CaliMag

4-0 to them and we'll have a perfectly good goal disallowed or clear penalty waved away as is typical.

MKSC: Pompey is different than all of those clubs. Pompey is actually relevant. Not to sound like Crumpy but, South of London there are only two real teams: Soton and Pompey. The rest are just WC England fans and watchers of the egg chaser game.

If Pompey was liquidated they'd end up reforming (like the Dons) and have to start over again as FC Pompey or something. It would still suck for their supporters; being down in the lower leagues for ages, all the uncertainty, Soton gloating, etc.

LOL just told everyone to fuck off.

Barton with redemption!

Ryan Taylor with his trademark enthusiasm.

NOLAN

Carroll Nolan Loven R Taylor Colo

Was like. Keeper pulled his ankle after his inexplicable fumble. You'd be livid if it wasn't given at OT. More likley a Klingon Warship would land on the pitch during halftime than a penalty like that given to us at OT. Memories of Tim Howard pulling down SHearer after missing the ball. We go onto to draw 0-0

I'd rather Loven or Carroll took those thank you very much. That was woeful. I assume it was Colo's call to have Barton take that?

Its the mustache. IT MUST GO NOW!

I hope we play twice as nasty as this for our first game TBH.

... also not playing for Arkan in Serbia during the 90s was worse.

Quick get Dave... Their should of been a easier way to of written that.

Most of the Journos covering NUFC have been on here one time or another and Shola actually has referenced coming onto Newcastle boards in the past (unclear if he's ever been here though).

... after the season ends. I have heard that he is off to Everton (for free) in January. I can't see him going to City. He is adverse to change and I know he wants to "get it right" in Europe (after the Leverkusen debacle) and Everton worked well for him... in fact Everton played their best stuff last year when he was in their team. Terrorised ManU in that 3-0 win.

Weren't we linked with Kenny Miller back in January?

I would love that Wigan kit for us in B&W if it had no sponsor. And racing stripes would probably cause a general "boycoutt" and riot.

Why shouldn't he? Never said he shouldn't! I just think at the moment our best chance will be with three in midfield, and I think it might be too much responsibility to ask Carroll to play upfront alone. Ideally we sign a good striker to partner him, as well as a really good dynamic central midfielder that would improve us in a 4-4-2. The odds of these signings though? Not so sure. Very low odds. Any more signings will probably be more defenders and/or CMs. I am thinking we'll only get two to three more players in.

Erm...I'm going to go with yes. Well I hope we find him a really good partner who can take some pressure of him then. I hope we don't end up going 4-5-1 and putting him under too much pressure to score all the goals. However not sure we have any combination of two central midfielders that would work in a 4-4-2. Worrying situation really. Considering where we are and what we hope to achieve (not being relegated) the pressure will be there for everyone not just Carroll.

32 goals in just short of 200 appearances in the Premier League suggests he won't like. As I said, none of the 3 will manage double figures. We need to look at who contributes most to open play. Lovenkrands is by far the lesser of the 3 in that respect. No. Lovenkrands has more pace and movement than Shola and offers more to open play when paired with either of them. Offers more in what respect? He creates nowt, can't hold up the ball, gets bullied far too often and gets slower by the day. His goal tally is his strength and it's pretty average even in a Championship context. If we need a goal in the last 15 minutes there's a case for him to be on the pitch. If not, it's like having 10 men on the pitch. I'd say similar about Shola. Offers nothing by the fact that he doesn't move, can't anticipate his teammates and is knackered after 30 minutes of being on the pitch. "...it's like having 10 men on the pitch." Only worse because he behaves like the lone target man and gets in Carroll's way. Lovenkrands has pace and fitness over Shola and creates more space than him (especially while Carroll is on the pitch) because he is more effective at moving around and linking up with the midfield.

I am thinking CH will go soemthing like 4-3-3 with Jonas Carroll Routledge up front and three of Smith Barton Guthrie Nolan (depending on who's not injured/imprisoned).

32 goals in just short of 200 appearances in the Premier League suggests he won't like. As I said, none of the 3 will manage double figures. We need to look at who contributes most to open play. Lovenkrands is by far the lesser of the 3 in that respect. No. Lovenkrands has more pace and movement than Shola and offers more to open play when paired with either of them.

Yes. This is exactly what happens.

Still a better pairing with Carroll than Shola.