There have been lots of reasons put forward this season to explain why Newcastle United is in the mess it’s in, but where does the majority of the blame lie? You, the reader will establish that with a good old fashioned vote.
At the end of last season Mike Ashley stood in front of the Sky television cameras and promised to ‘bolt the horse to the cart’. He promised Cup runs, investment in the team and that he would not leave until we had won something or qualified for the Champion’s League. Well here we are 9 months later having spent £80 million in the transfer market and yet the club sits in the relegation zone having been dumped out of both Cups in the earliest rounds. He also chose to trust Lee Charnley with the running of his club – not to mention his long term neglect of the club and blatant use of the institution that is NUFC as a Sports Direct advertising tool (for free). He has to be included in the list of candidates for this vote, but maybe he does not deserve the blame this time – as he did invest and I’m sure he will be as shocked as the rest of us by our current situation?
From the board we have Lee Charnley, thrust into the controller’s chair despite no history in football other than being club secretary. He does not seem to be a bad transfer negotiator, but bypassed a lot of top managers to snare Steve McClaren in what must go down as one massive mistake.
Then there is Graham Carr. His position on the board is unusual for a scout and it can be argued that he has far too much influence on Charnley. He seems to decide who we sign and not the manager, at least up until the winter window just passed – and bizarrely for a football man he has constructed a lopsided squad lacking depth and quality in almost every area of the pitch. Why have we not signed enough quality defenders for so long?
Steve McClaren (now also known as the Grin Reaper) has managed to take £80 million pounds of investment and oversee a squad constantly languishing in the drop zone all season, getting smashed time and again away from home and having the 2nd worst goal difference in the league. He repeats the same old tired rubbish after every loss and continually extends his own time frames from which fans can judge him on. He displays very little tactical forethought and makes questionable team selections.
I don’t even know why Bob Moncur is on the board or what he brings to the club? Is he taking up a space that somebody could actually be useful in?
Then there is the playing staff itself. ‘Captain’ Fabricio Coloccini displays no leadership skills of any kind and is past it as a PL defender. Why the Grin Reaper awarded him with an extention and retained him as Captain is anybody’s guess, but by signing that contract when he knew he was a spent force, he has guaranteed that our club struggles on with an immobile and gutless figure at the heart of our defense and squad in general.
Florian Thauvin came with a big price tag and big wage increase. He had a responsibility to apply himself every day and instead turned into a shrinking violet at the first sign of hard work. Carr should have done a better job of scouting him, but that does not excuse his lack of heart and application. That money could have gone on another area of the pitch.
Several other players seem to be ‘fair weather’ players. Happy to turn it on at home with the crowd behind them but can’t be bothered to put their bodies on the line when on the road, rolling over and allowing opposition teams to tickle their belly while the goals fly in at the wrong end of the pitch. Sissoko has created the most chances for us and has the most assists. Wijnaldum has the most goals, but they go missing on away days. Why is that? Is it tactics, the players or both? I will call these players the ‘homers’.
Mitrovic came in with a heavy price tag and a lot of responsibility for one so young. But he also came in talking about being the next Alan Shearer. He has failed to deliver. Is he one the main reasons for our poor form this season or was it poor planning by our board to pin all our goalscoring hopes on a young man that had never played at this level before? Is he applying himself enough?
How about the back room staff? Ian Cathro came in with a growing reputation. Steve Black is supposed to be a genius motivator and Paul Simpson is the Grin Reapers right hand man. What have they actually brought to our game? The team seems to lack confidence and basic defending skills. What do our coaches do?
Then there is the medical staff. Why is it we seem to always be top of the injury list, from both recurring injuries to long term injuries? Is it training methods, treatment methods or no methods at all? What does our club not do that most other clubs do?
Pick your 3 main offenders below;
[poll id=”91″]
Good article. I’ve voted Ashley cos he’s tried to bolt the cart to the horse too late. Well run clubs change one or two players a season and build slowly. Ashley neglected the team for years.
Charnley cos he appointed McLaren and McLaren because of the results on the field.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Because Lee Clark has been snapped up by Kilmarnock and we’ve lost out, I would recommend Stuart Pearce to take over until the end of the season.
He knows the club well. He knows what it means to play for us. He understands the fans. He’s managed at the highest level and has experience. This team needs a fighting attitude instilled and I believe Pearce could bring that and he is free at the moment.
