Those moaning about negative approach or lack of creativity in pre-season

[Jim Smith 2,611]

I am seeing a lot of comments about how Hoot is setting us up negatively but the basic shape of the side is not that different to last season where we created plenty of chances. Virtually every fan would pick Bennett and Pilks on the flanks, They are both good players. They will both create chances. I suspect that Pilks in particular is the sort that doesn''t throw himself into pre-season games with 100% effort but i have no doubt that come next saturday he will be bang on it and a threat. Similarly in behind the striker we still have Wes and we have added Butterfield and Snodgrass to the midfield both of whom have good goal/assist from midfield records.

Hoot has also signed an attacking full back in Whitaker who gets his best reviews for his ability to get forward.

Snodgrass, Butterfield and Whittaker are not the signings of a defensive manager and I do not see any reason to think (as several seem to) that Hughton is some kind of dour, defensive manager. There is simply no evidence for it so how about we all just wait and see how we play when the league games kick off before denouncing his team as dull or negative. We have had 2 friendlies against 2 of the top sides in Europe. Its a bit soon to be writing us off. For all we know they were deliberately sitting back and concentrating on keeping shape because there will be games next season where we need to do that.

[Bury Yellow 2]

Hope you are right Jim. Either way, you have cheered me up and I can now enjoy the London 2012 closing ceremony!

[Bill 1,788]

"Snodgrass, Butterfield and Whittaker are not the signings of a defensive manager "

 

that''s because they were ''signed'' in Lamberts time, only completing once the season had finished

 

as tom dull and negative, we looked ok at Celtic and at home to them as well, so i would agree that it is too early to make any concrete assumptions

 

 

[Phillip J Fry 0]

Just some statistics for the supposed ''negative'' style of Chris Hughton:

Newcastle (09/10) 90 goals/46 matches 1.96 GPG (Goals Per Game)*

Newcastle (10/11) 24/16 (sacked on December 6th) 1.5 GPG

Birmingham (11/12) 74/46  1.61 GPG 

Average goals a season:  62.6 goals a season

Average goals per game: 1.69

*The Newcastle 09/10 season may be regarded as some as an anomaly, although several clubs have come close to scoring ninety goals in a championship season (Norwich got 88 10/11 season)

[Morisons Prozac 0]

I think it could mostly be a case of Holt not putting effort in pre-season. Don''t get me wrong I love the man but he is notorious for slow starts to a season. Morison should be the lone striker up front vs. Fulham in my eyes.