to compare Cabaye to anyone at West Ham you should compare him to Mark Noble, who has silently been a midfield colossus for them this season. The lad has an avg. tackle rate of 4.5 per game and produces 1.8 key passes per game. This is reflected in his overall performance rating of 7.19 this season. In fact, the only reason Noble has a slightly lesser overall performance rating that Cabaye(7.22) this season is because of how often Cabaye intercepts the ball. (Nolan – 7)

    This is the good thing about websites like Whoscored.com, they allow for deeper analysis. Such deep analysis shows you that despite not scoring or assisting as many as Nolan, Noble & Cabaye have BOTH actually been superior players so far this season.

      (Quote)

  26. Kevin Nolan has more goals and assists than Santi Cazorla this season – A player courted by Real Madrid. I will leave everyone else to fill in the rest… 😆

      (Quote)

  27. Gareth Bale…Just another player Nolan pisses all over in the goals and assist championship title race!

    Whilst we are at it, let’s add the following:

    Nasri
    Pienaar
    Arteta

    Hell, what are all these top clubs thinking of?! They have been signing all of these overrated European pansies when they should have gone for, yes that’s right, KEVIN NOLAN!

      (Quote)

  28. If your barometer of measuring a player’s ability is by which clubs are courting him then I am afraid yours seems nothing more than pub analysis.

      (Quote)

  29. Michael

    …Love the way you ignored everything else. Classic mate, absolutely classic.

    When comparing Santi and Nolan is there even a need for deeper analysis? I thought it was common sense, but we can analyse the data if you want… 😆

      (Quote)

  30. @the kid: You are the sort of football analyst who rates players based on nationality, which club is courting him and how fancy their name is. You hear a Brazilain vs and Englishman you immediately believe the Brazilian is better than the Englishman.

    Nolan has been superior to the aforementioned players in terms of goals and assists. With Cabaye you argued with stats to back up your point but with Nolan you are judging him without his stats just opinion.

      (Quote)

  31. This is hilarious. You say stats…but you in fact just mean goals and assists. I have already spoken about the flaws in this kind of over-simplistic analysis on both this thread and previous.

    I prefer to compare players based on granular stats…You know, a bit like real analysts do. 🙄

    I have even provided you with a link above that provides you with pretty much all of the tools needed for you to carry out this kind of granular research yourself. However, you choose not to use it as it doesn’t fit in with your, let’s be honest, ridiculous stance. Instead you tell me my view on Nolan is all about opinion. Eh?

    …It’s fine though. I have no intention to sit up all night and spoon feed you the information – You are a grown man.

      (Quote)

  32. By the way, I thought this was comedy gold…

    “You are the sort of football analyst who rates players based on nationality, which club is courting him and how fancy their name is. You hear a Brazilain vs and Englishman you immediately believe the Brazilian is better than the Englishman.”

    Great summary – It makes perfect sense considering my above statistical breakdown and views on Mark Noble…

    Night.

      (Quote)

  33. The Kid says:
    November 14, 2012 at 22:39
    ‘Kevin Nolan has more goals and assists than Santi Cazorla this season – A player courted by Real Madrid. I will leave everyone else to fill in the rest…’

    You clearly were suggesting Corzola is quality because Real madrid wanted him.

      (Quote)

  34. THE KID
    November 14, 2012 at 22:47
    Hell, what are all these top clubs thinking of?! They have been signing all of these overrated European pansies when they should have gone for, yes that’s right, KEVIN NOLAN!

    😆 😆

    No worries, once Fat Sam gets the Madrid job, he’ll take Carroll and Nolan to the CL final, and glory.

      (Quote)

  35. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    Get in Danny Simpson! He’s scored at last for the Toon!!! 😯

    Latest in the gossip pages is he’s bagged Tulisa ! 😉

    Nice moves Danny boy. She picks the studs! You’ll have her ex Fazer hunting you down next. 😛

      (Quote)

  36. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    I’m sure he’ll force his move to London now. Tulisa won’t want to shop in Fenwicks! Tho she might have heard there’s a few arses on show this year from this blog 😆

      (Quote)

  37. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    I can’t believe we have had so many injuries and suspensions to key players this season!

