OTF

They're two points off the top of the league. Have a sook. If they're not promoted I'll be very surprised. I'd enjoy it somewhat, mainly for Allardyce's spectacular failure, but even with him they should have enough.

Feel free to concoct whatever you like for what I've said there bud. Anyway, Pardew seems intent to see what he can get out of Obertan so he's at least being given a good run which is the most you can ask for.

What's more important than where the gross position of the team is, in my opinion, is an analysis into decisions made at the club since that time. There has been a lot of at best questionable decisions, in addition to the complete and utter fuck up that was Wise and the treatment of Keegan. The subsequent relegation cost the club a huge amount of money and caused massive damage to the club's profile. Elsewhere in the world nobody cares about Newcastle United, with the exception possibly being France where we somehow seem to still have a strong profile (a more likely explanation is that France is one of the few remaining decent European leagues where wages are much lower than those at Newcastle). Otherwise we've slipped completely off the European radar spare the odd trip into Wales. There's some factors where we're currently ahead, but reasonably just as many where we're behind. There is definitely an underlying feeling that the current good run against admittedly moderate opponents could be papering over some deficiencies. Certainly in terms of injuries we're travelling well at the moment, but should that change we'd quickly be relying upon unknown entities. The key is that with decent ownership and decisions from the board we'd be well ahead of where we are now, and considering the circumstances involved that is unforgivable.

Just thankful that he's playing well and not continually being beaten by his man. Certainly not needlessly tuning the ball over leading to us conceding. You'd be surprised with the calibre of left back that are knocking down Pardew's door begging for a chance, but as it is, with Ryan playing so well he's got no choice but to play him.

Everton 0 Liverpool 1 AstonVilla 1 Wigan 0 Blackburn 0 MCity 2 Man Utd 3 Norwich 0 Sunderland 1 WestBrom 1 Wolverhampton 1 Newcastle 2 Bolton 0 Chelsea 2 Fulham 1 QPR 1 Swansea 0 Stoke 1 Tottenham 2 Arsenal 3

Agree with that to an extent, but as he's not fully match fit and won't start we have the luxury of getting a feel for the way the game is going. Certainly Wolves are one of, if not the worst for dangerous physical tactics so caution has to be excercised when it's virtually a certainty that they'd look to physically impose themselves on our more talented players - like Ben Arfa.

Out of interest has anyone ever said that? Aye, McFaul. When I saw his post I knew that was coming. Obviously knew you were being sarcastic, but as it's not your usual style thought I'd give you a good natured hard time about it. The club is obviously not adverse to making a profit in the window, but don't think anyone has suggested that it's their central motivation.

Out of interest has anyone ever said that? Not sure, i can never really work out what people are actually saying. Whats your take on it? Does it matter? I didn't make the comment, you did. Wondering why?

Out of interest has anyone ever said that?

Yep, pending the way the game is going.

Thanks for the run down Welsh Magpie. Can't wait to see Santon involved in the first team, it sounds like he can play the ball out which is something we've been lacking since the departure of Enrique. Jonas will no doubt be rubbing his hands together in anticipation of someone replacing Raylor behind him. Colour me wrong about Santon taking longer to return than the club first said! A little disappointing to hear that of Abeid, but he is young and incredibly inexperienced so expecting too much of him is unrealistic. Gosling sounds like someone who will be good to have sniffing around he first team, a younger midfield version of Leon Best in that you get the feeling he will give his all on the pitch even if he is outclassed, and won't go missing like a James Perch.

Routledge 74 compared to 71 for Obertan. Enrique just by virtue of joining Liverpool goes from a 72/3 to a 79. Carroll by doing the same goes from a 71 to an 81. Bloody bullshit. Chamakh (81) is apparently better than every player in our squad as is Obi Mikel (82), Brian Ruiz (82). There's only three people in the league faster than Antonio Valencia (83 overall 93 speed) who is also better than our entire squad. Annoying how there is continually a buffer given to average players in higher profile teams, makes it even tougher to beat them against the players online who only choose the highest ranked sides.

