Beren

That's not a prediction, tbf. It's a thinly-veiled declarative: Newcastle are a one-man team.

Didn't Vidic shit the bed against West Ham + Ba last year? http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/292866?cc=5901 Hauled him down for a penalty, could have been sent off for his troubles. Seems like he used to have that problem with Torres as well. You are indeed correct. He's a top defender obviously but he has not historically fared especially well against agility.

Judging from when the OP title was changed, is he back in training now/soon?

Abeid doesn't seem to be in Pardew's first team plans, but I'd like to see him given a shot at CM alongside Cabaye. Krul Simpson Williamson Colo Santon Ben Arfa Cabaye Abeid Jonas Shola Best [/dreamland]

Not a bad guess. It's funny how fans often theorise (sometimes unrealistically) how much better they would be without a certain player in the team, and though Pardew didn't drop him to the bench by choice, just how much better were we! No easy access to our right flank and pressing high up the pitch on our right side.

Longer the dodgy knee rumours circulate the better.

Same.

Ba has gone red (unavailable for next game). I cry.

Very excited by this. Santon has to start!

:lol: All hail. Mike the Match-Thread-starter.

Also, 175/1 not 1/175 unless you go to a really shit bookies

Take it as a compliment. Always have done, but well said

Incidentally, we've just ensured Ferguson will play his best team against us for another 20 years.

My Everton gambit didn't pay off (Distin, Hibbert, Osman in my team) but captaining Ba and benching RVP/Rooney did. Quite a smug fuck about that, in fact On 53 at the minute, got four players left to play and bonus points.

His work outside the box is generally quite good, IMO. Exceptionally taken goal today though.

He'll be your joint top scorer now then is he? [sorry Neil]

Rio Ferdinand has had a wonderful career, and at his pomp I really did rate the guy. Demba destroyed him today. Mismatch, mauling, mullering, murdered, magnificent.

Class.

That's 'cause there is absolute no excuse whatsoever. Tbf, Howard Webb didn't award four consecutive penalties to Man Utd at the end. A little bit disappointing. [Fair play for being so graceful yerself, Froggy I know you're a Manc twat and all, but you've earned some respect 'round these 'ere parts by sticking around too, I imagine]

Krul 8 - People criticise his distribution still (*cough*Yorkie*cough* ) but his rapid progress has blinded people to how young and inexperienced he is, not that you could tell from a performance like tonight. His growth has been astounding. He commands his box, he knows when to run out and he is brave as fuck when he does. Absolutely fantastic. Simpson 7.5 Another spectacular crucial clearance - was understandably stretched at times, but came forward really well and defended decently. Well played Daddy Simpson. Colo 9 No words needed surely? I'm starting to reconsider where he is in the list of the world's top CBs Williamson 8 Fantastic. So proud of the guy for some reason Thought he was better than Saylor before he was displaced from the team (which was primarily because of Saylor's goalscoring run at the tail end of last season IIRC). Anyway, great player to have. Gutsy dude. Santon 8.5 What a prospect. Still a rough diamond, but bellisimo! (sp?) Raylor 7 Not to put a dampener on proceedings but I thought he was a little ragged in his play, but had some nice moments and at least worked far harder than the dude he replaced. Tough job to do given Man Utd's wideplayers. Good effort and a reasonable shift. Cabaye 9 If not for Demba 'the Hitman' Ba, he'd be my MOTM. As it is, Yohan the 'Excellence of Execution' Cabaye just gets buckets of praise. Doesn't impress against big teams my backside Tiote 9 Incredible. BEAST. Ours? Jonas 7.5 His performance I'm certain will be underrated, but he did fantastic work for the team. His ability to squeeze our team up the pitch will be overlooked I'm sure, but he is so integral from relieving attacking pressure on us, and getting us out of there. Turning the corner. Ba 10 The perfect performance. More than a goal and incredible hold-up play, that was actually a captain's performance too. When we started to get nervy after taking the lead, he calmed everyone the fuck down by being superb, measured and intelligent. Just fantastic. Can't think of a better striker in the country at the minute. Shola 8 Nothing fancy, but battled like a warrior and helped us keep possession up the pitch. Well played Shola

:lol:

Many positives and a lot of praise deserves to be given to a lot of people, but that was a perfect performance from Demba Ba. One of the best I've seen. His composure made everyone around him better. Absolutely incredible. MOTM.

Great commitment from Jonas

Cabaye has been immense btw. Really impressive first half.