    I mean, let’s not blame Big Mikey and Pards. How were they to know clubs and players would want paying for their services!!! 😯

    Football has gone mad. I remember Liverpool winning the championship with 12 players!

    That’s the genius with Big Mikey and Pards. They look to the past to move into the future! 😯

      (Quote)

  38. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    Anyone can spend hundreds of millions on players and win the league. What’s fun about that?

    Big Mikey is doing it the proper way. Trying to win it like Liverpool in the 70’s & 80’s.

    All you need is 12 good players! Why won’t any of you understand the genius of the man?? 😯

    It hasn’t worked this season cos we’ve had injuries and suspensions but who could have foreseen that.

    Next year Mikey! Next year! I’m with you! Lets sell and don’t buy and get down to 12 good men!

    I’m with you! The Liverpool way! Genius! 😛

      (Quote)

  39. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    At least if we don’t win the league or finish in the top 6, we can say we tried to do it the right way.

    We will go down in history. Everybody’s second club! The club that tried to win things with 12 good men! 😯

    I’m liking it Mikey! I’m liking it ! 😛

      (Quote)

  40. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    Twelve good men and true. The jury’s not out with me Mikey!! I’m with you! 😛 😛

      (Quote)

  41. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    If the players aren’t happy playing out of position or sick of being shackled with defensive duties or don’t like the 8-2 formation, sell them Mikey!! And make a profit and go out and scour Europe for players who want to play for us!! 😯

    That’s the trouble Mikey! They take Pards promises too seriously when he tries to lure them to our great club. They need to understand that a modern manager has to make false promises.

    Did Ben Arfa really expect to show off his strengths by given a free role?? 🙂 what a mug!! You’re a mug Barfa!! Now get back in defence and don’t complain when your legs are like jelly having run half the pitch to cross the halfway line!! 👿 Modern day footballers just don’t get it! That Ronaldo just sits on the halfway line and runs the opposition defence ragged!!! What about your bloody defence Ronny???? Eh??? 👿

    Try burning yourself out in your own half first! You wouldn’t get away with that with Pards!!! You might with the special one but not Pardsy!! You Portuguese muppet!! Pards is miles ahead of you and Morinho!! 😈

      (Quote)

  42. Troy I see you have issues with the LMA manager of the year now. Don’t you know anything about football?

    I honestly don’t think he’d care if we had 4 donkeys at the back instead of 2.
    Donkeys must be cheap right?

      (Quote)

  43. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    Just a side issue. If Trumpet or anyone else involved in the Nolan Cabaye debate is reading.

    Stats on goals and assists can be very misleading.

    Nolan has scored 5 in 11. Cabaye 2 in 11.

    The huge difference is, Nolan puts himself in dangerous positions continuously. He doesn’t necessarily have to score to cause problems for the opposition. The fact he gets in the box, enables others to get up and stretch the opposition defence.

    There was no better player than Bellamy for causing mayhem yet he wasn’t prolific. It gave his team mates opportunities tho.

    Cabaye rarely ventures into the box. BTW I’m not comparing Bellamy with anyone other than to make a point about getting in the opposition box and the opportunity it creates.

      (Quote)

  44. (THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)

    @Georgio

    What amazes me. The LMA winner got it right for most of last season.

    All I see now, is everyone shackled by defensive duties. It pains me to see Barfa tearing round in his own half.

    Of course he needs to occasionally track back but it seems its a major part of his game this season.

    Call me old fashioned, but I see Barfa as our most dangerous player. If there is one player that should be told to hog the halfway line as an outlet when we are defending, its him.

    Ba/ Cisse et al can’t hold it up like he can. He’s able to get it, hold it up, run with it or score the most spectacular goals. For me, Pards has got it totally wrong with our most creative player we have had since Beardo.

    I’m going to start the Free Barfa Camapaign!! 😛

      (Quote)

  45. @Troy
    “the Nolan Cabaye debate” 😆 please stop, my head is starting to hurt!! This debate is basically Michael, stating that Nolan has more goals and assists than Cabaye (which is true) and ignoring all other aspects of a midfielders game and that Nolan’s role has been behind the striker and Cabaye’s in front of the defence this season.

