Deleted Account #151676
Judging by your start me neither, but having spent that much money surely the fans are demanding you to be up there?

The general air amongst fans and Facebook users is we would be happy just to get morale around the club back up, relations between fans and various players are still pure poison and there seems to be no real sense of optimistim. Just being in the top half of the table and putting together a few good runs would probably be enough this year, perhaps sneaking into the playoffs.
Poe
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
3,675
Doesn't help that you have a genuinely mentally insane person as the chairman either.
Deleted Account #151676
Doesn't help that you have a genuinely mentally insane person as the chairman either.

You meen you don't belive we will be in the Champions League in three years time?!?!

In order to help us complete our domination of world football We've signed Albert Adomah fron Middlesbrough with Adama Traore going the other way.
ItsWoosey
12 years ago
6 years ago
61
Any Wolves or Swindon fans able to shed some light on Nathan Byrne? 400k allegedy
terriersmad
17 years ago
4 years ago
744
Doesn't help that you have a genuinely mentally insane person as the chairman either.

Still manages to look normal and balanced when compared to the likes of Cellino and the Venkys. He is an arrogant cockwomble though, with all the humanity of a sentient toaster.
Shola
16 years ago
6 years ago
2,708
Fair play to Lee Charnley and Rafa Benitez, they've managed to rake in the cash, Slash the wage bill, sell of the bigger name players and smile while doing so.

It's absolutely phenomenal - Newcastle fans have claimed for years that we must get rid of the likes of Gosling, Williamson, Routledge and Simpson, and that is was an insult to witness them play football. - now they're actively celebrating the idea of signing average players.

Newcastle were considered immoral for not paying through the nose for players who didn't want to be here. Now Rafa understands the fans. And the fans want a squad that won't survive in the Premiership.

Grimnir
16 years ago
5 months ago
2,727
Fair play to Lee Charnley and Rafa Benitez, they've managed to rake in the cash, Slash the wage bill, sell of the bigger name players and smile while doing so.

It's absolutely phenomenal - Newcastle fans have claimed for years that we must get rid of the likes of Gosling, Williamson, Routledge and Simpson, and that is was an insult to witness them play football. - now they're actively celebrating the idea of signing average players.

Newcastle were considered immoral for not paying through the nose for players who didn't want to be here. Now Rafa understands the fans. And the fans want a squad that won't survive in the Premiership.


You already had that. Hence why you're here.
Number 1
17 years ago
1 year ago
3,650
Yeah - I mean, its all well and good saying we're buying lower quality players, but that supposedly "higher quality" squad got relegated, a fair few of them weren't going to stay, and we're also in a lower quality league. Besides, if we go back up, we'll presumably readjust accordingly.
Poe
18 years ago
2 weeks ago
3,675
Aye I don't think the signings we'd make now would cut it in the Premier League.

But we're in the Championship.
Grimnir
16 years ago
5 months ago
2,727
Did anyone sign Jordan Rhodes in the end? Always thought he would end up at Newcastle one day, don't know why.
Number 1
17 years ago
1 year ago
3,650
Did anyone sign Jordan Rhodes in the end? Always thought he would end up at Newcastle one day, don't know why.

He'd have been good tbf for this level, regardless of how much Karanka seems to be pouting about the fact he wanted McCormack instead. But nope he's still at Middlesbrough.
Grimnir
16 years ago
5 months ago
2,727
Aye, one of those that is probably just about too good for Championship but no one in the Prem seems to be willing to give him a fair chance. Don't see him playing more than the cups for Boro this season.
Shola
16 years ago
6 years ago
2,708
Yeah - I mean, its all well and good saying we're buying lower quality players, but that supposedly "higher quality" squad got relegated, a fair few of them weren't going to stay, and we're also in a lower quality league. Besides, if we go back up, we'll presumably readjust accordingly.


The maxim if you buy Champhionship players you'll become a Championship club is fairly true. Either Benitez is solidifying us as a mid table Championship team. Or at best we're going to need massive overhaul in the summer. If you believe the club raking in cash and buying lower quality players is a good thing then fair play to you.

Aye I don't think the signings we'd make now would cut it in the Premier League.

But we're in the Championship.


Is Rafa on Championship wages?
Number 1
17 years ago
1 year ago
3,650
It almost doesn't matter last year's squad was better or that the players being signed aren't the same quality - that supposedly higher quality squad got relegated, and those sort of players won't move to a Championship club, while a number of them there aren't going to be persuaded to stay (although the phrase good riddance comes to mind for a few of them). Not least when their agents come along touting the virtues of a return to the league above. But hey, if you're still yearning for the days when Carr was spunking cash on dunces like Riviere or players managers didn't want like Cabella at the expense of building a PL-ready team, then fair play to you too.
Deleted Account #151676
Teams with far weaker squads than your current group have gone up and comfortably stayed in the Premiership.
Shola
16 years ago
6 years ago
2,708
We already had that about five years ago Back then the priority among 'the fans' was shifting Williamson, Taylor, Shola, Jonas, Simpson, Routledge - as long as the replacements were 'more ambitious' - now we're celebrating the signings of lesser players as a pioneering new strategy. I remember people insisting the 'good' players like Sissoko were bad because they were forced to play with lesser players ffs. This compared to much more successful clubs with less resources such as Southampton and Swansea who retained their squads and evolved rather than trying to 'upgrade' immediately.

