Big Geordie

4-5-1 was never gonna work tonight - clearly Sibierski must have been carrying a knock, otherwise he would have started/come on earlier. Our limited options cost us tonight, but in saying that - the back 4 were excellent I feel. We have a long-term partnership in the making here, with Taylor and Ramage. They should be given a chance to develop further, even when Bramble and Moore become fit again. They are surely earning their chance ?

One less knacker inside the ground. I wasn't aware there had been more problems - certainly never heard any racist rubbish up in Leazes Level 7.

Taylor was excellent today, and Martins took his goals really well. The penalty he scored v Reading seems to have done wonders for his confidence. We may just well have a special player on our hands here..... Only disappointment was Roeder choosing to go with the diamond in midfield. It left us shorn or width and as a result, the middle of the park became too congested. At least we got the win though - very important and continues our upward momentum. blueyes.gif

He actually played against us for Monaco, when we faced them during the UEFA Cup back in 96 (I think).

Tony Cunningham - not a great footballer by any stretch of the imagination, but his effort could never be called into question. How can anyone call Scott Sellars rubbish ? :confused: He was excellent until he picked up that bad injury. Was never the same again after that.

Wednesday night wasn't just a one off from Babayaro. Since he joined us, he has more often than not looked disinterested in the cause and his performances reflect this. As I said previously, I can understand why he was booed (though I did not join in). If some of you's are willing to accept a player in the side who has little or no heart, then you get what you deserve. Coming back from injury is one thing, but a total lack of effort and committment is something else entirely.

Sounds like sour grapes from Coppell, IMO. No mention of our 'good goal' scored by Sibierski which was disallowed after the game, and he's continued in the same vein.

Charlie was off-colour tonight, but no way in the world was he as bad as Babayaro.

I think Sibierski was fielded in midfield for Citeh - a waste if you judge his performances for us as a striker. Their loss is our game though. He's a good, honest, hardworking pro.

Babayaro was a disgrace tonight, and whilst I didn't boo - I can understand those who did so. Is there nothing more galling to watch a player who is paid thousands of pounds a week, run about a football pitch and not care about the team ? The lad isn't interested - he has no heart or fight and therefore should not be playing. Better to put a youth team LB in there, and then at least you'd get effort for the cause.

First-half diagnosis? Should have been out of sight, but comedy defending cost us dear Second-half diagnosis? Showed lots of character after a dodgy start to the 2nd half Full-time diagnosis? Well done to come back and win from being behind at half time. Still have big issues defensively. Star man for United? Nicky Butt/Sibierski/Emre Worst United player? Babayaro by a country mile Opposition comment? Played some good stuff, but got overly confident and paid for it. Toon-pros? Good combination work down the right with Solano and Milner. Sibierski did great holding the ball up and also Emre stepped up to the plate. Toon-cons? Still got massive problems defensively. The LB situation is a major cause for concern. Post-match feelings? Relieved !

Freddy in talking complete $hite shocker. bluesleep.gif

I remember the indian call - was around during the 80's as well, and yes - it came from the East Stand, I'm sure.

I think he's awful - it's like he's reading from a dodgy script/cue cards.

I'll be taking mine - goes without saying.

Happy Birthday Ned. That Portsmouth goal will live long in my memory.

Now there a name - Jimmy Scoular - my old man goes on about him, from when he was a kid. Whitehurst may have been pants, but he had nothing on Rob McDonald. Surely the worst striker I've ever seen wear a toon shirt.

Excellent link, young man !

