TRon

We complain about Butt in centre midfield, but in reality there are any amount of people who could do a job there, like Barton, Guthrie, Geremi and Smith. Since selling Milner (who was shit) do we have any real options on the right, and is this the position we need to strengthen above any other next season?

Lua Lua looks similar to his older brother in that he looks like he isn't really a team player, although I haven't seen enough of him to make more than a general judgement.

It's not a bad idea to go with that formation, it will make it hard for Arsenal to play through us, my only concern is if Smith ends up playing too far right. I think Geremi is a much more natural fit for the position and in a 4-5-1 he wouldn't need to get up and down the pitch as much either. EDIT: in fact Ryan Taylor would make much more sense, than Smith, there's a possible alternative to Geremi as well.

Wonder how he'll react if that story about him being dropped tomorrow is true? That won't do his England credentials a lot of good.

Krul and Kadar look the closest, although I like the look of Baheng. We have some decent young prospects although people might not be in the mood to recognise it ATM.

I am not looking beyond the next 9 games at the moment. He's a shit manager but I'm still hoping that his return to the dugout might just lift the players and get us one or two crucial wins in the nick of time. He's no tactician but the players are fond of him. I would think the fans will rally behind him as well for the last few games. Call him what you will but no one will ever be able to say he's a quitter.

Aye, on a par with Beye's best this season. I'd say he's been slightly more valuable than Habib simply because of his crucial goals. Yeah, but Beye's season has been stop-start in terms of both short and long term injuries. Agree with Ronaldo that our best back 4 is Beye Coloccini Bassong Enrique Taylor has been game and done a reasonable job at RB, but defensively Beye is in a different class. Both could provide more going forward, our right side is very weak in terms of attacking threat. Wouldn't have minded seeing Ryan taylor given a go at RB for that reason.

The choice of Kinnear gets criticised a lot, but there were particular circumstances. Keegan had walked, Ashley had decided to sell up in order to appease the fans, and we needed someone who was prepared to step into what seemed a very temporary position. There weren't going to be too many willing candidates. It boils down to who you consider to be at fault for bringing about that desperate situation in the first place. But that's another debate. Appointing Kinnear as temporary manager was understandable, perhaps even wise. Keeping him on after deciding not to sell was questionable. Offering him a long-term contract despite the fact that he's almost dropped dead is inexcusable idiocy. Can't disagree with any of that. I thought as a short term appointment it was a canny choice, but the decision making since then has shown Ashley and friends might be good at balancing the books but their football knowledge is pitiful.

Nonsense he has been consistently dreadful all season I've heard people continuously excuse him despite him costing our team what is a quite staggering amount of goals. Surely his performance against Liverpool still sticks in people's minds no...? that 1 v 5 lost was unbearable I've been disgusted by performances at St James Park before but never have I been more disgusted at such a gutless and dismal performance in a Black and White shirt before as Coloccini put in that day at fault for the 2nd goal, 3rd and for the 4th he should of been hurled off for alone. Quite staggering really the amount of goals he has cost us this season here just few off of that long list - - Stoke Home 1st goal at fault turned and out paced by Ricardo Fuller... Bolton Away at fault for the only goal failed to spot the danger and come across to defend the ball in left Gardner completely free... Sunderland Home 1st goal far to deep then decided to try and play Cisse offside clueless idiot... West Brom Home at fault for 1st goal pulled to pieces by Ismeal Miller... Everton Away failed to mark his zone on the areal ball to let Falliani free to score... Fulham Away at fault for the second goal his reckless lunging tackle on Johnson gave away a easily preventable penalty... West Ham Away 1st goal at fault completely lost Craig Bellamy run I'll let him off the 2nd although arguably his fault also.. Blackburn Home dreadful marking on Santa Cruz for the second headed goal... Hull City Home at fault second goal turned by Marlon bloody King... Manchester United Home at fault for 1st goal far too tight on Wayne Rooney... West Ham Away at fault for third goal cowardly turned his back on Di Michele shot... and that isn't even all of them.................. For me his performances away at Chelsea, Boro and Manchester United were possible his only decent or good (if your kind) performances all season and at £10 million that's not good enough. Quite rightly ousted from the Argentinian National Squad in recent months... Cannot stand the bloke.. What a load of nonsensical bollocks. By that token, it's every player on the pitch who does not produce a magnificent individual effort that you should single out. How about singling out every one of our strikers for not going on solo runs to smash home 5 or 6 goals per game? It's a f***ing team game in case you haven't noticed. I could also say Given is useless for not saving those chances that "Coloccini cost us". Bullshit. But when you have an agenda, I suppose you would go to great lengths to type out every incident (in this case goals conceded) to make a point. Easy to point out the bad moments, some of which might be down to other players btw....shame GE glosses over the very good defending during the most part of the 90 mins week in week out. But then some people just don't realise marking players tightly, anticipating danger and making important tackles are an important part of the game.

This is Newcastle United. How can any self-respecting fan even consider this MASSIVE club being relegated being a good thing? Are you fucking insane?

Astoundingly pathetic. Sadly typical of those who hate Ashley more than they love the club.

