macca888

Watched Swansea a couple of weeks ago against Cardiff and for half an hpour, they were mint. However, the cardiff defence was so static, you could drive a london double decker bus through them. Smallest guy on the park scored the first with a header. All of a sudden, Cardiff woke up and scored twice in two minutes just before half time and could have got more. They were missing several of their star players including Chopra and Whittingham. Both Cardiffs goals should have been dealt with by a clearly dodgy Swansea defence, the first route one and the second, a far post header from a free kick. Swansea got back into it in the second half and won 3-2 in the end but I wasnt all that impressed. Saw that they only just managed to beat a desperate derby on the weekend at hoime with a l;ast minute goal. It will be close but I think our confidence is high and if we can get at them down the wings and get quality balls in, Carroll, Harewood/Ranger etc could have a field day. 2-0 to the toon.

Swansea will be a test although I dont think they are as dangerous away from home as QPR were. I watched Swansea v Cardiff a few weeks ago and whilst they won 3-2, I thought after dominating the first half hour, they lost control of the game and let a very ordinary Cardiff back into it. Swansea's first goal was a header by the smallest player on the field and in that first half, neither defence looked particul;arly steady. Swansea seem to be very immobile at the back and whilst they appear to have a good midfield, their main striker appears to be Craig Beattie, who to be honest, is no great shakes. Having said that now, he will probably score a hat trick against us now.......LOL. It should be a decent passing game though because I think they will come to get 3 points but it will be won for us by the wing play. Swansea seem to be a little too delicate at full back and this could be the game where we see Jonas on one wing and Pancrate on the other wing, attacking them with pace and crossing accuracy down the flanks. If we can do this, we will murder them.

11 wins from 17 games has exceeded my expectations by a long way. You only have to look at what has happened to Middlesbrough to see how well we have done. My main fears relate to squad strength, depth and determination. Many oin here fear Ashley selling more of our best players in January but if he did this, then he would be cutting his nose off despite his face. He wants promotion just as much as us because he knows if we dont go up, we could slide like Leeds therefore depreciating his asset or if we do go up, his asset will double in value enabling him to get more back when he eventually sells. However, to get promotion, he needs to improve the squad, not just for the remainder of the season, but also for our first season back. We have a reasonable nucleus there already but we need to get rid of the likes of Khiz, Harewood and buy a quality defender, winger, goalscoring striker and creative central midfielder. At the moment, I would be happy with Campbell, Beckford, Driver and Koumas coming in and signing Simpson full time.

My proudest moment for the fans was after being totally humiliated by Liverpool in the 74 cup final, we out sang the scousers as they received the cup and paraded it around wembley. I remember Bill Shankley saying later on that he could not believe his ears at the support given to Newcastle. It was the best he had ever seen..................and we thrashed them. On the monday, when the team returned to the city, the welcome they got was truly amazing. Players were moved to tears, especially Supermac. It was a wonderful reception for a humiliated team. Never seen anything like it in football since.

Jonas is a frustrating player because as some on here have pointed out, he tends to give the ball away a lot and his crossing is abysmal but he has the ability to take a player on and get past him. That is why most teams in this division double up on him. Enrique needs to suppoort him more in attacking positions. I would like to see Jonas operating down the right because by continually being forced inside by defenders results in the lack of quality balls into the forwards. With the likes of Carroll, Ranger and Ameobi all good in the air, we need two quality wingers to provide the crosses. Jonas has the pace to beat most full backs on the outside so play him on the right and give him specialist one to one coaching on crossing technique.

Butchers Coats? I seem to remember the brown coats the peanut sellers used to wear as they carried their baskets around the cinder track shouting, "peanuts, tanner a bag, peanuts". You used to chuck your tanner down to them and back came those cone shaped packets of peanuts. Also remember those bloody awful boiled hamburgers and onions they used to sell in the kiosks at the bottom of the steps leading up to the gallowgate end and the hot mugs of bovril. Someone mentioned being rolled down over the heads to the front of the leazes. It happened to me as well in the late 60s. I remember coming home in 82 from Oz for a holiday and went to see us play Grimsby at home in the cup. We lost 2-0 and whilst a player was being treated for an injury, some one shouted out, Howay, Newcastle, I cashed my giro to see you lot play today. It was hilarious at the time but it made me realise I was better off living in Oz than Thatchers England at the time.

