James

Have to say, I am a bit confused, we did go through long spells without penetrating the final third, but on the other hand we had 60% possession, 10 shots on target, 5 shots on target (they had 5 and 7), Also we had 3 clear cut chances to their one, on the whole we were better than them, just maybe not getting the goal fest we were hoping for, but I can live without that. We struggle when we are pressed in my opinion, and it is a hard situation to be in, we are too well respected by the opposition. Challeenge now is keeping that respect (which stops teams looking to attack us so freely), while improving the team to cope when we are being pressed in possession.

He is so frustrating. That the time he went to trap the stationary ball in loads of space, moving at walking speed and nearly fell over.

Coincides with many of my thoughts Good post. Regarding Cabaye needed a rest, I have tended to agree with this, thinking he needed a game or two off since October/November. However he has now had that rest, but it still hasn't done much good. I think he is struggling because he has become one of our dangermen, and teams are being more defensive against us than at the start of the season. The team need to adapt, or Cabaye needs to improve in high intensity, low space situations. I also think that explains why he is coming deep a lot.

I was once responsible for a thread titled: Do you want to see James Perch in a Newcastle shirt ever again? I do. I apologise for what I said.

If Cisse is our Cole, and Ba is our Yorke, then Shola is our Solksjaer.

If we are unhappy with how we are attacking, shouldn't we be laying responsibility onto Carver and Stone as Pardew has delegated that all onto them?

Perch isn't playing left back...

Our formation has been something like this: Krul Simpson Williamson Colo Perch Jonas Guthrie Cabaye HBA Ba Cisse Jonas has been revelationary.

I think it is best all round if he becomes England Manager then leaves out Terry and Lampard.

No denying he is a good player. However he has struggled for form since November and has become reckless or alternatively hasnt imposed himself well enough. talk of playing 5 in midfield isn't really valid with Ba and Cisse therefore he needs to find his previous form, working with Pardew if it is a tactical issue.

Fifth NUFC player to score in his first two PL Home games for NUFC apparently. Shearer, Ferdinand, Ferguson, Cordone, Cisse.

Very impressed with his work rate. Won a couple of headers tackles you wouldn't have expected from a striker.

There's always room for improvement, even for Barcelona and the likes. There's no imbalance in our team, there is simply a strong spine with not so strong wings (based on ability), but we have the drive, determination and commitment as a whole which has taken us to where we are. I bet (and this isn't personal) that 9/10 people on here will have said that they'd rather see a committed, less able team, than an able, uncommitted team and out of those 9, 4/5 of them would all say the total opposite now. People need to make their minds up. Build a committed, hard working culture at the club. Then replace the less able players with better players who are either already hardworking or likely to find that the culture at the club wears off on them.

One asset of Taylor's overlooked this season is a fear factor. Although we have other players that can hit a set piece or shoot from range, I don't think these players have built up a reputation or any statistical significance for doing so. Whereas defenders know that a poor clearance or a foul and they risk conceding a shot on goal. We had that fear factor in the days of Shearer, Robert, Solano, and I think it is getting back to that now with Taylor and Cabaye. So having Taylor on the pitch unlocks a few possibilities in open play that in the past teams may have negated through fouling us or whacking the ball anywhere. However, I do think the fear factor was at his greatest when he was at LB so maybe put him back there in place of Santon who I still think is better on the right.

Asterix Obelix

Joe Kinnear has applied.

A senior Rangers figure has asked that the Chairman is investigated for fraud.

He'd have no impact today. Spurs are masterful tonight, if anything we need better defensive players, not offensive ones.

Just going to have to forget about this game.

Benitez is the man for me, winning the Champions League with Liverpool.

john terry: nice to white guys So basically he is nice to people he likes

Ok. I have come up with my own shortlist. 1. Chris Hughton 2. Rafa Benitez

England need someone uncontroversial that will take orders from above and will enjoy the simple coaching of a group of lads.

He is out of the team because he kept losing the ball in areas most weak to counter attack and our defence struggles against pace through the centre. Pardew said pre Villa he was going to have to deal with the counter attacks. That was his solution. Ben Arfa has nowhere near the greatest ability at the club. He is behind Coloccini, Krul and Ba, while numerous other players are playing better and i would rather build the team around them than him.

We have still conceded 5 to Fulham and 4 to West Brom though so it can still happen even if we are much tighter than we used to be..