Making Progress

[Deleted]

As is my want I have again been trawling through a whole load of sh... err! stuff involving The Toon this week. Some of it has got me thinking are APee and his players making progress towards becoming a decent side or is it just a flash in the pan?

The reason I ask the question is mainly because of the number of NUFC players being linked with or rumoured of joining other Clubs come January or whenever Joe Feckinghere can get them out the door.

Latest news circulating is that Newcastle face a fight to hold onto Italian Davide Santon with AC Milan lining up the defender as a replacement for Arsenal target Ignazio Abate. Davide is in my opinion nowhere near the finished article as a full back. Nor is it the first time this player has been linked with a return to his native country, however as we saw eventually with Jose I do believe given time the lad will become a very good player in that position. Whether he does that with The Toon is another thing entirely. Also as Newcastle are not short of cover in the left back position a sale is not completely out of the question anyway if as always the offer is right.

Then we have the ongoing saga involving Cabaye and is he really staying or will the French International just be sold regardless come January or next summer? For me he is another one that I'm under no illusions about, despite recent evidence to support the view Mikey and co don't always push for specific players to be released to the highest bidder, I remain unconvinced and that if the right offer does comes in he will be sold. That said I'm equally delighted the lad has again found some good form and been instrumental in pushing us up the league table. Yet it's tinged with a heavy heart and very much a case of me enjoying watching him in a black and white shirt while I can.

Following the back to back terrific victories against big spending London Clubs Chelski and Spurs two more of our current side have put themselves into the spotlight, namely Loic Remy and Tim Krul. Okay I accept Remy is only here on loan, but in some ways that makes his situation all the more annoying to take as a supporter. Again I just have this nagging doubt he will not be at NUFC past the end of this season. Even more so should he help France reach next years World Cup finals in Brazil. Not for the first time in his career Tim Krul has shown plenty of Clubs his worth with the inspired display against Spurs. Previously it was often couched in that wonderful term Potential, whereas now he is really starting to raise his game to another level. I suggest that now Holland have qualified for Brazil you can bet plenty of top Clubs across Europe will be taking a very keen interest in signing The Toon's keeper.

So there are four players that are clearly making an impression and when you add the resurgence of Tiote, Yanga-Mbiwa, full back Debuchy, hard working Goufran, powerhouse Sissoko and even surprise package Williamson into the mix things appear to look a whole lot better than what they did a few weeks ago.

Even APee and his tactics are coming in for less stick than previously.

Mind you it's not all sweetness and light as Cisse continues to struggle big time, while HBA is finding it tough to break into the side and Colo is also warming the bench perhaps more than he has at any other time. Then again some supporters may see that as a positive and growing sign the current side is definitely improving when players such as those are left out.

One thing for sure we will find out just how good this side really are after the break for International's when faced with the prospect of being the favourite to take the points against Norwich and WBA in the next two home games, rather than the underdog with no chance. I'm hoping for more progress rather than them hitting the proverbial brick wall.

What do you think?

Lights Oot!

[Captain Marvel]

Nov 14, 2013 18:49:56 GMT 1 @clearwhitelight said:

As is my want I have again been trawling through a whole load of sh... err! stuff involving The Toon this week. Some of it has got me thinking are APee and his players making progress towards becoming a decent side or is it just a flash in the pan?

The reason I ask the question is mainly because of the number of NUFC players being linked with or rumoured of joining other Clubs come January or whenever Joe Feckinghere can get them out the door.

Latest news circulating is that Newcastle face a fight to hold onto Italian Davide Santon with AC Milan lining up the defender as a replacement for Arsenal target Ignazio Abate. Davide is in my opinion nowhere near the finished article as a full back. Nor is it the first time this player has been linked with a return to his native country, however as we saw eventually with Jose I do believe given time the lad will become a very good player in that position. Whether he does that with The Toon is another thing entirely. Also as Newcastle are not short of cover in the left back position a sale is not completely out of the question anyway if as always the offer is right.

Then we have the ongoing saga involving Cabaye and is he really staying or will the French International just be sold regardless come January or next summer? For me he is another one that I'm under no illusions about, despite recent evidence to support the view Mikey and co don't always push for specific players to be released to the highest bidder, I remain unconvinced and that if the right offer does comes in he will be sold. That said I'm equally delighted the lad has again found some good form and been instrumental in pushing us up the league table. Yet it's tinged with a heavy heart and very much a case of me enjoying watching him in a black and white shirt while I can.

