TRon

I thought he was shocking, he lost a tackle just outside our own box in the kind of manner that Ameobi stumbles over the ball. They could have scored from a simple loss of possession from Smith late in the second half too, the ball was rolled to him from our right flank and he just miscontrolled it. He didn't do anything decent and all he did do was run around and laughingly pointing to others to do this or do that or move there or here. And I say that as someone who thought when we signed him, he could have turned out to be a decent player for us. The playing of the ball in the centre came from Geremi and Ryan Taylor and not Smith. If Barton or Guthrie had of played instead of Smith, we might have actually caused them even more problems. At first I didn't even know he was on because he's died his hair, that's how anonymous he was. Barton and Guthrie would have been better maybe, but then I think Beye would have been better at right back than Taylor. Is this opinion releveant?

We showed tonight we have the players for a solid counter attack, if it can catch Man Utd on the hop I'm sure it could cause Hull problems. Best post of the thread so far.

Enrique is, was and always will be CLASS. Failure to recognise it by our various managers doesn't really change this truth.

LOL. Thank you all and fuck off . Please close the door behind you.

What I saw in this game is that both Smith and Geremi should start ahead of Butt. Smith kept it simple and when he lost the ball was still quick enough to sprint in an effort to win it back. Geremi might have 40 yr old legs, but they are no slower than Nicky Butt's and he's got a hell of a lot more to offer in in terms of vision and passing.

All CH has to do is not pick Shola upfront and someone has to find out where Butt is getting treatment and get down there and finish him off. This will save our season.

Shame Ryan gifted them that goal, we have deserved more than this.

Smith and Geremi are a big part of the reason we have played better football tonight.

I'm surprised Geremi is still on the pitch tbh. He's never going to last 90 mins.

Been saying for a while now that I wouldn't mind seeing Smith playing CM.

If that's the only daft thing Taylor does in this game we'll have got off lightly.

Fuck off out of our team Nicky Butt. Fuck off for ever and ever Amen

He should be on the bench tonight as an option for the right wing at the very least. Considering we are likely to get beat anyway we could do worse than to give him a decent run out tonight.

Fergie's respect for the football culture in Newcastle is genuine IMO, he's always been slightly jealous of the local passion for the team up here. Obviously when we are a threat he goes to war...what else would you expect?

4-3-3 ---------Harper Raylor, Colo, Bassong, Enrique -----Geremi, Smith, Jonas-------- ----Martins---------Lovenkrands -------------Viduka----------- Drop Ryan to RB and Taylor to the bench. Taylor will be a liability against Man U's quick thinking forwards. If Viduka doesn't want to start then Lua Lua starts right wing and revert to 4-4-2.

Seriously? I don't think we have ANY leaders on the pitch myself. Always concerns me when a goalkeeper is captain too. Habib Beye is the closest we've got to a leader on the pitch, Barton would be the right sort if he wasn't a prick. Other thatn that take your pick, one's as good or bad as the other.

I'm far more inclined to believe Ryder's version of the story than the NUSC one, and it's harly hindsight. The NUSC report reeks of their agenda which doesn't in any way look like one of compromise or reconciliation with the board. Not that they should have to if they feel it is wrong, but their unwillingness to discuss issues with Llambias with any attempt at understanding the club's position just makes them look infantile.

I like Caulkin, he always writes with a real feel for the club, although usually from a fan's perspective. What makes this article good though is the comments from the un-named club chairman who nails the situation perfectly when he pins the responsibilty at this stage of the season on the players. Despite all the "asset stripping" supposedly done by Ashley we've stll got a squad worth far more than most clubs in this division, it's just a case of getting them to perform like it. Maybe now the injuries are clearing up the can do it.

Can't really argue with a word of it. Hughton is clueless IMO, and the chances of of a wet sponge like him inspiring international footballers to perform are zero I'm afraid.

