toptoon

If we get another one or if we are still 3 up with 20 mins left we should consider protecting players we have no decent replacements for Tiote, Jonas, Enrique Had a bad feeling parker was going to crock tiote before the match.

Up top with/just behind Carroll for me as a second striker. Like a Beardsley type role. Once we get Ben Arfa back we have the makings of quite a decent first team i.e. Harper Simpson Taylor/Willi Colo Enrique Barton Nolan Tiote Jonas Ben Arfa Carroll The team above is pretty good, hopefully we can build on that and snap up the odd good quality player who will improve our team/squad. Regarding inevitable injuries Its definately strength in depth we lack as on the bench we'd have: Harper, Williamson, Campbell/Kadar/Perch, Smith/Gosling, Routledge, Ranger, Shola. If we have 3 or 4 injuries to first teamers we really are going to struggle. We need Smith out and a better replacement for starters. Same goes for Perch, Best and possibly Routledge too as for me he just hasn't got it. Can't cross and when he beats a man lacks the intellegence or instinct to know what to do next. Bentley (should we get him) will almost certainly be a welcome addition to the squad and possibly first team. If Barton is out then we need someone like Bentley coming in. If Nolans out Barton can go central, Bentley on the right. Bentley may even fancy a go in Nolans position. Routledge is an ok replacement to have on the bench but Bentley is a far superior replacement for inevitable injuries/suspensions etc. If there is none then its healthy competition and Bentley and Barton and Nolan have to battle it out. If Tiote gets injured or goes to the africa cup of nations we could well be up s*** creek. So we should especially looking to strengthen Defensive midfield, Right Back and Left Wing positions.

Once we get Ben Arfa back we have the makings of quite a decent first team i.e. Harper Simpson Taylor/Willi Colo Enrique Barton Nolan Tiote Jonas Ben Arfa Carroll The team above is pretty good, hopefully we can build on that and snap up the odd good quality player who will improve our team/squad. Regarding inevitable injuries Its definately strength in depth we lack as on the bench we'd have: Harper, Williamson, Campbell/Kadar/Perch, Smith/Gosling, Routledge, Ranger, Shola. If we have 3 or 4 injuries to first teamers we really are going to struggle. We have Ben arfa out at the moment add Tiote and Jonas and add one more...... These players we do not have the depth of squad to adequatley replace. We need Smith out and a better replacement for starters. Same goes for Perch, Best and possibly Routledge too as for me he just hasn't got it. Can't cross and when he beats a man lacks the intellegence or instinct to know what to do next. Bentley will almost certainly be a welcome addition to the squad and possibly first team. If Barton is out then we need someone like Bentley coming in. If Nolans out Barton can go central, Bentley on the right. Bentley may even fancy a go in Nolans position. Routledge is an ok replacement to have on the bench but Bentley is a far superior replacement for inevitable injuries/suspensions etc. If there is none then its healthy competition and Bentley and Barton and Nolan have to battle it out. If Tiote gets injured or goes to the africa cup of nations we could well be up s*** creek. In this transfer window if we manage to hold on to our better players. Get ben arfa signed up, Snap up Bentley and maybe one other i'll be very happy with that for now.

I was a Nolan critic but he's really won me round for now. Paring him with Smith at times did him no favours. Sam Alladyce summed Nolan up well when he said he's very average when in the middle of the park. But is superb in the box when it comes to his movement positioning and scoring. Although i still don't think he's particularly good in the center of midfield. Luckily we have the awesome Tiote who makes up for him. We need stability at the moment and he really seems to be an excellent motivating captain, seems key to our team spirit and recent revival, add to that his goals which speak for themselves and the fact we haven't got anyone better.........he should definately stay for now. The wheels seem to come off when he and Barton are out. We need a very good replacement option we can try in his place should he get injured/suspended/for cup games. Perhaps Hughton had Gosling pencilled in for this role. We shall have to wait and see if he's any good. Vuckik has potential too but isn't ready yet. If we do sign Bentley and Nolan is out then Barton could go central or possibly even Bentley.

This team for me. With Carroll and Arfa out. We need to know what if anything Ranger can do when given a start. Got a feeling Best, Lovenkrands and Routledge have more chance of starting ahead of him though.

errrrr NO

I remember a couple of instances where he delivered at least one perfect ball and there was noone on the end of it. His crossing isn't the best, but it works both ways as well. A good cross needs a crosser and a receiver. if there's no one there then why cross it? The better wingers either go for goal themselves or hold it up until someone arrives. Routledge is like Guthrie and Loven for me....this club is probably a bit too high profile for them. Agreed. We need a strong first team and once ben arfa is back (up top with Carroll please) we have a pretty decent first team. If we can get Bentley in and improve on the likes of bit part below average squad players like Smith, Routledge, Guthrie, loven, best then it will improve us no end. As at the moment heaven forbid we have an injury to key players such as Tiote or Barton.... or at the moment even Jonas or Nolan we do not have any really decent back up for them. If Hogson came in with a decent offer for Routledge then as long as we 100% have bentley coming in i woulden't mind us selling Routledge. Routledge is a below average premier league player. Very fast but can't cross which is quite important for a winger and lacks the intellingence and quality to know what to do once he has beaten a player. We then have Barton and Bentley battling out for Right wing. Barton or possibly Bentley can also cover Nolan if he's out too.

