TRon

Yes..it was Xisco's fault that a medicocre second class side dominated the 2nd half. Obviously.

How come? Is anybody going to snatch Steve Harper from us in the next week or so? More chance of Allardyce making a late move for Geremi or Barton I reckon.

Harper stayed on his line and played safe. Krul is the better prospect and a much braver keeper. Krul is the keeper who will be in demand over the next season or so IMO. what you say is true but it doesn't answer who is best for us to have in goal right now........harper for me but not by much. I'd go for Krul. I doubt he'll cost us any more goals than Harper, and I don't care if we lose Harper to another team if they want to buy him. Please buy Harper!! that is my message to any teams interested.

I think he did that from the first day he came tbh. Not everyone's cup of tea but why blame the favourites when there's a handy scapegoat?

Harper stayed on his line and played safe. Krul is the better prospect and a much braver keeper. Krul is the keeper who will be in demand over the next season or so IMO.

The last time we got promoted from this division I think we won our first 10 games. I don't think we finished champions even then ridiculous though that now seems.

Coloccini's a central defender. We've conceded 1 goal in 3 games, and none in this one despite coming under more pressure than we should have due to the over-paid midfield being out-passed by Shef Wed in the 2nd tier of English football. Why is this his fault rather than those who should be dictating the game?

Terrible first touch that...just like an elephant.

Nolan playing off Shola? If the fat cunt gets anywhere within 5 yds in open play it will be a miracle.

It's good to see a player coming through from the reserves/academy who has a bit of a physical presence. It's also slightly worrying that we are paying big wages to an assortment of high profile midfielders then have to rely on lumping it to a big man to create any chances.

We have any amount of players who can play the holding role and I think that's the problem. We pick four midfielders and they all end up in the centre circle hoping someone else will drive forward.

Carroll going off deprived us of the option of route one football. After that it was up to our midfield to retain posession against a mediocre Championship club and they weren't up to it.

That says more about the shitness of the midfield rather than Xisco tbh.

I think Hughton will play safe and go for five midfielders rather than start Xisco or Ranger.

We conceded the midfield in the second half. If we were still in the premier we'd have got punished for that. Let's hope at this level we'll get away with it in most games if we are going to make a habit of it.

Carrying on where they left off last season tbh.

Won it 1-0

Midfield has abdicated.

You would expect Sheffield to have a spell but they have dominated most of the second half. Hughton shouldn't just accept this.

Midfield has lost the stranglehold on this game for the moment.

It's the third game. I know things look promising but let's see where we are in a few months before judging. But we have looked quite a lot better than the opposition so far which we wouldn't have if we were in the premiership. I wouldn't say we were 'quite a lot better' than West Brom, and neither of us has seen anything of tonight's game yet. I thought we were to be honest. Basically (early days) we have looked a LOT better than we did at any time last year. We are bossing games (imo) and are looking really good. We have looked better than I thought we would. If we could share the goals around I'd be more confident though. When Shola's hot streak ends we want others to take over.

MOTD is on BBC1 at around 5 past 11 I think. Prem games only though. I don't think there's a Championship highlights package on the box unless it's on SKY.

Roeder would go in the totally clueless category, Curbs or Strachen would count in my list of capabale and probably willing to work within the constraints, as would the likes of Dave Jones, Bristol City's manager (whoever he is) and even old heads like George Graham. I can't see Curbishley or Strachan working under the sort of constraints Ashley will impose. Dave Jones is a possibility. If Ashley appoints him I'd actually be quite impressed, but I don't think it will happen. If he doesn't sell the club i expect Kinnear or some other complete tosspot to be given the job. Fatty is welcome to prove me wrong though.

The one thing I am certain of is that if Ashley keeps the club he won't appoint a quality manager.

I'm sure it was real torment picking up 70 grand a week. I'd let someone hit me with a cane for an hour a day for that. Pisses me off the crap some footballers come out with when they leave. "Oh it didn't work out for me", "I didn't enjoy my time". They never take responsibility for their own failings, I can understand why of course, it's only in autobiographies after they retire that a few honest ones admit, " I played really shit for the club". Never once did Damien Duff perform for NUFC, he did nothing to justify the wedge that he was on and if anything an apology to the fans for his injury plagued time with us is more fitting. Damien Duff along with others like Owen, Martins, Viduka and Barton are the players I hold more responsible for our relegation than anyone else. These fuckers were paid massive sums to win matches against players who were earning a lot less and they failed. You didn't enjoy it? Well neither did we but we weren't paid to watch your shit Damien. Fuck off and good riddance.