I would certainly like to see some quality football on a more consistent basis. But I do think you are overestimating how good this squad is. The top players, and by that I mean those playing for the top 4-5 clubs, turn in consistently good performances which of course is why they are at those clubs and why those clubs finish where they do. Our players are probably a few points shy of the number of points they should have at this stage and arguably one or more places below where they could be. Thin dividing lines.

Appointing managers is a minefield. Moyes at United - recommended by Fergie ! More recently, Mourinho....Sarri at Chelsea not looking too bright - and these are the top clubs. Actually I think it's more of the way that Parish works with his managers that is the issue.

Back to Pardew - the early days all seemed well and results good. The only people warning us against that appointment were the Newcastle fans and I don't think we wanted to listen !

So you would move him out now ? Now that would be foolish.

I always ask the same question of the anti Roy brigade. Who would you bring in to replace him ? Not your job to answer was a reply you gave earlier. Well of course it's not. But it would be interesting to hear who you think will solve the problems that you so readily blame Roy Hodgson for.

Edited by NEILLO (04 Apr 2019 5.31pm)

Old, Ungifted and White

SP has quoted in one of the home programmes recently that the home has not been good. Ultimately the ball is in his court to sort this out as it looks highly unlikely that it will magically sort itself out as I can't see much coming from the current squad in terms of improvement. Nobody seems to be on a hot streak or working well with each other. So he could blame Roy and sack him or keep him and back him in the market, which he would have to do with a new manager in any case. What's needed in the transfer market is somebody who can pick out a few attacking gems and a manager willing to give them a go if they are brought in. The transfers have got to be right for both parties. So the focus should be our transfer dealings which have been lukewarm recently. A classic example is Meyer who looks like we have just picked him up with no idea where he would fit into the team. A dead ball specialist might of been better. Somebody who can put in a decent corner/free kick. If you have somebody with a bit of nous scouting the continent you could find this type of player. One example is Watford, who have looked safe all season, have supposedly a worse big chance conversion ratio than us, sold one of their best players last season, semi of the cup and had a go at Man Ure recently. They have club ties with the European market which is where a lot of talent can be mined. This is the kind of season we should be aiming for next season.

Edited by Booted Eagle (04 Apr 2019 5.42pm)

Edited by Booted Eagle (04 Apr 2019 5.46pm)

“ [T]here are known knowns; there are things we know that we know.There are known unknowns; that is to say there are things that, we now know we don't know.But there are also unknown unknowns – there are things we do not know we don't know. ”
—United States Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld

Who knows whether Roy will or won't...Parish will be aware of the anti Hodgson undercurrent and of course he sees the home games the same as we do. But...is that sufficient to sack him ? Or does Parish think that someone else can come in, play better football while retaining our place in the Premier League ? Neither endgame would surprise me, but I have a feeling that Roy will be around next season.

I'm with you regarding a potential replacement. I don't have the time or knowledge to recommend anybody. My point being that it's easy to say sack someone, not so easy to identify a good fit for a replacement and that is what you are asking Parish to do.

Re the squad - I'm fully aware of just how far we have come in terms of quality, but that's irrelevant to this discussion.

Take your point re AWB but say back to you - Meyer apart - who else is Hodgson not getting the best out of ?

Old, Ungifted and White

One more thing I've just thought of (though I am still in the Roy out camp) is that maybe Parish knows something we don't about Zaha and AWB.

Zaha certainly doesn't seem as passionate and he might know hes off. I think United will make AWB their main target also.

Now, if that's the case you could argue a much different outlook. Rather than progress and play expansive football, Parish might be thinking we have to scrape survival without our 2 best players.

In that situation Roy might be the right man. Without Zaha in the team a boring 0-0 suddenly seems quite ambitious.

A new Manager is definitely coming the season after next whatever happens. If they come in now and lose their best 2 players they'll already be frustrated.

Let Roy deal with the Wilfless hangover season, pray for 17th and then move on next season perhaps?

Newcastle have won their last 5 home games so it will be hard for us.Changed their formation at Arsenal,playing 3 at the back and wing backs.

Seem to remember there was a stat saying Benteke missed more good chances than any other player in 2017-18 ?