James

Players look a lot fitter than they have for years. It is starting to make a difference. For all his flaws, Pardew is the third best manager in the 28 years of my life, not to be sniffed at, and yet some people still want perfection? I'm confused.

Although I am a supporter of Pardew I do doubt him frequently, but then I look at our results, our league position, the excuses (some valid, some not so valid), the boardroom, and I think of Kylie and what she once said.

He is going to score the winner in the world cup final against England isn't he?

2 points off 4th. Unreasonable expectations of perfection imo

Hideous article on Chris Hughton in the Chronicle today. To summarise: "Hughton was great to the press, not like Pardew, this isn't about the press ban btw"

10.5 out of 14 good games or expected defeats so far this season. Very competent if you ask me.

We have played 13 games. 9.5 of these went as expected or better than expected. 3.5 were let downs. Those games are effectively the difference between 9th and 2nd. For a top 6-8 challenge I'd expect days like that and we are still in a more than good position going into the second quarter of the season. I think there is overdamnation at the moment, we are in a very nice position and there is more reason for hope than gloom.

Individually I like Santon but as a team unit he think he just causes too much imbalance. Debuchy is pure crap and I'd rather play several others over him.

Even if we bid for Gowling and OAPs United accept, we probably won't pay his wages. Another fake bid.

I was in the leazes end and I could see those fuckers leaning into each other all match. It's the hair

Graham Carr visited me in my sleep last night to tell me that he recommends that Gary Johnson is the next Newcastle manager. He then brought me to Yeovil Town club office where him and Mr. Johnson tried to arrange signings without NUFC knowing. I was asked to help by persuading Marveaux 's agent to get him to sign for us.

Krul 4 Debuchy 7 MYM 7.5 Colo 7.5 Santon 6 Anita 7 Cabaye 6.5 Sissoko 8 Remy 8.5 Ben Arfa 10 Cisse 4 Gouffran 7 Tiote/Ameobi n/a

Dimension changing.

Villa are going to be a very good team this season so we will have to be very very good to win there away. A defeat isn't the end.

On a similar topic, police in Manchester are investigating a footballer for a hit and run. Several witnesses and the footballer abused the victim and said he wouldn't get caught because he had foreign number plates.

Drink driving, driving without insurance, all speeding offences warranting more than 3 points, or continuous offences resulting in driving bans. It is irrelevant whether a driver hits someone, their actions are risking the lives of others. Footballers seem to think they are entitled to drive stupid cars dangerously. The laws of the country are not able to deal with this group of the population so the football authorities should act.

Like I said before the Premier League FA and PFA need to take greater responsibility for the above average number of serious driving offences undertaken by professional footballers. This should be match suspensions, for instance Tevez should have got about 10 games. People have died because of the driving culture that had developed in the football industry.

Pardew did say last September that one of our player's heads had been turned by an agent. He never said who on the record, but the media suggested at the time that it was Cabaye believing he was going to Arsenal.

In my opinion he is planning to sell again.

3rd best right back at the club, and worse than the player he replaced.

Will be glad to see the back of him. Talented player on his day but has a Michael Owen personality. Probably a more sulky version tbh.

If Thauvin isn't happy at Lille could a Ben Arfa style loan be an appropriate deal?

Not sure of Debuchy on the right wing or Ben Arfa up front. Mental The idea is that Santon and Debuchy do have wing play ability, but can also do a good defensive job doubling up against the Man City widemen. Dummett's inexperience is an issue, but with injuries to Jonas and Haidara, there aren't so many options on the left at the moment, other than the likes of Sammy or Marveaux - which I'd be more worried about. To counter the very defensive wing set up, the plan for Ben Arfa up front would be that he could roam where the action is, go out to the wing and provide link support to Santon and Debuchy to allow them to attack like highly offensive full backs.

He is on the right. Otherwise it would be Dummett Right Back and Yanga mbiwa Left back. Look who is the sharpest now.

With the right side we may be able to catch these out if we are lucky. I would be inclined to go 442 with Debuchy and Santon on the wings and Ben Arfa up front. KRUL DUMMETT COLOCCINI TAYLOR YANGA-MBIWA SANTON SISSOKO CABAYE DEBUCHY BEN ARFA CISSE