Alright i'm bored, might aswell do this:
1. At the start of the season what where your expectations, and are things going as you expected?
At the end of last season I expected us to build on the good finish to the campaign and get back in the top six. A shambolic summer transfer window saw my expectations change completely by September. Martins is looking an excellent signing, but it was blindingly obvious that we needed defenders, and the injury problems that we've had this season would have been cushioned if we'd actually bothered to sign anyone. By the start of the season a top half finish was my realistic target.
2. Who's been your best performer this season?
Given as usual has been excellent, but has missed quite a lot of games through injury which is very unlike him. Solano has been a revelation at right back, Nicky Butt has been surprisingly good in midfield, as has James Milner. After a slow start, Martins has been on fire recently and has scored some quality goals. Hard to pick one from those, if I had to it would probably be Milner.
3. And your worst/most disappointing?
Damien Duff. Was a quite unnecessary signing when other priorities were clear, but most fans seemed to think it was a good bargain and he'd do really well. He's been injured a lot, but when he's played he's either looked dis-interested, or has just run straight into the right back. I've not written him off, but he has to seriously improve.
4. You had a quiet January transfer window, if you where the manager, who would you have tried to sign?
Off the top of my head I can't think of many names, and it is clear we had an empty pot, but a left back would have been an absolute priority. Babayaro is dreadful and we've got no cover other than 18 year old, right footed centre halves. A central defender was also needed, hopefully Onyewu will fill the void here. I'd have liked to see a striker too, if Martins gets injured then we're absolutely screwed. All in all another shoddy transfer window!
5. What are your best and worst memories of our previous meetings?
Worst memory - the 4-3 in 1996, absolutely sick to death of seeing that image of Keegan after the Collymore goal.
Best memory - Andy Cole's hat-trick in 1993.
6. Do you have any favourite/best chants (and perhaps any that require an explanation)?
Any of my favourite chants wouldn't be heard at a home game.
7. What’s the banter like between Newcastle and Liverpool fans at St James, would you say that the 2 sets of fans get on?
I'm extremely bored of the 'feed the scousers' and 'sign on' songs that will inevitably be sung for 90 minutes, its cringeworthy.
8. In the summer, Liverpool and Newcastle are told to swap 3 first team regulars, who would you send to Liverpool, and who would you like from us?
I'd give you Bramble, Carr and Babayaro (you offered!), in a swap with Finnan, Carragher and Agger.
9. Liverpool have become the lastest club to gain new owners, Newcastle have been mentioned as well as a likely candiate for a takeover. How do you feel about these take-overs by foreign owners, and would you like to see it happen at Newcastle?
Its a case of better the devil you know as far as i'm concerned. A lot of people can't stand Freddy Shepherd, and i'm no big fan of the bloke, but he can never be accused of not backing his managers. How do we know that a new board will back the managers to the same extent? People say that at least a new board will appoint top-class managers, but how is that guaranteed? I'm glad the mysterious Belgravia and Polygon takeovers fell through. If we were to be taken over, i'd like it to be in the way Liverpool have where there are clear figures you can assess and see if they are right for the club. Not a random hedge fund out to make a quick return.
10. Care to predict Mr Roeder’s starting line up for the game?
Harper, Solano, Onyewu, Bramble, Taylor, Duff, Parker, Butt, Milner, Dyer, Martins.
11. And finally, let’s have your score predictions for the game:
I'd be delighted with a draw, but can see a 2-0 defeat.
