Haha! A great point at Stamford Bridge. The youngsters showed that they have plenty of sausage in their trousers, if you'll pardon the expression.
Look at the substitutions, though - Ancelotti brought on Drogba, Essien, and Malouda, while Pardew had Sammy Ameobi, Kazenga Lualua, and Nile Ranger. Desperately need more depth. And fewer injuries.
Toon Fans
Ameobi and Lualua are good local lads and Ranger has a cool name (Norf Lundun lad). But so young.
Possibly can pick a couple of players from West Ham now that the fire sale will go ahead there?
This "fair play" table is ridiculous. We've gotten the most yellow cards, a respectable tally of reds, yelled at more officials, taunted more opponents, and generally been the most pro-active team in the league. And who gets rewarded? Fulham, who never do anything!
FIFA - take control!
Stripes2011-05-17 09:21:27
FIFA - take control!
Stripes2011-05-17 09:21:27
Sepp Blater wept! Is the EPL going to be like this? Bin Hamman - take control.
Toonsy at .co.uk paused to dwell on what a brilliant player we have in HBA. Some parts of the Everton game were simply magical. He's a real artist on the ball, and everyone should be looking forward to seeing more of that brilliance next season.
On the darker side of things, the shots of Ben Arfa getting kicked by Everton are infuriating - like seeing someone take a hammer to Michelangelo's David. I hate De Jong more than ever.
What did the toffee sorry City thug get as a punishment again? It wasn't much as I recall.
Junior822011-05-17 17:38:08
Fellaini got a yellow card in that match.
If you meant De Jong: after he nearly ended HBA's career, the Dutch dropped him for a few games. No punishment in the EPL. Nothing public from City's management.
Probably the worst thing he got was the adoration of Citizens fans.
Actually, while I'm going to leave it up there, I retract the bit about City fans and apologise. Most of you are OK and I'm aware that some were quite unhappy about that tackle.
The worst thing de Jong got was admiration in certain quarters of 5under1and.
The worst thing de Jong got was admiration in certain quarters of 5under1and.
Like attracts like.
Thanks for reminding me about the de J*ng (horrid little c*ck that he is).
Quite damning how the Dutch coach drops hims but nothing happens in the EPL and City.
Back to people we like. Andre Villas-Boas just won the Europa League, and paid a lavish compliment to Sir Bobby Robson. Unfortunately, this means that he's being lined up to manage Chelsea and such - I still think his brand of football would look good at Newcastle.
More realistic wishful thinking: perhaps a Sir Bobby friendly in pre-season, much like the one against PSV last year? The lads are booked to be in the States through most of July, then go to Leeds at the end of the month. A match with Porto would be really good to get ready for the League (and isn't out of the question for the fat man - it would definitely spin a few pennies).
More realistic wishful thinking: perhaps a Sir Bobby friendly in pre-season, much like the one against PSV last year? The lads are booked to be in the States through most of July, then go to Leeds at the end of the month. A match with Porto would be really good to get ready for the League (and isn't out of the question for the fat man - it would definitely spin a few pennies).
The Guardian has a write-up on the finances of the Premier League, looking over last year's figures. For Newcastle, they write:
This year's vastly increased income (my answer on a postcard says at least 20 million more) and only slightly increased wage bill should see the club lumbering forward. If the fat man insists on getting some of his money back each year, it'll be a slow rebuild.
I also note that the new change strip is orange. Part of a Barcelona-style plot to lure Dutch players to SJP?
Stripes2011-05-20 14:37:00
Sad news. nufcblog.com is reporting that Kevin Nolan has suffered a serious accident and has severe brain damage. The outlook is bleak.
Get well soon Kevin.
(reading that brought tears to my eyes)
(reading that brought tears to my eyes)
Doh!!!! Took me ages to get it! 
2010/11 - 1st season back in the EPL: Meh.
Highlights:
5under1and
Arsenal 0 Toon 1
Toon 4 Arsenal 4
Toon 0 ManU 0
Lowlights: Quite a lot.
Highlights:
5under1and
Arsenal 0 Toon 1
Toon 4 Arsenal 4
Toon 0 ManU 0
Lowlights: Quite a lot.