I just hope Charnley is reading this! If you are, you can email via Facebook and I will give you more tips and ideas. 😉
Klinsmann has been mentioned by someone else. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Good article!
I voted Charnley: he picked Steve, who is worse than Pardew.. over many others.. . if he didnt know this before-hand then he knows nothing about football, he’s been hoodwinked by the grim reaper in his interviews, and still is. Charnley hasnt found his balls to fire him
Ashley, made promises but how can you deliver with Charnley running your circus? his fault for relying on Charnley, carr and SM. Pay the price you don’t buy twice… Its no surprise we’re in the same predicament every year because of Mikes flawed policies.
Sissoko etc. so many bottlers in our team its scary. to think our home games will save us doesnt bode well for this season and next (if we stay up) SM hasnt addressed this problem all year & by the looks of it will be given another chance next year 🙄
Gashley(Quote)
1.The club is badly run, and has been for years. Ashley has to take responsibility for that. His appointment of dimwits to take charge of the club is a major problem.
2. Charnley had a chance to do something when Pardew left but bottled it, appointing ‘safe’ and cheap options instead of trying something different to break the cycle.
3. The manager is ****.
Brisvegas(Quote)
McClaren said: “I have said in there (the dressing room), don’t let that derail us.
“It’s one of those games you are going to get one or two of a season.
“Chelsea were going for it with the team they put out with their front five.
“They were going for it and wanted the game won by half-time.
“You could see that with the week they have got. That can happen.
“At 3-0 it is damage limitation.
“At half-time we said make sure we score a goal and make sure this doesn’t derail us.
Terrific Steve.
what about Sunderland 3-0, City 6-1, Leicester@home 3-0? Palace 5-1? Everton 3-0?? there has been many more poor games.. 😳
Gashley(Quote)
One or two a season!!! He should be on stage.
Ashley is blameless on this occasion. McClaren, coaches and Charnley are to blame.
Stuart79(Quote)
I voted Charnley as it says this season but Troy is right about Ashley bolting the horse to the cart too late. Our squad has been neglected for years and when it has been strengthened its been in the wrong areas.
Charnley lacked the bottle to try for a decent coach in the Summer, instead he opted for what he perceived to be the safe option in Mclaren who he thought would do a safe but unspectacular job which in turn would keep Charnley safe Guess what? it backfired big style, over to you Ashley cos Penfold ain’t got the balls to admit he got it wrong!
Then we come to the team, too many who play when they want, too many who just aren’t good enough. The closer it gets to the Euro’s the less likely some of those players will put a foot in when it hurts for fear of missing out on the tournament…not that they are doing that anyway!
In short..it’s looking pretty muck like we’re fooked unless Ashley acts now, and even then…!!!
richietoon(Quote)
Finally my lads come across a team with an abyssmal points return, and what happens? I score the lowest number points all season and lose by 1 point – again. Unbelievable! That’s 5 losses out of 6. And somehow I’m still 2nd. But the pelaton draws closer and Alestars are struggling as well. The title race is still open for a bolter.
In the battle of the form teams, Shteves Schitty showed their wares and beat Aussie Mags. In the last 7-8 games they’ve come from somewhere near the dross to become genuine title contenders.
It’s 1v2 next game.
1 Alestars 55
2 Newbriscastle Roar 49
3 Balotellitubbies 48
4 Shteves Shcitty 46
5 Born Winner FC 45
6 Nik Nak Utd 45
7 Natalie Sawyer Fan 43
8 Dubai Toon United 42
9 Puff Puff Pass 42
10 Joshua 42
Brisvegas(Quote)
I let Ashley off the hook this time, because he has pumped a lot of money in this season and that money should have been enough to see us bring balance into the squad. Unfortunately the board has mismanaged that money and failed to clear out the dead wood. Ashley would be in the top 3, but for me the triumvirate of Charnley, Carr and McClaren have made so many costly mistakes that are directly responsible for the mess we are, that they get my vote first. Be happy to see them all go.
Shamrock(Quote)
Lee Ryder is a ***! His latest article is how everyone is calm, no panic, club encouraged by recent home games, IF we manage another 4 home wins and pick up a FEW away points we will be safe! He’s good isn’t it?!
