TRon

Nolan will be back for the next match (for what it's worth).

Don't be absurd. Have you forgotten how bad their midfield was at the start of the season when this Jenas was in midfield? Mostly down to Palacios and Lennon's form. nothing to do with Jenas. Sorry. I always liked Jenas because I thought he was a good player to facilitate passing football. Much better than Nicky Butt for example. Both were in our team under Souness, we are now left with Butt who won't be removed from the team unless dynamite is involved. But of course Dyer and Jenas were the shit players and hated by all let's remember.

Nail on the head. Much bigger mistake than starting Owen IMO.

Jenas has nowt to do with it and you know it, and its plain to see. The amount of misplaced passes he's played is just as bad as Butt and co. Modric and Palascios have been the reason their midfield has been decent. Its plain to see. This attitude is why we deserve to have Nicky Butt clogging up our shite midfield. Enjoy.

Having given it some thought, I agree...if Xisco intends to bum the opposition, the optimal for this to take place would indeed be the bum.

Spurs are playing very nice football it has to be said. But then they've got "Jenarse" in midfield who was hated up here, whereas now we've got Nicky Butt and Nolan. Lucky us!

We'd be better off giving Venables the two and a half year contract that Kinnear's been offered. too right, tell him he can bring in his own coaching team, get rid of the 3 tossers currently in charge Not that I think Venables should be the answer, but compared to Kinnear he's Fabio Capello and Gus Hiddink rolled into one.

We'd be better off giving Venables the two and a half year contract that Kinnear's been offered.

It wasn't just the decision to start Owen that was wrong, bringing Nicky Butt back into a midfield that had passed the ball well for the first time in weeks against Man U was another example of picking on reputation rather than form. Hughton is fine as a number two but if he stays in charge much longer he will take us down.

He's still been better then N'Zogbia though IMO. He looks like an ordinairy player who can strike a decent dead ball. I doubt he could even dream of scoring some of the goals Zog did at Newcastle.

You'll get your wish - to both. The management and coaching team we've been lumbered with will then set about the task in taking us to new, unchartered by NUFC, depths. The reports of Nicky Butt going to that pair of imbecilic peabrains in the dug out and asking "Well ? Any ideas, any tactics " My mate and a couple others have mentioned that Shearer is dropping very broad hints (Given is a close mate) that the whole scene at NUFC is a shambles. Radio Newcastle noticed Butt going to talk to the bench. Very worrying indeed. Was he asking why he wasn't sitting there instead of some of the much better players on the bench?

That's not a bad analysis of what was wrong with the team set up. With Butt being injured Hughton actually stumbled onto a half balanced line up against Man U, but with "big reputation" players available again his lily-livered instincts took over again. Yes. People complain about Owen not touching the ball, but ffs sake put him in a side who can actually pass the ball to his feet and you might see him getting involved a bit. Exactly. 5'8" Michael Owen is ALWAYS going to do precisely fuck all when he's playing in a side that just hoofs balls up to his head and doesn't support him from midfield. I don't blame Owen one bit for his no-show today, it's the "tactics" that we're playing that meant the bloke didn't stand a chance of getting involved. Same goes for Oba and when he's fit to play, Viduka as well. All three strikers like the ball passed to feet, but we insist on picking awful midfielders then end up hoofing the ball long because there isn't any options in front of the defenders.

That's not a bad analysis of what was wrong with the team set up. With Butt being injured Hughton actually stumbled onto a half balanced line up against Man U, but with "big reputation" players available again his lily-livered instincts took over again.

That's the most likely situation. Then we'll have players, manager and fans saying 'if we play like that against...' all over again. The sad thing is it's becoming so predictable. The draw today was nailed on, difficult to see anything other than a loss against Arsenal, because I can guarantee Hughton will be shitting his pants and it will probably filter through to the team.

I think we'll play well then lose.

Smith is like Geremi, neither one can be played in the same team as Nicky Butt otherwise you end up with a disfunctioning midfield. It isn't Smith in particular who is the problem, all three are. The damage is limited with each less one involved.

Because of the approach he took last year in a similar position, and the approach we will take this year under Hughton. It's a direct comparison of how to face a relegation fight, I don't want this to descend into a Keegan fanboy/Ashley out thread. I'm not in either camp, I just think that the approach Hughton is taking will be costly.

I said that 3 days ago. He really is a fucking minge.

We'll draw all of them. Or we might draw 3 and lose 2.

Keegan ditched Duff and Smith and went for it, Viduka, owen and Martins in the 4-3-3 which ultimately saved us. This year we will have a totally different mindset, and no Viduka. We still have enough quality players fit and available eventually, but I don't think we have anyone capable of being brave enough to put out a side which will win enough of the remaining games. Leadership is vital and we don't have any. This might be the biggest mistake of Ashley's reign so far.

Picking the right balance of players is essential. You could have 11 fantastic central midfielders but if you play them in the same team you won't win. The game was never going to be won once the team was picked.

give up man...no one will score. Absolutely fucking no one.

Lovenkrands and Owen would be handy to make use of it.

Hugton is happy with a draw, no one other than Martins on the pitch who could possibly score.