Wullie

In a nutshell. Teams sitting deeper stumps us because our attacking quality is rather limited at this level with Routledge and Lovenkrands not doing it and HBA crippled. I think home form is easier to put right than being in an away rut though so I'm not too concerned. We've always also been better at home against clubs that psychologically we think we're on a par with - Everton, Villa, Spurs. We've been falling down against the shite for years, we've just forgotten about it a little bit because of last season.

Think the usually sensible NJS compared him to Amdy Faye after his debut.

On the right? He played central in a midfield of 3, not hugged out on the wing. He didn't like, Nicky Butt played centrally, Geremi right, Barton left. Not as an out-and-out winger, but he still played in a wide position.

Aye, but didn't really help out on the right a great deal or find space there very much. Still, two crosses, two goals, can't complain, tbh. Indeed, I wouldn't play him there at home.

A couple of the high balls he claimed, there is no way in the world he would have come for them in August, he's learning.

Credit where it's due, played very well today. I prefer him wide because his general possession play and short passing is absolutely shite. He can open up a defence with a good cross or clever pass though so away from home out wide is perfect for him. It's where he played his best stuff for us under KK.

Shola was better and buy my CD.

Stick your "pressure" up your arse, Fleet Street.

Fucking outstanding result and a really good performance, especially second half. Totally dominated.

Fuck all wrong with that from Shola, shocking decision.

Not like Verlaine to know fuck all about football.

Saylor will be playing cb when he's back, not rb. There's not a cat in hell's chance he'll replace Colo or Williamson imo, and rightly so.

Reasonably pleased with the first half performance, definitely points to be had here. If we can sort out this right back issue, we'll be so much better off, we're being targeted there every week. Steven Taylor can't come back quick enough to play there.

Not really arsed, Perch can cover left back.

50p on QPR/Bayern Munich in play @ 16/1, might get lucky and give me something to play with tomorrow.

Pardew!

Someone at a computer please 'FYP' that to replace 'shit' with 'spunk'.

All going my way thus far, howay Valencia.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/images/2006/01/17/shearer_inter_milan_203x152.jpg

To win by 2 is -1.5. -1 is essentially the same but if it's 1-0 you get your money back and it's obviously weaker odds. You can do normal Handicap rather than Asian on Bet365 too - that's when you don't have the chance of anything back. I've gone Schalke -1.5, Lyon dnb, Barca -1.5, Inter, Valencia.

It's such shabby journalism and a total non story. Tomorrow's exclusive: Ancelotti under threat if Chelsea are relegated. Wow really? Here's my 30p, tell me more.

I want to see Routledge given another chance and would love to see him come good because I really like him. Don't think the system we've been playing suits him, in the first few games he often get to the byline and have nobody waiting for the cross as Carroll had dropped deep. Suits him much better with two up.

Spot on Jonny. Seems it doesn't work like that though. What if you take the view that most of the club is set up for failure and anything better which seems to stem from him which is better than that can be considered virtually supererogatory? This 'balanced, sensible' view that some people seem to have that victory should bring praise and defeat should bring criticism and pressure is dumb to reality. It doesn't take into account the context of any of the events under analysis and it doesn't help achieve what we presumably actually want which is ultimate success. I think it's more that people at one end of the scale think he shouldn't be criticised or held accountable at all tbh. Who?

Roma better get their arse in gear second half.