Rich

Goal at Sunderland! 2-0! Fair play.

And I also like how certain people are finally seeing what some on here have been saying for at least 2 seasons now about Paul Robinson. I remember him being better than Given once upon a time, then he was just equal with him, now he's worse than him. Marvelous.

They only want a left-winger as an "option", Jon, hadn't you heard? Apparently they don't need one. Their squad is frighteningly similar to ours towards the end of Robson's reign, very unbalanced with a lot of square pegs being pushed in round holes. It's incredibly enjoyable to see.

Think they had exactly the same start last season mind, and still came 5th. I'm not getting too smug just yet, but it's getting increasingly difficult, Bolton (a) next for them. Yeah but the likes of Everton, Newcastle, Blackburn, Portsmouth, etc. are a lot stronger this year. Can't see those losing it towards the end of the season like they did last year. I'm not saying they'll come 5th again but it's very early days to be writing them off completely, like some seem to be doing, although I hope that they're right, of course. If the manager does change it will be very interesting to see who comes in, I've heard Souness and Roeder are available.

Think they had exactly the same start last season mind, and still came 5th. I'm not getting too smug just yet, but it's getting increasingly difficult, Bolton (a) next for them.

Reading, Bolton & Derby will be below them. Apologies, some wishful thinking on my part! I'm expecting/hoping draws between Birmingham/Bolton and Sunderland/Reading, which had me pegging Spurs as being 18th at the end of today.

18th. Birmingham winning as well.

Don't really have one these days. N'Zogbia's probably the one I dislike the least, but Rozehnal in particular hasn't put a foot wrong yet.

If we draw with Derby, it'll be like the End of Days on here. I fully understand/expect that. People are spoiled rotten. I do think we'll win, mind, so hopefully we won't have to witness it. I'd play: Given Taylor Rozehnal Caçapa Enrique Milner Geremi Emre N'Zogbia Owen Martins Bench: Harper, Faye, Butt, Smith, Viduka. I think Sam'll play: Harper Taylor Rozehnal Caçapa N'Zogbia Smith Geremi Butt Milner Owen Viduka Bench: Given, Faye, Enrique, Emre, Martins. Both of which look very strong and should be good enough to see us win.

When did any Premiership games become "easy", by the way? Especially ones away from home to a wounded/newly-promoted side with some new signings potentially making debuts? I know Derby have made the worst start in the league, but people need to keep their feet on the ground because these were exactly the sort of games that we'd get turned-over in when Roeder, Souness and even Robson were all here. How many of Derby's squad have been jetsetting around the world/playing two internationals in 4 days, an' all? Not as many as ours, I'd bet. A draw wouldn't be a particularly bad result, but of course we should go for the win. Remaining unbeaten is as important as anything, if you ask me. 4 points from our next two games and I'll be well chuffed, and I'd prefer to draw at Derby and spank West Ham personally.

I like the vending machine idea, personally. More queues in different places, but has got to be better than waiting ages to get served. Surely could save on wages as well?

It would be bloody impossible to police, but if they would have a large screen showing re-runs of entertaining games (maybe not exclusively Toon ones either) and allow you to sup a pint in your seat until say 2:00 then I'm sure a few more people would have their final pint or 2 at SJP rather than a local boozer. Don't agree with the counter thing btw, people should be away from their seat and back again as quickly as possible, need a full crowd for second half kick off! I think the regular folk in the Gallowgate chowing on their nasty pies and £2 Mars Bars will be a bit swifter to return to their seats for the 2nd half than the Corporates enjoying a three course meal and splashings of posh wine/sparkle at Engerland matches Don't think it would be a huge problem for that, my main concern would be constricting the space in certain areas even further. I do think if people could sit down and eat they'd sell more grub inside the ground and get more people in before the K/O.