Stuart79(Quote)
nice article.
aye ashley did promise to bolt the horse to the cart.
he also said – the buck stops with him – and it does.
he’s the man that appointed the man that appointed the man etc.
the buck well and truly stops with him!
roy cropper(Quote)
Good read sham, I voted Lee, cause he ain’t got a clue what he’s doing and chose ‘safe’ over progressive when selecting a coach for the team. Apparently we had 80 applications if you believe Lee, yet we go back 3 times for a guy who is average and at the time seemed no better than what we had.
Second vote went to the coaches, who I include Steve in. What ever they are doing isn’t working, end of.
Third vote goes to the Homers, the players in general cannot escape our wrath because as much as they need a game plan and tactics and motivation, they also know **** well what they have to do out there. I don’t see anywhere near enough effort from certain individuals, especially away from home. There seems no leadership anywhere which frankly worries the **** out of me.
kimtoon(Quote)
Roy, You are right of course, although he has spent £80m over the last two windows it has been spent wrongly in part. The £13m for Thauvin should of been spent on defensive addition and Colo cut loose. Colo has done well for us in the past but his game is up now and how they cannot see this is beyond me. Jabba has acted too little too late, and lets not fool ourselves it’s for the good of the club either, I think it’s quite clear why he has spent now rather than before.
kimtoon(Quote)
Question is, will he now act too late when it comes to replacing the manager?
kimtoon(Quote)
Stuart: two of our home games are against Citeh and Spurs. I wonder if we will pick up anything there as they will probably both be fighting for the title or at least automatic Champions League. Talk about 4 wins at home ignores who we are playing as we also have the Mackems. I think we will turn it around and beat them this time (even with Schteve). Blind faith I know. The pivotal games are Norwich and Villa away which I think will decide our season.
I wrote in the last thread that we will have virtually the full squad fit for the run in so Steve can have no excuses. He is almost spoilt for choice which will probably confuse him. I bet he still picks Coloccini for every game though 🙂 We probably have the best players in the bottom half, the problem is that the squad is unbalanced with not enough quality in defense and no proven PL scorer since Cisse has gone off the boil for at least a year.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, Hopefully Cisse returns with a point to prove
kimtoon(Quote)
I think Carr thought we would not struggle this year and that is why he went for Thauvin. He is a luxury player who might thrive in a winning team when he can run at players and show off a few tricks. I am sure that was the reasoning and with a better manager it might have worked because Steve really didn’t know what to do with him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Good read and interesting Sham I had to go with
1 Jabba as everything starts and stops with him, he thought it was a good move to promote a secretary to run one of the biggest clubs in the country.
2 Charmless because he has no idea what he is doing , and has no idea about footie. Add to that that he hired Schteve which shows he has no idea about what makes a good manager.
3 Schteve as he has shown he knows nothing about managing a Prem lge team, and win lose or draw he has that stupid fuking grin on his face that makes me very angry.
Big Dave(Quote)
Is anybody haunted by Steve’s last game as England manager, the Wally with a Brolly game? He had a few injuries but he looked lost on the sideline when we needed a result against Croatia. He had the same body language and expression as he did against Chelsea. I can’t remember the post match from back then so I am not sure if he was grinning or not.
He is another one of those managers who do not seem able to stop the rot when it sets in and he has dragged around his serial losing coaching staff and motivational guru with him. That is blind loyalty because he, and they, have been sacked from their last 4 jobs and are very close to being sacked at the 5th. And a 28 year old Cathro with hardly any experience can be classed as a gamble.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sham @9 – we’re on the same page mate. My initial thought was Ashley (default setting now I think), but then the money he has released suggests he’s been as true to his word as he will ever likely be.
If the question is whose at fault for this seasons failings then it has to be Charnley, Carr & McClaren. However, those saying that Ashley installed them so his fault as right and he’s also the bloke that could have taken action to fix it before now too.
It’s all well and good standing in front of the cameras saying he’s going to release the funds and take a step back to allow the club to be ran by the board. But he did not employ the best possible people to run the club in his absence – and he never has.
