WhatTheFunk

I've been one of Carr's biggest critics in the past. However, I feel he must get some credit for his improved performances. He's still nowhere near my first choice RB, but he has been a damn sight better than recent times. Took a right physical battering and did his best to keep Young relatively quiet.

Tbh, I thought Smith was the most aware player out there on the pitch. Just because he didn't dribble past 7 and smack one in the top corner doesn't make him shit. He covered more ground than Parker ever would have done, and his performance was vital to the result. Even had to cover up for a couple of mistakes that our captain had made in losing possession in midfield. Smith, Butt, Carr and Harper imo should all receive praise on the back of that performance.

well i certainly f****** hope so!! I know its easy (and rather dick headed of me) to be sat here pontificating about the atmosphere inside SJP when i'm thousands of miles away....but it really does feel like there is a sour element hanging around the club like a horrible stench, which isn't helping matters at all. Point in case all the doom merchants on this forum. Many have made constructive criticism, and there's plenty of room for that certainly. As for those pissing and moaning they should be stripped of their season tickets and told to f*** off. If supporting Newcastle for you is entertainment, then I suggest you relocate to Amsterdam and follow Ajax. It's much more than that ffs!!

I don't think anyone disagrees with you right there regarding the tactics. Yes we were set up differently to what we've been used to, and certainly differently to what would be ideal with the players we have. However, Allardyce is clearly still testing things out (as its different in competitive conditions), and is trying to learn as much about his players as possible (esp before the window shuts), without having to compromise results (namely defeat). Allardyce has said it himself, that he will be after results this season, and it is results only that will keep him his job. Any points picked up from any game, home or away, will do me personally. We will not be in Europe for playing attractive fluent football. We will get into Europe by collecting enough points to put us in a higher position than our closest rivals. As it stands, the longer we go unbeaten, the better. Tactics and best formations will follow. I'm not one to talk as I do not live in the UK, and dont attend matches, but I must say, the performance of the home crowd (for a first home game of the season) was rather underwhelming! Had the tv turned up to max and heard fuck all bar the odd shouts at Howard Webb. And don;t even get me started on the booing. As fans in the collective sense, we really have become an embarrassment at home, and home advantage is no longer that for the team. So people shouldn't be surprised we cant find that bit of extra push to beat teams like Villa at "home". *tin hat donned

Made 2 crucial saves to keep us in it. Top keeper as ever.

sorry to have to say this...but some of the posts on here indicate that we have some unbelievably fickle and shortsighted supporters following this club!! im shocked by some of the doom mongering going on here, and all the player bashing!!! some of you lot are fucking pathetic!!! get a fucking grip!! in the past we would have lost games like this one! easily! but we didn't, and thats what matters at this point! none of us is any of the players, and none of us is the manager. Im certain the manager, staff and players will study the tapes come monday morning, and will do their best to put things right! it was a mighty tactical battle between two sides who simply cannot field their strongest line ups at the moment. MON didnt want to lose, and big sam didnt want to let the pressure get to his players seeing as we couldn't score in the first hour. both teams played for the draw in the last 30 mins, and that was obvious for all to see. just one of them days. i suggest some of you get over it, look forward to the next game and move the fuck on!!

boring match....yes. haven't Man Utd had any of those? ever??? the way I see it, its a point in the bag, still unbeaten, and a clean sheet. we can only get better. loved the solid display. im drunk....but fuck it

Could you not manage to scrape a ticket for the Villa game ? Nah, wish i could. Start college in September and i'm literally down to a few quid at the minute. Its killing me thinking about missing it. Last home Premiership match i missed was Arsenal May 2000. I relying on them making half season tickets available. college is for whimps 8) naah mate that's s*** luck. its sad to hear stories like this one especially seeing as how f****** dedicated you've been the last 7 yrs!!

make no mistake of it...Faye is not coming here as a squad player. dare I say he's better than Taylor at this stage? certainly in terms of experience, power and awareness? will give us a different option playing alongside Rozenhal, and will be vital to our tactical play. i'll even go one further and say that signing Faye could be the single most important step in bring Taylor through, and allowing him the time to mature into the great CB he can be.