I emigrated to Oz in 79 so most of my memories are obviously before the 80s so here are a few: Big Wyn during those Fairs Cup matches. He was so dominant in the air. Supermacs home debut v Liverpool. Wembly 74 and the disapointment afterwards. Wembley 76 and the disappointment Alan Suddick walking up to the Grimsby wall and dropping the dacks of one of their defenders in the wall. Tony Green.........best player I have ever seen in an NUFC shirt John McNamee, hanging from the Joker Park crossbar after equalising in a 3-3 draw against the scum. The Newcastle end at Hillsbrough for the 74 semi against Burnley..a sea of Bl;ack and White The fans at WBA 5th round FA Cup in 74.......sang Howay the Lads non stop for entire 2nd half. Rangers fans invading SJP in 69, semi final Fairs cup and dad and me watching as one of them was chucked in the tyne off the swing bridge after the game FA Cup defeat at Walsall in 75, i think, bog of a pitch, trip down on the train and how we got kicked off just outside Walsall and had to walk the rest of the way under the motorway to get to the ground. Shitful day. Yes, happy days

Watched the game live here in Oz and thought it was a strong workmanlike display. Against teams like Preston, we are too organised defensively because they had very little guile to get past us. Harper had very little to do and most of their shots were well wide or over the bar. I thought we held possession quite well but our final ball, especially from the flanks (Jonas, Guthrie, Enrique) was woeful. We need to improve these areas most of all. Harewood will not be staying. With Carroll, Lovenkrands, Ranger and Ameobi soon to return, there is no need to keep him as he gives us very little up front. Hopefully, Ashley will release the funds for us to get a Beckford type goalscorer in but our priority has to be a winger who can cross the ball accurately. I would like to see us sign Andy Driver from Hearts and switch Jonas to the right where he plays for the Argies. I read that prior to this game, PNE had only lost twice at home in 12 months so winning as easily as we did shows that we have the quality to beat the majority of teams in this division and get promotion automatically.

Better watch out for those twin scottish strikers, Rob Roy McGregor and William Wallace when we play Rangers in the Fairs Cup semi finals. Heard their cpoach, Robert Bruce is a good gaffer as well.

Just got back from Wembley Geez, that copper on the white horse really got laid into those Bolton fans who invaded the pitch.

I wouldnt sell him and I dont think Ashley will either. He is not that stupid especially as Carrolls wages will not make that much of a dent in the wage structure. We already know that Harewood is going bck to Villa so getting rid of another striker doesnt make sense. By the way, Big Andy reminds me so much of a young Duncan Ferguson and in the long run, could be a huge asset for us and ENGLAND.

Rather than spend money on Kilgallon, I would rather keep progressing young Kadar and possibly the likes of Tavernier and Lough. We need players urgently in other positions first, especially up front and a decent winger who can supply accurate crosses/ We should check out Andy Driver from Hearts or the Routledge lad from QPR. In the short term, I would try and sign Koumas as a creative player with the view of signing someone bigger if we go up. Send Kish and Harewood back from where they came from and for gods sake, lets give Ranger a decent run alongside Carroll. I hope we can get Danny Simpson on the cheap too.

I dont think it has much to do with fitness although last night, we did have 50% of our defence returning after several weeks out through injury. I think, last night, in particular, it was more down to the tactics of Hughton to sit on a 1-0 lead mfor the last 15 minutes although why he should take a defender and a midfielder off to replace them with two attackers mystified me to say the least. We almost played into SU s hands and if not for 3 quality saves from Harper, we would have certainly drawn or even lost this game. I cannot comment on Scunthorpe as I didnt see the game but last night was a m irror image of the Cardiff away game earlier this season and we were lucky to get 3 points against them. I dont think we have the set up or capability to defend a small lead, despite having the best defensive record in the division because we dont seem to have the capability to score goals at will like other teams at the top.(Cardiff and WBA).

I thought the kid was excellent tonight considering it was only his second full game against a desperate side. Tactically, Hughton played into their hands, especially the last 20 minutes and conceeded the space in midfield. Thios put unnecessary pressure on the defence and Kadar came through with flying colours. I think he would be immense in a back 3, especailly with Taylor and Collocini. Liked his coolness in the ball too and can nly see improvement ahead if he is given a long run in the team. Same applies to Ranger too. He must start games now. I thought he was excellent when he came on too and almost created a chance with his first touch. Now is the time to start this lad alongside Carroll.