In a nutshell, it’s not down to 1 person – I would say at least 4 are culpable.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ronny Gill running stories of David Moyes now. Do they know something we don’t?
http://mobile.newsnow.co.uk/A/2/816414427?-11058:809:t
Sharpy17(Quote)
Agreed Sharphy. Perhaps MA should have been in my top 3 – as employing Charnley in that role was clearly a massive mistake and sepite Charnleys blind faith in the Grin Reaper, MA could still have stepped in and said enough is enough….. It’s a tough one because all 4 have a huge amount to answer for. The players need to shoulder a lot of blame but the manager, scout and coaches should be picking the right players and installing discipline and commitment into the side…
Shamrock(Quote)
kimtoon
i’m sure charnley & carr are doing their best ( as was carver) – but can you really blame them when their best isn’t anywhere near good enough?
if ash made the correct appointments & investment from the get go then i’m pretty sure we could have been a consistent top 6 club with the added bonus of a few decent cup runs.
considering the history of his appointments has had us struggling season after season – why doesn’t he? especially with the money that is coming!
he can get away with that at sports direct but it’s clearly not working at newcastle.
roy cropper(Quote)
Blaming Ashley is the easy option. Like blaming the Health Minister for a NHS manager making mistakes that cost the NHS a fortune. As the man ultimately in charge they might take the honourable role of responsibility but in the real world they can’t be held responsible for every individuals actions and performances.
Ashley released the money and teams like Bournemouth, Norwich, Watford, WBA and Palace to name but a few don’t have players as good as ours but seem to be doing better. The ultimate responsibility has to be with the coach. A decent coach would have us 14th and above.
Ashley’s only blame here is why he hasn’t acted and sacked McClaren. He can then sack Charnley at the end of the season.
Stuart79(Quote)
Good article Shamrock.
My only gripe is that we could only pick 3 of the available choices.
I voted for McClaren and also for the coaches as it felt like I was voting for McClaren twice.
My other vote went to Charmless but it was a close call with Colo until I remembered Colo had put in a half decent performance in a game this season.
sidekick(Quote)
i’m sure there won’t be managers appointed to the NHS because they are cheap yes men – they will have been appointed because they qaulify for the position.
unlike ashley’s appointments.
roy cropper(Quote)
Well Graham Carr in particular had to be persuaded to stay at the club by Ashley after the debacle of Kinnear.
Stuart79(Quote)
The Chronicle are calling this almost a “mini pre-season”. I hope the staff are not calling it that because it would show they have really lost the plot. What have they been doing for 26 games? They are doing 2-a-days and working on fitness. Why aren’t the players fit, even the ones who were injured? Don’t we have fitness coaches and physios? They will be working on tactics and formations. What, was the video room locked for the past 6 months?
I know they are trying to make the right noises by saying we have 12 cup finals and that this is a new beginning and the season starts here but it begs the question as to what the fck they have been doing to this point.
The only possible excuse for this new BS is that they have to integrate the 4 new players, but can we trust them to do this in the short amount of time we have left? They haven’t been able to get the most out of the summer signings after 26 games so what makes them think a week in Spain will put everything right?
Or, what they have been doing hasn’t been working SO LET’S RIP IT UP AND START AGAIN. That’s encouraging 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
More sense from Olivier Bernard:
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mcclarens-decision-play-aarons-left-10894956?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
A small part of what Bernard had to say:
“I know there’s a long list of injuries at the moment, but Rolando Aarons should not have been used at left-back at the weekend against Chelsea.
Aarons is a young player who I really like the look of, but he is not a left-back – not in any way, shape or form, and it was completely unfair to throw him in there for the thankless task of marking Eden Hazard and Pedro in west London.
He’s been out injured for the best part of the last year to 18 months, and yet he returns to be deployed in a position he is entirely unfamiliar with.
He doesn’t yet look back up to the pace of the Premier League, and his positioning is understandably poor because he isn’t a full-back and never has been.”
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Jesus! I hope it isn’t a mini pre season! Ours was **** poor!!!
Stuart79(Quote)
As Charnley knows nothing about football he listens to Graham Carr. Carr and McClaren are long term mates. That’s why he’s at the club. Carr has brought us the likes of Thauvin, Cabella, Riviere, De Jong(s), (is Dumbia his call?) who are all totally unsuited to the PL. A glance at their show reels told ME that. Pathetic!
And only one defender when we needed three or 4.
So there you have it – a man with suspect judgement making all the big calls at the club because the management (Ashley and Charnley) know nothing.
Georgio(Quote)
Shamrock – why the moderation comment. Was it too accurate for the club? 🙂
Georgio(Quote)
Georgio?
Shamrock(Quote)
I very much doubt our MD (or many clubs MD) would know Thauvin, Cabella, Mbemba, Wijnaldum, Rivière, Ivan Toney or Carl Darlow. As KK said Charnley, Ashley, Llambias, Irving etc. don’t know football.