Not decided on Williamson vs Taylor yet, but thats a good shout! 100% agree with this. I'm still not sure who's best between Taylor and Williamson. Its good to have competition for places and we need to strengthen/have depth in the squad. Big question with Ben arfa is will be is he best up front playing off or just behind Carroll or better on one of the wings? Personally I'd love to see him play up front with Carroll and if it doesn't quite work for him up front we can try him on one of the wings. Ben Arfa seems to be a live wire, someone with geniune quality who can beat players, terrorise defences, open things up for us, play killer passes and most importantly can score goals too. Dam you to hell De Jong!! We'd be at the very least be ahead of the mackems now if we'd had him fit. I believe Ben Arfa would take pressure off Carroll and Nolan and allow particularly Nolan to get get in the box more.

Perch isn't that bad a footballer, he ok at times but he's just switches off at times and is really badly calamity prone (alot like Bramble was). He commits way too many costly errors that all to often end up costing us goals and points. I'd be tempted to get rid asap. I'd prefer Kadar be given a shot at LB before Perch and Saylor or Tavernier at RB before him.

Yes would be very apt in Ronaldo's case too.

Agreed. Great shame as Barton has been a surprise revelation on the right. It almost seems like Hughton stumbled upon that by accident one game. Bit of a learning curve he went through. Both he and the fans loved him there. Now we can't really afford for Pardew to go through the same learning process we need him to pick up the reigns and progress from where Hughton left off..... unfortunately my fear is pardew will have to go through the learning process as well and he'll start playing players in positions we already know they are crap/poor/not as good in to see for himself. We can't really afford this and this could be very very costly for us. Could even get us relegated.

Carroll up top on his own heading down for an advancing Nolan is so predictable and thus easy to defend against. Putting ranger in the mix as well up there really does give the opposition something else to think about and another exciting but unpredictable outlet for us. Its almost a 433 (when attacking). Barton Tiote and Jonas provide good cover for our defence in the midfield and allows Carroll, Nolan and possibly Ranger to get on the end of things and create.

sorry.... what? Who are you?...... The resident w***** from hell? I am able to speak for myself and that is not my opinion. Ronaldo reckons Fat Sam was our greatest ever manager and that everyone on here is a complete prick.

This team for me and think it'll be a draw or narrow win. Only variations should be Willi in for Taylor or Harper (if fit) for Krul. Got a horribile feeling Pardew will persist with Routledge on the Right and if this hapens i predict a loss. Very worried our season could now start to crumble after our promising start as cracks are appearing. Morale may start to crumble. His team selections have not been correct thus far in my opinion. Barton has to play on the right. Nolan being back should have a positive effect though on everything.

Agree with this regarding Barton. Could be time to gamble with Vuckik if he's still looking sharp in training, as routledge offers next to nothing. Barton has been a revelation on the right and should have started there today with Ranger up top. Smith is poor, Guthrie has also been equally disapointingly poor this season when given the oppourtunity. Harper/Krul Simpson Taylor/Wili Colo Enrique Barton Vuckik Tiote Jonas Ranger Carroll Krul, Taylor/Wili, Kadar, Smith, Guthrie, Routledge, Best Simpson i've knocked in the past but has done well since he's been back. Now comes a really tough test for him in the shape of Bale. Bale could really rip him to shreds. He'd do better with Barton on the right covering imo

Keep Tiote on. Routledge off. Barton on right. Simp Taylor Colo Enrique Barton Tiote Nolan Jonas Ranger Carroll Thats how we should have started. One up top for us rarely works for us. We aren't enough of a threat. Carrolls been heading the ball down but we had no one in the box bar Nolan. Too obvious. In the absence of ben arfa and with shola not fit either we need to take a gamble on livewire Ranger who deserves a chance.

Agreed, we need Jonas running at and skinning Carr at every oppourtunity. He should be able to get past him at will. Cut inside or get to their byline. Barton we just need more of exactly the same brillance from. With his superbly accurate pinpoint crossing he doesn't need to leave us open on the break and get to their line to get good crosses in. He seems to know exactly where to be and when to be breaking wide drifting inside or helping Simpson.

