Squidge (31/12/2007)
Our next game is away at Newcastle on January 2nd, so i journeyed over to a Newcastle forum to see how they see the season so far, where they're going and what they think of every City fans favourite Scouser.
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1, You're probably fed up of hearing about it now but Sam Allardyce is under a fair bit of pressure at Newcastle - is he up to the task? How far can he take you?
Dicky Mint: I reckon he can take us all the way to a trophy - if he played players in their correct positions and playe to the teams strengths. He definately has the know-how - but I personally cannot see why he has our team struggling.... it escapes me really.
Alloyz: Definetly not, no way, he needs to go now. He can make us a top 6 team in 5 years playing terribly boring football.
Kallstrom: He isn't up to the task IMO. I get what the guy is saying completely, time to rebuild, it wont happen over night etc... I know this now, but i'd much prefer someone else to do the rebuilding if i'm gonna be watching that sh*t week in week out. Sam has severed all ties with the fans in less than 6 months and that just cannot be rebuilt, no matter how much he claims otherwise. I'd be surprised if we got a top 10 finish this year.
2, What were your ambitions at the start of the season? How have they altered now?
Kallstrom: Top six finish. They've altered in that i'd be surprised if we don't finish in the bottom 6-8 teams - we aint gonna be propped up by them forever.
Jav: champs league (a bit optomistic i know) but top 10 is more realistic now
Mcn0ble: Finishing 5th-7th and into Europe, now staying oot of the relegation battle
Killswitch: 8th and that's still the case
Howway Geordies: To finish 8th. We still have to play 7 away games against teams above us so I can't see us finishing higher than 11th.
A good run in either the Carling Cup or FA Cup. Knocked out of Carling Cup in Round 3 away to young Gunners. Very important to morale of team and supporters to beat Stoke in FA Cup.
3, Who has been your best player so far this season?
Bob the Skutter: I would have to say it is between Milner & Butt
Dicky Mint: Milner, he has his heart on his sleeve.
one-arm: charles n'zogbia
sossujrurl: Butt has worked hard. Beye looks promising and I'd love to see him unleashed on forward runs under a more positively minded manager
Mellowed out: I'd say Butt, he's shown the most consistency, rarely had a blinding display in the way that N'Zogbia has, but has had many more good games than the rest
4, And who has been your worst?
Dicky Mint: Geremi - who knows why Sam picked him as captain.
NATHNUFC: lol There's a few like, Geremi takes it though, has looked dreadful wherever he's played
mcn0ble: Owen, over payed, overreated and over injured...
gabba: Barton
5, What are your thoughts on Joey Barton? He's not very popular with our lot anymore, to put it nicely. You can't be happy with his recent antics?
The Kentuckian: Shouldnt have been signed - had enough bad apples over the years
gabba: on and off pitch disaster cant pass the ball, cant tackle, cant shoot, cant read the game and cant eat a big mac without gwetting locked up
Howway Geordies: Unlucky with pre-season injury. Nothing shown since getting into team. Let himself and club down with recent incident. Turning out to be a bad buy.
Bob the Skutter: Pretty unprintable at the moment.
one_arm: the less said about him the better he's a fool
Mellowed out: Was quite pleased when we signed him, as he can show proper class on his day, and thought that Sam could settle him down in the same way he did with Anelka\Diouf. Now, I still think he could settle and show his class eventually, but needs some serious shrink time if that's gonna happen. Unlikely for him to not serve some time as well
Dicky Mint: I really thought after he made the England team and then signed for us - he would be a good player and would have put this crap behind him - now I don't have all the facts to back him up/put him down so it is unfair to comment, but I do think he is a troubled individual and needs some help.
6, What should be your priority when the transfer window opens in January? And is there anyone you're looking to get rid of?
Dicky Mint: Bringing in some cover for those in our squad going to the African Cup of Nations - we are in trouble with them so to be a bit light on players in total will dent any confidence we have now.
I don't think we are in the process of getting rid of anyone - Owen will probably be speculated on again 'Sven likes him as a player' and all that - but I doubt Sam will really get rid of him - unless he gets a decent replacement.
Alloyz: A creative midfielder is priority, there were rumours of Deco in the summer but thats unlikely. Get rid of Geremi, Carr, Barton, I would get rid of alot more but those are the 3 main ones I want gone
Kallstrom: Keep Butt, Given, Krul, Taylor, N'Zogbia and Milner. Get rid of the rest (in summer, i'd rather we kept quiet over January tbh - panic buys and the like).