OTF

Only Owen's and perhaps Martins chances were clearcut (Carroll had a decentish chance off a header). Resolute defending from POrtsmouth. Most disappointing part of thqat match for me was the last 15 minutes. Looked more like they were the ones playing for their survival, and they looked the more likely to score. I think that has about done it.

Can't win a game if you can't score a goal. Disappointing effort from Owen.

Guthrie on for Enrique, Duff back to fullback. Guthrie's set pieces have been pretty good thus far (touch wood).

Given the further info we have on injuries I'd like to see this team: Harper Beye Edgar Bassong Enrique Jonas Guthrie Duff Owen Viduka Martins If Coloccini is available I'd possibly have him over Edgar. Duff could be interchanged with Lovenkrands. Duff impressed me with his effort in the Spurs match, even though most of the match he was forced to play in defense which he is not good at. However, I think we may see this team take the field. Harper R. Taylor Beye Bassong Enrique Jonas Butt Nolan Duff Owen Viduka Getting mighty nervous. Tomorrow is either going to be a day of hope or a day of depression and helpless realisation. In the meantime I'll try to enjoy the ride.

He does actually dive to the ground and over-act like most strikers...

...and hopefully the field, the goals and the nets will remind them they are football players.

And another!

Yep. The worst part is he's exactly the sort of player we need. There had been plenty of talk before he lit up Euro as well, which it seems is the only time that Arsenal's interest grew.

Fabregas's goal to be honest (not just cause he scored it). Was a team goal overall, but Fabregas slid the ball into the path of Arshavin (after a neat heel pass from Bendtner). Arshavin's ball back to Fabregas was a little heavy but Fabregas still managed to slam it past Brad Jones who also had Bendtner running across his line of vision.

True, I probably was being a little harsh. Though I was personally disgusted with his efforts or lack thereof in the last match.

Butt is shite and does nothing except slow down the movement of the ball infinitely, make shit passes, and make even worse tackles. Even worse than that he can't be arsed to run and defend as evidenced last week. He's a disgarce and I hope I never see him play again. That said I'm sure he'll yet again be in the starting 11 again for Monday's match.

Looks crap on Owen and Nolan, looks great on Jonas. I love the front (except for the adidas stripes on the shoulders) the back however looks odd without the numbers, but should look decent with a name and number on there.

Barton coming back is good, but you have to question what his fitness will be.

He was way too casual tracking back. Just let Bent jog passed him to tap in the goal. He might have been running flat out, difficult to say Sad but true.

I really hope that Shearer had something to say to Nicky Butt as a result of their first goal.

Viduka blowing out of his arse is better than Shola who is just plain arse, and dare I say Carroll who at this stage of the season should work well as an impact player. If it was my choice I would run with this: Harper Beye Bassong Taylor Enrique Jonas Guthrie Duff Owen Viduka Martins Subs: Forster, Smith, Carroll, Edgar, R. Taylor, Geremi, Nolan

Welcome to the forums. Come for a gloat, stay for an age... the admin will roll out the red carpet for you.

Sure are. Owen is a smart player, he's not suited to taking shots from distance and has always been one to place a ball rather than belt it. The problem with him as we all know is that he doesn't create chances for himself, he needs someone to send him through, or put the cross in for him. We don't have the players to do that.

It also tells you that Owen rarely shoots from any sort of distance. So when he is taking a shot it's usually close in so therefore more like;y to be on target and to yield a goal as the result.

Quite obviously the admins want him on here because he stirs emotions and keeps the posts ticking over. It's a bit of a shambles though when actual Newcastle supporters are being talked about with disdain by the admin because they're rightfully upset about a wanker with no reason to post here other than to wind people up effectively being given the keys to the city in order to do so.

15 games and 3 assists for Geremi. 27 games and 1 assist for Butt. 20 games 2 goals and 2 assists for Guthrie. 24 games 3 goals 1 assist for Duff. 25 games 3 assists for Jonas. ...Quite frankly they're all shit, however on that alone it's impossible to see how or why Nicky Butt is one of the first names on our team sheet. He offers nothing in defense as evidenced yesterday when he blatantly did nothing when Darren bent trotted past him into open space to score their goal. He disgusts me. Geremi can get some pace and movement on the ball. Even if he has virtually no running in him (though I do remember him majestically running by someone on the wing earlier in the season - tbh the other guy must have lost a leg).

Hopefully Enrique is back for Portsmouth. Then there is no reason for not playing a back four. Butt should be shot yet I'd put money down that he will start the next match.

Owen playing for us at the moment is like employing a tyre fitter to work on trains.

THIS. We've won 6 matches from 33. Somehow we're supposed to believe that we're now going to go on to win three out of 5?

If I was the manager I would have taken Nicky Butt straight off when he didn't follow Bent's run. 20 minutes in... obviously doesn't give a fuck. Send the past it waste of space to the showers. He's the common ingredient in our woeful central midfield and has been for far too long. How we let someone who we loaned out to Birmingham because he was quite frankly crap become one of the first names on our team sheet is beyond me. Guthrie on for Butt. Ryan Taylor to left back, Steven Taylor to right back (at least they'll both then be somewhat familiar with their positions). As for the set pieces, don't let Duff or Ryan Taylor near them. If they do at least send fucking Carroll careening towards their first defender, because that's no doubt where the ball will be heading.