TRon

I don't think we'll sell Enrique as he's in the first team and we'd be pretty stupid to get rid of him on account of Riise coming in on loan for a few months. Xisco will be the scapegoat I reckon. He's not likely to get a chance to show what he can do with some decent players around him and Viduka looks like being back in a couple of weeks.

I know why Charlie doesn't get picked by a lot of managers, it's because he gets in a strop when he's not played first choice left wing. It's not even that he's such a fantastic player, he doesn't 'play for the team' as much as Duff does. But while we got a great result yesterday, we never looked like scoring and safe reliable (but shit) players like Duff are the reason why. That's why N'Zogbia will be head-hunted by decent teams while Damien Duff will stay here being a good lad and picking up wages for fannying around for 90 mins.

We don't need to sell Taylor, he's a useful member of the squad. We just need to pick the two best centre backs for each game and he's not necessarily one of them.

It'll be interesting to see what sort of fee we'll get for Zog if he signs for Paris or Bayern. The only thing I know for sure is there won't be any similar interest in Damien Puff no matter how long he keeps getting picked ahead of N'Zogbia.

Butt had one of his better games against Chelsea, but you can't get away from the fact that our midfield has been second best against some pretty mediocre teams this season, Sunderland, Fulham and West Brom to name a few. Geremi has the quality but he's too static, so I would go for Jonas and Zog on the wings like most here. Duff is the safe option, but he's also one of those who gets dominated because of his powder puff attacking threat.

It's been a pleasant change to read positive views about our defence whatever some people on here might think. To hold out against Chelsea with almost the entire game being played in our half takes courage, organsation and no little skill. Some of the better journos lavished praise on Colo, Bassong and Beye in particular and they earned it. Let's give them some credit for a change, it's not often the defence gets much after all.

Enrique doesn't offer enough going forward so that's a problem at home. He's still pretty good defensively though, and that's what we needed today.

Shearer wouldn't do the job under financial restraint though, maybe that's what Kinnear is getting at. The only way Shearer will manage Newcastle is with plenty of money to spend in my view and I wouldn't expect anything else. JK's being asked to do a fairly shitty job and he's getting on with it where a lot of people including Shearer wouldn't touch it with a barge pole in the current circumstances.

I don't really get this attitude towards Kinnear that some fans have. You would think he had been appointed permanently rather than given another month judging by some reactions. He's not the answer but how many temporary managers are? Every time there is a bad result (not today obviously) there's people popping up to throw abuse, despite the fact he's got us some half decent results. Some fans really need to wind their necks in as far as I'm concerned.

I think Kineear will have to sell to buy so I wouldn't hold your breath on that one.

Take some of your own advice. fuck off Would you prefer Chris Hughton for the next month then? I'm sure he'd keep his mouth shut about Americans and transfers.

This might be kneejerk but we actually do look as if we can start playing for a draw, I can't remember feeling we could do that for quite a long time. I made the same point in the match thread, Kinnear can overdo it but he does seem to have got us defending with discipline. As for the back five, I just feel there is a better understanding between Bassong and Colo and I have felt that since I first saw them together against Coventry.

I don't like it either, but the best teams are always able to batten down the hatches when necessary. It's a valuable tool in a circumstances like today, and while we don't want to see it too often, it makes me feel better that we can defend when we have to.

That back four is very impressive defensively when I've seen them start together this season. Mind it was more of a back eight today. Fair play though, well done lads.

Credit to the defenders so far, because all the play is in our half, they have coped admirably.

I know we haven't kicked off yet, but I'm amazed we aren't 1-0 down already. Fair play we are holding them at the moment

Much better to let up and coming Krul go on and become a star for another team, at least we'll have loyal Steve Harper warming the bench with his 33 yr old arse for another season. We cant have any players saying who the club offer contracts too, it is fucking banana's. You use the word loyal next to Steve Harper like it is dig at him being at the club for a long period of time. I think Timmy is getting ahead of himself because I am not sure if he is our 3rd choice keeper. How is it having a dig at Harper when he's in the final year of his contract and could be looking to leave in any case? Both keepers hvae valid reasons for moving on to advance their career, for me I'd prefer to keep the younger prospect but I can understand people favouring local veteran Harper, that's their choice.

it will make no difference what tactics or formation we use today. Chelsea have far better players in every position. We can't even match them for fight with losers like Duff wearing the shirt so let's get it over with and move on.

Much better to let up and coming Krul go on and become a star for another team, at least we'll have loyal Steve Harper warming the bench with his 33 yr old arse for another season.

And he's a good keeper who has been dropped at times when an underperforming Given has returned from injury. I was only really saying that as a joke but I have no problems at all with Harpers lack of ambition. Its his loss and that lack of ambition has meant we haven't had to search for a new keeper every year or put up with dodgy back up. Harper's been a great servant but with the young talent we have coming through in the goalkeeping dept, it's probably best for him and us if he gets a 1st team jersey elsewhere. Unless the rumours that Given wants away are true that is.

Even though I've only seen Krul play once for the 1st team when he had a blinder, from what I saw in that game I'd be willing to bet he goes on to be a pretty good keeper. No doubt there'll be outrage that I'm basing my opinion on one game but you can only go by your own judgement. I'm personally glad that Wise pulled the plug on that move.

Harper's been a good servant but he's getting on in years. It would be better for us long term if Harper moves on and lets the likes of Krul and Forster develop I think.

Normally I'd be pissed off that Joe's alerting other clubs about our targets by blabbing constantly, but seeing as one of them is Riise who cares? Carry on singing like a canary Joe.

I have always been slightly sceptical of Shearer's claims that he wants the Newcastle job, to me it seemed like he was milking the adulation of local fans without ever actually putting himself in the firing line. I wouldn't expect him to take the job under Ashley, but if the club is close to being sold and he's genuinely being lined up by the next owner he'll go up 200% in my estimation if he takes the job.

Is JFK living on a different planet to the rest of us? Planet La La Land I think.