OTF

At least that answers the question about how we were talking to their player.

I just wonder if thats more to do with Pardew sending the team out with a defend at all costs first policy. As Stevie says grinding out results everton style. I also agree that the reins will come off against lesser sides allowing more attacking football. Of course when the left winger isnt having to cover the left back as much and we find a striker who can score, it will also be a lot easier. It's been more the case that we've come up against teams better at keeping possession and having incisive attacks. Thankfully our central defensive pairing have had a strong start to the season and Krul has also been going well. Whatever the case 4 points so far has been a very positive set of results. Winning brings about self belief and confidence, so even though we're not playing that well at the moment these sort of results should help to improve things on that front. In addition if the two absolutely necessary signing are eventually made (of significant quality) that should also help to balance out some of the on-field deficiencies and improve out performance. The return of Ben Arfa won't hurt either. As others have noted we have a run of relatively weak opposition coming up so it's a great opportunity to build a solid points total and settle our new players into the league.

Neither of the first two games were oprimal for what I think is his type of play. Nonetheless he's stuck right in and it's clear that he's not short on effort. Will be more in his element when we're at home against weaker opposition and can control possession.

Fantastic left back that lad! Great work fom Jonas in the last 10 including earning that free-kick off cattermong.

That handball miss was an absolute shocker. They should have been one man and one nil down. Other than that though for the most part they've had the upper hand. Raylor was lucky to get away with an elbow.

There's another angle of that in higher res that is a fantastic picture. A few minutes of googling didn't turn it up the other day.

Good job CT make sure you keep up your enthusiasm over the whole season.

Milner, N'Zogbia, Given, Duff, Bassong. Tbf I was talking about this season not rats fleeing a sinking ship. Nice it worked out so well for them all as well. We're still a sinking ship in the big picture. Milner, Given and N'Zogbia left prior to the relegation.

Milner, N'Zogbia, Given, Duff, Bassong.

Sunderland 1 Newcastle 1 Arsenal 2 Liverpool 1 Everton 2 QPR 0 Norwich 0 Stoke 1 Swansea 0 Wigan 0 Wolves 1 Fulham 1 Villa 2 Blackburn 0 Chelsea 2 WBA 0 Bolton 1 Man City 2 Man Utd 2 Tottenham 1

Yeah, they can't fine him now, and personally I'd rather get a proper understanding from someone who isn't on the clubs payroll than be fed bullshit by the likes of Pardew. Of couse there could be a certain degree of self serving there, but with all of the supporting evidence for this I don't think that's really the case.

It's all true, not really revealing anything there - just I suppose that the players feel the same way that we do.

Certainly a good sign that Marveaux lasted the full 90 and played very well. Hopefully he can play some part on the weekend and have a similar impact. I really hope we play with only 1 up front and try to control the game through our strongest area - the midfield. With Marveaux and Obertan out there there should be a good attacking spark that will trouble the defense. Contrary to other I think Jonas could work well with either or both of those two. The problem could be if Marveaux has to play down the left in front of an inexeprienced or crap defender I'm not sure that he's the sort of player who will get stuck in. Remains to be seen. All the more reason why it's so bloody important that we sortr out the left back position as soon as possible.

Sammynb, For those in Australia at least, Fox Sports 2 is showing the game as a red button special! Actually, meeting up with a bunch of Toon Fans in Perth to watch the derby. Really? Nice one db, their site doesn't mention it, have they been advertising it? 7pm in Perth should be a good evening for you as long as the mackem killer is released. Nah, but I Tweeted Adam Peacock (the Toon-supporter Fox presenter) about it and he confirmed it. Yep 9PM red button special.

No gameplay footage in the entire video.

How have we talked to him if he's contracted until 2014? Doesn't make sense. Brilliant like.

How many of those mugs have bright red heads? What's that about? Then the one bloke who's been around Phil Brown's place, using the tanning salon and looking like a right tosser.

Absolutely shocked that this looks like it is falling though, unbelievable really. NOT.

If his hops out of his taxi from the airport at the Stadium of Shite 10 minutes before the match he'll still be better equipped to play left back than Raylor.

...with Marveaux sat on the hospital bed running his contract down, and Dan Golsing agreeing verbally to a contract while talking to clubs on the sly.

Scored my first goal of the season on the weekend - embarrassingly in the the final regular season game. Have a few assists though. I model my game on Jonas Guiterrez which explains why I have so little end product given I mostly play in right midfield. We finished fourth and have our first semi-final on the weekend.

Replaced with a cheaper, younger French version.

Has all the right trademarks - Young. - Foreign. - Low wages. - Highly strung and annoyed with club. ...until you get to the asking price.

Before I get tarred I paid AU$300 for it... About £190. Sitting on it now getting my money's worth.

inDeano