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Aurelien
20.01.08
Joined: 06 Jun 2004
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Location: Jowston Hill
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Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 6:32 am Post subject: |
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Archy, I read somewhere that Newcastle fans have always like attractive football up to the point that they don't mind that the team got stuck in mid-table as long as they play an entertaining football. Unfortunately, Sam Allardyce and "Entertaining Football" are as far apart as North Pole and South Pole. That's why the fans are quite quickly to turn against Allardyce.
For those who know me, I've always been a fan of Sam Allardyce for what he did in Bolton. But even so, I can see a few mistakes that Big Sam has made so far. Things like:
1. Buying Joey Barton
The idea is quite alright to have a "hardman" to toughen up the fragile midfield of Newcastle. But a hardman doesn't have to be a hardman outside the football field. A hardman doesn't have to be the nemesis of elephant man *coughDabocough* Joey Barton needs to be sold. Quick.
2. Selling Scott Parker
To me, Scott Parker could've been the "Kevin Nolan" of Newcastle. Parker definitely has skills as he carried Charlton on his own back then (what now, 3 years ago?). It was only a matter of whether he was given the chance to shine or not. Selling him to West Ham and sadly buying Barton instead, really made Allardyce to lose a strong central midfielder who can score like Nolan used to do a few years ago.
3. Owen or Martins
No doubt that Owen and Martins are the two best players in Newcastle on paper. Unfortunately, Big Sam has no idea how to utilize them together. Out of the strikers he has in the team, it is very interesting that the one that is closest to being guaranteed to be in the first XI would be Mark Viduka instead. Big Sam has no idea how to utilize a quickman like Martins, or a poacher like Owen. Not to mention that I can't remember a successfull team ever having 2 starting forwards who are both small in physique.
4. Buying untested defenders
Let's face it, everyone knows that Newcastle had crap defense in that Titanic Crumble (god bless him for being sold already). But to replace the defense with players who are mostly (if not all) untested in the Premier League made it a HUGE gamble. So far, not really paying off as their defense seem to be shaky. Even a player like Cacapa (the captain of Lyon, the dominator of French Ligue 1, before moving to Newcastle) ended up struggling. Newcastle needed to get someone who can be the leader for their defense. Someone who knows how to play in the Premier League.
While I know that it's not easy to make Newcastle a success, but the team looks to be quite strong on paper. Probably worthy to be in the top 6 or something. Yet, how they find themselves mid-bottom-ish on the table is quite disappointing. _________________
~City-States of Jowston and Tinto Republic~
06.06.2004 - 20.01.2008
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Goldy
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:18 am Post subject: |
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Feast your eyes on this footie fans!
Champions League Quarter Finals
Arsenal v Liverpool
AS Roma v Man Utd
Schalke 04 v FC Barcelona
Fenerbahce v Chelsea
Champions League Semi Finals
Arsenal/Liverpool v Fenerbahce/Chelsea
Schalke/Barcelona v AS Roma/Man Utd |
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ViktorFan
Shalimar
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:26 am Post subject: |
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I'm glad that Schalke doesn't have to play vs Fenerbahce, they don't deserve so much luck. My guess for the final is Arsenal vs ManU with Arsenal being the winner :D. I wouldn't want that Roma, Fenerbahce or Schalke will play in the final. Or if they did they shouldn't win. |
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Goldy
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:29 am Post subject: |
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Do you think Arsenal will get past cup specialists Liverpool? Liverpool are the form team at the moment in the Premier League and i would imagine they will fancy their chances against Arsenal.
Manchester United made hard work of the Lyon games.....they will have to step-up alot if they hope to get past Roma, again. |
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ViktorFan
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:51 am Post subject: |
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Well, my predictions are always (and only) based on sympathy. When you look at my current avatar you see that I like Fernando Torres, but he's the only one from Liverpool who I like, that's why I wish that Arsenal will win. Being a German I should support Schalke but I will never support them. The same for Roma, I don't like Italian teams in general, I never did and I will never do, for example I don't like their theatralic behaviour when they are fouled. So for me it doesn't matter if a team has a run in their Nations League and should be the better one (on the paper), if they aren't sympathic I want the others to win (if the opponent isn't sympathic too then I don't care who wins). ^__^ |
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Fundertaker
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:54 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
I'm glad that Schalke doesn't have to play vs Fenerbahce, they don't deserve so much luck |
Neuer ran it out against Porto last week. _________________ Tinto: Kicking Asses is our Speciality
This post is officially Fundertaker Approved |
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Goldy
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:01 am Post subject: |
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So......can Manchester United retain the Premier League with just three games to go? Away to Chelsea, at home to West Ham and away to Wigan......they bloody well better!!!!
And it is also Champions League Semi-Final week.....oh it is going to be a nerve wrecking end to the season for me. |
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