OTF

If we don't pick up a point before the Portsmouth game, we're going down for sure.

Whoops, must have been looking at a non-updated table.

Tottenham spanking Boro was a decent result for us I think. Hull getting the late winner was not. Ultimately though if we manage to beat them (Hull) we will go ahead of them temporarily. Stoke winning was another thorn in out side. I think it's possible for us to nab a point off Arsenal or Chelsea, or even both as they'll have a lot of pressure on them (we will too of course). This is our complete run home. Hull City (A) Arsenal (H) Chelsea (H) Stoke (A) Tottenham (A) Portsmouth (H) Liverpool (A) Middlesbrough (H) Fulham (H) Aston Villa (A) If we win three of the four bolded matches I think we'll be safe, and will likely send two of Boro/Stoke/Hull/Portsmouth down. Two of them are away though, so I'm under no illusion that they are in any way easy matches. We're in the shit, big time.

You're right, but they're completely different players. Martins uses his pace and power, where-as Owen is a smarter player positioning himself in the right places to score. I'd take Martins athleticism and power with Owen's positioning, first touch and finishing. Neither of their injury records thanks. Even though they're both short they could work well together IMO. Martins troubles defenders when he's on the ball as he can pull a shot off from nothing, from just about any distance. Owen is a better player when he's off the ball, except when he's putting the final touch in for a goal/shot of course.

Christmas tree, you're a wanker. Enrique MOTM in my opinion. Bassong was good again, but it was Enrique who shone. Very good on the ball, made one bad cross where he hit it first time when he should have taken a touch, but otherwise was outstanding. Saved our bacon on numerous occassions including one time where Bassong was plainly stood up by a Manchester United forward. His pace came in extremely handy in him getting back to prevent the break away, and his strength on the ball meant that when he did get back he always kept the ball. He was an 8 or 9 IMO. Can't ask for more from a fullback as he also put a couple of very dangerous balls into the box, linking up with Jonas impressively on many occassions.

Far from a Manchester United fan of any shape or form. But have come to respect Ferguson (even though he does get the rub of the green in terms of referreeing decisions etc) not only for the way in which he manages, but also for the comments he made around the time of Keegan's exit, as well as the ways in which he mechanically yet whimsically gets rise after rise out of the Spanish Waiter that Liverpool call their gaffer. The more titles that Manchester United win, the less that Chelsea, Arsenal and more importantly Liverpool can. Am I correct in thinking that if Manchester United win the premier league this season (will be a big stumble if they don't) they will equalise Liverpool's record? I'm happy for Manchester United to be the club that others aspire to be like because it serves to show that stability and consistent investment are the only true ways to move a club forward in modern football.

Would have been funnier if it wasn't true.

11 vs 11 playing football, so yes we have a chance. Am I deluded enough to think we'll get anything out of this game? No.

Agree with this. Bassong makes some horrible grabs with his arms. He's been lucky on numerous occassions to have not given away penalties, the way he grabs the arms of the player he is marking. Did the same with the Heskey 'incident' only then the ball was so far ahead and the grab was so plainly obvious that it couldn't be missed. Bassong is a handy player to have, don't get me wrong, he's quick strong and is great at clearing danger. Even if you do all of these it doesn't matter at all if you're just as likely to give away a penalty. If he can get that out of his game he should be a great player for us.

Can someone teach Coloccini how to make a fucking pass. If I see him do any more of his dainty floated passes down the middle straight to the opposition I think I'll throw up. Piss poor effort all round. How Coloccini and Taylor marked the same man while another strolled into the box is beyond me. IMO it was taylor who was at fault, as Colo was already marking their forward. If we weren't in danger before then we certainly are now (PS - We were in danger before). On form, with a game in hand and with our run of upcoming games Blackburn will come galloping past us. Hull are shaking badly, but by the time they play us our confidence will have eroded so much that they'll probably beat us and in doing so will just about put the nail in our premier league coffin.

