CaliMag

Still at 7 - where I was in January. So far no surprises and still a 70% chance we are going down. I think we'll get another 7-8 points and it won't be enough.

I am thinking we'll lose this one. I honestly cannot see us winning this. If we get a draw we'll be lucky. I am interested to see what impact Alan can make, but other than confidence building it doesn't change the fact we don't have anyone who can cross or even take a corner. I am seeing an argument to bring on Carroll and as much as he has impressed as at a target player he'll just stand there like a statue without service - so will Owen. We'll lose a bitter midfield battle with no pace on our side and our strikers will be starved of service. I wish we had Barton back for this one in place of Butt.

In the replay its well over.

Doubled with the fact that the Southern press loves its stereotypes of Northerners especially Geordies.

I'd love to see that last formation. Never gonna happen though.

I'd love that too, but I would be very surprised if Shearer went that direction.

I was thinking the same thing. The problem with the scenario however is that Owen is not nearly the target man Alan was even in his latter seasons.... and we don't currently have anyone like a Nobby in the team - someone with vision AND crossing ability. There will definately be a return to an attacking formation, and most certainly back to a 4-4-2 with Owen automatically on of the strikers... but who will be the providers? I am looking forward to what Alan decides - I could see him leaving Jonas off and going with R Taylor and Loven on the wings.

Charles Manson out on parole?

I think it's more of an advantage he's got an executive box at St James' so he'll know just what to expect from this shower of s****. Agree with this. Whilst the alleged "experts" suggest it would have been better to bring in an experienced manager, they would already have had a perceived (and probably wrong) idea of the club and what the problems are which are likely to have been very different to the views held up here. I think the fact that Shearer will have seen all of the games either from his box or the TV studio and will have all the inside information from Harper, Owen and Butt and that he knows the club and supporters, means that he will at least have a clear idea of what is needed. Whether he can achieve that in 8 games is another matter. Looking forward to seeing who will be in the team on Saturday. Good points from Wallace and BT.

I think bringing in the old boys of Speed, Lee and Barton would only happen if there was some sort of long-term contract. Maybe Lee would come along but Barton has a pretty good job in LA and Speed wants to be a manager not just a coach.

... wow ...

Having a ref biased against us is not the worst thing and in fact it could even help. looking on the bright side whenever a ref makes a series of questionable calls against us it riles up the support and at least keeps SJP loud and behind the team.

Truth

Kaziero - thanks for the info on the Timbers. That is great news for the MLS.

Not in the MLS. For the most part North American teams stay away from B&W stripes due to its common usage by referees (especially in basketball and American football). A minor league team called the Richmond Kickers used to play in B&W but they changed to red a few years back. I think that was the only one.

They've been given MLS status for 2011 as well. I thought it was still conditional - stadium issues of somekind.

I sincerely hope that the Portland Timbers soon follow. It will be great to have the NW so well represented in the MLS.

started at 7 back in January... still at 7. I suspected we'd be 4 points adrift after Chelsea.

Self destruct button has been hit.

Heads going down. C'mon lads pick yourselves up and get a couple of goals FFS.

That goal was sooooooo jammy - that was Liverpool jammy. That ball bobbled off of teh entire Arsenal defence before it fell kindly to Martins on his left. Unbelieveable.

dcmk - RE point #3 - Ince is not the same level of gamble. I would argue that there is a big difference between what Ince accomplished at MK Dons and the miracle of Ketsy's regime or the work of Martinez. Ince was a big name at a nothing club and (very) modest accomplishments. I agree with the other two points.

meh - some ManU glory hunter gets arsey in the face of an opposing manager and gets hit without being injured... this is a non-story. If he was the one that filed the charges than I agree with the above about internal injuries and death.

Not to be a killjoy but it is likely that we'll get 1-0 points form our next four games. Throw in Spurs and Stoke and we are probably looking at 3 at most. The difference between the drop and tenth by this time will be 8-12 points and we'll be probably 10-11 points shortof that. Plus 3-4 points deep in the relegation zone.

Yep. I have us getting 9 points as well. Though I would guess a draw with Boro with two other draws coming elsewhere.