Elma

Impressive from Barnsley like. A couple of surprise packages up at the top with us early on.

Slightly concerned about splitting up the centre-half pairing, but happy with the front six. Still, gotta trust Rafa and if he's going rotate selection I guess that includes the spine too. Good to see Atsu making the bench.

Had to work late but watching that in the background took the edge off it. Great stuff. Was hoping for something like that before kick-off but was worried the mackems would dig out a performance from somewhere. Too early to say they are in real trouble but they have issues. Let's hope the three promoted clubs continue to pick up points and put more pressure on them.

Quite a few poor sides unfortunately. I'd agree if Defoe gets injured for any length of time though. The mackems would disagree as they seem to think a division barrier automatically makes one team better than another, but in terms of organisation and effectiveness we are much improved on last year - them not so much. Would fancy us to give the bottom six or seven in the prem a game now.

Great stuff....glad I was wrong a few posts back

Should be three or four this. They'll regret not putting this game away here.

Been there many times. It is a bit of a shithole but I love it. Very compact and always a good atmosphere. When living in London it was always the one I looked out for for that very reason. Well, that and the fact that prices were always reasonable compared to Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs. Was there when we were 3-0 down early doors and just sung all game. Also there for the 2-1 Beardsley volley and remembering that Sellars had to grab an inhaler from the dugout whilst sprinting up and down trying to cover the fullback. Immensely proud of the club on both occasions, for very different reasons.

Only due to Stojkovic. Wonderful save he made. No goalline tech in the Champ - would have been interesting.

Yes, yes they have. How the hell did he miss that? I thought he was clinical at this level?

Just switched on and saw the Ipswich pen.1-1 would be decent for us.

An even longer shot.. Any Ukrainian channels showing the match? Bizarrely, despite Turkey being football mad I'm not aware of any TV channels here that have the rights to the Championship. Fortunately I can stream my dad's Sky Go via VPN so I'll still get to watch it. However, if there are any other Turkish (Istanbul) based fans out there who know of a pub who have it (probably streamed) and want to meet up to watch it then pm me.

To Edinburgh from Istanbul....he's just returning home after the failed medical here (Istanbul) I guess. That's a Turkish plane behind him and he flew out of Edinburgh originally, what with Edinburgh being the closest airport to Newcastle that Turkish operate from.

I'd prefer that we had sold him for decent money by now so that his presence doesn't damage the squad. However, I hate Levy and waiting till deadline day to throw in an obviously derisory bid boils my piss. I'd definitely have taken anything north of 15 million prior to the Euros, but would be looking for a minimum of 25 million in today's market, even more so since it's Levy and it's 31 August. Minimum 25 million or he stays till January for me. Him, Diame and Ritchie behind Gayle/Mitro would be interesting.

They are currently third favourites for the drop (behind Burnley and Hull) and although they just about have enough, it's only because there are three or four other poor sides. I certainly wouldn't be putting any serious money on them staying up as things stand.

He's gonna fit right in here. Nee other fucker has a driving licence either....

I thought Mitrovic took 45 in the past (pre-NUFC) as he couldn't get nine, the theory being 4+5=9? Mind you, that could go either way - either he's used to 45 now and will let Gayle have it or he's still desperate to get the number 9 shirt. I think it will be Gayle, solely on his interview yesterday. Would be a strange thing to say if he wasn't taking the 9 shirt, unless his words were misinterpreted by Lee Ryder (heaven forbid)....

This for me. Keegan was the best at scouting a player in my lifetime, buying specific players at good prices to fit into his style of play. However, even he signed Mike Jeffrey and Darron McDonough, to name a few…

If that's true that's a good deal for Everton in my opinion. Although he's 31 he's hardly missed a game in 7-8 years. Probably got 3-4 more years in him and I think he has two years left on his contract?

2-0 now

Fulham winning at home to Palace, for what it's worth.

Of course there will be no goals in the second half when we would actually be able to see them.....

Goal, according to periscope. Not got a clue who though....

If they've not offered enough then keep him. He was reborn under Rafa and would be a certain starter for me on current form (once back up to fitness). As he's in the last year of his contract then if someone in China or the Middle East is willing to pay stupid money then by all means sell. Otherwise keep him.

I'll be as nervous as during the final games of last season to be honest. If it was 5 or 6 games in and we already had 13+ points on the board it would be different. Really need to get off to a good start after a positive summer. Ideally a win, but worst case a point and a decent performance. Keep the unbeaten run going whilst we await a few more additions/a few gain fitness/we await Mitrovic's return.

I remember us getting thrashed down there 4-0 on New Years Day 1992, and listening to Charlie Harrison do the whole commentary over the phone as the radio link went down.