Sorry mate but he'll never be as good as Leon Osman... Ossie is a good little player and would walk in to most mid table and below teams, Gosling is a very limited player and I dont know any Everton fans who were upset he left (other than because of the way he did)... In fact most fans were angry Moyes kept playing him over other players who had far more potential. Osman is 30.. has been pretty good in his last few seasons (when Arteta has been injured/gone off the boil) but prior to that he had been pretty inconsistent. I'm not saying he'll be as good as or better than Osman but given that Gosling is only 21 it's a bit rich to say that he'll never be as good as an adequate player at the peak of his career. Whatever the case he's pretty far down the pecking order so it will take a pretty big injury crisis for him to see any consistent game time. Only then could we start to form a judgement about him, always remembering that he's only 21 and has just returned from a bad injury.

Surely the good price you got would be offset by the shipping charges? Are they really that pricey over there? Must be really bad if you're forced into importing it. Free shipping. In no rush to get it, would struggle to find the time to play it at the minute. It cost £17.85 for the game with the condition that I also bought three pairs of DKNY boxers (yeah wtf?) also for £17.85. So in total £35.70 for the game with some duds. Something like AU$55. Generally you can get new games here at AU$79-89 when they launch. With this Fifa I think you can get it for AU$69 which is a good special. Generally game prices are around AU$100.

Mine is being shipped from the UK by theHUT.com. I believe they stick it in a glass bottle pop it in the ocean and send it on its merry way. Should have it by mid January by which stage the squads will all be out of date... but I got it for a good price!

Like the classic handballs in the box. Good for a chuckle a few years later though...

As countless others have noted, he works well with Colo. Despite neither of them having any pace of note they've very different players. Colo reads the game well and is technically very good, Taylor throws his body about well, is good in the air and adds to our attack in set pieces. The pointing is not the problem with Taylor, it's the fact that it generally comes after he has made a mistake and refuses to own up to it. This has gotten better of late. He does have a touch of the Danny Simpson's about him when a player has the ball in a dangerous position in that he'll back off and try to block the shot rather than make the tackle. This couldd be a good thing in many ways because he's a little clumsy and could easily give away more penalties if he commits to tackles. I like the enthusiasm that he plays with, definitely need players like that in the side. With Barton gone we're one down on that front, though Cabaye seems to have a bit of it about him. By comparison Williamson doesn't offer that same enthusiasm, or the danger in set pieces despite being a good few inches taller.

Good news, shit thread. LeazesMag has become a caricature yet again, seems to go in phases - time to get laid or have a few drinks or something. Adds nothing to the thread here. There is an in between - it's not a case of every single move made by the club having an evil ulterior motive. There is a price on any players head - this is true at just about any club in the current climate. Whilst we might fit the profile of a selling club more closely nowadays it doesn't mean that every deal signed is a calculated one with the only motive being to re-sell them. In the case of Jonas he doesn't have a high on-sell value given that he's 28 and still has some deficiencies in his game. I think he's a fantastic player to have in our side, gives his all and has a great record of availability - I think he's only missed something like 14 league games in the entire time that he has been here (3+ seasons). A good move to get him re-signed, could contribute to the likeliness of Colo staying for a while longer as well. Colo is contracted until 2013 anyway by which time he'll be 31. Should have a few good years left in him after that.

4th best team in England currently.

Yeah given how much time he's had out from the game it was quite remarkable the way he slotted back in and looked at the pace of the game (or ahead of it) immediately. Was more or less the perfect game to bring him back in.. Wolves up next on the other hand.... Definitely from the bench again and only put him back out there pending the way the thugs are playing and the way the game is going. Can't wrap him in cotton wool, but can try to ease him back in responsibly.

He put multiple balls into the box, rolled a cutback pass to Best who blasted over. Calling him shit based on that performance is ridiculous. Saltwater agreeing has confirmed it.

SD was visible just about constantly throughout the game. The irony being we should actually have been able to get some decent coin for all the advertising, but because it's an in-house dodgy we've sold our stadium identity for a pittance.

Worth noting that Tiote didn't even go close to getting a yellow which is a sign of just how dominant we were. Didn't even get a talking to at any stage.

Permanently! Jonas played his part out there, is always going to be more help in defense with Raylor at left back. Unfortunately for that same reason Jonas had to go exploring on the right to get more involved. Had a great link up with HBA which is what I think Jonas is best suited to - quick sharp runs, passes and movement. When Santon is available, we should have some more solidity at left back so Marveaux could get some more time on the pitch.

Pleased with Obertan's performance too. Another plus. Definitely. Seems to be improving with each game, to be expect I suppose given how infrequently he played at Manure. Should do his confidence the world of good. Looks very fit, was still tearing up the pitch at full pace in the dying minutes after doing loads of running prior.