James

I felt there were a couple of moments reminiscent of Taylor's debut against Bolton when he allowed himself to be outmuscled out of an aerial challenge. Another ref might have let McBride off, and Fulham would have scored. Although to be fair, McBride is meant to be the strongest striker in the Prem.

Was a great goal by Martins, it has to be said. Made the rest of the second half slightly bearable.

He was a little bit shaky in the air, although it was against McBride. For 89 minutes, Bramble was the better player throughout, although Onyewu did well enough, and passed the ball around well.

Martins was well pissed off with Steve Harper today. Goal kick after goal kick, if Haper had played it long and wide six seconds earlier, Martins would have had an opportunity to break forwars.

Throw-ins aren't something you can really notice on television, but today, with the full pitch in sight, it was obvious to me that: a) Stephen Carr was going to throw it to Butt about five seconds before he threw it. b) He took so long to throw it that pretty much everyone was being marked by the time he got round to it. c) His best option was a long throw down the line, which he looked at for several moments, before obviously deciding that he couldn't be bothered.

Totally Stephen Carr's fault from what I saw in the stands. An absolutely lazy throw to a man marked tightly by two people.

Competitive football has now been banned indefinitely in Italy.

Lets never play him so we never have a chance to knock his confidence. In fact, he is more likely to lose confidence if not played. Fact is, he either is or isn't mentally adapted to play for Newcastle, and the only way we can find out is to play him. If he isn't mentally adapted, then its good that we can get rid after 12 games, although I'm hoping that's not the case.

Given the vitriol that was read about Wadsworth, Saunders/Murray, Bond, and even Carver, despite no-one actually fully knowing what they do, I am always curious as to why Pearson has such a popular aura surrounding him, when like the previous assistants, he has remained in the background, and thus we dont fully know what he does either. I like him, but what is it that make others like him?

The lucky bastard. You make your own luck though.

That two-faced comment. I swear that is word for word as to what that Maccarone fanboy said about him. Was the guy actually Maccarone?

By the way, someone on 606 has just said that Babel has signed, it is on SSN - can someone confirm this?

Would rather sign Cole than nobody. We need someone to score the goals if Martins is injured/off-form Cole has consistently scored goals at every club he has played for if given starting opportunities.

Welcome back.

Companies requiring transferring forms and contracts over distance still have them. No use for anyone else.

Would be a good signing.

Does Martin Jol really have brothers called Dick and Cock?

We could sign a player from Australia if we wanted. All you need is a fax machine and an open medical centre within ten hours of the player's location.

Unusual place for a meeting They're under the impression that the are going to Liverpool, and they aren't very good at geography.

According to Radio Solent, Bale has said that he doesn't intend on going ANYWHERE today.

I think the Piquionne deal is a smokescreen myself. Newcastle want the media to be spying French airports so that no-one notices Babel and Emmanuelson and Huntelaar meeting up with Fat Fred at Liverpool St. Station.

Apparently Mascherano's weird contract including payments to whoever had stipulations that £X had to be paid every Y games until 200Z. Tevez does not have this clause.

Just seen the Onyewu interview. Apparently, we havent won any Championships for a couple of years.

He is waiting for a work permit.

After his medical he needs to apply for a work permit before he is allowed to sign.