Wullie

Get in.

Trouble with Cole is that he doesn't really have a defined position, he's a bit like Dyer in that sense. Needs to move clubs too I reckon.

Looks like he's going to be a real quality player, and I thought they were mental paying that much for him.

Very good.

No first touch, no movement, blah blah blah. Right now that's out the way, he's great isn't he?

Very sad. Hope he pulls through.

Stop being a moody cretin and lying/making things up/over exagerating things again wullie i haven't ever said that Ameobi is more prolific (and certainly not profilic whatever that is) havei ? Please point out to me where i have ever said he's more prolific (or profilic) ? You said that Shola would have created and scored more than Viduka in the opening few fixtures. Well done, you spotted a typo, have a banana. You've made about a half a dozen in that section I've quoted above. I won't point them out though.

toptoon still obviously on smack. Love how Smith will get something out of Lescott because he's "a clever player who can hold the ball up well and bring others into play well" but Viduka won't, despite being a hundred times better at those things than Alan Smith. By the way, just so we're clear, last time Viduka played against Lescott, he scored the winner. A couple of weeks ago, Shola was more creative and more profilic than Viduka, now it's Alan Smith too? Tip for you - don't say anything and you won't embarrass yourself.

That was August though?

That was great. I can remember exactly where I was and sinking to my knees with my head in my hands (not in public thankfully) before hearing "the sunderland fans all around me are going crazy. They think they've scored! They haven't! SIT DOWN!"

I guess he means because the season started just 5 days after that, meaning anyone signed then would have missed the whole of pre-season. I think it's very difficult to get all of the players in early, but he is right that it's something every club should strive to do and getting them in for most or all of pre-season can be a big advantage. I think Man Utd had their new boys in very early this summer but then they would have had those targets in place long beforehand and had the money to strike deals early on. We have to haggle and play the market and we've gone through plenty of managers in recent years, none of which helps us. Yet look at the way Ferguson's dealt with Anderson, he's barely played while Nani's been thrown in at the deep end, but even he's been kept back here and there. Clearly he thinks one is more or less ready and the other is perhaps not - and they cost £34m between them. Sam has done the same with Enrique, his problem being that we have no competent LB that we can play in the mean time, at least not without compromising our attack. Remember he tried to sign Dragutinovic who would have been playing LB right now in preparation for Enrique, that didn't come off, in the end we had to settle for Faye, who is a good CB and CM but can't really cover LB. Allardyce has been a victim of the form of N'Zogbia in a way, I don't think any of us really expected him to start the season like he has at LB (his pre-season was ok, but nothing special going forward), not even me and I think he's absolute class. The way he's bounced back from last season has been brilliant and that's put pressure on Enrique. Even so, I think it's got fuck all to do with when we signed him. Cacapa came later and he's been thrown in, because he's got a lot more experience and know-how than Jose has. Ditto Beye.

How the fuck is August 6th "too late in the window"?

Fucking jammy twats. What did Harewood do that was so bad, brummie? Just the penalty or was he just wank?

Christ, you're simple.

Well said Noisewater. I pointed out after the Derby game that Jose Mourinho's first ten games at Chelsea, having spent £80m or something on a side that had over £100m spent on it the previous summer, were dire. Very few goals scored, a few 0-0s, a few 1-0s and a defeat against a much worse City side than the one we played today. Some people thought "new manager, billionaire owner, Champions League within a year, title challenge within three, nailed on" and they're getting a rude awakening. Serves them right for being so stupid.

Emre should have been on at 70 minutes, at the very very latest, preferably earlier. Not changing the game is criminal - ok against Derby, he had a limited bench, but today throw him on. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, fine. But that midfield three aren't going to break down such a good City side when they've got a lead at home.

That's a totally stupid thing to say. Sam that is, not you.

We weren't all that bad today, fantastic goal from Oba but again while we can look comfortable as can be when the scores are level, as soon as we score, we capitulate. Happened twice at Boro, happened last week and again today. Taylor's defending for both goals was absolutely horrendous and I'd be starting Faye ahead of him if Cacapa is not back next week. Allardyce seriously needs to stop fucking about with Enrique. Play him and get Smith out. Milner's not having a good season as yet but the midfield is totally unbalanced. Let's get him on the right with a natural left winger opposite him. Oh, and Emre not introduced until we're 3-1 down with two minutes to go is rank bad management.

Newcastle: Shay Given, Habib Beye, Steven Taylor, David Rozehnal, Charles N'Zogbia, James Milner, Alan Smith, Geremi, Nicky Butt, Mark Viduka, Oba Martins Subs: Steve Harper, Jose Enrique, Emre, Abdoulaye Faye, Matty Pattison Man City: Joe Hart, Vedran Corluka, Javier Garrido, Richard Dunne, Micah Richards, Stephen Ireland, Michael Johnson, Martin Petrov, Dietmar Hamann, Elano, Emile Mpenza Post match reaction from: http://www.newcastle-online.com/nufcforum/index.php?topic=45647.msg1026230#msg1026230

I find that very hard to believe. Cacapa's not even in the squad.

A point would be a good result.

It hasn't had any effect so far. It either needs serious work or needs to be ditched. I think more often than not we're giving away possession and spoiling a good attacking opportunity with the long throw. It's a very difficult ball to attack because it floats slowly into the box, and far more teams seem to be drilled in waiting for the second ball these days as they're wise to it. Apart from us against West Ham.

If Zoggy plays well, I think we'll win. If he doesnt, I can see us losing due to a lack of chances. Right now hes the only one who looks like hes capable of creating something. Indeed. Interesting little stat which people may not be aware of: apart from Viduka vs Boro, every single one of our league goals has been either scored or set up by Charlie or Martins. Amazing when you think one hasn't started the last few games and one's been at left back the whole time. Good that they're both playing so well but worrying in that they are the only two who look like creating.

Giddy up. Probably won't be fully fit for a few weeks though.

Apart from against West Ham you mean? And Derby. And Wigan. And Barnsley. Pretty stupid to be criticizing the manager for a hypothetical team selection that he's not even using iyam.