Number 1 - Comments

Benitez is after 'troffees'' though, isn't he?

Hmm. Really don't see how it was as attacking as we played last season, maybe the formation we played was similar but that's about it. Cabaye might have been played in a similar position but without the likes of Ben Arfa and Ba stretching teams Cabaye has much less space and without those two to feed off he's relied on way too much to provide all our creativity going forward. Gutierrez and Sissoko on the wings are not more attacking players than the other too, surely that's obvious.

Gutierrez when played in the midfield three was nowhere near as conservative as Tiote and Perch either. Even when playing there he still played his natural game breaking forward from midfield and popping up on the left wing, to suggest that he was a sitter just like the other two definitely isn't true. I agree we're unbalanced at the moment but that doesn't mean we should start playing players out of position and playing negative tactics, Marveaux and Gouffran are limited but at least they give us other options going forward, one of them at least should be in the team when we can't pick Ben Arfa.

I think the fans aren't helping, but their only really reflecting what's happening on the pitch. The players have constantly looked nervous playing at home and it's a bit too simple just to blame that on the fans.

Probably something like;

Cisse

Jonas Cabaye Gouffran

Perch Sissoko

Never going to happen though, don't think Sissoko has ever been tried deeper in midfield yet.

It seems terrible down there, and I understand at the time it is. But once you're down in League One, and pending on you having some decent management, you strip away the fat and rebuild correctly. The three years we were down in League One were honestly the most exciting time I've known since we were relegated. The crowd was with the team, the players we had were fighting for us. There's nothing worse than what we have now: just shit.

Well Pardew did put on two wingers at half time and Newcastle conceded four. And Newcastle had more possession than Liverpool. My point is the crowd are against the double pivot as a matter of principle. I can see why Pardew did it, to try and free Yohan Cabaye.

Always remember, you could support Leeds.

Because the fans start negative and it seeps to the players.

-The average Newcastle game starts with no atmosphere.
-Then on about 4 minutes the crowd will get ratty about something. Normally a misplaced pass or something minor. - It becomes a crisis.
-This will normally build up until they score their first goal. General uproar.
-Why isn't Pardew changing it? is asked. Who is actually on the bench is totally irrelevant.
-Crowd will start chanting for Hatem Ben Arfa, regardless of how unfit and overweight he is.
-Get stuck in etc;
-Half time. Crowd get behind team, performance picks up but no goal, crowd revert.
-Pardew changes it - often the only fit offensive first team player is Ameobi. Crowd criticise decision.
-75 mins - large gaps in the crowd begin to appear.

Today the negativity started before kick off when it was announced Newcastle would play two holding midfielders. At home. The shock, the horror. Heresy. In a week when Bayern and Dortmund both played the double pivot and both won with big margins.

Actually attempting to keep possession is hated, with players shouted at for not getting the ball forward as quickly as possible. Any pass backwards is also hated.

In truth, the performance today wasn't that bad, we've played much worse than that this season. Fulham, West Ham, Swansea, Southampton and QPR performances were worse, and Newcastle actually played some nice stuff from about the 30 minute mark and Liverpool's third. Liverpool were excellent though. Best team at SJP all season.


I've never warmed to Pardew, but at least give the bloke a chance, we were fifth last year.

Newcastle have some amount of work to pick themselves after this. Such a damaging defeat. They're too good a team to go down though.

Stockport staying classy. Wonder if they'll do that on their away trips to Gloucester, Solihull and Workington next season. BSN bound

Congratulations Mansfield to their much deserved promotion back to the FL.