Carr is employed by the club to advise these suits on footballing decisions. The squad is underachieving because of Carrs choice of manager & unbalanced because of Carrs choice of signings
CC(Quote)
What about Moncur?
I have given Carr some slack on the signings as before this season he’s been shopping in the bargain basement.
Stuart79(Quote)
moncur…
one minute he’s doing a bit corporate on match days the next he’s on the board!!
the same can be said of beardsley – one minute it’s a bit of corporate & locking SJP up when everyone has gone home the next he’s in charge of the u21’s.
from ash down – they all just keep putting square pegs in round holes.
nee wonder the mess we are in.
roy cropper(Quote)
Moncur was appointed to the board the same time as McClaren. He wasn’t involved in hiring him
CC(Quote)
Charnley and Carr are responsible for hiring McClaren, with Charnley being so hell bent on getting him he almost got us relegated last season waiting for him and even after such a poor record Charnley is still said to be confident McClaren is the right man. My take on that is that Charnley thinks he’s the best man to fit into his stupid and ridiculous system of having Carr and Charnley pick which players and which positions are bought and the coach just coaches them. What an inverted pyramid of piffle!
Stuart79(Quote)
Nice to see people agreeing with me (for once!). There have been a few good signings from Carr and Stuart mentioned the mitigation of bargain basement shopping. Having said that there’s a long list of complete duds from the guy when other clubs have been in the same supermarket and come up with diamonds. Mahrez, Kante for example and even the scum have unearthed a few.
However when you’re spending £80m you should at least buy for the correct positions that need strengthening. Epic fail Carr.
Georgio(Quote)
Leicester’s pick up in form began when they signed Huth, a dominant no nonsense CB. We’ve needed one for over twenty years.
Georgio(Quote)
GEORGIO the same can be said of Shawcross when hes missing from Stoke back four they are very poor
Icedog(Quote)
Spot on Ice! How McClaren and Co can’t see this I just don’t understand.
Georgio(Quote)
Actually I can see and it’s bloody bean counting again. We already have too many CBs when you can only play 2. That’s the pathetic way they look at a squad. Clueless!
Georgio(Quote)
So Carver said Colo is not a leader on the pitch he just plays for himself,well why the fook did they give him another contract,these clowns do my heed in
Icedog(Quote)
mind carver talked some ***** when he was the coach – like you will never hear again! oh hold on a minute…
roy cropper(Quote)
pardew/carver & now the plonker.
verbal diarrhea merchants of the highest order.
😆 😆
roy cropper(Quote)
That’s being kind Roy
Georgio(Quote)
pardew – there’s a dedicated site covering his bullshit quotes.
carver – i’m the best coach in the premier league – nuff said.
the plonker – every time he opens his trap.
😆
roy cropper(Quote)
Quite a few journalists have now turned and are now wondering why he still have a job. I don’t trust those w@nkers either but they can see what we have been seeing and are now saying it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Georgio – can you imagine the comments on here though if we had signed Huth – Stoke reject!!, nee better than Willo!!. 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy I think Huth is a super no nonsense defender and a leader.
Big Dave(Quote)
Meant to add if anyone compared him to Willo I would say they have never actually watched them play 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave – I agree with you, but I still bet there would be some on here questioning our ambition and recruitment if we had went for Huth.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy @ 54 no doubt about that, And probably a few saying that he isnt worth this or that.
Big Dave(Quote)
SHARPY@54 I think your wrong most on here would have welcomed him with open arms,mind he’s a dirty git,but you need that at times like when you play the likes Costa he wouldn’t. Bully Huth that’s for sure
Icedog(Quote)
What are the chances of next Monday’s fan forum being postponed? Who is allowed to ask the questions anyway? Do they have to be in writing or can the audience ask what they want? Are they allowed follow-ups?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I really don’t see the mood lifting between now and next Monday so I think Charnley will bottle it. We seem to take one step forward and two steps back. Do you really think Lee would be willing to answer questions about why no defenders were brought in or Steve to defend his selection of Aarons as left-back against Chelsea? Just waiting for the announcement as I am sure the decision to postpone has already been made. Maybe the trip back from Spain will be too grueling for Schteve?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Voted McClaren, Ashley and Charnley (and would be in that order). McClaren should be doing better with our squad, Ashley is in overall charge and Charnley runs the club on a day to day basis.
