Cronky

a y tube opinion, but I wasnt impressed. By the same token, Jonathan Legear looked just the player we need. We were linked with him a few weeks ago. Has anyone heard any more?

I'm quite happy for refs to do their job in that area. He has the philosophy that either the ball or the man can get past him, but not both. At that level, all successful defenders have to think that way.

I'd agree with this. Williamson isn't Baresi, but he's looked more than capable at this level. Above all, he takes responsibility and gets stuck in. Williamson is an all rounder, perhaps with no outstanding qualties but no glaring weaknesses that can be exploited. (He's not quick, but he's sufficiently streetwise to make it difficult for opponents to get past) If you look at the others, there's a question mark about Campbell's fitness now, Colo is very weak at defensive set pieces and can be easily muscled out, and Taylor lacks composure. Williamson is the one who I feel I can rely on most.

Players walking away from referees while they're trying to talk to them. Then making a great show of reluctance when they're called back. Childish, rude and it doesn't happen in other sports. I don't know why it hasn't been clamped down on, when players get a yellow card just for removing their shirts after a goal.

Fucking hell! just the level of detail man Interesting... Overpriced and vastly unproved. Would much rather go for Baines.

From what Hughton has said, their case is that it's a yellow card offence, not a red. The claim is that it was a body check, made in retaliation for something Elmander had done earlier. The clash of bodies was intentional, but not the clash of heads. The only view I've seen is a long distance one. Along with the body check, there does look to be a slight movement of the head that was probably intentional, but not definitely. If there's no close up view of the incident, I don't think the evidence is clear enough. Yeah, that'll be exactly what they'll claim. Are you saying that's not what they'll claim, or that they'll be making themselves ridiculous by claiming that?

Rooty-tooty right about Bale.

From what Hughton has said, their case is that it's a yellow card offence, not a red. The claim is that it was a body check, made in retaliation for something Elmander had done earlier. The clash of bodies was intentional, but not the clash of heads. The only view I've seen is a long distance one. Along with the body check, there does look to be a slight movement of the head that was probably intentional, but not definitely. If there's no close up view of the incident, I don't think the evidence is clear enough.

What Id say is that a player shouldn't be punished retrospectively unless it's 100 per cent clear he's guilty. I don't think that's the case with Williamson.

Taylor is strong and athletic, but he lacks composure and leadership qualities. That's what has held his career back. Although he's the ideal build for a centre back, he's done better as a full back, because it's a simpler role and he has less responsibility. Hopefully Campbell will keep him in order.

On what I've seen, I'm not 100% convinced it was a deliberate butt, although it most probably was. That'll be enough to convict him though. Williamson has never struck me as a vicious or quick-tempered player, and most of the time those sort of blows happen in the immediate aftermath of a clash. Assuming he's guilty, it's premeditated and I'd really like to know what drove Williamson to do it.

A coward? What makes you say that? I haven't seen him duck him a challenge or fail to take responsibility.

One of Hughton's qualities is that he doesn't over-react. Win or lose, the slate is wiped clean and he gets the players focused on the next match. Since he's been in charge, the team has always been able to shake off the odd dip in form. Our two most important and least replacable players (ie Barton and Tiote) were out yesterday. His biggest weakness is that he doesn't react at all. Often in the dressing room and training ground? Or should he do all his work through the media? Matches too. His inability to see something is wrong & attempt to change it is baffling. Can't we have a bit more faith in the man and his methods? He's not exactly done badly so far. In just over a year, he's taken a train wreck of a club to mid-table in the Premiership. With only a modest outlay, performances and morale have improved beyond recognition.

One of Hughton's qualities is that he doesn't over-react. Win or lose, the slate is wiped clean and he gets the players focused on the next match. Since he's been in charge, the team has always been able to shake off the odd dip in form. Our two most important and least replacable players (ie Barton and Tiote) were out yesterday.

Picking a combination that have never played together and who are both coming back from injury is a real gamble and probably wouldnt have worked either, albeit for different reasons. The positive thing is that we can now see what Campbell can bring to the side. I think he could form a good unit with Williamson.

It was very hard to tell. Hopefully, he'll get the benefit of the doubt. The views I've seen have been at too long a distance to be sure.

A bad day at the office, but we did create some chances. With Tiote back, we'll have a bit more energy in midfield. Flashes of the old indecisive Colo today. He should have taken responsibility for clearing the ball before the second goal. For the fourth, he was caught in two minds, then done for pace and strength. The sending off just showed that his confidence and composure had gone. I've always preferred Williamson. The ball or the man might get past him, but not usually both.

The treatment of knee injuries then was nowhere near as sophisticated as it is now. Hence the long period of failed rehab. In all probablity, Tony Green would have recovered if he'd been playing now. But I'd say he was the best I've seen in a Newcastle shirt. He could absolutely dominate a game.

Someone once said that long hair enhanced a handsome face, but did the opposite with a plain one. Just thought I'd mention that.

Cascarino made the simple point that if you play with a lone striker, you cant play long balls. The system depends on getting support up to the striker, and that means the ball has to be kept on the deck. In the first half, we had a midfield that wasnt capable of doing that.

I daresay Carroll at 21 is better than Crouch was at 21, but Crouch has the experience and it showed tonight. Carroll showed tonight that he's not afraid of being pitched in at that level. He didn't freeze, and did his best, which is promising. But he's still raw and looks a couple of years off being ready.

It felt like a throwback to England performances of many years ago. There was no confidence in playing the ball through the midfield and we ended up humping too many long balls, particularly in the first half. Decent foreign opposition finds it too easy to contain us. When our defenders have the ball the opposition can funnel right back, knowing that the man in possession isn't going to have the confidence to take the ball forward and draw someone out. It frustrated the hell out of me tonight seeing Lescott, in twenty yards of space and under no pressure, still hoofing the ball long. The other problem is the opposition can get really tight on our midfield, knowing that they'll almost certainly pass the ball back under pressure rather than try to beat their man or exploit the space that's been vacated. We need Rooney back, fit in body and mind. He takes our performances to a different level.

I thought he did okay tonight, but no more than that. As with many inexperienced players, he often tries to do something on his own in situations where he should be releasing it.

This is key. It's not an important game either.

I'm not confident that the whole decision-making process is fair and transparent. There a lot of talk about deals and politicking, and I can see England losing out. I know that's going to sound like a holier-than-thou Englishman, and the accusations against other countries that have been made in the British press have probably done us more harm than good. However, although we’re not perfect, corruption isn’t the same problem in Britain that it is in most other countries. I think Russia will get the vote.