Beren

And Yaya.

Didn't even notice that. Nor do I fully understand the joke. Edit: It says 'Barcelona 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd'

Like I have a choice

A few seasons ago we finished sixth man. SIXTH!!!! But yeah, I'm thinking of having children just to be able to tell them I saw this lot live. So jealous Does it get a bit boring though? Being so good and beating every one whilst playing amazing football. Can't imagine it's really THAT good.... I always wondered this about the concept of Heaven... ...or maybe I stole it from an early-season episode of the Simpsons

Sporting Lisbon all day long.

I'm not massively displeased with anything Pardew did today (ie. today in isolation). Thought his team selection was fine and it was one of the occasions were we started out of the blocks pretty quickly (a phenomena I can count on my hands this season) for which he deserves credit. His pre-match comments about revenge for last season impressed me also. The injury to Debuchy really threw us, and encouraged them. They also got a goal off some horrible "defending" from Santon. I can certainly understand the viewpoint that it was enough to derail us/encourage them, and to an extent I'd agree, but I do think that in a moment like that (and the subsequent injury to Haidara), it really exposes a team's true level - insofar as they revert to what they know/are comfortable with - their default setting, if you will. Under Pardew, their default setting hasn't been very good if we're honest. It's been a scatter-shot, supremely optimistic "strategy" of playing in Ba, then Cisse early. It's an attack which is comprised of straight lines which at all times point forwards, and at all times are easily telegraphed by opposing defences - if not always dealt with. Sometimes, the quality of the balls played is enough to let these passes come off - but the balance of probabilities is generally stacked against us when we try to break down a team like this. The additions of Gouffran and Sissoko have added new attacking qualities which have been very encouraging - attacking midfielders/wing-forwards who can run at defences with pace and power. The past few games these runs have begun to operate in straight lines too, sadly. I hope it isn't too indicative of things to come. I think some fans are happy to see us run/graft and that's fine for them - what will be, will be. Some days you will get the rub of the green, others you won't. There is only so much can that be done, basically. Other fans, I think, are frustrated with the misuse/unfulfilled potential of our resources, and that's where all this aggro/hostility towards between the two sides emanates from. I fall into the latter category. I want us to win/be successful/play good football. Others are IMO overly-concerned with other fans thinking they are deluded for believing there is more we can achieve than squeezing a top 10 finish here and there. I'm convinced our squad can do more, I'm convinced better football can be eked from the squad and I believe better results will follow if/when this is done. I won't be happy until it does, and I'm sure that will wind a lot of other posters up This is not my intention. I don't think Pardew can get us playing good football, that's all. I don't understand the rationale/evidence behind any assertion to the contrary, based on what we have seen in his managerial career so far (here or elsewhere).

Journos have been suggesting that he's said in his report that he didn't see it () - if that's the case then maybe the FA will look at it. Can't say I expect there to be any action like. And it wouldn't make me feel any better anyway. Just depriving them of a player against possible rivals of ours who they may face next.

GW31: Mackems vs Man Utd Arsenal vs Reading Man City vs Newcastle Southampton vs Chelsea Swansea vs Spurs West Ham vs WBA Wigan vs Norwich Everton vs Stoke Aston Villa vs Liverpool Fulham vs QPR

Not always possible, but it was in fairly open space, isn't it a ref's job to ensure he has a decent view of such incidents?

He's not a box to box midfielder either as you need to be able to tackle and he can't. Would want to see him in our team playing a box-to-box role before making that judgement, but I would imagine his physical presence and energy would be useful defensively in a deeper position. B23 knows the score.

You won't be able to stand it because you're constantly defending a manager who can't get a talented team of players playing football. Bye.

Elliot - Decent, rubbish distribution Haidara - Get well soon Debuchy - Great until he went off Santon - Shocking defensively. Absolutely shocking. Good goal, but changes nothing. First and foremost I want my full-back to defend well. MYM - Worst performance yet. Taylor - Not great. Jonas - Our MOTM. Sissoko - Worst performance yet. Gouffran - Decent. Tiote - Shite. Marv - Decent. Cisse - Good first 20, then 73 minutes of shit wrapped around a fantastic assist. Not a game I'll forget. Hope they get relegated and then we get their manager to replace our shit one.

Sickening everything. Injury to Haidara being the worst bit.

Of course, he's offside

Tiote man! Get your head screwed on!

Get in! Relegate these twats.

Sissoko

Clever yellow from Jonas. Very exposed there.

Amazing run, frustrating end

We're playing brainlessly apart from Gouffran and Marveaux. Sissoko and Cisse especially guilty.

Cisse not playing for goal bonuses? Demba Ba definitely was according to some on here, but Cisse is all about team altruism, eh.

He has far more confidence than his performances justify.

Cisse man. Shit, that is.

Tough chance for Cisse. He's nee Shearer (cf vs Villa)