      (Quote)

  46. Btw I’m a huge fan of Nolan.
    I think he has terrific leadership skills and his knack of being in the right place at the right time must be up there as the leagues best.
    But there is a reason he’s never seriously been considered for a place in the England team isn’t there? Michael can’t blame that on “foreign bias”, for the prolific midfielder that he is you would have thought his resume would read better than “Bolton”, “Toon in their darkest period”, “West Ham in the Champ $$”
    He gets in the box yeah, he just doesn’t have the fitness 😉 to get back to his own. Troy, I think you yourself often say you think Pardew is the reason Cabaye doesn’t venture forward more, so you can’t blame Cabaye for that can you?

      (Quote)

  47. Free Hatem Ben Arfa
    Free free
    Free free free Hatem Ben Arfa

    Free Hatem Ben Arfa

    21 years and in captivity
    Told to track back and stay in defence,
    His game is stifled, but his mind is still free
    You’re so blind that you cannot see
    So Pards,
    Free Hatem Ben Arfa

    Visited the gallowgate at NUFC
    I’m only one man in the Toon army
    You’re so blind that you cannot see
    You’re so deaf that you cannot hear him
    So Pards,
    Free Hatem Ben Arfa

    21 tears and in captivity
    You’re so blind that you cannot see
    You’re so deaf that you cannot hear him
    You’re so dumb that you cannot speak
    So Pards,
    Free Hatem Ben Arfa

      (Quote)

  48. This talk about Pardew – LMA manager of the year has given me some thoughts, may have to pen an article…
    Basically, are our expectations completely out of sync with what our squad (even if we’d made a couple of signings) is generally capable of?
    It seems the footballing world would think so.
    Man City beating Man Utd to the title, Swansea and Norwich sauntering through their PL seasons, all their managers overlooked, for who?
    Alan Pardew.
    To me the manager of the year award suggests someone has achieved great things with what they had at their disposal.
    We don’t yet have a team or a squad capable of challenging for 4th regularly.
    We overachieved last year, which is why Pardew won that award. You don’t see Redknapp/Wenger winning the award despite finishing above us, why? Because their teams and squads are MUCH stronger than ours. Ashley let us down by not signing minimum of a CB, but it doesn’t change the fact that our squad as it stands is probably 8th, maybe up to 6th. Capable of challenging for more if spirit and organisation is there, as it was last year, but seems non-existent this year.

      (Quote)

  49. @Troy
    Specials?
    If ever there was a band name to describe a man 😉
    I’m in, even if it means playing Ober on the right and dropping a Demba so HBA can be free in the centre
    FREE BARFA

      (Quote)

  50. Troy@343 ,You beat me to it re -Simo.Was gonna say he must have some good moves in him to bag the cutie Tulisa 😉 .And I agree looks like he’ll defo be off now as she won’t wanna live in the NE ,too much based in London .The writings on the wall ,he’ll be off for sure now.

      (Quote)

  51. Dave ,Late reply got caught up with Lew last night .Yeah I watched it in bits and pieces ,that Ibrahimivic goal was something else wasn’t it? 😯

      (Quote)

  52. Danny boy and Tulissa? She’s tidy, albeit incredibly annoying. Wonder if any of the southern clubs will actually buy him now? Or just wait till the end of the year..

      (Quote)

  53. One date and Danny is off to London…. one loss and Pardew is playing everyone out of position… there is a pattern to all this… 🙂 🙂

      (Quote)

  54. Aussie-To be fair, i’m basing that on the general assumption that Debuchy will be coming here and Danny won’t be singing a new contract on current terms.

      (Quote)

  55. No stress Newkie, I was allowing for the fact that you only just woke up as well 🙂 🙂 🙂

      (Quote)

  56. Aussie 😆

    I’m joining the rest of the world in the 9-5 grind in a week or two, not sure if I’ll be able to cope 😕

      (Quote)

  57. Ice, it’s nice to see that your missus is allowing you to spend some time online mate 🙂 🙂

      (Quote)

  58. Remy would be a quality aquisition but I can’t see it. We’re the bargain bucket side remember!

    Cheers Aussie 😉

      (Quote)

  59. Ice @ 371 ,See the rumour mill is in full flo ,can’t see it to be honest ,not the Ba bit ,the Remy bit 😉

    Newkie ,Good luck with the job mate. 😀

      (Quote)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *