Benwell Lad

I think the main point I take out of yesterday, and in fairness it's been the case since his Rayo Vallecano days, is that Iraola is going to coach one of the very top teams eventually.

Wilson Isi-drunk ?

Watching some amazing PL football last night, it must really irk genuine Sunderland fans that while they watch second tier football in a half empty, soulless stadium, little Bournemouth and Brentford are involved in classic PL games against top teams and play in great atmospheres at their small but always full home grounds.

Sunderland until it's the Cup.

They are already getting 45% of what may be the biggest receipts of round 3. Hope they all have a great day but I'd prefer any charity to go to NE non league teams.

A half interested watch of MOTD this morning and there was only one stadium yesterday that looked half closed down and three quarters empty. In the mackem cycle of insanity some of those who attended their game yesterday and complained about how empty it was are being rounded on with "Mag" type derision by those who didn't attend ?? There's barely any excuse which hasn't been used thus far. They're just weird.

Not like mackems to get a bit carried away but maybe some perspective. Roma are having a pretty poor season and this fella has managed just six league appearances. If they're looking to get rid of him and he's a decent player he would have decent options. If he had decent options he wouldn't really be wanting to play in our second division in a half empty stadium. There again he's currently rated at £15M but if he's moving to a team with several players rated in the £40M plus bracket and a few generational talents then maybe it's a good move for him to be rubbing shoulders with players like that to try and get his career back on track.

It's difficult to make comparisons between great players of different eras as the game has evolved so much, particularly in fitness levels and tactical precision, but both reached the very top of their profession. It's debatable whether Shearer would have the movement and fluidity to make him a top striker today, and equally so whether Izak would have had the physicality required to be a top striker when Shearer was but both are (were) the right player at the right time.

If, as it appears, last night was his last appearance from us then he has bookended his time with a brilliant debut and an amazing spell to finish. In between a bit mixed but I really think we are fortunate to have had a keeper as good as him as the back up.

Wyn Davies was the first great centre forward I saw in the flesh, after him Supermac and of course Shearer were the stand outs. Mentions for Goddard, Demba Ba, Cisse and Rondon too, amongst others. All great strikers. Of course Shearer was the best but I am now going to say that, in my opinion, Izak is the best No.9/striker I have watched in a Newcastle shirt.

Toughest footballer I have ever seen and there's been a few to choose from. He dished it out but was also regularly on the receiving and never complained to a referee or asked for a free kick etc. Just got up and got on with it.

That lack of atmosphere in that oversized, often half empty, arena must make it a soul destroying place to play in. Bournemouth and Brentford play in stadiums a quarter or half the size and create great atmospheres.

The athleticism and mobility of a top level professional footballer allows him to adjust and not take out Gordon. It was intentional in a sly way. Same with Virgil van Dijk. We got done twice in those incidents. Same referee.

One season when Sunderland were doing the same thing in the PL, i.e declaring blatantly false attendances, at the end of the season it may have been QPR or Watford (can't really remember) but they had a higher matchday revenue than Sunderland who were declaring over twice their gates. One of the oldest and wisest sayings in business "turnover for vanity profit for sanity" sort of applies to the way they behave.

I used to quite like watching 2nd tier football. It was honest, more direct and more error strewn which usually made for quite an entertaining watch. Now it's awful to watch. They've decided en masse to play from the back/press like the PL. Problem is they're not very good at it and it's a dreadful watch. They were two poor teams last night, both a million miles away from PL level and Sunderland's goals both came from defensive howlers. They created nothing.

What a pathetic turn out for a Christmas holiday game against promotion rivals. Looked half empty. Sunderland til it rains.

One of four cracking local matches along with York against the Heed, Shields vs Darlo and Consett vs the Stan.

Tax avoiding Brexit Jim your boys took a hell of a beating.

That's a pretty impressive compilation, especially as most of it was as a 17 year old and against top class, and even world class, opponents. The probable reason some still aren't wowed by the kid is that he hasn't really played for the first team with the "shackles" off yet. With our current midfield he is going to have to be patient but when the shackles do come off his real capabilities will become evident.

Must have the highest ever ratio of games/minutes played against hitting the goal frame

The kid has had quite a tough introduction to his professional career and first team football. Last season, due to the injury crisis, he played far more than was ever intended. 15-20 minutes in relatively comfortable games would have been the ideal development path. Due to his own injuries (both quite freak) and our incredibly strong midfield department he's played less than he should have since then. It will be frustrating for him. Getting those minutes at the weekend will have given him a huge boost. It's crazy to debate how far a player so young can go. Anything can happen, but he's a very level headed kid, never cocky or brash, and everyone who has been involved in his development over the years at NUFC and the England set up would tell you that he has everything in place to be a top, top player.

Either that or they just don't bother going when it's raining. S.T.I.R.

You're being very reasonable there, and that's fair enough, but situations reversed he plays it to a conclusion.

Madley denied us our opportunity for a 4-3 classic and someone possibly achieving Tiote versus Arsenal type legendary status. Can you imagine the Carragher and other pundit wrath he'd be facing if it had been the other way round ?

Liverpool make that break he plays it to a conclusion without doubt.