Not happy with people blaming Colo. I think he’s an unfair scapegoat. Plenty of players haven’t played well this season and I don’t believe he’s been the worst. Plus, if we had a clearly better option, then he would have played instead. Ashley and Charnley are to blame that we haven’t brought in a centre half until last summer when we got Mbemba and Lascelles.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
And nice to see Shteves Schitty climbing the table! It’s about bloody time.
And for anyone questioning what I thought of McClaren before the season even started…there’s your answer…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
When a player like Huth isn’t really needed by a club like Stoke and then goes to the team bottom of the league for £3m…I don’t really think many fans would have supported his signing. It’s easy to say things like that in hindsight…
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
TDS: I think Coloccini has had some decent games this season. What was scary though was when Costa gave him a 5 yard head start in a 12 yard foot race and beat him to the ball. I think that crystalized everybody’s thoughts on what is wrong in those 3 seconds. He needs somebody quick next to him and that is not Steven Taylor. Hopefully, MBemba will be back because Lascelles is obviously not ready and may never be.
Saying all of that, we are on pace to ship 71 goals this season which shows our defense is absolute ***** whatever way you look at it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Dummett is actually quicker than most give him credit for. I saw some write up the other day that he was timed in a match as one of the quickest in the league. I also saw him one on one against a speedy winger, I think Oxlaide Chamberlain and he beat him for pace. Maybe he should be switched to centre-back? They have been banging on for years that he is a future centre-back, maybe the future is now?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ERIC
I agree with you. I said a the beginning of the season that Colo needs someone with him to do the running. His strengths are in positioning and experience. Taylor is good at the hustle and bustle but he’s also not match fit.
I just don’t blame Colo. The club didn’t invest in a replacement for him before the summer, it made sense to have a transitional season for Mbemba to learn from Colo and he’s still one of the best 2 defenders at our club I believe. And more importantly McClaren believes that too. So it’s not his fault.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Dummett will be a decent squad player in my opinion. A player like Watson or Hughes. Hopefully he will stick around and play decent games when needed. But I don’t believe he will ever be a top player.
I’d like to see more respect for the solid pro who isn’t one of our best 11 but is an important player to come in when needed. Dummett, Willo, Taylor and Elliott all spring to mind. Even Shola.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
At least we’re consistent through all levels. Our youth team got beat by Sunderland today.
Stuart79(Quote)
Actually, TDS, you said that McClaren would improve the defenders we had and that was the basis of your opinion that we didn’t need any other defenders.
Stuart79(Quote)
TDS: I think Elliot has proved to be a better keeper than Krul and should be our first choice and get a new very much improved contract. He is only 29 and Krul is now 28. The place should be awarded on ability not reputation.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
STUART
Stop making **** up. The reason I said we wouldn’t sign any more defenders were as follows:
1 – McClaren got Colo to sign a contract extension AND confirmed him as captain so I believed he would expect to at least start the season
2 – Mbemba was a pretty big money signing and I believed he would start the season with Colo
3 – McClaren made positive comments about Taylor so I believed he saw him as part of his squad
4 – Lascelles came back from his loan and it was clear he was being talked about a part of the squad
5 – Dummett was also part of the squad
That was the whole basis of my argument why we wouldn’t sign another defender in the last few weeks of the summer transfer window.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
ERIC
Elliot has been excellent so far. Going to be a tough choice which one starts next season I think! But he was being slated before Krul got injured. Many fans on here would have shifted him out last summer if they got their way. Proves my point that a squad/backup player proves very important sometimes.
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
Calm down, TDS. You don’t have to prove your football naivety to me…
Stuart79(Quote)
Elliott is number one for me. Not a lot of difference between them in terms of reflex saves or communication, but Elliott wins hands down on distribution and high balls.
Shamrock(Quote)
ERIC Elloitt was given a improved contract last year mate,3 yrs I. think.
Hope our stats improve after this break,thing is there always worse after breaks history says they are 🙁
Icedog(Quote)
TDS Ime afraid you coming up with Shola as squad player makes me wonder about your football knowledge,have you seen him play more than one game? he got payed under false pretences for five plus yrs,please don’t bring up that he scored in the Derby ( two games a year) oh wow
Icedog(Quote)
Ice: an improved contract as the number 3 keeper behind Darlow. I think he is now our number 1 keeper and if Krul doesn’t like it we can get some dosh for him. Krul probably wont want to play in The Championship anyway 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)