What about the areas underneath the stands, where the actual betting kiosks/food kiosks/toilets are all located? Apart from tarting them up with posters/murials/paintings and improving the monitors in them do people think it might be worthwhile to install seating/a counter along the outer wall in order for people to be able to eat in more comfort? I know some places might have this already, but my bit of the ground underneath the East Stand/Gallowgate doesn't seem to have anything of the sort. Also, what do people think could be good suggestions to get fans into the ground earlier? Cheaper booze? Better selection of booze? More comfortable arrangements once inside the ground? Obviously, the club want fans in the stadium ASAP in order to maximise revenue, how could they get YOU into SJP sooner?

More pies? Cheaper pies? More types of pies? What needs sorting? What would you like to see done with them?

Good on him! 63 minutes and a goal on your international debut isn't bad going at all.

Why not compare them to Pele while you're at it That was Darren Ambrose, wasn't it?

To compare Solano and Milner is ludicrous. One is a footballer and one is a tryer. Of course we need better than Milner. He probably holds the most important position in the 4-3-3. He's ok, just nowhere near Solano standard. Or several others we have had. If he reaches Keith Gillespies standard between Jan 1995 and May 1997 I will be happy . Can't see him doing it, simply because he doesn't have the attributes. Don' t want him to be that shite. Maybe he could have one good game if we ever get to play Barcelona again by putting a couple of decent balls in the box and live off that for the rest of his career. Worked for Gillespie. Oh dear. Just think when people talk about wasters in the Premier League, he was our original Wasn't Gillespie an irreplaceable component in the title-challenging 95/96 side, at something like 20 years old? Didn't the wheels fall off when he got injured?

To compare Solano and Milner is ludicrous. One is a footballer and one is a tryer. Of course we need better than Milner. He probably holds the most important position in the 4-3-3. He's ok, just nowhere near Solano standard. Or several others we have had. If he reaches Keith Gillespies standard between Jan 1995 and May 1997 I will be happy . Can't see him doing it, simply because he doesn't have the attributes. Don' t want him to be that shite. Maybe he could have one good game if we ever get to play Barcelona again by putting a couple of decent balls in the box and live off that for the rest of his career. Worked for Gillespie. Oh dear.

Aye. "AT THE MOMENT" is what sounds alarm bells Tbf I doubt Allardyce has had the chance to speak to him about it as he's away on Internatonal duty. Tephelone?

Think it's simply diversionary tactics to put a spanner in the works of the opposition, even just from a mental standpoint. I have to say I like to see quirky little things like that and when they score two free-kicks in one match doing it, then fair play to them.

Surely Smith has to start up front against Germany with Aluko being used as an "impact sub"? Seems to have everything you'd want in a lone striker compared to the latter (who is fit, mind). I'll admit that I actually enjoyed most of the match, mind, although some of it was more frustrating to watch than the men's team.

;D One can only presume that they were playing with a very attacking formation, but were profligate in front of goal. Or perhaps, and despite their gender, Lady Luck deserted them when it mattered most (that is, throughout the entire qualifying campaign)? Come to think of it, they didn't happen to have a renowned Scottish hardman for a coach did they ... and no, before anyone asks, I didn't mean that kind of "hardman" Twas men's football that this happened in. Australia beat them 31-0. They've scored a goal in their current qualifying campaign I think, was reading an article about them in the paper over the weekend. EDIT: Good old Wiki... They're improving, managed by an English bloke these days - who also washes the kit.

Going to get everyone's opinions taken into account and start to tot-up the major ones/the ones that overlap, then we'll go about tailoring something to fit what people seem to be concerned about and get it tarted-up and sent off to the club. More opinions would be great, there must be a fair few people who've missed this/haven't been arsed to contribute yet, I was hoping for more stuff personally, especially when there's fuck all else to talk about during the international break! Will start getting things together tomorrow and still leave it open in case anyone still wants to offer any ideas/thoughts/suggestions.

I'm hoping this poll gets to 520 participatns, personally, so then we can claim it speaks for 1% of the stadium's capacity Resounding so far, mind.

At first I thought Nobby had done this himself, should've known better No Edmilson, either, but they do say this is just the "first part" of their window-watch and that we were linked with 73 players altogether.