Following the back to back terrific victories against big spending London Clubs Chelski and Spurs two more of our current side have put themselves into the spotlight, namely Loic Remy and Tim Krul. Okay I accept Remy is only here on loan, but in some ways that makes his situation all the more annoying to take as a supporter. Again I just have this nagging doubt he will not be at NUFC past the end of this season. Even more so should he help France reach next years World Cup finals in Brazil. Not for the first time in his career Tim Krul has shown plenty of Clubs his worth with the inspired display against Spurs. Previously it was often couched in that wonderful term Potential, whereas now he is really starting to raise his game to another level. I suggest that now Holland have qualified for Brazil you can bet plenty of top Clubs across Europe will be taking a very keen interest in signing The Toon's keeper.

So there are four players that are clearly making an impression and when you add the resurgence of Tiote, Yanga-Mbiwa, full back Debuchy, hard working Goufran, powerhouse Sissoko and even surprise package Williamson into the mix things appear to look a whole lot better than what they did a few weeks ago.

Even APee and his tactics are coming in for less stick than previously.

Mind you it's not all sweetness and light as Cisse continues to struggle big time, while HBA is finding it tough to break into the side and Colo is also warming the bench perhaps more than he has at any other time. Then again some supporters may see that as a positive and growing sign the current side is definitely improving when players such as those are left out.

One thing for sure we will find out just how good this side really are after the break for International's when faced with the prospect of being the favourite to take the points against Norwich and WBA in the next two home games, rather than the underdog with no chance. I'm hoping for more progress rather than them hitting the proverbial brick wall.

What do you think?

Lights Oot!

If we can forget about Pardew and concentrate on the team...Nothing or nobody is sacred everyone is up for sale which makes the whole picture alarming.
Before Ashley there was stability not in the Management side but the players (the better ones) were more often than not given contracts to suit there abilities which helped to keep them more or less happy with their lot.
Now that has all changed, the salaries that the current squad are paid are less than under the Shepherd era their contracts are made longer to ensure that if they come good the fat man will reap the benefit just him not the club or the team.
Bought on the cheap, foreign imports have shown that they are competing fairly well, but, under Ashley they are just commodities, just like the items he sells in his shops which makes them ideal selling fodder.
Gone are the days that a NUFC player will last any length of time who will finish his career at SJP I happen to think that is a sad indictment of where we are now as a football club.
Whatever happens this season whether the team remains in the middle of the table or advances further you can bet your bottom dollar that the team will NOT remain intact.
ATB

[Deleted]

Capt'n you raise some very good points.

I believe the direction of the Club is definitely moving further away from events on the pitch and more towards the economics underpinning what happens or put another way, making Mikey as much wonga (sic) as possible from the enterprise which is NUFC. Forget about sporting glory or winning things, it's all about the bottom line now. Don't get me wrong here as some of the financial initiatives introduced under this regime are very sound, however I don't buy my ticket to get excited over a balance sheet.

Sad to say I also think Newcastle is not the only Club in a difficult position over players. Aside from the likes of Citeh, Chelski etc. with huge financial backing or one's with other clout such as The Gooners, Manure, Scousers and to a lesser degree, but rapidly improving their position, Spurs, the rest are just making up the numbers. Clubs with a wealth of History such as ourselves, Everton, Villa, West Ham, WBA and even dare I say it The Mackems are all struggling to make a mark never mind compete. Unfortunately having a colourful past doesn't count for much these days. As for the old fashioned idea of of a player showing Club loyalty it just doesn't come into the modern game with it's Agents, play when I want too attitudes and worthless bits of paper called contracts. Only one thing counts, Money!

Amazing to think there's probably more stuff written about speculation regarding The Toon than what actually happens during a game.

Lights Oot!

[Captain Marvel]

Nov 15, 2013 10:54:04 GMT 1 @clearwhitelight said:

Capt'n you raise some very good points.

I believe the direction of the Club is definitely moving further away from events on the pitch and more towards the economics underpinning what happens or put another way, making Mikey as much wonga (sic) as possible from the enterprise which is NUFC. Forget about sporting glory or winning things, it's all about the bottom line now. Don't get me wrong here as some of the financial initiatives introduced under this regime are very sound, however I don't buy my ticket to get excited over a balance sheet.

Sad to say I also think Newcastle is not the only Club in a difficult position over players. Aside from the likes of Citeh, Chelski etc. with huge financial backing or one's with other clout such as The Gooners, Manure, Scousers and to a lesser degree, but rapidly improving their position, Spurs, the rest are just making up the numbers. Clubs with a wealth of History such as ourselves, Everton, Villa, West Ham, WBA and even dare I say it The Mackems are all struggling to make a mark never mind compete. Unfortunately having a colourful past doesn't count for much these days. As for the old fashioned idea of of a player showing Club loyalty it just doesn't come into the modern game with it's Agents, play when I want too attitudes and worthless bits of paper called contracts. Only one thing counts, Money!

Amazing to think there's probably more stuff written about speculation regarding The Toon than what actually happens during a game.

Lights Oot!

If the speculation about NUFC could be calculated mathematically and then related to a measure/value/amount of success we would be in the top five clubs in the land.