Newcastle press reporting Ben Arfa to Hull.

Should such a move happen, that would piss off some fans enough. Should he move and then score in Hull's seemingly annual win at SJP, there'll probably be horse punching again.

#194310 Newcastle Thread

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01 Sep 2014 16:08:05

Personally I don't get excited about transfer rumours until there is the photo of them holding a black-and-white striped shirt in the tunnel for the club photographers. Learned that after last season, which saw us linked with quite a few players and sign nobody permanently. Seeing as MYM is quoted as set for the Roma move, I doubt he's gonna stay, but failing to acquire a replacement is a huge gamble - its too soon to chuck in Streete or Good, and the existing three aren't exactly amazing either.

Its not just their locality that we seem to appoint coaches by but also past connection too in a few cases. Beardsley does at least have praise from players, but a lot of our coaching squad look like they need to buck ideas up.

Our main issue is that the striker never seems to be involved. Riviere barely touched the ball against Palace, and neither did de Jong. We seemed to struggle to find our way through the Palace defensive ranks and seemed to ponder our way rather than really test them. Before Aarons the only one to really try a running was Janmaat ahead of his goal. In the meantime we just kept making it easy for them.

#194296 Newcastle Thread

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01 Sep 2014 15:17:33

Apparently Nastasic has been linked as the MYM replacement... might work. Might be an improvement on the other three to boot. Though it'd be a bit much if MYM was good enough to start in the Champions League for the Serie A title favourites yet not good enough to start ahead of Mike Williamson.

Panic buying means shit all and can usually backfire, but we still require a striker either way - as much as we've done well to replace the 3 that left in May, we needed one even after signing Luuk de Jong in January (although to call him a striker was insulting our intelligence). Hardly helping is the report we were offered Abel Hernandez and he joined Hull anyway. Welbeck may also work but time is hardly helpful.

For me, the biggest failures at NUFC remain in coaching the players (not talking management although that probably has a role in it) as we seem to lack defensive and attacking intelligence, have so far been very slow in attack in all 3 games and we still can't take a set-piece even if the fate of the planet was riding on it. So something has to be done to give the players a cohesive strategy. Maybe new coaches are needed, I don't know.

But its Twitter. You're rarely if ever going to get intelligence from that medium.

#194293 Transfer Rumours 2014/15

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01 Sep 2014 15:02:55

By Eric Portapotty | On 01 September 2014 - 13:23 PM

Don't Stoke have surplus of strikers? Do they still need Cameron Jerome?

They don't. That's why he's joined Norwich.

Should've moved for Shola Ameobi when you had the chance.

#194179 What Are You Listening To?

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01 Sep 2014 11:14:53

Royal Blood - Little Monster

#194178 What Was The Last Film You Saw?

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01 Sep 2014 11:13:40

Let's Be Cops

Fucking awful

#194146 Transfer Rumours 2014/15

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By .verse | On 01 September 2014 - 09:34 AM

Pretty sure Rojo was a central defender who has been moved to fullback only recently.

Really? I thought everyone was saying he was better as a full back. Oh well live and learn... well assuming his Visa application is approved. Be awkward if its rejected after they had his unveiling.

#194135 Transfer Rumours 2014/15

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By Ninja | On 01 September 2014 - 09:26 AM

Tbh, I think its as much a case of no one really being available to improve what we've got as much as anything.

We signed Rojo, reportedly interested in Benatia but he wanted CL football. Hummels won't leave, City got Mangala wrapped up early on. Not sure what else there really is.

There are many non-elite players out there who would still offer improvements on Evans, Smalling and Jones (which is your strongest back 3). Plus Rojo's not a CB really, and neither is Daley Blind (is that still on?)

#194128 Transfer Rumours 2014/15

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01 Sep 2014 09:22:43

Much as its amazing they're continuing to ignore the fact their defence is total shit, that would be a good signing.

#194126 Newcastle Thread

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01 Sep 2014 09:21:22

Sky claiming we want Defoe. Given he's in Canada it would be tricky to fly him over in time.

Meanwhile, Italian media is claiming Yanga-Mbiwa is having a medical at Roma later. Be a total pain in the arse if he goes there and suddenly turns out to be good.

#194086 The Night Thread Mk. IX

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By Ninja | On 31 August 2014 - 22:04 PM

I'm actually really conflicted, I feel really bad for Jennifer Lawrence in particular whose privacy has been completely violated.

On the other hand, boobs. Famous boobs.

I get what you mean. What is it that's been leaked of Lawrence - 60 photos and a 2 minute video, according to the guy? Sure, there's a certain allure to the photos, but its a privacy violation on a humungous scale.