Happy birthday big fella! although we miss you scoring all them goals, im glad we've all now moved on. here's to the legend of legends

Very true. Shouldnt be a problem really. Personally not bothered about this one. Both Nobby and Dyer could go for all I care. Time for fresh blood. Oh, and when did you become a Chelsea fan?

before I take a bow....care to explain whats funny nicholas? It's typical of someone here to think a reserve forward going out on loan is better news than signing someone like Mark Viduka on a free, always trying to be so insightful but you just look stupid See...the point is...I believe that Carroll has massive potential, that will not be fulfilled if he is to stay with the club in the shadow of all the bigger players above him. Look at Ameobi, Ramage, Hughes, etc....players who never went out on season long loans at lower division clubs (or elsewhere for that matter). If there's another Alan Shearer in Andy Carroll, I don't want us paying 15m to "bring him home". Every single one of our summer recruits I am delighted with. There's no doubting that. But then again, I had no doubts we would be signing quality under Sam Allardyce, and that has been my opinion and belief since his appointment. For me, personally, Big Sam coming in has been the best news of the summer for the club, as I believe under his stewardship the club can finally move in the right direction. Carroll's move to Wednesday is yet another shred of evidence that the club is beginning to head that way. I agree it should be good for his development, but I think it was a bit of an exaggeration to say it's the best player news of the summer when we've brought in top quality players which will have a direct impact on our success this season, unlike Carroll going out on loan. So by saying Carroll going out on loan is the second best news of the summer, are you saying you'd choose sending him out on loan over than bringing in any one of our new signings? No not at all. It's not about "choosing" one over the other. Like I said, I knew we would sign quality players when SA was appointed. So technically, happy as I've been with the new players, it wasn't much of a surprise as it was inevitable that a good manager sign good players. Plus, we've been signing quality players on a regular basis. Granted we've been paying over the top for them, and now we're wheeling and dealing and getting value for money, but thats what you get with Big Sam. Loaning out Krul and Carroll has come as a nice surprise, and makes for a good change at last in how we handle our youth players. Mate it's all relative! Im happy Carroll's gone out on loan....so just leave me the fuck alone

before I take a bow....care to explain whats funny nicholas? It's typical of someone here to think a reserve forward going out on loan is better news than signing someone like Mark Viduka on a free, always trying to be so insightful but you just look stupid See...the point is...I believe that Carroll has massive potential, that will not be fulfilled if he is to stay with the club in the shadow of all the bigger players above him. Look at Ameobi, Ramage, Hughes, etc....players who never went out on season long loans at lower division clubs (or elsewhere for that matter). If there's another Alan Shearer in Andy Carroll, I don't want us paying 15m to "bring him home". Every single one of our summer recruits I am delighted with. There's no doubting that. But then again, I had no doubts we would be signing quality under Sam Allardyce, and that has been my opinion and belief since his appointment. For me, personally, Big Sam coming in has been the best news of the summer for the club, as I believe under his stewardship the club can finally move in the right direction. Carroll's move to Wednesday is yet another shred of evidence that the club is beginning to head that way. Re the new signings...you mention getting Viduka on a free. Excellent player, yes, but there's a chance the move in general might not work out! Remember getting Duff for 5m, which was loose change really for a player of his calibre, and look how that's turned out so far! All I'm saying is that players come and go season in season out. The news about Carroll makes me happy because it shows how the philosophy of the club is slowly starting to change.

before I take a bow....care to explain whats funny nicholas?

excellent news!!!!! Best news this summer behind Allardyce getting the job for me!

good luck to Baines and Everton. Not bothered beyond that tbh Why am I even making this post?...

gan and support boro ya bastid

IMO (and going from what I've seen last season, as I havent seen any preseason games), the only thing Milner needs to learn to do is play with his eyes off the ball. Seems to put his head down far too much for my liking, which makes him less aware of what's going on around him. I think he has excellent vision when he's looking up, but needs to look up more often when running down the wing, as that is the number 1 key to putting in good crosses.

As much as I would love for us to sign Dragutinovic, I now doubt it will be happening. We may have missed the boat, or he may have just decided to take the new deal and stay put. Either way, as has been said already, I think we have a fantastic pool of players to choose from, even if Enrique is the last of the lot. If the remaining budget is low, I would look for a RB and CB in scandinavia tbh at the moment, as these players are usually quite tough built, can play in winter, and would come relatively cheap. I think this sort of player at this stage would represent less of a risk should they be obscure or untested in the big leagues. No more Africans though. If they are internationals and can get a work permit, they'll be off in Jan. If not, then they won't be permitted to work in the first place. Well done Big Sam and co.

Far far far too much credit is given to the British media (maybe not on here) who are not in the least bit interested in reporting truth. Don't be too surprised wullie

Bolton will be the big test. They're hardly masters of the attack - Villa would be a bigger test. ... I know what you're saying, but why do you constantly have to talk in fact? Anelka, Davies, Diouf? Real physical test that Rozehnal wont have come across in his career. Any ideas where Rozenhal used to play? Anelka and Diouf for that matter too?

Whats a mind header? mackems.gif....... could've sworn I read mind header!! off to the doctor's then..

Whats a mind header?

Really have should scored, five yards out. Agreed.Big Sam must be feeling very furious of himself for letting Viduka off. Agreed. Dont think he'll be sleeping tonight after such a fundamental error! Where's your pride BIg Sam?

i'm proud of him