midds

If they keep asking for a pen eventually they'll get one.

Good move by Portsmouth.

Unlucky Oba.

Should have scored there Beye. Unmarked headers 5 yards out need to go in.

It's just not sticking up top. Coming straight back at us.

Excellent idea. Get the can attached to a 10 yard-long chain so the wall's back the full distance too.

http://www.newcastle-united-supporters-club.co.uk/xmastale.php Not sure what Ashley's going to make of this tbh.

The only thing that would stop me paying £5m or him is his injury record. Couldn't give a shit about his baggage, he's top drawer when he's fit.

The fact that they've not appointed anyone yet would suggest they're going after someone already in a job. There's nothing to stop them from appointing the likes of Allardyce immediately and they've got a few massive games coming up so you'd have thought they'd want the bloke in charge asap. Very odd.

Nice to see Chelsea fans sweating a bit tbh. Still think they'll go through like.

Seals their fate imo. Perm any 2 from 8.

The only good thing about Viduka being out of contract is that we can expect better performances as it winds down. He's got a history of turning it on just in time for contract renewal time...

Owen.

This, however I have no doubt he didn't intend signing it then either. Me neither but obviously we'd have gotten a bit of £££ for him when moving him on which is the sensible way of doing it. Just a lack of intelligence, foresight and planning. And it's fucking annoying the more you think about it.

If KK abused an official I would slate him for it too. I hate it when one of our players or manager loses their rag at a decision or with an official, its pointless, will only ever cost you and doesn't exactly set the right standards. When we've had the class and wit of Sir Bobby and KK managing us it breaks my heart to see complete and utter brawlers managing my club. Not saying he was right to do it btw. But I can understand why he snapped and had a pop at the linesman. I bet thousands of people in the ground had a bit of a reaction to that decision at the time. Difference is he's being monitored by the 4th official and didn't get away with it. No way am I going to criticise him when I would have reacted in exactly the same manner. I'll criticise him. He gets paid a fortune and is regarded as the leader of our club and this is how he reacts to a poor decision? He should be saving it for himself because the ref never cost us, his own decisions did. Want to point the finger Joe look yourself in the mirror. I know who I was calling all the names under the sun after the match and it wasn't the linesman. Fair enough.

Absolutely no excuse for not resolving Owen's contract issue months and months ago. Should never have got to this stage.

If KK abused an official I would slate him for it too. I hate it when one of our players or manager loses their rag at a decision or with an official, its pointless, will only ever cost you and doesn't exactly set the right standards. When we've had the class and wit of Sir Bobby and KK managing us it breaks my heart to see complete and utter brawlers managing my club. Not saying he was right to do it btw. But I can understand why he snapped and had a pop at the linesman. I bet thousands of people in the ground had a bit of a reaction to that decision at the time. Difference is he's being monitored by the 4th official and didn't get away with it. No way am I going to criticise him when I would have reacted in exactly the same manner.

Complete difference to that rant and abusing an official. Point taken. Kinnear lost it on the touchline. Keegan lost it in front of Sky tv.

Some people are never happy. Wen Keegan lost it, he was called 'passionate' and roundly complimented on 'wearing his heart on his sleeve'. Kinnear kicks off at a bullshit free-kick during injury time when we're hanging on for a win and he's getting pelters from his own supporters.

Maybe we could flip the whole thing around? Maybe we should start with Owen and Viduka and bring on Martins to use his pace when defenders are more tired? Or, better still imo, start all 3 of them?

I love football, me.

Boro and Wigan are also 'catchable' too imo. Not saying we will but they're certainly not out of reach.

cant win, and its only slightly likely? if we can only draw with the rubbish sides, and lose to the top ones, we ARE going down. West Brom are in freefall and have lost their best striker for a couple of months. Blackburn are also in freefall and playing so badly they might just sack their manager. Stoke are not a good side and I still think we'll catch them. Hull haven't had their bad run yet. West Ham could still yet implode and have to sell their better players in Jan. Sunderland don't have a manager and are playing shite. They'll get a bit better mind. Fulham are no great shakes either. There's 7 clubs we've got a realistic chance of catching/finishing above come May. Said it before, we're not great - far from it, but there's worse clubs than us in there too. We need to finish above 3 of that lot. I reckon we'll do it. If you don't then that's up to you mate.

Still don't think we'll go down but I thought we'd beat Stoke so I suppose it's ever so slightly more likely we'll go down. Now a 2.

Looks like Faye is fit but Kitson is out.