As if that's not enough, the same guy who posted these and some US early 20s startlets I'd never heard of said he has about 3 dozen more on file as well. Which at the least would destroy any notion of cloud computing being safe. Not that I would complain - always seemed like a shitty idea.

#194069 Newcastle Thread

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31 Aug 2014 22:07:54

I've seen a suggestion saw Coloccini is the possible weak link in our back 4, though I can't help but think its the fault of poor midfield planning. Certainly he was awful against Palace, but neither Taylor, Dummett nor Haidara fill me with confidence, and there is a definite lack of protection when Colback is having to do all the attacking and defensive running on behalf of players that look like they can't be bothered with thatb it.

Tiote and Colback as deep-liers with a supporting trio of Sissoko, de Jong and Aarons might work, provided those 3 AMs are actually given a coherent strategy, which didn't seem in evidence v Palace until Aarons came on. Gouffran needs dropping.

I'd also pick Perez - seems a decent little runner, while Riviere has so far looked inert. Also, is Ferreyra ever going to appear in the first team?

#193998 Transfer Rumours 2014/15

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31 Aug 2014 19:53:04

By Based Jorge | On 31 August 2014 - 19:23 PM

I can't wait til it's over tbh. High expectations that'll ultimately be disappointing.

Last 2 or 3 hours can be fun.

Report is Falcao offered to Arsenal and Man City. Can't see him joining either tbh.

#193993 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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31 Aug 2014 19:37:05

Given RM were linked with Falcao yesterday its a bit of a comedown signing. But I suppose after selling Morata they needed back-up for Benzema.

#193907 Transfer Rumours 2014/15

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By Shola | On 31 August 2014 - 09:47 AM

Is Toby Alderweireld good?

Newcastle linked.

Linked with Southampton as well.

Problem with Yanga-Mbiwa is that he seems to play better when he's partnered with someone else to Coloccini. Together, they don't gel, and if Colo is gonna stay as skipper, MYM is not going to get anywhere. Though if we need anything I still say we could use an additional striker, and there are rumours we still want two more. Whether or not we make anything approaching progress in acquiring one is another matter.

#193903 The Lower League Thread

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31 Aug 2014 15:38:46

By George14brfc | On 31 August 2014 - 12:48 PM

Hahaha yeah never good especially when it was probably sarcastic singing.

Seeing as some Leeds fans want him back and Bolton fans clearly don't want him there, maybe a move (loan or permanent) back to Yorkshire is in his best interests. Then again, maybe not.

#193901 Barclays Premier League 2014/15

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31 Aug 2014 15:27:00

Weirdly impressive how Sanogo positively contributed by accident. Why the hell Arsenal pulled out of their Remy bid is genuinely mystifying.

Good header from Ulloa.

By Crane | On 31 August 2014 - 11:37 AM

Balotelli starts.

Those production graphics are terrible.

#193793 The Lower League Thread

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31 Aug 2014 09:52:15

By George14brfc | On 30 August 2014 - 23:50 PM

Guessing it was that header that he somehow headed straight at the keeper from 6 yards out!

That might be part of it, although from what I saw on Twitter, Leeds fans chanted "Give us a wave" and when he did it Bolton fans lost their shit. It was mainly Bolton fans going "Get out of our club fuckface"

#193792 Newcastle Thread

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31 Aug 2014 09:49:46

Bad marking was a fault for all 3 - Chamakh and Gayle on number 1, Puncheon (and Chamakh and Gayle in different parts of the box) on number 2 and more or less everyone on number 3, which made a mockery of there being 8 defenders in the home penalty area. The defending on number 3 in particular was a fucking joke, although after Zaha's introduction, the foundation did not look secure in any way.

Its odd - in the first half we had a lot of possession, but spent so long looking like we would never actually do anything with it.

Agreed our first goal was lucky and so to an extent was the 3rd, although it would've been an amazing strike if Aarons' initial hit had landed an inch to the left.

#193707 Newcastle Thread

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30 Aug 2014 20:58:59

De Jong did look anonymous, aye. Cabella had bits and bobs but was flat, while Sissoko (and Riviere as well) was a passenger. Aarons was the best attacking threat and he only played 25 minutes.

As much as we still need a new striker, those in the AM roles really need a new strategy. So to does the defence, given it deteriorated into last season's mishaps again.

#193668 Newcastle Thread

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30 Aug 2014 18:57:00

Ben Arfa's agent confirmed he rejected a move to Besiktas as he wants to stay at Newcastle, but will get the PFA involved if he continues to be kept on the fringes.

Maybe we should just play him or at least make an effort to keep in the squad. At the least he has more to offer the attack than Gouffran.