Melbourne cup day here in Oz so had the day off and watched the game live at 7am. A few points though. I could not understand Hughton's substitutions at all. We were hanging on in the end because of this. Having 3 strikers on the park when we were trying to close the game out seemed really strange to me. Also, we were lucky with the goal because Nolan's tackle on their guy was definitely a foul, right in front of the refe as well. Taylor could count himself lucky for not being sent off as well. Carroll was immense. His header that hit the post was superb and his work rate was first class. Harewood showed why he should be sent back to Villa with one chance he had when he could have been clean through but mis controlled. I lioked the look of young Kadar. He looked good in the air and cool on the ball and he is definitely a future first teamer. Put him beside Steven Taylor and he will be immense, in my opinion. Jose was superb, especially going forward. Reminded me of Alan Kennedy with those barging runs down the left. However, his defending needs to improve. All in all, a hard won performance which we edged due to Steve Haper in the last few minutes with threee superb stops. This should not mhave happened withthe substitutions made.

More to the point, How many will we score? Concede - 42 Score - 66 Season finish, somewhere between 3 and 6, losing in the play off final to QPR.

After going 2-0 up, we will lose to 3-2 to a last minute penalty from substitute Jimmy Muir Nailed on

KINGDAWSON What a load of bollocks about Campbell. He refused a contract extension for at least 12 months before leaving the Spuds. He never promised to stay at all. You are just shitty on him because he joined Arsenal. If it had been Man U or Liverpool or even us, you lot wouldnt have been moaning as much. Get your facts right about the lad. He left because he wanted to challenge for trophies, play at the highest level in europe etc and he knew he wouldnt achieve that at the inferior spuds. That has been a proven fact. As for old mouthful of marbles Redknapp, he is as bent as a 6 quid note and the only reason he is up there at present is because he has been given shitloads to spend. When the money runs out, he will be soon on his bike again, probably begging Pompey to take him back again so he can be close to his beloved seaside mhome on the south coast. SANDILANDS, isnt it? Isnt that a tax exile haven or something?.................LOL

Meant to say that I watched the Uruguay game live and to see how Messi was given no supoort and tevez was left on the sidelines until the last couple of minutes says iot all for me. Maradona the coward........................couldnt let his best players play and too frightened to show their inevitable ability to win games. Apparently, he has used 78 players in these qualifying games. Says it all really. Argentina, under him at the WC, will be laughing stock. Argentina FA will know this. Maradona to be sacked within 2 weeks. but nof course, he will say he resigned..........LOL.........................FUCKING TURD.

The most pathetic excuse for a coach I have ever seen and that includes JFK. I watched the

What about Robbie Fowler, sniffing the chalk on the byeline after scoring against Everton. Something about someone accusing him of being a cokehead, wasnt it? Funny celebration though.

All managers who have won the double (League and FA Cup) ? Might well be Ferguson again

Barton will not be the first or the last player to get into some sort of off field trouble. As a club, we have had our fair share of trouble makers who have rebelled agaqinst the club in one way or another. Players like Dyer, Bowyer, Bellamy etc come to mind imm,ediately. Other players from other clubs such as Lee Hughes who served jail time for killing someone in a motor vehicle accident, patrick Kluivert who did likewise and the likes of Merson and Adams at Arsenal. Even Wayne Rooney caught frequenting prostitutes and more recently, Steven Gerrard provoking a fight in a pub but getting off scot free. To single out Barton is unfair to a certain extent and whilst he has had a history of trouble, he is in the process of addressing it. The likes of arguments with Shearer and Hughton is something which happens at every club. Football is an emotional game and players, coaches, managers etc get into regular rows over disagreements. It is part and parcel of the game. To get over these rows as quickly as possible is the real test. Barton has had an extremely diffcult time at the club since he arrived, with his jail period and a number of serious foot injuries but he is a quality player and we are not in any position any longer to let players leave. I dont believe the club has helped him either by playing him out of position for long periods whilst with us either. Put him in the centre of midfield with Smith and we would see a vast improvement

Judging by this game, I cant really see PNE being much of a threat in this league anyway. 72 minutes gone of a piss poor boring game and still 0-0

KK: Lampard, Beckham, Henry and Tom Finney MA: Denissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss