Newcastle United 2016-17: Championship Material

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
That must have been an amazing game - 48000 on a Wednesday night against top competition in the league...10 yellow cards and that ending? Damn.

I mean, you're still a bunch of bullies who bought the league, but Championship football is awesome.


Edit: those highlights sure make it look like a dominating performance.
 
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Joe D Reid

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Top of the table. Home to Ipswich in the league and PNE in the last 16 of the league cup next week. There are worse things.
 

dirtynine

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Dec 17, 2002
8,394
Philly
Top of the table. Home to Ipswich in the league and PNE in the last 16 of the league cup next week. There are worse things.
[hijack] This is the argument for pro/rel in the US that's never clearly elucidated: it's not a fan death sentence. Expectations follow fortune. You can be engaged and excited - dare I say, happy - fighting for something you didn't want this time last year. (Just an observation, not trolling, I swear)
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Next five league matches are against bottom half squads. Ideally this is the time to pile up results
I think we're almost at the point where you guys can stop feigning (or fighting) concern for the outcome of this season. It's pretty clear now that purchasing the services of a world class manager and then buying 64.4m pounds worth of Premier League quality players is a winning strategy.

This is both an observation and trolling.
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
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Sep 27, 2016
21,753
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[hijack] This is the argument for pro/rel in the US that's never clearly elucidated: it's not a fan death sentence. Expectations follow fortune. You can be engaged and excited - dare I say, happy - fighting for something you didn't want this time last year. (Just an observation, not trolling, I swear)
Completely agree. I've moved my reply over to the MLS thread because I think it's cool to think about, but don't want to clog the Championship thread.
 

soxfan121

JAG
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I think we're almost at the point where you guys can stop feigning (or fighting) concern for the outcome of this season. It's pretty clear now that purchasing the services of a world class manager and then buying 64.4m pounds worth of Premier League quality players is a winning strategy.

This is both an observation and trolling.
If you're waiting for us to feel bad about this, don't hold your breath. ;-)
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
8,232
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I mean they received more in transfer fees than they spent. . . I feel like focusing only on the buying is a bit weird.
They made money because they had a whole bunch of overpaid and under performing players. I don't think you get credit for picking up a giant pile of shit that you took on the floor.

I mean, whatever, won't be an issue next season when Newcastle is right back up in the Premier League.
 

soxfan121

JAG
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They made money because they had a whole bunch of overpaid and under performing players. I don't think you get credit for picking up a giant pile of shit that you took on the floor.

I mean, whatever, won't be an issue next season when Newcastle is right back up in the Premier League.
One man's trash is (apparently) Tottenham's treasure.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Sounds like one change too many for you guys today.

I still like the move to rotate by Rafa though. You're almost certianly going up, and have a League Cup match on Tuesday (I presume you will smash Hull), so why not get some burn for guys on the bench and rest for some studs?
 

Infield Infidel

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I'm not sure if we'll smash Hull, but they have to go for it, so I don't mind the loss. We almost got a point. If this was a top table clash, maybe not, but against a lower table side, sure give bench players some run.

And since Rafa likes winning "trawphees", we're going for it for a change. We've been out in one or two roundss most recent seasons.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
It should be a decent match but I think you guys take it, even traveling to E. Yorkshire. Word is Hull fans aren't buying tickets at all, so I presume enough Georgie nut jobs will scoop up tickets it will be like playing at SD Arena.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
coming at you with a 4-3-3 today. Should be a great game.

Edit: 4-4-2...thought reach would be higher up.
 
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Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
8,232
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Boy, you guys go down easy.

Good half. Your advantage in play, but Gayle's bar aside, not too much danger.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
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Falmouth
I thought that was a deserved 3 points. Well played road game against a talented (the most talented squad).

Edit: No excuses boys. We were missing our best all around MF too. Just a good game that could have gone either way.
 

Infield Infidel

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Oh definitely, it's not a result I'll regret. Wednesday played exactly the game they needed to play. Pushed it hard, great keeping, good with the tactical fouls. Newcastle if anything should have played more physically
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
I thought Wednesday did a great job of limiting you to crosses from the wing and taking away the middle. Hutch was obviously huge, but Bannan was also everywhere, while our CB and Westy took away those crosses. I loved our effort and play off the ball.

Your keeper was immense.
 

Infield Infidel

teaching korea american
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Mitro blew his ACL. Birmingham keeper slid at him when Mitro scored a goal. He wasn't getting consistent playing time and now he's really hard done in. I guess that means Darryl Murphy will get more playing time when we want to play a big man up front. This sucks so bad
 

Infield Infidel

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Back up top after 2-1 win over Brentford, BUT

Gayle limped off in the first half after scoring, Hayden and Anita also injured, Anita off on a stretcher. A week after Mitro was also injured and won't be back for at least a couple more weeks.
 