My problem with Newcastle is that I've felt that arrogance and hubris have been the core problem - I think that the club are continuing on with that rather than actually attempting to find solutions. - Riviere is that point incarnate he had a shite four months - and has been an outcast ever since. - You're criticising him again - but we've bought in Clark, Atsu and Murphy - guys who also couldn't hack the Premier League and had far longer to do so.

See also Gouffran - Benitez spent all summer trying to shift him - until he's forced to play him - and then has to do a 180 because he's better than what he's got.
Grimnir
16 years ago
5 months ago
2,727
Vaughan scoring again, @gfnx25 ! What will go first, his form or his fitness?
gfnx25
13 years ago
6 years ago
1,754
Vaughan scoring again, @gfnx25 ! What will go first, his form or his fitness?


Actually, scored twice, so make that 3 in 2 League One games. Flitcroft already cannot hear the haters anymore!!

Seriously, his link up play with Tom Pope is so good. He brings the best out of TP and vice versa. Last year we had Clarke, who didn't link up at all and basically lived off the chances our midfield created. Refreshing change of scenery. If he stays fit, he can do damage to anyone in this division (Big if though)

Good 4-1 win over Port Vale today anyway. Played 4-4-2 with the mentioned two upfront and looked very sharp from the beginning. Conditions were slightly horrendous, to put it mildly, first goal was a bit fortunate as one of their players attempted to basss the ball back and got stuck in a puddle, which Tom Pope gladly picked up and squared for Vaughan. Second goal was decent strike from Mellis, which was his first goal since new year's day 2014 by the way. James Vaughan added a third around the half hour mark. Second half, we didn't take the foot off the gas and kept on pushng. Some poor defending for their goal but still, kept on pushing and Hallam Hope made it 4-1 late on.

Cannot fault that. First half we were terrific and did well in the second half to keep pressing them and not go ultra defensive and shit it, like Walsall the other week. Valiants not really happy with the weather and that the game wasn't called off. Only thing I'll say about this is, that it's the same pitch for both so if they went forward they could've forced the same errors we did from them today, if they had actually bothered to go forward that is. Not our fault their French and Portuguese journeymen couldn't handle the conditions at La Stade de Gigg.
terriersmad
17 years ago
4 years ago
744
Vaughan scoring again, @gfnx25 ! What will go first, his form or his fitness?

Fitness.

I speak from experience
Grimnir
16 years ago
5 months ago
2,727
Aye, I agree!

Can't believe Oldham took on Charles Dunne. The kid is a liability, which is why even we tried to play him as little as possible since Holloway brought him in. Saw he gave away a penalty today as part of the defence that conceded three.
Number 1
17 years ago
1 year ago
3,650
Always feels a bit weird when the PL/Championship are in international break-induced weekends off, and League One and Two is the main focus. Not least as the likes of Channel 5 & Sky have to pretend they've been paying attention to what goes in those bottom 2 stints.

Been some decent highlights appear though. Even if its weird a bit to have Northampton v MK Dons & Gillingham v Sheffield United for a Super Sunday.
We already had that about five years ago Back then the priority among 'the fans' was shifting Williamson, Taylor, Shola, Jonas, Simpson, Routledge - as long as the replacements were 'more ambitious' - now we're celebrating the signings of lesser players as a pioneering new strategy. I remember people insisting the 'good' players like Sissoko were bad because they were forced to play with lesser players ffs. This compared to much more successful clubs with less resources such as Southampton and Swansea who retained their squads and evolved rather than trying to 'upgrade' immediately.

My problem with Newcastle is that I've felt that arrogance and hubris have been the core problem - I think that the club are continuing on with that rather than actually attempting to find solutions. - Riviere is that point incarnate he had a shite four months - and has been an outcast ever since. - You're criticising him again - but we've bought in Clark, Atsu and Murphy - guys who also couldn't hack the Premier League and had far longer to do so.

See also Gouffran - Benitez spent all summer trying to shift him - until he's forced to play him - and then has to do a 180 because he's better than what he's got.

Tbf (only using a few examples) Ameobi was always limited, if sounded like a good off-field character, Williamson was crap more often than not after 2011-12, Gosling was frequently injured to the point of invisibility, and Routledge - at the point he left in 2011 - had looked like he was not cut out for BPL. Well until Swansea managed it. Each player has reasons that, at the time, might've warranted criticism or justified an exit. Although Perch was an error in removal (I'm not sure people were that critical of him as they were with others - limited, perhaps, but a better squad player than others). Maybe on reflection Simpson was too, but out of contract and wanted first team, so that probably couldn't have been avoided.