Highlights include (non-exhaustive list):
A personal best season from Joey Barton. He's finally grown up and doesn't easily respond to provocation. I still think he can be better. We need to see more consistency (putting in performances against every team, not just the big ones). It would also be good if he used his reputation more - a lot of players and fans in the EPL are quite immature and Barton could easily provoke them to Newcastle's advantage.
An astounding step up from Leon Best. Who would have thought he could be a serious goal-scorer in the EPL? We'll have to see how he comes back from injury, but Bestie's put himself in contention for a regular first-team place.
Cheick Tiot�
Hatem Ben Arfa
I see during halftime last night that they had voted arse/newcastle 4-4 as game of the season... fair call, was an amazing game
Tiote's equaliser was also in the top ten goals of the season... (there was no order, just the best 10)
Tiote's equaliser was also in the top ten goals of the season... (there was no order, just the best 10)
2010/11 - 1st season back in the EPL: Meh.
Highlights:
5under1and
Arsenal 0 Toon 1
Toon 4 Arsenal 4
Toon 0 ManU 0
Lowlights: Quite a lot.
Highlights:
5under1and
Arsenal 0 Toon 1
Toon 4 Arsenal 4
Toon 0 ManU 0
Lowlights: Quite a lot.
Think you guys are being a bit hard on your team...
First time back in the top flight, most teams are happy to survive and then start to build. Apart from a very brief period you guys were never in danger. 12th is not to be sniffed at for a promoted side in my books...
We're just bummed out because our team surrendered a 3-0 lead against a weaker opponent. That's really unacceptable. The players should be ashamed of their second-half performance, and Pardew must bear responsibility for not properly preparing them for a fightback from WBA.
why are they a weaker opponent?
I don't see the relevance. It doesn't matter why they're weaker, only that they are.
In case that was a malformed question, let me assure you that it also doesn't matter if the team is weaker or not. Even if we'd been playing ten men against Barcelona, or nine against some kind of trans-temporal super-team of historical and future greats: giving away a 3 goal lead is utterly unacceptable. No excuses should be offered. Pardew knew that when he said,
Stripes2011-05-23 16:54:54
�I thought the game reflected the season for us, we were brilliant at times and rubbish at the end. We�ve had those kind of games - I think that�s the inconsistency that we need to eradicate and quality players bring consistency and that�s always been usually the rule.
"That�s the level we�re at. Of course it�s frustrating - we should have seen the game out we should have won."
I agree with your last post completely, that's not what I'm disputing at all
I just disagree with your comment saying west brom are weaker - to me a 38 game season playing all the same opponents gives you a pretty decent indication as to who the stronger side is...?
I agree with your last post completely, that's not what I'm disputing at all
I just disagree with your comment saying west brom are weaker - to me a 38 game season playing all the same opponents gives you a pretty decent indication as to who the stronger side is...?
I prefer the ever-reliable yardstick of, "Who is being trolled more often by insecure Arsenal fans?"
We're just bummed out because our team surrendered a 3-0 lead against a weaker opponent. That's really unacceptable. The players should be ashamed of their second-half performance, and Pardew must bear responsibility for not properly preparing them for a fightback from WBA.
3-0 and we f*cked it up
3-0 and we f*cked it up
I agree with your last post completely, that's not what I'm disputing at all
I just disagree with your comment saying west brom are weaker - to me a 38 game season playing all the same opponents gives you a pretty decent indication as to who the stronger side is...?
I prefer the ever-reliable yardstick of, "Who is being trolled more often by insecure Arsenal fans?"
it's impossible to disagree with you without being immaturely mocked in some way
I agree with your last post completely, that's not what I'm disputing at all
I just disagree with your comment saying west brom are weaker - to me a 38 game season playing all the same opponents gives you a pretty decent indication as to who the stronger side is...?
