The Fish

To be honest, I'm hoping for players like Loftus-Cheek on loan, maybe someone like Wilson from Bournemouth? Delph would be amazing, but I'd be staggered if we can convince him to drop a league when he'd be a starter for clubs like West Brom who're currently top half.

In other news, Blackburn are missing a few players through injury and/or suspension so they'll be playing 36yr old Gordon Greer at centre back. Now, I know nothing about Mr Greer and the man's a professional athlete, but surely, surely, we need to get players like Atsu, Gayle and Yedlin running at a back line featuring a man that is older than me? Danny Graham is likely to start, if he's any kind of Newcastle fan he should two-foot their 'keeper, flick his bench the squeaky Vs, then go windmilling into the Blackburn end. They're 22nd, 3 points off safety. They're winless in 6 games. Suffering four losses and two draws, (F8 A13) with both of those draws came against Huddersfield. Their last win was against us, their other 4 wins were against Rotherham, Derby, Forest & Brentford. They have the joint 2nd worst defence in the league at home, we have the best attack and defence on the road (scoring 22, conceding 6 in 12 fixtures).

Last time I was there Dabizas got sent off for a handball and Sherer scored a milestone goal as we shipped 5. Then, on the way back, the mate I went with fell asleep so I drove most of the A66 with patchy radio and nowt else. 2 Stars, won't be returning.

All dead interesting, but how're Newcastle doing?

You're not wrong, born out by over vs underachievement https://experimental361.com/2016/12/29/championship-trends-28-dec-2016/

Don't get me wrong, there's some fucking terrible sides in the Championship and we're not exactly 1970s Holland, but the bizarre belief that the bottom of the Premier League is significantly better than the top of the Championship is truly ridiculous. Their team just shipped 4 goals to Burnley. Burnley. Not Man Utd, not Man City, but Burnley. Defour was the only newly signed (and therefore not Championship) player that started, so if they're getting spanked 4-1 by what is essentially a Championship side, how're they going to fare when they have to face Championship sides week in week out?

Good points. Also, if Chelsea want a central midfielder who is used to facing physical sides who're set up to defend, who's used to playing in front of a huge and demanding fanbase, who's used to rotation, one that's been put through 6 months of a physically demanding season against men... where else could he go? Haven't watched this but this is one of those brilliantly edited, delightfully scored youtube videos;

What baffles me is the consensus that it's better to consistently finish 17th, than risk trying for more. Premier League survival is literally the only ambition, every year. If they do go down, there'll be a lot of fewm on RTG. On there, the Championship is a pub league, Rafa is a bad manager because we were relegated, Moyes is a good manager because he's in the top flight, our players are shit because they're in the Championship, their players are good because they're in the top flight. I'm amazed there haven't been protests against an unambitious and niggardly owner who, year on year, has 40,000 fans turning up every other week to watch little better than the worst football in the Premier League. Without the derby they've very little to get excited about, have they?

Enjoyed the Accountant for what it is. Surprised Batfleck was the lead as it could probably have worked as well with any actor who's good enough at stuntsing. Batfleck

Off to Copenhagen at the end of January. Anybody been and have some advice on sights to see, places to eat, etc?

From what I've seen, neither of those, thought he was more like a Vieira/Toure. Asking a Chelsea fan I know to clear it up. So far he says "Bit of an enigma. Very special player but yet to find a position. Brilliant on the ball tho", "would be good for both parties. He needs regular football", "Way too good at youth level. Hasn't played enough first team football to progress imo."

4-1 now, the comeback is on.

We're strong away from home, they struggle against wide play and if we score early the pace we have from Atsu and Yedlin could cause them issues on the break. 3-0 I reckon

Dad put a comb in my stocking. My Dad is a dick.

Shef Wed was shit, but lets not panic. Colback, Hayden cannot be the centre if the fullbacks are Anita and Dummett. Ritchie has offered very little for a while, but I think we have to keep him in the team for the quality he can provide from set pieces. I'd go with Darlow Yedlin Lascelles Clark Dummett Ritchie Hayden Colback/Anita Atsu Mitrovic Gayle but I reckon Rafa will go with Darlow Yedlin Lascelles Clark Dummett Hayden Diame Ritchie --- Perez --- Atsu Gayle

Aim lower. Pardew is a colostomy bag flavoured mouthwash compared to Ben Arfa. HBA is not even as big an arsehole as Souness, you remember Souness don't you? ANSWER MY SIMPLE QUESTION.

Quarter past seven on Christmas Day.

They can be terrifically precious

He's definitely Premier League quality and probably top half at that. But he is 27 and we might be better off stealing some of the top young Championship players? Trading expense for the gamble, I suppose.

If we were 2nd or 3rd he's not be interested, but surely he'd be keen on (as others say) the opportunity to play under Rafa, for a big club, with a big fanbase etc. etc. It's not like he's swapping 1st team football in the top flight to join a midtable side in the 2nd tier looking to use him to get back into the chase for promotion. He'd be swapping reserve football with Man City, for first team football for the presumptive Champions. 6 months would be worth it, surely?

"It's not a mushroom, it's a penis" "Well I'm dyslexic so I can't really tell."

Had to leave China as the drivers kept going to the Wong house.

Another soldier is doing time for selling guns and GRENADES! he stole from the armed forces. Help the Heroes. but in news that may interest @Gemmill

Don't get me wrong, I think 4 is fucking bonkers. I honestly think part of it was he wanted a son and would have stopped earlier had one shown up. My Dad said over Christmas dinner one year, "He was just going to keep plugging away until he got a boy." which went down well with my older sisters Difference is, the possibility of a 5th girl is a ridiculous risk to take. Whereas my folks were blessed with my arrival after two trial runs.