I'm aware its hardly a pioneering new strategy. Just something different from a policy that failed. In any case there's a continual expectation shift, as at various points, Carr's view still looked rosy following that then-relatively useful success of 2011-12, but then his powers began gradually waning. I doubt the likes of Southampton, Stoke or Swansea don't sell their team as a stepping stone to younger imports, but it hardly worked out well, even if at the time, it probably seemed like it might work. I don't think we've done that badly anyway, considering demotion makes us a less attractive proposition by default. This downer makes it sound like we bought the Charlton, MK Dons and Bolton squads that found the Championship too much last year.

To some degree, there probably has to be some arrogance to get promotion in this division. Everyone else is presumably gonna see the Mags games an opportunity to win and have their historic upset, so being a bunch of bastards has to be done, and it wasn't in the opening 2 games. But if its in reference to a long-standing thing among fans, there's plenty of clubs whose fans behave like berks with ideas above their station. That and expectations have to shift to any given scenario - in Christmas 2013, with the team in with a shout of top 6, it was right to expect more than a sleepwalking drift to the finish line. It was also right not to expect a similar drift after, albeit from a less firm position that lead to some shit your pants moments.
terriersmad
17 years ago
4 years ago
744
Bit of luck for Mooy to still be on, by all accounts, after a poor tackle in the first half... but fuck it, after the way we've been shafted in this game in the past it's about time we got a bit of luck against this lot given some of the complete shite we've put up with down the years against them. Top by 4 points, unbeaten, grinding out results even when not playing well, irresistible when we are playing well. Enjoying it while it lasts.
BR.
18 years ago
3 years ago
1,896
Huddersfield and Barnsley as the top 2 after 6 games, who'd have thought it! Fair play to them.

As if Derby have only scored 1 goal after 5 and a half games, even we've mustered 5.
Shola
16 years ago
6 years ago
2,708
Wish we'd play much higher up. People seem to be satisfied we're controlling the game, but I'm not so sure - think we're still getting a lot of fortunate bounces. and relying on our individuals being better than they're individuals.

Think we'd have been a lot more comfortable putting Mitrovic on and trying to play in Derby's half.

The individual performances are fine, but I think we's see a lot more out of Diame, Ritchie and Gayle if we were on the front foot more.
Shedender
18 years ago
1 month ago
13,751
Job done in the end but another tough away game coming up on Tuesday night against QPR.
gfnx25
13 years ago
6 years ago
1,754
Beat Shrewsbury 2-1. James Vaughan didn't score today, but managed to get himself sent off, so always action when he is around. Pretty nasty game this. Loads of needle between the teams, trying to wind themselves up, lots of handbags thrown around, two sending offs aswell. Two goals from Danny Mayor, one beauty and one just before stoppage time were enough to seal the deal. Looking alright so far....
Number 1
17 years ago
1 year ago
3,650
When Derby had that one chalked off in the opening minutes, and looked fairly assertive early on, it did seem to me that it might be a tough one. But broadly speaking we defended well, although it helped Derby were pretty terrible going forward (not sure Russell, Vydra or Wilson actually did anything). Not the most convincing offensive display, but proved effective enough. Onto the next one.
terriersmad
17 years ago
4 years ago
744
I can't work Derby out. No idea why they're not firing, because they have all the talents to score just can't seem to do it. I know they've had a tough start - Brighton, Villa, Newcastle, Barnsley as well - but one goal in six is very surprising. That said, they might play Blackburn at a dream time in two week's time, and the fixture list looks a little kinder to them soon.

That said, letting Chris Martin go, hardly playing Darren Bent and bringing in three players who scored all of 8 league goals between them last season to fire them to the top might be an indicator.
Grimnir
16 years ago
5 months ago
2,727
Saw that Adam Armstrong scored on his Barnsley debut
Number 1
17 years ago
1 year ago
3,650
He did indeed, and a very nice goal it was too. Ivan Toney scored too for Shrewsbury - been doing well for them so far I hear, even if they ultimately lost at Bury.
I can't work Derby out. No idea why they're not firing, because they have all the talents to score just can't seem to do it. I know they've had a tough start - Brighton, Villa, Newcastle, Barnsley as well - but one goal in six is very surprising. That said, they might play Blackburn at a dream time in two week's time, and the fixture list looks a little kinder to them soon.

That said, letting Chris Martin go, hardly playing Darren Bent and bringing in three players who scored all of 8 league goals between them last season to fire them to the top might be an indicator.

Its a puzzling one, that one. I guess ultimately they've made a lot of bad buys since failing to get promoted in 2014, while having associated manager problems (McClaren getting distracted by Newcastle, whatever the fuck happened with Paul Clement, Darren Wassall being out of his depth, and now Pearson). Chris Martin leaving for Vydra is an oddity - flogging a proven scorer, attitude and form question or not, for Vydra, who was awful at Reading last year, seems like a backwards step.

Anya was probably their best player on Saturday (well, him or Olsson), but they looked very anemic on Saturday, like they could've played another 90 minutes on top of the game and still not troubled Sels.

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