Infield Infidel

teaching korea american
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Anita out 2-3 months with ankle ligament damage. This sucks because he's a heady if limited player. Rafa trusts him a lot. Means we should see more of Yedlin though.

Gayle out 2-3 weeks with hammy strain. With Mitrovic out till probably Feb, gonna see Perez and Murphy up top; they combined for a sweet goal on the game winner, Perez in the final third looping a pass onto Murphy's noggin. I don't think we have any forwards left after Perez and Murphy, maybe Gouffran who has played mostly on the wing this season

Hayden could be back this week.

Word is Townsend might come back which would be a boon
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
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Big week for you lot. Trip to Brighton tonight and then to West Yorkshire on Saturday to deal with Huddersfield. Loss tonight puts you 4 back of Seagulls, with Huddersfield with a chance to get within two.

Or smash them both and reassert your dominance!
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Mitrovic has been borderline useless for you guys. I guess now would be a good time to step up.

edit: And what is up with Gayle? I'm hearing a bunch of mixed reports on just how hurt he is.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
8,232
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Congrats guys. All my nteasing aside, your squad (and more importantly fans) deserve top flight footy. I think you could be pretty close to ready for the PL as is, although I'm sure you get a few more additions. Great fan base, likable club currently...I wish you luck.

Really hope we join you next year though, because Wednesday could use the six points. :D
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

Found no thrill on Blueberry Hill
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Sep 9, 2008
42,271
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Has there been much talk on whether Rafa stays?

Pretty impressive job he did. I know they were odds on favorites to go back up, but you still have to win the games. What a career he's had. Does he find a new challenge, or will he stick around?
 

SoxFanInCali

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California. Duh.
I would think that he plans on being there next season, or he wouldn't have stayed when they went down.

His family remained on Merseyside when he left Liverpool, so a job in England is likely his priority.
 

Apisith

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It'll really depend on Ashley and how willing he is to spend money. We should be spending £80m net in the summer if we want to comfortably survive.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
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I keep reading a bunch of people saying Newcastle needs to totally rehaul their squad if they want to survive, but I'm not buying that. I don't think the gap between the bottom of the Premiership and a team of Newcastle's quality is that large.

Everyone agrees that Gayle, Ritchie, and Shelvey are PL quality. I'd also suggest that some 'pundits' just don't know Darlow, Hayden, and Lascelles, all of whom can be starters in the top flight (maybe they need a year to adjust, but those three are legit). I also think Clark, Hanley, Yedlin, and especially Prerez can all contribute at the next level. Mitrović and Goufrann are guys who can handle the PL too, although I wouldn't count on them.

I've been watching this division for a few years now and have seen all th teams that went up, and this is clearly the most talented team I've seen. Will they need to add some parts? Absolutely. But they have cash, a willingness to spend, and a world class manager. Toon will be fine.
 

Joe D Reid

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As always, it comes down to Ashley. I'm a little concerned that the lesson he's learning is that it's OK to skate on thin ice in the PL, because you can always just come right back up by using the parachute payment to offset the age bill. That is of course not true--ask Villa--but he's not a great one for learning.

Honestly, all I want is for them to re-establish themselves as a mid-table team firmly enough that they feel comfortable taking real first-team shots at both cups every year. Let's f--king win something.
 

Infield Infidel

teaching korea american
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It'll really depend on Ashley and how willing he is to spend money. We should be spending £80m net in the summer if we want to comfortably survive.
Spanish paper reports they have about £70m to spend in the summer. Who knows? They still have a few guys (Riviere, Saivet, Siem De Jong, others) on loan who they'll have to decide to keep or sell, and I think Thauvin's appearances triggered his option-to-buy.

Krul comes back too, will be telling to see what they do with him and Darlow. Darlow is good but gets nervy a bit more often that Krul, but who knows how Krul will be post ACL tear. He had two half-season loan spells with Ajax and AZ; couldn't get any run with Ajax but played a lot with AZ. He gave up 31 goals in 15 senior matches, but 11 were in 2 Europa League matches against Lyon, who are classes above. Still, 20 goals in 13 Dutch matches, and only 3 clean sheets. Maybe he'll be better the second year after the injury?

Gouffran, Anita, and Ameobi are all out of contract. The first two probably going back to their home countries, and Ameobi probably won't be re-signed. It would end 21 seasons with an Ameobi on the payroll.
 

Infield Infidel

teaching korea american
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Seven Costanza

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Apr 11, 2007
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Cheick Tiote collapsed during training today in China and has passed away. Looks like the BBC is now reporting it.

Absolutely awful.