chicago_shearer

Happy to be 1-nil up of course, but it hasn't been a very good performance. The passing has been sloppy and long-balls/crosses from wide areas are not playing to our strengths. Spurs will improve in the second half (because they can't get much worse).

I've just said that he is our most important player, so yes we have. But Martins is a good replacement so we don't miss him as much as other teams do their best players. That might also be because they are used to playing without him, but it might have to do with the fact that while Owen is an excellent goal scorer, he doesn't impact a game in the way some of the league's better players do. Having several talented players is a good thing, but all the best teams in the league also seem to have one player that is clearly a cut above the rest. Newcastle lack that at the moment.

It either means we've got a good selection of talent or if you want to take a negative view it means we have no truly outstanding players that we would miss in the same way that Arsenal would Fabregas, Everton Arteta, Liverpool Gerrard etc.

Owen at the moment, but I hope the answer changes to Barton by season's end because his presence in the midfield might end up being the key to a successful season.

I think managing a Premiership club and England simultaneously is FM fantasy. It couldn't be done - both are full time jobs. I'm not actually sure that Sam should be the FA's first choice anyway. If money is no object, they should really be looking at Arsene or Jose. Someone to re-organize the whole set up.

Spells it out about as clearly as you can, in his own words, but it still won't satisfy some people.

Just curious, is it still possible to qualify by beating Croatia or does it need help?

At least we'll get Mourinho.

YEESSSSS

The reason they put out stuff like this is because they know that it will draw in lots of people to the Times Online website who will then post "Martin Samuel is a cunt, we pay his wages!" or something like that in the comments section. The hits to the website generate additional traffic. It pays to be controversial/idiotic.

Headline on BBC: Newcastle hit by Barton setback. Headline on .cock: Barton back in action. Same day, essentially the same story. Sports journalism is simply the lowest profession in the world.

Well at least Nicky Shorey scored. That gets him out of negative figures for the penalty miss.

6 goals and bastard Utaka hasn't scored.

We did need defenders. We also needed a playmaker. It was not an either/or with Onyweu, Bramble & Craig Moore.

You have a point about the passing, but I don't understand blaming the manager. It's not as if he tells some of them to pass to a City player or to slow down a good move by passing 5 yards behind a player making a forward run.

City really don't look that far away from being a top 4 side at the moment.

Spot on. How does our right-back get a 6 after 90 minutes of Petrov doing whatever he liked, whenever he liked on our right hand side of the pitch?

Given 5 Beye 5 Taylor 6 Roz 6 Zog 6 Smith 5 Butt 6 Geremi 6 Milner 7 Viduka 6 Martins 7

Beaten by the better team. Although the 'oles' with 15 minutes to go at 2-1 is irritating when you consider how poor they were before that Thai dictator took over. I can't wait for Barton to come in, because I've had more of Geremi-Butt-Smith than I can take.

Apparently it takes Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal to qualify as good football? The idiot clearly hasn't been watching.

Stupid cunt referee. Why was that called back?

Can't believe that Sam has someone bring him his chewing gum.

Are you mental? He's been our best player by far. That's what I was saying.

Why do they keep knocking it long to Viduka? He hardly ever wins the ball and when he does it's a foul.

Adebayor, my fantasy team hero. Pool 0 Birmingham 0. After Setanta spent 10 minutes before the match saying that Bruce would probably take a 0-3.