TRon

Agreed. And he'll only get that consistency with a regular run of games. He was quiet in the first half but Enrique doesn't really offer a lot of support going forward. If Zog gets a run of games and he's enjoying it, who's to say we won't see him hitting the form he showed when Roeder first took over?

Great first half against Stoke, good second half today against Pompey. There's room for improvement but I'd like to see him get a run in the team before we finally give up on him. Duff's been given a fair crack of the whip, it would be nice to think after a 3-0 win away Zog's going to keep the shirt for a few games. Even when he's not in the game much he offers real threat and can hurt teams rather than fanny about without going anywhere like Duff.

I wouldn't want to see them on the opposition's team sheet that's for sure.

Bullard's not a signing which gets the pulse racing but he's closer to being a genuine playmaker than any of the centre midfielders on our books.

Contrast that with what we had under Roeder which was only a year and a half ago. The trouble with that is contrast Everton, Villa, Spurs, Pompey squads to a few years ago and they too have improved... beyond what we have. Our squad is still small, rather average and for me more significantly still unbalanced. Absolutely, 100% agree with you there but i dont want to get into why this is the case..... I wouldnt say the squad is average to be honest, we have some cracking players, we just need a spark or 2, like we were before SBR signed Bellamy and Robert. We've had 4 years in the footballing wilderness dont forget. Problem is that our squad at the moment isn't all that sustainable. Beye has a season or two left in him at most, Enrique will get sick of Kinnear giving him s*** sooner or later, Butt is pretty much done already, and Owen is leaving. I don't know what the Zog's situation is but we'll probably have to replace him with a RW and put Jonas on the left. Major question marks over some key components in the squad there. Short term I think we're solid as long as we fill up the CM position, long term, we might actually need two fullbacks, two cms, a right winger, and two strikers in the summer, which is a tall, tall order. Like i say, our squad isnt top6 but our first team could be. We're not as far off as people are making out. That has a lot to do with some decent work in the transfer market despite not spending much. The new players are for the most part excelling at the moment. Bassong and Coloccini have stood up to the aerial test last two games which was my one doubt about them.

Jimmy Bullard is a player I would never have associated with us last season but he's always looked decent when I've watched Fulham games. Capello seems to like him as well.

We kept going at them after Martins went off, we don't usually do that and it made a difference. And that's the point I'm trying to make. It should be that way with or without Martins, today it was, last week it wasn't. But Martins was our outlet when we were defending the lead, that is undeniable. He was a constant thorn in their side, although he did lose the ball an infuriating amount of times when trying to beat the last man. Without him I think we'd struggle to hit teams on the break.

He's not as tough as Batty but he's a lot better going forward. Batty was more like Butt in that he didn't carry the ball into the opposition half and usually passed sideways. Guthrie makes a lot of sideways passes too, the difference between him doing it and the likes of Batty, Jenas or Parker is that his balls are about spreading the ball about to stretch teams and give us more width rather than playing it simple. Guthrie carries the ball forward too, in general he just strikes me as having more ambition about his game than the likes of Batty who was a purely defensive midfielder. Guthrie still needs to up his game to be real midfield general though. He's improving and that's all you can ask at the moment.

It was noticeable that Butt was playing deeper today and Guthrie was the one pushing forward which is how it should be. If Butt sticks to what he's good at he's less of a liability.

He's not as tough as Batty but he's a lot better going forward. Batty was more like Butt in that he didn't carry the ball into the opposition half and usually passed sideways.

Just remembered Portsmouth beat us by 3 goals at our place last year. Revenge is sweet.

that would have been a good decision as well obviously, but I meant Viduka if you hadn't realised

Some people are never happy. Quality player in my opinion, the only questionable lack of end product from him is with his shots, hes already assisted a fair few this season. He deserves some credit for his defensive work as well, we aren't keeping these clean sheets by accident. When you weigh up how important a player is, it's not just about goals and assists.

He didn't half need that win. At least it looks like the players are still giving him 100%, if he can get that for the rest of the season we should be ok. Good decision to bring Shola on instead of Ameobi as well. He got panned for his decisions last week so let's give credit where it's due today.

By all means buy another full back, but he better be top quality because while Enrique's hit and miss with his passing, his defending is outstanding for me. You can stick your Arne Riise up your arse Joe.

Just said in the match thread how much he's grown in his last few performances. If he can get in the box more often like he did for his goal today, he is going to have a bright future. Excellent today.

Guthrie seems to have really grown as the season has gone on, and last three games he's been outstanding. I thought after the first 10 mins we pretty much controlled the game. After taking the lead we did drop back, but the difference this game was that we broke with intent and passed the ball well once we broke up their attack. Massive three points and it will do wonders for the team's confidence...not to mention mine. Well done lads.

Think that's a good point. I don't think you'll see many clubs not playing in Europe spending too much in the current climate to be fair.

What future with Shepherd? He's trying to buy some two dime club in Spain at the moment. Why can't he put together a consortium of Geordie businessmen to buy the club he loves rather than some spick club on Costa del Sunshine?

If you actually filter out the fluff it's clear that no one is prepared to buy the club so we are left with Ashley who was. Where is the fans buy out? Where are the local consortiums headed by Greggs and Freddie Fantastic?

Unfortunately there isn't any alternative to this wank. Unless you count wankers who are having a wank about buying Newcastle without having two pennies to rub together. They must be rubbing something else.

Shola's under 30, cheap and can offer a battering ram option on the bench which we don't have in our squad so I don't mind that so much. Nicky Butt is the one that pisses me off because I know he'll get picked week in, week out while he's here.

we also dont want to get rid of players for nowt if we can get fees for them (taking into account wages etc). i still think butt's problem is similar to when he first came here...no movement=no options for him to pass. but madras...you prefer players with nous as opposed to pace and movement. So your preferred 11 would be..?

Soccer AM and two dancing plebs in football shirts...a marriage made in heaven. Think I'll lie in tomorrow.