Beren

Giggs doesn't dive.

Xavi obviously isn't a bad shout Difficult to quantify something like control and I'm tired as feck, but I've often found "greatest footballers" to be synonymous with who can control/dominate games - which gives the edge somewhat to midfielders, than say goalkeepers or full-backs or what have you... Messi would be third in the Barcelona team in these stakes IMO. I used to find it pejorative when people spoke of Romario as one of the greatest finishers instead of greatest players, but looking back at old games, he didn't dominate games as a younger Ankdh remembered! Would love to see him play for a different club side, preferably in a different league. He'd probably be fantastic, but doubt we'll find out until he's past his prime (if then!). Apart from that pipedream, all we have is Messi, Argentina and something we may never know, sadly!

To each their own

In terms of controlling games, I don't think he's the most influential Barcelona player - I think Iniesta is. [/tin hat]

Worst overall refereeing display I can remember this season in a NUFC match. [/short memory, probably]

Missed out 'invest in goalkeepers' T27. You invested everywhere else.

So this is why they call you "Wormy" - can of worms!

Mick: He looked knackered to me second half, but for the sake of argument - Basketball

So if Shol'as not fit, Best is out for the rest of the season, we sold Carroll and Kuqi can last about 20 mins.. who starts instead of Nile ? Phil Airey, of course. And if he struggles with Guthrie and Colo as the CMs behind him that day, don't let him near the first team again for one calendar year.

What was said? Asked about Barton's issue with the freekick being awarded, he started with: "Ashley Young is the division's most fouled player"... and went on to say he goes down and wins free kicks for light challenges etc.

Just a pet peeve. Not looking as smug as fuck and calling the effort "gallant" would probably alleviate it somewhat. Don't mean to stymie your ongoing efforts to jump in to defend Pardew at every available opportunity irrespective of validity/context etc

FWIW, the replay footage of the goal showed Taylor pointing at Collins and telling Simpson "I got him".

Just watched Pardew's post-match interview. He seemed quite happy with that performance. Just a pet peeve, but really don't like seeing him so happy/self-assured after defeats/poor performances. The away fans were served up with dogshite today. Expensive dogshite at that. Having a sly dig at Young was funny though.

i want as long as poss to get folk fit. ie shola

Ireland?! Come on, give it up man - the man clearly doesn't exist! Seeing as how Ameobi only just failed the fitness test, I'm hoping he'll be back. I'd put him up top with Ranger.

That's hilarious. As Foluwashola said, you're allowed to criticise a player for a bad game. Even if he's had a great season. Can't really see much more to that side of the argument - and it was a poor, poor game.

No there not, if Tiote has a bad game, people say it is ony one game. If it's Barton, he is a thug, he has been to jail, he is a c***. Who mentioned jail, like?

Every time I see him play lately, I just remember we gave him a new contract. A new one.

Well put.

What a wanker.

Harper - 6.5 - Did okay, not great for the goal, passing iffy. Strong left palm. Simpson - 6 - Reasonable, wasn't helped by those around him. Williamson - 6 - As above, would like to give him more because he had to spend the game next to... S. Taylor - 0 - I hate you. Enrique - 4 - Disinterested, much? Barton - 4 - Tried way too hard. Nothing came off. Got wound up. Could do with a word/cool down. Just lucky he wasn't sent off really. Guthrie - 4.5 - West Brom (a) repeat. Never wants to breach that sacred half-way line. Seriously poor "athlete". Colo - 6 - Respect to him for playing out of position because Pardew asked him to/suspensions. Hope he isn't asked to do so again, mind you. Jonas - 7 - A whopping 7 gives him MoTM. Mainly for his first half performance. Was as ineffective as anyone else in the second half, though I can understand why you'd lose morale playing in that side today. Ranger - 5 - Frustrating really. Looked quite a handful first half but obviously fluffed his lines for those opening two chances. Saw how much stick he got in the match thread - a lot of it undeserved IMO - he had zero support. That said, he was garbage. Just garbage on a par with everyone else IMO. Loven - 5 - Invisible man. Didn't really try to unsettle the Villa defenders. Never will be able to, again. Pardew - 4 - Save most of my venom for having wasted 2 hours of my life and a week's worth of waiting for Pardew. Once again a failure to motivate the team and worryingly, once more, no real strategy. Worst half-time team talk ever, too. Still not liking. Ref - 3

5 minutes injury time means no less than five minutes. In line with the rest of the ref's performance mind you.

Jose Enrique was pissed off with Taylor there.

Taylor "I've got him"