Big Geordie

I think Waddle is OK - but not when he's working on our games. The mackem shineth through.

What was going on with their fans, lads? Looked to be loads of stewards in the away end from what I saw on TV!

Only caught the 2nd half after getting in from work. Good performance, good win but was surprised at how poor Bordeaux looked. Were they any better in the first half?

Ba's first goal - what a sexual finish.

Very poor performance today and another get out of jail card played by Demba Ba. Yeah we have 9 points, but so far this season we have looked so worryingly out of touch. Bar the 2nd half v Everton, has there been a game where we thought 'Aye - we were great'. Lack of investment in the summer is part of the reason for the malaise I think and unless Pardew tries something new, it's gonna be a mid-table finish and the good work of last season will have been undone, due to Ashley choosing to 'play it safe'. We exited the League Cup down to a lack of belief and commitment - is the Europa League to be next and for it to be treat with what Artie Ziff did when he was at Villa? Because look where that got them. Will be interested to hear what Pardew has to say on this one - some honesty would be nice.

It's all moot anyway. Not exactly a great prize pulling Chelsea away, even if we had won last night. Let the Mancs get on with it though I'd hope that we now see stronger Newcastle sides in the Europa League.

Vuckic and Sammy could do with loans, but the weakness of the squad means they have to stay for the moment to provide back up. Hopefully Paul Dummett will be getting similar good experience up at St Mirren at present.

Yup - good shift tonight from the young'un. Looks very promising.

I can understand about Ben Arfa given his injury record. No reason as to why he can't play in Europe and the PL though now he has served his ban for the former. I remember when we played in the CL and UEFA Cup under SBR and there was little or no squad rotation then. 3 games in a week was no problem and we had a superb record for winning a PL game, straight after a european one.

So, nearly into October and we have begun resting players already. I can see why to be honest, we have a small squad which is incapable of battling on in 4 fronts. But on the other hand, we are talking about lads who are supposed to be in their physical prime here and some managers complain about having to play 3 times in a week? And granted, that it's not just Newcastle who do this. In Spain, we see the likes of Messi, Xavi and Iniesta playing 60+ games a season and whilst la Liga possibly isn't as quick as the PL, how come they manage it? My belief is that modern players and wrapped in cotton wool too much and if they are constantly being told they are tired by their boss and the media, then surely they will begin to believe it? I remember a famous stat about when Villa won in the league in 81/82 (I think) and in that season, they only used 13/14 players in what was a 42 game top division season. How did they manage it? Yes, football may well be quicker now but it's a lot softer a game now than it was back then in terms of tackling, etc. Any thoughts lads and lasses?

This.

Better 2nd half for us, but no complaints. Just a pity that Pardew and the team didn't show a bit more attacking ambition in the first half. Had we gone through tonight, we'd have probably pulled Arsenal or Chelsea away, anyway! Still got the Europa League, PL and FA Cup to look forward to. Some home draws in the latter would be nice! Impressed with Tavernier who was terrific in both fullback positions and Cisse looks sharp and hungry again which is a real bonus.

Do visiting teams have a single bit of say as to ticket prices? I very much doubt it.

We've done OK, but not much you can do against a wonder goal (it was some finish) Vuckic and Marveaux not in the game and Obertan's final ball is rubbish. Tav impressing at DL though. On another forum, a Manc fan is saying that it was Newcastle who refused to drop the ticket prices!

Is Gosling the latest target for the boo-boys then? (taking over from Shola) The lad has never had a long enough run in the side to show us what he can do, FFS.

Fergie has put out a good side there - he respects us, so always plays a strong team. They'll have too much - I expect little else.

Crawley 2 Swansea 2

Leeds 2-0 - White again.

Clattermole sent off v MK Dons - straight red.

Has come a lot later than it should, IMO. The man is a cunt.

Yup - take the win and move on.

Just need to hang on here and get the win. Forget the performance.

Don't know what it is with us at the moment, but it seems like we enjoy making things hard for ourselves.

Nolan

Mackems 1-0 up Fletcher