OTF

Can't remember who it was but relatively early on Smith actually looked decently quick and motivated as he motored back to block their players shot. Could be wanting away so was putting in his best effort, normally don't think he'd be that enthused.

What a rotten game. We were never equipped to beat them really. The way we played unfortunately reeked of a relegation zone team going there to at best nab a point.

Routledge desperately unlucky to be subbed out. Nolan's been weak, but offers the chance of goals. Ranger on is good though. Already turned Lescott and drawn a yellow.

A lot to take from the first half. First thing being, don't fucking give away the ball deep in our half, but anyway. Key will be getting the ball into Carroll in the box. Outside the box they're all over him but in the box they're afraid of getting too physical. He's winning just about anything physical or not, but the communication channel between him and Nolan is broken. The onus is definitely on Nolan though because Carroll's doing his best to win everything. Nolan should be the perfect player in those sort of circumstances but he looks a yard too slow for the general pace of this game. With our defensive line pushing so high I'm worried that they'll get a ball over or through. Taylor and Coloccini are slow so won't be able to recover, and with them not playing much together this season and having different native languages communication won't be the greatest. de jong the cunt is hiding out there like a cat in a kennel house.

Pardew's stunt double calls a handball against Jonas when Milner got away with something far worse 10 minutes back.

Enrique good run and cross. They're not great at dealing with crosses. If Nolan had hung back a little more there he could have attacked the ball and scored. Agree that our bench looks weak. Outside of the inexperienced Ranger not much at all.

Noone shielding our defenders from Tevez... Tiote got across there eventually, but if we give them that much time and space they'll take us apart.

Routledge has been our best thus far, taking it to them which is now so obviously required. Haven't seen anything down our left hopefully they can share the load. For the extra midfielder we supposedly have they open us up down the middle very easily.

Milner just dived

Great run from Routledge, well placed cross but not a lot of pace on it. Carroll tried to put too much of his own pace on it and consequently put it right at Hart. Was a good chance though.

Gave the ball away cheaply in midfield, pushed it downfield and Coloccini doesn't fucking mark Tevez as he spreads it wide to Milner. Milner gets a good cross in and Tevez gets a strikers touch on it for their second. FUCK!

Here's hoping that Man City relax on the back of that and we up our intensity. .. Truly was a shocker from Krul.. too relaxed after Christmas or something. Routledge busy, decent cross Simpson pushing up, hopefuly they don't get lost in the game like they have in the past. Oh., fuck it, they've got a second.

What a horrible mistake and the worst start possible.

Depends what team of ours turns up.

Couldn't have gone worse for Australia. Luckily I don't care. Really dislike Ponting.

Damn straight. Certainly don't want any of our players resorting to their dirty tactics.

First up I'd be getting Enrique signed on a new improved contract.

Carew's not bad but I would have thought we'd learnt not to sign any old strikers/players with their best years behind them who probably don't give a hoot about the team they play for. Plus, he can't take penalties .

... And the token collective Australian gone from the list... Was nice while it lasted! Someone ban AshleySkidMarks and LM from further posts in this thread pls Neither can help themselves. I too would love to know who put in the (I'm assuming sarcastic) votes for Contrary Tree.

Merry Christmas to all from down under

It had to be done.

Damn straight. Mackem game first because it was almost poetic with Bramble being sent off, and their goal clearly displaying that there was none of their supporters left in the stadium.

I don't think anyone does blame Hughton, which is good really because the opinions of the supporters, and other people in football (journalists, other managers etc all agree) are much more valuable than those of Mike Ashely and Derek Llambias.

Not quite a toe punt, but getting there. Toe punt's fine though, it more the torque created on the top of the foot/ankle when shooting through the ball. Anyhow!

leg breaks shouldn't damage his pace. players can often come back stronger these days from fractures. it's the knee and ankle ligaments you really need to worry about i reckon. Having smashed myself to pieces over the years (and work keep on picking up the bill) I can confirm that everything I've been told and gone through indicates that a broken bone that isnt in the area of ligaments or where the muscle anchors onto the bone will grow back as strong or stronger the problem comes if you stretch or tear the ligaments in that area or break the bone where the muscle attaches to the bone so I'm hopeful that he will come back and wont notice the injury Having torn my ankle ligaments twice and had to heal them on the NHS I don't have any adverse effects and can still play pain free. I think it probably varies person to person I've done ankle ligaments and still get pain if I kick through the ball too far down my foot if that makes sense. Side footing, running etc are all completely fine. I think he should be ok to come back given how quickly he's healed.