gazza ladra

Kinnear inherited a far superior backline than had Souness. Carr - O'Brien - Bramble - Bernard. God that was bad. But gawd he bought a load of shit.

Piss off. I'll take that back, jesus wept. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/match_of_the_day/7802128.stm Jesus did indeed weep. Oba Martins is our only really important player. We're shit without him. Don't pose a threat to anyone.

Team: Newcastle United Current Position: 12th Where did you expect your team to currently be: Top six. Best player so far this season: Given, Bassong, Jonas. Martins is still our most important asset. Worst player so far this season: No complaints really. We need to improve on Butt, Duff/N'Zogbia, but the really poor players are not starting. That's a nice change from the past few seasons. Best game so far: Manchester United away Worst game so far: Stoke City home Who would you like to sign in January: A replacement for Nicky Butt. I'd like us to sign Xabi Alonso. A player that can take free kicks would be nice. Who would you like to sell in January: Smith. Don't think we have much of value and we aren't that deep. Thoughts on your manager so far this season: We miss KK. Kudos to JK for making the team respectable, if not threatning. His poor management has cost us some points-- for example, Stoke City. General thoughts on your team so far: Dropped too many points to poor teams. Honestly believe that with Keegan in charge we could be doing what Aston Villa has done this season. Where do you think you’ll finish from this point to the end of the season: No reason we couldn't come in sixth or seventh. The top four and Villa aside, the league is awfully soft. Tottenham and Man City really ought to be better than they are. And Everton has injuries and no money.

Yes.

Didn't even see the fucking game. First half I was envious-- everyone writing about how we'd finally got our best 11 out there. The entire second half was a slow motion train wreck. I'm trying to console myself that at least I didn't watch it, but reading about it through your descriptions was maybe worse. Every substitution, every single substitution. I couldn't believe my fucking eyes. Ok, I didn't see how well Geremi was playing, but Cacapa for Geremi? You've got to be fucking kidding me. Cacapa for Geremi?

FYP

I would if I knew where it was on? Fox Soccer Channel in the US. [Easily accessible if you have TVU]

That could be us down a goal to Watford.

Given.

Off topic. Can someone give me a link to a table that compares this years' results (home and away) to the corresponding fixtures from last season.-- the table would show where we have improved (a draw at Old Trafford vs. last years' drubbing) and slipped. I've seen these around, but cannot locate one now. Thanks. Also, isn't Duff out?

Well, how about Italian-American or Japanese-American? It has nothing to do with race. Anyway, I read somewhere that most of the Americans claiming Irish descent are actually of Scottish ancestry. Their family stopped off in Belfast for a generation and then immigrated to the States. Anyway.

If V-bomber stays fit he'll plug away enough goals that we'll comfortably avoid the drop, even without Owen. If the two of them aren't available though, its a bit of a worry. But... but... we have Xisco.

Zog's performance falls into monkey claw territory--Be careful what you wish for. Made me appreciate what Duff brings to the squad. There I said it.

No.

Very frustrating game; Enrique and Butt were quite poor. Colo and Bassong were solid. Can't understand taking off Martins. Don't think that N'Zogbia showed a whole lot either. Looking forward to seeing Viduka in the starting 11. Given 7 Beye 6 Colo 6 Bassong 7 Enrique 4 Jonas 5 Guthrie 6 Butt 4 NZogbia 5 Owen 5 Martins 7 Viduka 6

Maddening. Delighted at the point, but disappointed we've come to this. Eleven behind the ball all game. Given: 9 Beye: 8 Colo: 7 Bassong: 7 Enrique: 7 Guthrie: 6 Butt: 4 Jonas: 5 Duff: 6 Owen: 5 Martins: 5 Ameobi: 6 N'Zogbia: 6 Two shots the entire game. Not one on goal. Thought we'd be run off the road when JK took Martins off. Just the opposite. We really settled down and defended well once Ameobi came on. The backline was immense in the second half. Didn't think Bassong or Colo was all that good in first half. Enrique had a very good first half. Beye in the second. Got a bit frustrated with people praising Bassong in the first. He went completely missing on a few occasions-- but recovered or had his ass saved by Given. Both Colo and Bassong were rock solid in the second.

Given MOTM. Colo, Bassong, Beye, and Enrique have all been excellent in the second half.

We've looked quite good this half. Good defensively. We're not even bothering with the attack.

Duff is the board whipping boy. He does more defensively than does Jonas. Makes sense keeping him on.

Beye's been good this half.

Defenders looking better. Chelsea a bit frustrated. Still don't think we've taken a crack at goal this half though.

Yep

Mickey Mouse refereeing.

And still you think Bassong has been our best player? Way too many opportunities within our box.

Lampard was all over the place. Really fortunate to be level.