Exactly. Has no one considered Bassong is just using the Arsenal angle to try and get himself a better deal? Remember Steve Taylor's dad using Alan Oliver to put Liverpool's interest ( ) in the press if he didn't get a better contract? If we give him a fair deal in the summer he'll sign a new contract here.

Because Coloccini is a very good man-marker, he sometimes gets done (although not very often) by the player he is marking. This happens occasionally to defenders who stick to their man. Obviously if you are Steve Taylor and just genereally stand around the penalty area then back away towards the goal line flapping your arms when under the cosh, you won't get turned because you are nowhere near the striker in the first place.

What the f***? Yep, I can't stand him anymore. I tryed to defend him after the first match (even because of the 11 millions we paid for him...), but now it's more than enough. He's a disaster, and he's contributing pretty much to our poor displaying. I'd rather like to see an Academy kid in his place, hoping that someone's going to take him off our squad next summer. Are you really serious?, really? His first match for us was against Manure and he did pretty well. Since then he's had some very good games and some slightly poor games but to say he's been a disaster is just bloody mental I'm really finding it hard to take your comments seriously. It's Coloccini's fault that we can't play football obviously. Surprised you missed it

This is the reason why I never warmed to Owen in a Newcastle shirt. We have always been used as a training camp for his England career. Poetic justice that his international career has nose-dived anyway. I know he won't stay here unless nobody else wants him, but if he can score a few goals and keep us up he can leave on a half decent note. I think that's a bit harsh TBH, most players would go to a World Cup if they were even half-fit. I'm sure loads of them have - it doesn't mean they don't care about their club. I am looking at Owen in the context of his whole career at Newcastle, from his reluctance to come here in the first place right through his hedging on a new contract praying that someone will offer him a route out. Not that I begrudge him the opportunity to better himself but why should I give a flying fuck about his England career when it's wrecked his Newcastle one?

This is the reason why I never warmed to Owen in a Newcastle shirt. We have always been used as a training camp for his England career. Poetic justice that his international career has nose-dived anyway. I know he won't stay here unless nobody else wants him, but if he can score a few goals and keep us up he can leave on a half decent note.

It needs someone to say this from a former legend like Beardsley imo, if only to provide some balance. Doesn't explain the massive risks Ashley is taking by failing to appoint a quality manager which could do long term damage to the club if it's not addressed in the summer assuming we aren't relegated which would condemn Ashley as a failure anyway.

Which players not pulling their weight do you have in mind? I listened to the interview and he seemed to think that the players we have here are a decent bunch as far as putting in the effort. Mark Viduka is an obvious one, after that I'm struggling to see any real wasters other than possibly Barton.

It's a kneejerk reaction to what are perceived to be Colo's one or two bad moments in a game which totally overshadow what he does right in some people's eyes. Personally I think we look a decent defensive unit with Bassong and Colo at the back and when Taylor is moved back into the centre of the defence we'll probably see what we have been missing (regular goals shipped against in two's and threes, crap marking and the rest).

I am pretty sure that Ryan Taylor will be recalled in place of Geremi who will be the fall guy from Hughton's Dad's Army midfield line up against Hull. Maybe Nolan will come in for Smith as well.

I think Nolan is probably slower than Nicky Butt from what I've seen. He does make intelligent runs into the box though, which is beyond most Newcastle players, so let's not knock it.

I don't think our players have a bad attitude for the most part, even Butt himself says so in that interview. Could anyone argue for example that Jonas doesn't run his socks off? I will say it again, the crucial aspect missing is picking a balanced side with players who work together as a team and compliment each other, it's not about individuals. Therefore, Butt, Geremi, Nolan and Smith can all do a job, just not when they are all part of the same midfield. Unfortunately because they are all model pro's they all get picked and we end up getting shafted by teams who are collectively more effective.

We have flawed "stars" it's true, but we have far more quality players at our disposal than most other teams around us. Would Phil Brown or Tony Pulis have the luxury of leaving a Lovenkrands on the bench? We just aren't putting the right combination of players out that will work together, Keegan did the same last season until we switched to 4-3-3 with spectacular results.

And the fact he can't pass, run or header makes him an even bigger c*** in my eyes. Total waste of time, he should have stayed at Brum, that was his standard at the time and he has only got worse since! That's a load of bollocks tbh Spot on. Were "Taff" or "Kryten" at Hull, where Butt held things together single-handed? Were they even at the Everton home game, when he was outstanding? Did they watch the last dozen or so games of last season, when he performed well week in, week out? Yes, he's nowhere near the player he was, but the abuse he gets on here says far more about this board than him. My advice to him is to get a hair transplant and grow a bubble perm or pony-tail. Then he might get the same easy ride as Colo and Jonas (both vv poor recently) on here. Then maybe we should drop Colo and Jonas and see if that makes us play better football? It didn't seem to have much effect last season when Keegan had great lads like, Duff, Smith and Milner to call on as well as Butt and Geremi, but because Butt is saying all the right things it must be someoene else's fault that our midfield is shit and SLOW.