OTF

Great run and ball from Simpson then a good centering pass from Obertan. Raylor going to come off impact injury... Hopefully not Perch to replace!

Not the worst draw, annoying being away again though.

Damn straight..

No game is piss easy in this league, but by comparison you could barely assemble a better run of games to start a season with, and certainly couldn't expect anything better from a random draw. We should beat Blackburn IMO, but our match against them at home (I think) was a painful painful horrible horrible match to watch. If it's better than that it's at least something. That's the least I expect because to be worse would be quite remarkable.

its decent ye, if predictable What 'gangster' movie isn't?

Man City 2 Everton 0 Arsenal 2 Bolton 1 Chelsea 2 Swansea 0 Liverpool 1 Wolverhampton 0 Newcastle 1 Blackburn 0 West Brom 1 Fulham 1 Wigan 0 Tottenham 3 Stoke 1 Man Utd 4 QPR 1 Aston Villa 1 Norwich 0 Sunderland 1

Pretty, pretty good. ROFL @ Michael J Fox episode.

Lucky # Slevin (Also known as Lucky Number Slevin or The Wrong Man in some markets).

Good call. Man U, Arse, LFC and Chelsea have all made up the top four more or less consistently over that period too, suggesting you need to maintain that consistently to keep on that % growth forecast. We were already well out of those places despite spending beyond our means and were already looking to cut back as Leazes I think has mentioned. You can ignore Man C because theirs is entirely down to throwing £300 million around that has nothing to do with the club. What would be interesting is to see how much they've spent during this period to maintain their more or less continual presence in that top 4. Things have changed since then with Manchester City one primary difference. TV revenues have risen substantially throughout that time as have wages.

Can't help feeling that the path towards self-sustenance that Ashley is wanting to take the club on is one that will deride the profile and value of the club. It's not in his interest to do so, but being bargain basement barry in the transfer market always looking to do a deal in or out means that the profile of the club won't increase our chances of signing players of ability on an ongoing basis. Over a few year it won't be patently obvious, but when they're out there burning bridges with their transfer dealing the blacklist will grow and we'll have a even more negative reputation. The problem with going the other way and aiming for self-sustenance by winning things, making the team better, increasing prize money, increasing corporate etc is that you're competing with teams that don't have the same self-sustenance goals and so are prepared to spend more. At the end of the day across a decent amount of time money is the ultimate power. The teams that spend more have better teams, finish higher on the table and win more trophies. The more teams that spend with a blatant disregard for their bottom line the worse it becomes for the rest. All obvious stuff, but all a bit frustrating really.

Solano would have curled it in with his right from there, while his pristine left foot was being pedicured. Not that I'm blowing his trumpet because he'd be doing that too.

The flick cross for the winner was quality. In my opinion anotehr sign that the quality is there, just struggling to get out consistently. Without making a joke of it, I think it's all in his head.

