James

I'm holding onto that one. Cheered me up, slightly.

Although he is eternally shit in midfield, I think it is an absolute disgrace that he got himself sent off for dissent/language/whatever, meaning that we have one player less when the team is going through a difficult time. Smith is now as unwelcome at the club as Joey Barton in my eyes.

Basically, the first thing we need to do is change our half time routine. Get the players out of their apathetic losers syndrome that they seem to develop.

That has doubled our negative goal difference.

One error is too many for a keeper, regardless of the number of saves made.

Bit harsh on Owen in my opinion. He had to shoot with his left foot in the opposite direction to which he was moving.

Rooney fouled Given as well.

Zero contact. Ronaldo is a cheat. Smith shouldn't have jumped in the wall though.

I disagree. We're playing well and having some possession because our midfield is packed. If our midfield becomes stretched (which it will if there's only 4 of them) then we'll never get possession and will inevitably lose by a lot. Viduka's stays on the bench because he's slow as well so he won't be useful against Vidic/Ferdinand. I'm really surprised that Owen's doing really well as a lone striker and if he keeps it up i.e. continues to run, show for the ball and link up with the midfiedl, then we will always have a chance of nicking a goal because he can still finish. Owen has always been very good at coming short. It is oneof his many underrated abilities. Get Owen into a passing team, and he is still a great player.

4231 would really work if the two in the less advanced positions could play a simple pass. Impressed with everyone except those two. Even Carr.

HT. 1-0 Newcastle. Well taken goal in front of Capello.

Mort sitting with Peter Kenyon

Maybe we are playing 4231?

Emre hasn't been goodfrom the start since Pearson has been here,so not suprising really. Glad to see that our coaching staff seemed to be opposed to this players out of position bollocks though.

Smith aside, I actually reckon that is the best side we could muster today.

I don't see how they've failed this "test" yet as we haven't appointed anybody yet. you've been quiet the last few days. If this had been the fat bastard, you'd have been slating him right left and centre No need for that.

To be honest, I am starting to wonder if I was too harsh on Shepherd in some areas.

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This season is another write off, so we dont need players, just a manager that can get the best out of the ones we've got and make sure that we dont get too close to danger. To be honest, I'd rather the new manager didn't get a penny this January and was forced to workwith the players he's already got, so that he can't go out and hide behind his new signings. But then surely he'll hide behind the fact that the players out there aren't his players!? Yes, but come the summer, he'd have a better idea of just how to improve the team.

This season is another write off, so we dont need players, just a manager that can get the best out of the ones we've got and make sure that we dont get too close to danger. To be honest, I'd rather the new manager didn't get a penny this January and was forced to workwith the players he's already got, so that he can't go out and hide behind his new signings.

Yep, Ranieri would definitely leave Juventus for Newcastle. Maybe he can flatshare with Mancini... Oh, thought he was at Parma. My mistake.

Add Ranieri and Deschamps as well.

Fuck the gutless first teamers. Lets give others an opportunity to show what they can do: Harper Edgar Kadar Tozer Enrique LuaLua Emre N'Zogbia Duff Carroll Baheng

Agree. No point crying until we know the final outcome.

We've said nothing, but Harry himself claims we approached him yesterday, he met Mort and after sleeping on the offer has decided to turn it down. Football negotiation rule number 1: Never let anyone sleep on it.