Benwell Lad

They battered and dominated us in the derby too. Dont forget that. That's right, and Larsson didn't handle on the line the ball hit him on the chest. And like Brucie says they're hard to beat, score lots of goals and don't concede many. No wonder they've been top dogs ever since top doggery was invented (circa 3 years ago).

Not a "gotcha" in sight, the Sun must be improving post Rebecca. Seriously, on a night when we had eleven heroes on the park anyone who couldn't see the immense value of Jonas' contribution needs to give their heed a shake.

It's often the true mark of a person how they cope when things are going against them rather than how the deal with successful times. Like Colocinni in his first season who showed amazing character despite a very difficult season at a new club in turmoil and in a new country, Pardew was thrown to the lions, given very little support and had to face pressure games with half his squad injured but showed mental toughness and great dignity to achieve decent results in adversity. We're lucky to have such strong characters as manager and captain of our club.

We couldn't wish for a better bloke fronting our club in TV interviews.

I said in my "easy start" thread that there are NO easy games in this league, Wigan at home proved that and Stoke will illustrate the point when they play the top sides at home, as indeed QPR already have when they beat Chelsea and Norwich did at Liverpool. I was in a very small "optimistic" minority pre-season, optimism founded on belief in a very professional management team, thinking that we'd bought astutely (Ba and Cabaye particularly) and particularly that our squad was better than many who'd written us off thought. Indeed peripheral players like Taylor and Guthrie and to some extent Best and Shola have shown how valuable they will be to us over the course of a long hard season and we have quality like Ben Arfa, Marveaux and Santon chomping at the bit to get some action too. Lets not forget some quality youngsters like Sammy, Vukic and Ferguson in the background too. That said not for one moment could I have envisaged the start we've had and like most of us I know we cannot sustain it over the whole season, but last night the team took their game to a new level in terms of attitude and performance in general. There's just a slight possibility that less than 3 teams from London may finish above us this season.

Although I rate Pardew, his backroom staff, our key players and our squad players very highly, I didn't think we'd get anything out of the game because I did not think we had developed to a point where we could cope with a 90 minute battering from such a direct physical team in a hostile stadium. I thought about how the great Keegan team would have gone into such a game and still won but I didn't think this team had it in them yet. I was wrong.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15508551.stm Thanks mate. "We're difficult to beat, score a lot of goals and haven't conceded many" - aye alreet Steve 2011 must just be a figment of everyone's imagination then.

Is Brucie's insane interview from MOTD available to view anywhere? The thought of our heroic defenders getting beaten up at Stoke is depressing me and I need something to cheer me up.

He looked and sounded like a person teetering on insanity in that interview, it was like Chemical Ali. It's little wonder they're a laughing stock with him in charge of the club.

With Bardsley and Cattermole already having attempted to break opponents legs this season will Bent be safe tomorrow ?

Legend.

Then tripping over on his way to the dugout.

If I were a macum, instead of letting the euphoria side of bi-polar get to me too much after the Bolton win and ranting about 18 points from the next 8 games, I'd just be pleased to have identified one of three teams in the league who are potentially worse than them. From what I've seen Wigan and QPR aren't and from their own experience Swansea and Norwich aren't. In fact based on their results and form throughout 2011 they may struggle to identify 3 worse teams, but of course in their strange deluded world victory over Bolton has them nailed on for a top 8 finish now.

Is Sammy fit ? If so I think he'll get some time on the pitch.

I think (once again) they've missed the point with their rabid obsession with all things Newcastle. Newcastle sold out the home sections,at full price, for what was arguably the least attractive opposition all season (Wigan) so could probably do the same for most other games too. Giving existing season ticket holders this perk may well be (along with the 10 year freeze plan) some kind of apology from the owner and appreciation for the support we've shown, although I'm sure the marketing department will have thought it through quite carefully. This scheme is not to be confused with the desperation which is dishing out FREE tickets for enrolling at a local technical college, putting a £10 bet on, or attending a school in a traditionally Newcastle supporting area.

Is that the centre half who Steve Bruce made it a personal mission to take to sunderland and now seems to have conveniently forgotten he exists ?

Considering that the home sections were all but sold out for Wigan, which is probably the least attractive opposition we will face it is a great gesture by the club. A lot of waverers are returning anyway but it will be great to have them commited to a season ticket deal rather than on a general sale basis not to mention there will be less hassle for the box office. If anyone is not happy about it then realise that the power to take advantage rests with you, if you don't agree with it then don't buy. Hypothetically the club would not sell one extra ticket if existing season ticket holders don't like the plan. I don't think the club stand to gain revenue from this deal, possibly they'll lose out, as I said if you can sell out against Wigan then you have a good chance for any other game, but getting fans locked into a longer deal has to benefit everyone.

Saw the match, don't remember what he did - care to share? http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/10/24/newcastle-united-1-wigan-athletic-0-72703-29643261/ This link has a nice photo. Nothing extraordinary really, but when you look at some of the brats who've warmed man city and a few other clubs benches it's good to see a substituted player celebrating a goal like it really means something to him.

Can write thousands of words about the team's spirit and positive feeling in the club but I thought his reaction to our goal on Saturday when he was on the bench said a lot.

It may well be that the club do something to show appreciation to those who stump up every year, but come on they have made a brave move and one which should be applauded. Various supporters groups throughout the game have asked top clubs to help make it more affordable during tough times and we have responded. I hope they are rewarded with a full and rocking stadium. Making the tickets available only to existing season ticket holders was a smart move, as making them generally available would have been unfair to those of us who paid in full, but of course they will, kind of, be available to everyone anyway.

He may have been if the previous administration hadn't sold the long term catering franchise before he arrived, for an up front payment which ended up God knows where. NUFC have not seen any of the match day catering revenues since then but I believe that contract ends this season so your point will be a good one from next season onwards. I always wondered if the "pie boycotters" of the time realised this. I think you will find the deal with Sodexo was signed in November 2008. Ashley bought the club in May 2007. I stand corrected if that is true. I was told by someone who should know that the deal was concluded by and the money went to the previous ownership. http://uk.sodexo.com/uken/media-centre/releases-2008/newcastle-prestige.asp Does that not mean however that current match day catering sales do not directly benefit the club or are the sales/profits somehow shared between the catering company and the club? I was led to believe that we did not currently benefit from catering revenues, although of course healthy sales would increase the price of any similar deal in the future.

He may have been if the previous administration hadn't sold the long term catering franchise before he arrived, for an up front payment which ended up God knows where. NUFC have not seen any of the match day catering revenues since then but I believe that contract ends this season so your point will be a good one from next season onwards. I always wondered if the "pie boycotters" of the time realised this. I think you will find the deal with Sodexo was signed in November 2008. Ashley bought the club in May 2007. I stand corrected if that is true. I was told by someone who should know that the deal was concluded by and the money went to the previous ownership.

He may have been if the previous administration hadn't sold the long term catering franchise before he arrived, for an up front payment which ended up God knows where. NUFC have not seen any of the match day catering revenues since then but I believe that contract ends this season so your point will be a good one from next season onwards. I always wondered if the "pie boycotters" of the time realised this. The initiative announced today is a positive one from a marketing point and also helps fans get in the ground at an affordable price. It's about the same as every scheduled flight, people on a plane sitting next to each other having paid hugely varying prices for their seats. As an up front 3 season payer I'm just thinking how to make the best of it ?

Hope you kept a dry bed CT :-)