Beren

Aye, this seems to have been largely ignored. They play some decent stuff at times - a neat series of passes between three or four of their players up their left sideline sticks out in particular as being representative of that. Some of the disappointment of another draw has subsided (especially when a NUFC win looked so comfortably achievable at spells during the first half) I feel less aggrieved because Bolton are a good side. Not as good us, but a good side.

Colosseum.

If the ref saw it and called it a "coming together of players" there'll be no retrospective action taken against him.

Not really a decent/sizable sample IMO. Also, always seems to have been played with our "lesser" midfield players.

The tackle was out of frustration with his poor ball-trapping skills.

Neil banned if they get a draw or win.

Until summer, we don't have great proven options up front. Instead of persisting with Loven who has peaked in his career, I'd much rather be trying to get Ranger a run in the side alongside Best. Getting him some top flight experience could be invaluable this early in his career.

Harper - 6 - Enjoyed the feeling of safety we've enjoyed recently while he's back in goal, but his shotstopping has never been top, top notch. Maybe a tad harsh but thought he could have done better on it. Enrique - 7 - Almost want to give him two marks, a 6 and an 8. Really patchy performance levels out at a 7 IMO. Colo - 6.5 - Got in some crucial challenges, his hair looked great, but a little off-colour today. Responsible for the goal too. Williamson - 7.5 - Top performer at the back today. Simpson - 7 - Sound enough defensively, very little Bolton success down their left but distribution was a bit all over the place. Gutierrez - 7.5 - Really good running, and some more great balls into the strikers. Great player, but let down by... Raylor - 4 - Idiot Tiote - 8 - Performance of a lion. During our worst spell of the match, it's only a small exaggeration to say he single-handedly kept us in it... he was patrolling the midfield on our left side, the centre and the right. Monster. Great ball in for the goal too. Nolan - 6.5 - Poor performance IMO. Thought his contribution would be crucial to the game and that if he could push up, he'd give Bolton more to worry about and the strikers more space but he was content to be just another body sat just in front of the back four, offering no movement or options for Tiote or the defence. (not helped by Raylor, but before then too) Best - 7.5 - Excellent all round play. Really impressive shift. Wish he'd scored though Loven - 6.5 - Did really well in the early stages, but faded very quickly and never resurfaced.

Bring back the fucking daylight rule retrospectively for one game, I say.

Stevie Wonder is a musical genius, mothafacker. [/Eddie Murphy] No, but really he is.

Difficult not to be a little bit irked after that. - Had enough chances to win 2 games, first half (after the two recent 1-1s where we had things wrapped up, this particularly annoying) - Lovenkrands started over Ranger - Raylor's moronic challenge - Wanted revenge for earlier this season where we didn't give a good account of ourselves Can't fault the effort of the players or anything, but still a bit bitter about only getting a point! Maybe high expectations on my part, but after cutting through them so often and so easily in the first half...

The movement around Tiote is diabolical.

Ranger for Loven please.

Eejit

That was Colo's fault IMO. He was unpressured had all the time in the world but played it quite firmly into Tiote's feet from three metres who had his back to goal and someone bearing down on him from behind. He gets about dozens of those passes into him, it's natural that he wouldn't be able to redistribute all of them accurately first time.

Really annoying half-time result, as we murdered them for most of that half. Defence needs to stop drilling balls to each other like they're all Iniesta.

Colo man, fucking clear it sometimes.

We're looking really dangerous. Bit frustrating this - game should be dead, man! Keep going boys

We want 6!

YEEEES!

Have Ranger and Tiote started in the same eleven this season? I'd really like to see Ranger given a chance alongside Best. Full credit to Lovenkrands for bagging a goal at the Brum (and such a well taken goal too) but if he's carrying a knock - I think it would be a good time to let Ranger play with a decent midfield behind him (ie. unlike at Fulham). He looks like an impact sub because he hasn't been given a real chance to start IMO. I'd gamble on him personally.

Good post punk

Missed those Jonas quotes. Good attitude

Seem to have two fairly staunchly opposing camps forming over this news! Personally, I think it's fantastic - committing a player of his calibre is just the pick-me-up we needed as a club - just as we are (internally and externally) questioned as to whether we are a selling club ready to cash in on our best assets this summer. It is rather sad though, looking at the big picture, that the fan's trust in the regime has been so thoroughly battered that it questions whether this is just a ploy to plump up Tiote's price/encourage season ticket renewals before he is eventually sold - and while maybe such arguments should seem far-fetched, they're not ridiculous and not as easily dismissed as they should be. Anyway, here's hoping to many years of Tiote dominating midfields for the Toon