I prefer the ever-reliable yardstick of, "Who is being trolled more often by insecure Arsenal fans?"
it's impossible to disagree with you without being immaturely mocked in some way
When I see posts that look like trolling, I do my best not to give them a serious reply. Honestly, were you trying to make a serious point, or were you just trying to raise mischief?
wasnt trying to raise mischief...
most of my posts on here are genuine discussion points around newcastle as a neutral...
although admittedly trolling hasn't been beyond me in the past 
so i can understand your reaction...
so i can understand your reaction...i like WBA though, they try to play football and have survived doing it, all credit to them. Didn't catch the highlights show this week, pretty gutted, i did want to see this game as it sounded like an epic
Well, I wasn't totally judging you by past postings. The "38 game season" remark had two main problems:
Firstly, it was obvious that I didn't accept the results of the season as definitive in which sides are stronger, and which are weaker. In fact, I think this is an orthodox position - few people would say that West Ham were the weakest side in the EPL this year.
But that's minor compared to the real howler in your argument. This was a game to decide the league standings - if Newcastle had won (and I'm claiming that they ought to have), then they would have ended up with a superior league position to WBA. To say that those standing were the way things ought to have ended up, because that's the way that they did end up, is a fallacy.
Firstly, it was obvious that I didn't accept the results of the season as definitive in which sides are stronger, and which are weaker. In fact, I think this is an orthodox position - few people would say that West Ham were the weakest side in the EPL this year.
But that's minor compared to the real howler in your argument. This was a game to decide the league standings - if Newcastle had won (and I'm claiming that they ought to have), then they would have ended up with a superior league position to WBA. To say that those standing were the way things ought to have ended up, because that's the way that they did end up, is a fallacy.
Well, I wasn't totally judging you by past postings. The "38 game season" remark had two main problems:
Firstly, it was obvious that I didn't accept the results of the season as definitive in which sides are stronger, and which are weaker. In fact, I think this is an orthodox position - few people would say that West Ham were the weakest side in the EPL this year.
But that's minor compared to the real howler in your argument. This was a game to decide the league standings - if Newcastle had won (and I'm claiming that they ought to have), then they would have ended up with a superior league position to WBA. To say that those standing were the way things ought to have ended up, because that's the way that they did end up, is a fallacy.
Firstly, it was obvious that I didn't accept the results of the season as definitive in which sides are stronger, and which are weaker. In fact, I think this is an orthodox position - few people would say that West Ham were the weakest side in the EPL this year.
But that's minor compared to the real howler in your argument. This was a game to decide the league standings - if Newcastle had won (and I'm claiming that they ought to have), then they would have ended up with a superior league position to WBA. To say that those standing were the way things ought to have ended up, because that's the way that they did end up, is a fallacy.
Great point with the westham example...
But im not sold on your argument... the fact newcastle should've held a lead but failed doesn't indicate to me that they are in fact a stronger side than their opponent... if you can't hold it, then you have a failing in your team that requires resolution before you can be stronger...
Plenty of stats could be twisted and turned to support either argument to be fair... e.g. from an arsenal perspective WBA/Newcastle both took 4 points from us this season, suggesting to me they're very close in quality, evidenced by the final table... but perhaps WBA tips the balance having won more games than newcastle... however conversely, you could just as easily state that WBA lost more games than Newcastle, and that they possess a glaringly bad goal difference. I respect your point but am definitely in 'agree to disagree' mode...
Thread has been saved.
But im not sold on your argument...
I haven't put forward an argument. Newcastle's superiority is a self-evident truth.
Thread has been saved.
Off-season larks already! http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/25/newcastle-contract-joey-barton-agent
Pardew - take control (rather than Llambias or Jabba)
Those Yanks. A bunch of Deportivo Morons:
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/celebrity/cheryl-cole-not-good-enough-for-americans-201105263867/
Guardian showing the way:
Pardew's transfer policy appears to aim at Nouveauch�teau
replacing Francernal as Gaul's footballing outpost in Albion.
Not that there's anything wrong with that!
Not that there's anything wrong with that!
Yep - there does seem to be a very Gallic flavour to the off-season dealings. Hopefully they have the magic potion (not just tea).
Charles N'Zogbia wants out of Wigan. He isn't going to Liverpool, and I don't think that the big 4 want him. Short of a loony bid from Spurs, coming home to SJP must be his best bet.