I was reading earlier - apparently it was Bracewell who tackled Whitehurst, but he came off worst. It was also around the time where a fella in the East Stand used to do an Indian call at home games. I wonder whatever happened to him ? blueconfused.gif

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Whitehurst William "Billy" Whitehurst was an English professional footballer during the 1980s-1990s and was widely regarded as the hardest man to have played the game. Respected BBC football pundit Alan Hansen claims that Whitehurst was the hardest footballer he played against, whilst other notable football hardmen Neil "Razor" Ruddock and Vinnie Jones have both stated that Whitehurst was the hardest opponent they faced. Indeed Whitehurst is alleged to have beaten up Jones whilst the two were team mates at Sheffield United. Whitehurst was born on June 20 in 1959 in Thurnscoe, South Yorkshire and started his career playing for a number of local teams, in the semi - professional leagues,whilst working for the local council as a bricklayer. He eventually made the move into the professional ranks with Hull City in 1980 and after a shaky start soon cemented his place as one of the most popular players to have ever played for the club. His upturn in form had not gone un-noticed and he joined Newcastle United in 1985 as their then record signing. Despite playing in a side featuring Peter Beardsley and Paul Gascoigne, the move did not work out and following a spat with his own supporters Whitehurst joined Oxford United, where it was rumoured he supplemented his football earnings by engaging in bare knuckle boxing bouts with local gypsies. The move there was similarly disappointing and Whitehurst became something of a footballing wanderer, playing for a further six football league clubs. Spells at Reading, Sunderland, Sheffield United, Stoke City, Doncaster Rovers, Crewe Alexandra and a second spell at Hull City produced mixed results. However Whitehurst's hard man persona and colourful off field antics ensured he always caused a reaction and cemented his place as something of a cult figure within the game. Whitehurst ended his playing days abroad, playing in Northern Ireland, Australia and Hong Kong before a long-standing knee injury caused his retirement in 1993. After his football career ended Whitehurst ran several pubs in his native South Yorkshire, however he gave up his license following an alleged assault on a customer for which he was eventually found not guilty. Whitehurst again hit the headlines in 2005 when he was convicted of a £12,000 benefit fraud after failing to declare a footballer's pension whilst he claimed unemployment benefit. Whitehurst claimed the matter was an oversight and he was given a probation order. In mitigation he also admitted to a long standing addiction to gambling which had cost him much of his earnings as a footballer. Today he does occasional work on building sites and trains greyhounds. He has made forays into the after-dinner-speaking circuit and is planning an autobiography entitled "Football's hardest man." --------------------- I was about 12/13 when we signed Billy Whitehurst - he'd done well at Hull and built himself a fearsome reputation in the lower leagues. So, Willie McFaul went out and paid £250000 for his services - think it equaled the club record at the time. Billy was something or a one off on the football field. An extremely hard, hard man who would eat the likes of Roy Keane and Patrick Viera for breakfast. He was big, powerful, and downright dirty. He must have been an absolute nightmare to mark for an opposing centre half. Indeed, Alan Hansen noted he was the player that he feared facing the most, in the whole of his illustrious career. However, after a reasonable start, Billy clearly wasn't happy and departed for Oxford United after flicking the V's at some of our lot - think it might have been a League Cup game. At that point, he jumped and moved like a bag of cement, so it was no great loss. He then did a tour of a few clubs (including the mackems), before he retired in the early/mid 90's. Since then, he's been in a bit of bother as you may have read above. I remember reading one story about him on the net some years ago, about him jacking off to a porno infront of his room-mate at the time. I'm buggered if I can find that story now ! Anyone else remember Big Billy ? bluebiggrin.gif

Aye just like last seasons Charlton game, me and my mate walked and were near enough onto Barrick road before some bloke on his way back told us it was off. I actually made it to outside of The Trent, where I normally meet my mate (Mick). Got there, only to hear it had been cancelled. Had to ring Mick, who was stuck on the supporter's bus going past the Town Moor. He had to go and tell the driver it was off. I then had to walk back towards the BBC's Pink Palace, where wor lass was able to stop and pick me up. What a night ! bluesigh.gif bluebiggrin.gif

Yup - someone has just mentioned that on the Radio Newcastle phone in. Perhaps today's ref was a homer ?

I think that takes us out of the bottom 3 on GD - 17th ?

A great result, all things considered. We were hanging on at the end, but think we deserved our point for digging in.

Really ? Portsmouth fans out of order. Totally uncalled for. Do you have a link for the story ?