I think the hostility comes from the refusal of those in charge at the club to even acknowledge the dire straits the club is in, while frequently contradicting themselves in the excuse making. I think it's been clear from the last few NUSC statements that they're not an Ashley/Wise/Llambias out group. I know that the NUSC has changed their public stance officially about not being a Cockney Mafia out group, but the tone of the write up suggests in reality there's no change at all, or at least no chance of working meaningfully with the current owners. Perhaps the NUSC would better be described as a pressure group, as although they don't have any answers, they seem very good at confronting the owners with demands and questions both through the national media and in direct meetings.

I never realised how stupid some of their statements are, trying to get sponsors to cancel their deals, also telling supporters not to buy kits, effectively ruining NUFC financially if all this occured. We would go into administration and be relegated. Yep. That's one of their mis-steps. I said as much myself at the time it was released... That's an interesting take, but as the NUSC seems primarily concerned with Ashley leaving at all costs I doubt they will be prepared to even contemplate entering a debate with Ashley's people. Parky's attutude of "fuck the club" in the short term is a good example of this thinking. It's a recipe for relegation if you ask me. If the club isn't sold, in my view it would be constructive for the NUSC to open a sensible dialogue with the current owners. If only to air complaints. Weren't the original statements that the NUSC was being set up as a long term voice of the fans rather than a petulant knee-jerk against those in power. If those currently in power end up here long term, is the intention to tear the club apart? http://www.toontastic.net/board/index.php?showtopic=21264&st=180&p=531465&hl=NUSCentry531465 It's a shame it's still up there now, given the more tempered approach they've recently taken. Given that they changed their approach, I only joined last week. Are you unwilling to change your mind because of a 5 month old statement or do you still feel they are as hard line? Genuine question I see you've quoted me there from one of my few posts on Toontastic. Interesting to see old views and compare them now. Basically the barely concealed hostility in this report of the eventual meeting between the NUSC and Llambias just confirms that nothing much has changed except the NUSC are putting on a more moderate front which at the moment is a mask for their not very well concealed opposition. I am very much aware that Ashley and his pals have run the club badly in a lot of ways while making some much needed changes to the club's financial structure. The NUSC version of the meeting sounds like a kangaroo court coming up with the version of events which suited the "Ashley Out" sentiment.

I'm far from a Taylor fan but come on, that's just wrong. Enrique failed to stop the cross, Bassong was marking nobody, Coloccini got caught in two minds, Taylor was nowhere and nobody tracked the runner from our midfield. It was s**** all round. How was Coloccini in two minds? He was the only one actually marking anybody. Mr Taylor, wandering around in the middle near nobody, why isn't he shouting for Coloccini to push up? He was caught in two minds (stick to his man or try and block off Gardner once he saw him) because there was a lack of communication back there. Which is yet another fault between them. You said Taylor was the only person at fault. I think that's nonsense. Having been a defender myself when I played football I can tell you that the one thing which used to piss me off more than anything else was players not picking anyone up. Coloccini might have had the wrong man for whatever reason but at least he was marking someone. Who was Taylor marking? From where I was it looked like he was stood by himself like a spectator without a clue who was around him. THAT is unforgiveable.

That's more or less what he paid for the club, plus what he's sunk in since in the form of interest-free loans. Loans, fair enough. But I bought lunch for a fiver today, I wouldn't claim the pie and chips now owe me that much. No because the pie and chips assumed the debt (hunger) your stomach was carrying, so the net of ... you know what, that analogy is shocking and there's no saving it. Couldn't the pie and chips claim grievous damages caused through malicious biting and chewing?

Jesmond hardly needs his regional help, he could try sinking some money into Walker where he is from I believe, that place could use some invstment. Or he could show Ashley how to run a football club by forming a business consortium and joining in the NUSC campaign to overthrow the current regime at St James. He is investing in Walker though isn't he? And pretty much everywhere from Byker to the coast. He's got some spare cash from selling the club...is it about £40m or so? Nice to see he's investing locally even if he isn't interested in backing the NUSC plan with money. He's a vocal critic of the current board so with his cash I would have thought he'd be able to rally like minded business leaders from the north to give the anti-Ashley movement some clout.

That's more or less what he paid for the club, plus what he's sunk in since in the form of interest-free loans. That's £248million INTO the club. Not on Lasagesse Girls school or a garage in Jesmond. Don't make it sound like such a bad thing.