The pursuit of success within the constraints of responsible financial practice should be a gradual process, not a large push for immediate success. This would be achieved by retaining your best players and replacing your weaker ones with superior performers on a gradual basis. There is every chance that these players may cost more and be on higher wages, but the idea is for this to be offset by an increase in match attendance, merchandise sales, sponsorship money, prize money (higher league position, further in Cup competitions and ultimately qualification for European competition), and an increased value in the club along with its a superior perceived position in relation to other clubs. This is obviously not the model that Ashley is operating under, regardless of what they say. Any risk taken should be a manageable one. Good luck selling that dream to your 'top players'/ambitious stars. Nah, not the real world I'm afraid. Truly 'in demand' players will want a wage hike every few years and rapid progression, because as long as they're truly 'in demand' there'll be one of three or four clubs at the top prepared to offer them that. It's a nice thought, but it's ridiculous to suggest you're going to keep all your best players by showing them some cautiously incremental model. As Leazes says, the very top players want silverware now (ps and money), so you can't really have it both ways (even though he's suggesting you can by agreeing with you). Also, the turnover point does now need to be addressed square on. Not simply 'increase turnover', but suggest how much realistically it can be increased by, and how much difference, realistically speaking (in the context of bankrolled opponents budgets) , that can mean to our player acquisition/retention. This debate really does need to be rooted in the real world now. HF makes some good, moderate points in his last few posts. Lets keep it going in that direction. Obviously only the general idea, you can't allow for all circumstances. In the case of in-demand players ultimately you'd want to be getting them frequently onto new, improved contracts (hello Andy, Tiote) to somewhat mitigate that risk. The longer their contract the greater the bargaining power, and the greater the transfer fee. This could then be put to use to actual improve the squad. Sure you may have lost one of your best players but you've done so knowing that the money from that sale, if spent well, will result in a better more balanced team. It's what Spurs have done with the money from the likes of Berbatov and Carrick. The way you put it you'd think there would only be good players in three or four clubs - that's simply not the case. I'm not sure what you're implying my point is, but I'm saying that the team should be invested in on an ongoing basis and not a large splurge with the hope for immediate success. Under the model I'm talking about the money from Carroll's sale would largely have been invested in the playing squad, Enrique still would have gone, but offering Barton an improved contract would have been a priority. Nolan would have been offered a 1 or 2 year extension. If he refused it the talks would have been put on hold for the season to determine whether he maintained the same level of influence on the side, and with that information potentially been re-opened or alternately he could be sold with 1 year remaining. All of the other business would still have been conducted with the additional spend from the Carroll money having bought in 1 good forward, a natural left back and some cover in central defense. All of this IMO is completely realistic and financially responsible and would have plainly been a sign to fans and players alike that the club is moving in the right direction. Anyway, I don't profess to be an expert on any of this just offering my opinion. Feel free to shoot it down at will.

Abeid they have Mehdi more shite headlines in the works.

Yup. I had some luck just going direct to the theater in the opening weeks of Spamalot in 2005. They were 'obscured view' seats... but they turned out to be seats in the private balconies to the side of the stage. The only thing that was obscured was at the very opening stage when a character was talking from behind the set through a window. Great success. Awesome show. Stayed in this place last year - http://www.comfortinn.com/hotel-new_york-new_york-NY041 Was surprisingly quite decent, with a pretty good sized room and bathroom. Around US$150 a night, that included a breakfast - cereal, fruit, bagles, donuts, juice, yoghurt... a few minutes walk and you were in the middle of Times Square. Whoever mentioned the smell is not wrong, though it comes in wafts.. so you'll be strolling along and suddenly get a burst of a horrible pungent rubbish smell, then it will pass and everything will be back to normal.

You're the type of kid who puts three fingers up your arse even when you're having a wank yee like. Total wrongun.

The players must have been taking the piss as well for that string of results.

Yocheicio Ben Cabioccini for mine.

The pursuit of success within the constraints of responsible financial practice should be a gradual process, not a large push for immediate success. This would be achieved by retaining your best players and replacing your weaker ones with superior performers on a gradual basis. There is every chance that these players may cost more and be on higher wages, but the idea is for this to be offset by an increase in match attendance, merchandise sales, sponsorship money, prize money (higher league position, further in Cup competitions and ultimately qualification for European competition), and an increased value in the club along with its a superior perceived position in relation to other clubs. This is obviously not the model that Ashley is operating under, regardless of what they say. Any risk taken should be a manageable one.

Love that this was his first ever first team game. Sounds like a handy player though.

Harper is fit again. Wasn't played in this because Pardew wanted to give Ellito a chance to play - didn't want him coming to a new club and then not getting a chance to play for ages.... something about his confidence. As it was I can't see how that performance is going to do his confidence any good, small consolation for him really that we managed to win the game. As with any other player it would be silly to write someone off after one poor performance.

He hate's Keegan and admitted he isn't even a football fan. Give him the Deano/Christmas Tree treatment. They can discuss consolidated financial statements at Newcastle Online. Has to post a picture of himself with an I'm not Paul Wyn banner to prove ees not a wrongun who will default on a promise to charity or run off sulking in a strop at that time of the month.

Match review. First Loven goal. Simpson goal. Penalty. Colo goal.

What a lovely sight. damn straight, on the ball with his head up.. quality.

a win and some very valuable time on the pitch for Barfa, Marveaux and Abeid. Plus what sounds like a nice cross from Obertan. Shipping a few goals is kind of expected when you have Perch in defense.