Krul Simpson Taylor Coloccini Enrique Barton Nolan Tiote Jonas Shola/Ranger Carroll SUBS: Harper, Williamson, Campbell, Routledge, Guthrie, Gola/Ranger, Lovenkrands Midfield picks itself. At CB Colo in for Campbell then a difficult decision: do we want Taylor or Williamson against the giant Zigic (assuming he'll play)? Only other question is Shola or Ranger? Ranger has looked really sharp and a real troublesome livewire in his small cameo appearances and deserves a start. However is he more effective as a super sub when legs are tired and he changes the dynamics of the game buzzing arounf their back four? Only a few starts will prove this either way in my opinion. Shola has the experience, holds the ball up and is disciplined in helping out the midfield dropping deep but has looked a yard off the pace lately. I really think we will create alot down our left. Knowing how poor Carr is, Jonas should have a field day and carr may well get himself sent off as he'll be skinned over and over again. Barton has been a revelation on the right absolutely brilliant again against Liverpool. Seems to know exactly how and when to drift out wide curling in beautiful beckham like crosses, when to drift inside and offers Simpson alot of cover defensively too. His crossing from dead balls we also have missed hugely. Nolan i was a critic of but he has won me over. Captain marvel. A very average midfielder until he gets in the box then he's an absolute class finisher. His leadership qualities are massive too. Tiote is such a massive player for us now too. If he or Barton gets injured we'll suffer. We can win this 3 - 1 or 4 - 1 to us.

This team. Hopefully they'll go out with a lets win this one for Chris mentality..........it could just as easily go the other way though and we get thrashed.

Your not far off with this in my opinion. I am a big fan of Enrique but this was the second time this season he has been poor. So Generous mark to Enrique who was raped by Tchoyi throughout the game. Routledge was another that was totally ineffective not sure how he could have had a higher mark than Jonas who was at least equally as poor. The whole team really was poor though bar Tiote, who was the only nufc player who really played well. Guthrie was terrible. Never thought i'd look forward so much to Nolans return. Barton should have played, where was he today?

I'd start with this too. Gives West Brom the twin towers to deal with, who are a nightmare for most defences when they are both on song. Hopefully Shola can be a little more effective against West Brom. Barton was a revelation on the right hopefully he can continue where he left off (before Blackburn) supplying those Beckham like crosses and this also gives us a more solid 4 man midfield protecting our defence more. Barton also seemed positionally brilliant. Knew when to be out wide, when to drift inside and how to link up with Simpson. Ranger and/or Routledge on as impact subs if needs be in case Shola or a midfielder aren't up to scratch. Subs: Krul, Kadar, Perch, Smith, Routledge, Ranger, Best We can win this one . We need lots of service to the twin towers. Barton Pinging over his wonderfully accurate crosses and free kicks. Hopefully Jonas and Enrique having the beating of their men and geting crosses in too and a very mobile central paring of Tiote and Guthrie slotting their passes both through the midldle and out to the wings. Really fancy Carroll to score at least one header in this one and we are due another Barton screamer from outside the box. Should be a really good game this one. Really looking forward to it. Hopefully no indisipline from us.

This. The return of Tiote for this one is absolutely huge for us. Barton's return also can't come quickly enough. We can sadly only dream the difference Ben Arfa would have made for us. Ranger and Ferguson/Vuckik at the ready in case Shola and/or Routledge are shite. No more Guthrie on the RW ffs we need at least to be able to offer something down the right or cross the occasional ball in from there. We need to feed Carroll, Shola and Nolan. If Routledge is still offering nothing then we need to try one of the youngsters (Ferguson/Vuckik) ferguson in particular can cross.... or stick simpson on the RW. NOT Guthrie.

Can't see it as would cost too much both in fee and probably wages. But we can dream. Anyone know roughly how much he's on and when his contracts up, out of interest?

One thing that did bug me on Wednesday, (other than our ineffectiveness up top) that seemed to go unnoticed by most was that the ref gave Blackburn the softest freekick in to world when Jonas of all players shoulder barged (fairly?.. i thought) a blackburn player and that led indirectly to their goal. Then at the other end Roberts clatters into Williamson knocking the wind out of him by elbowing him in the process and that isn't given. Blackburn really did ride their luck at times in a game of few chances. That said we should have created more. But Sam stiffled and killed the game as he does so well. I'm so glad he's not our manager. As effective as it is i can't stand watching football like that. Mark Hughes will come and play a 442 hopefully and try and play football. We should win this one hopefully. I hope we don't revert to 4411/451 as it puts us on the backfoot and teams like Blackpool captalised on. We should be creative and stick to our 442 especially at home against Fulham who are also likely to go 442.

hmmm yes like it " Hey Benty, fancy coming to play for the Toon, up top with Carroll"? or "Excuse me Mr Bent. Would you prefer to play for newcastle united with Andrew Carroll? You'd make a great partnership". Could be a bloody good partnership thinking about it. Bents more consistant, less injury prone and well just better than Shola. wonder if capello has been thinking the same sorta thing for international level? It would be nice to see them given a chance in a friendly or against lower standard opposition as another option to Rooney + 1. They'd be a nightmare combo for most defenders.