You would think Butt would be relatively level headed this late in his career. No chance. Fecking idiot. Just play the game. Annoys me how he has to charge at whoever has the ball, knowing full well that he is coming at them too late to effect the tackle, they pass the ball away to a teammate before Butt arrives. If it's a good pass it's play on advantage, if it's a bad pass it's a foul on Butt and a free-kick to Bolton. We know how much Bolton love set pieces, and how much we hate defending them, if we give them away in good positions they could well prove to be very costly. When Jonas goes down the left we need a forward running at the near post. His passes aren't going to go further than that. Ameobi is completely clueless. Another head on when he was the furthest man up. I hope he comes off in the second half.

Think you're on the money there (in both comments). Not a crosser in the traditional English sense, better at short passing where there is a fair deal of communication and anticipation between players. In other words shite for us.

You forgot to mention that his nose goes across half his face. Thought it was worth mentioning, you know, in case anyone had missed it.

Fair call there. Jonas can cross from the edge of the box, or cut it back, from the wing though it seems that he doesn't have enough power to get the ball in with any sort of pace. That's not going to change any time soon. I'd say he's at his best when he's running at men getting in behind them, making his way into the box and then picking out our strikers in the box.

Saves me typing it out.

Would be interesting, but won't happen.

His crossing IMO has always been super inconsistent. In terms of consistency he seems to be better off his left foot, as he has the distance pegged just about right. Off his right he too frequently over-hits it, trying to get the whipping in cross that can be so dangerous. I honestly don't think he will improve a great deal. If he does though, I'll be happy for him as I know he is honest and hard working, and gets every accolade that he deserves. He'll learn a thing or two and will have a better footballing brain, but I still my my earlier assertion that with his amount of games all within the same league he will not develop a great deal more, despite still being quite young.

Doesn't work like that. Colo played in the last WC (in what was arguably the best side in the tournament) and he's nowt special tbh Funny that, I think that's why you'll find my comments don't stop there.

It's only compensation that they will have to pay as far as I am aware. Up to FIFA to determine what they figure is. At any length it's not going to be anywhere near 12 million pounds.

Jonas cracks it for a starting spot in the Argentina National Squad. Milner is a way off a starting birth for England. Milner is younger, yes, but in terms of experience he has had a great deal (almost 200 Premier League games), so to expect him to develop a great deal more than he has is naive. He may become better at reading the game, but that's not going to suddenly make him faster, better at crossing, or more capable of beating his man. All of those games were in the same league, so he's surely completely settled in terms of that. Jonas too is beyond the point where you can expect him to develop a great deal, however he is yet to fully adapt to the shite way in which Newcastle are currently playing football. When Jonas has performed at his best for us, it has been when we have actually gone out there and played football, not when we have aimlessly hoofed the ball at the likes of Ameobi. I'd take Jonas in the side over Milner in a heartbeat. The fact that we got Jonas for something like 4 million pounds, and sold Milner for a profit of roughly 8 million pounds makes Jonas even more appealing IMO.

Got to love Habib. Just a shame that we din't bring him here when he was a little younger. Could have sent that fat bastard Carr off long, long ago.

Get in man.

Don't have any problem with Shola hanging around the club. The problems come when he is played ahead of better players. If he starts in the next match it will be beyond ridiculous.

1-1 will do us nicely. Don't see it staying that way though.

In the end I think we've all got to be happy with the point, all things considered. Certainly now there is no need to keep the same team as some sort of loyalty move as a result of them winning the previous match (err.. West Brom). Nolan has also confirmed that Hughton can't take the easy way out again and just pick the same squad. It will be interesting to see who will replace Nolan in midfield. Anyone know when Guthrie is back? Otherwise Smith would be an option (please not Geremi, though I might be saying the same about Smith in a week). We have five central midfielders who are all capable of making horrible brash tackles (Smith, Guthrie, Butt, Barton and Nolan). I'd like to see Viduka and Martins up front in the next game. Lovenkrands fancies himself as a striker, but if that shot was indicative you can see why managers prefer to play him out wide. Certainly not prepared to write him off, but damn, that was a bloody golden chance with no defensive pressure at all.