James

Come On!

NUFC: Harper; Enrique, Edgar, Faye (Diatta 82), Beye; Barton, Butt (Smith 79), Geremi; Martins, Viduka (Duff 74), Owen. Subs not used: Forster, Carroll. Goals: Martins 18, Owen 43, Viduka 58. Yellow Cards: None Red Cards: None RFC: Hahnemann; Shorey, Ingimarsson, Bikey, Rosenior; Hunt, Cisse (Fae 72), Harper, Oster (Convey 60); Kitson (Long 72), Doyle. Subs not used: Duberry, Federici. Goal: None Yellow Cards: Bikey Red Cards: None Referee: Lee Probert. Post match reaction can be found from here: http://www.newcastle-online.com/nufcforum/index.php?topic=51668.msg1271914#msg1271914 PLEASE DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES REQUEST OR PROVIDE LINKS TO ILLEGAL MATCH STREAMS. IF YOU DO, YOU WILL BE BANNED* *See http://www.newcastle-online.com/nufcforum/index.php?topic=19161.0 for more information

It's not as bad as it sounds according to Keegan in the Journal. Players were training aggressively within the laws of the game, but Keegan wanted it so that the only knocks a player picks up are within competitive matches.

The player has since retired, so it isn't any of our lot.

I've never been wrong, just been times where I haven't been proved right....yet. See Geremi/Given for examples of vindication

According to wikipedia, yes he was.

I've updated the list to take out five players who never played for NUFC: Diatta, Pinas, Gudjonssen, Perez and Troisi, added Luque who was missing, and a recount shows sixty players. I think we should compile a list of Irish players, then add them all to the main list later. Off the top of my head, I can think of: Stephen Carr Jimmy Crawford Damien Duff Shay Given Alan O'Brien Andy O'Brien Liam O'Brien

If Hodgson is on the list, you've also got to mention Gary Johnson of Bristol City - We even have top international managers in the Championship

It isn't complicated as this is post Premier League - many years after Ireland gained complete independence from the UK. Michael Collins didn't fight in the Irish Civil War so that Irish players weren't considered foreign players in the UK 85 years later.

Ireland is foreign.

"How many foreign players have played for NUFC since we joined the Premier League." That technicality doesn't appear to be in place for other names on that list.

and we had Brad Friedel (USA) on loan in 1994, but we sent him back when we discovered that he wasn't going to be given a work permit that would allow him to make a permanent move.

Italian Francesco Coco and Dutchman Ruud Gullit have played in first team friendlies if they count.

Ireland: Shay Given Andy O'Brien Damien Duff Stephen Carr etc. Ireland is foreign.

I'm starting to think that Keegan has uncovered the solution to the 451/433 formation. After all, the 451 was brought in to try to stifle those classically effective 442 teams, and our downfall certainly coincided with over half the league adopting that system. Since the second half vs Birmingham, we have outplayed three teams that fielded systems involving a three man central midfield. In that area, it looks like our midfield three can dominate the opponent, whereas we got overrun when it was just two man. Because we have two less midfielders in total, it invites their wingers forward onto us, but our full backs are better than most of the 451 teams. Should a cross come in, we have two centre backs, a full back, and two central midfielders against one striker, one winger, and two central midfielders at most. Should their full back come to offer support, our third central midfielder has them covered. Two of three strikers can come deep to pick up and hold up any clearances. Therefore we have it covered defensively, and challenge the opponents to commit themselves forward. Then it is our turn on the ball. Faye can come up the pitch leaving Taylor against ther lone striker, allowing Faye to dominate any clearances from high up the pitch. The opposition wingers have to watch our full backs pushing forwards, taking them out of the midfield battle. Our midfield trio, with the help of strikers coming deep are able to play around the opponents midfield three. Two strikers remain pushed up against four defenders, and the third striker and our midfielders are able to exploit the space it creates. So in short, our 433 could have all 451 teams stuffed for a little while. Perhaps Newcastle United can kill off the 451 for good?

sicsfingeredmong - Souness was three managers ago, it is time to move on....

Example of ticket office 'sell out' not being a sell out: http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/687/img3288ei7.th.jpg

ElDiablo, Wembley has been 'sold out' before when there have been thousands of empty seats. Although its unlikely for a FA Cup Semi, if people contact the ticket offices to express an interest, additional seats can sometimes become available.

All fans going will be equally passionate. Portsmouth vs West Brom should be the best football. I don't know what it is like for Barnsley in terms of wealth of fan base, but some fans of northern clubs in the play offs last season were priced out, so their clubs didn't take up their full allocation, so it might be possible that Barnsley don't sell out. At Wembley for the neutral games last season, they sold tickets in blocks. When each block sold out new blocks become available. However, the FA only allow teams to be allocated a certain number more blocks than their opponent. If one club doesn't take up their 45,000 seats, neither does the opponent. With that in mind, I think empty seats are more likely in Barnsley vs cardiff than West Brom vs Portsmouth, so however you define which game is better, the Portsmouth match is the best.

Goals scored I would assume All 0-0s. Then what? Everyone has stopped following the Premier League by Late November, so no-one cares.

Keegan said last night that a lot of stuff seen on the pitch stemmed from work delegated to Hughton and Round on the training ground.

Absolutely, although in the case of this thread, being forced to choose gives more interesting responses (hopefully)

People may want to sign two centre backs, and it adds detail on the kind of centre halfs people want to see. Obviously both added together indicates the popularity of the centre back choice, and I think it is a bit better than just putting CB1 and CB2. why not go for 2 centre halves who are physically strong,good in the aor,read the game well and are canny on the ball ? I'm not saying that one player should have good attributes in a certain part of their game, and not so good in other areas, rather I'm looking at the role of the player, ie at Manyoo, Ferdinand is the more cultured, and Vidic the more physically imposing.

People may want to sign two centre backs, and it adds detail on the kind of centre halfs people want to see. Obviously both added together indicates the popularity of the centre back choice, and I think it is a bit better than just putting CB1 and CB2.

I've gone for the sweeping centre half, the defensive midfielder, a right winger and a left winger.