stozo

Agreed.

Thanks Gosling. 3-1 down and you do that. You've been fucking useless over the last two years, please fuck off.

Get Shola and Obertan off!!!

How on earth has he been on the bench for so long?!? Looks so composed on the ball going forward.

Delighted to be level at HT. We have been nowhere near positive enough in the first half. The defending and dodgy decision cost us the first goal but it was coming simply because we haven't played enough football in the first half. Really hoping Shola comes off at HT for Best or Ben Arfa. He really improved us after HT last week but he's been fairly poor this half.

Hopefully Gosling steps up to the plate tomorrow. It's a shame he's not had many chances since arriving but this is his big chance to make something of himself at this club.

Our injury record really isn't that bad at the minute. Five teams currently have more players injured than us (inc. Man U + Arsenal) and we are level on injuries with Spurs. The only reason it seems we have an injury crisis is that 3 of the injured players play the same position and one of the others is arguably our most important player.

I think that's the lineup we will see, although perhaps with R.Taylor and Santon on different sides.

Very mixed feelings about that. First half we were really poor and deserved to be behind. Couldn't keep hold of the ball and there was some really poor defending as well. Second half we played much better and up until the 88th minute it felt like we could snatch an equiliser. We had some really good chances and were a bit unluky not to score. Of course after the 88th minute everything went a bit wrong but that was largely because we were attacking while playing with 10 men (Taylor could hardly run when they scored their second). Very worrying about Taylor and Colo. Perch wasn't horrific (not brilliant mind) but apart from him we have no other CB. Krul: 8 - Didn't deserve to concede three today. Kept us in it for a lot of the game Simpson: 6 - Not massively impressive either going forward or going back Colo: 7 - Solid until forced off (Perch: 5 - Poor marking of Drogba for the goal and looked a shaky at times) S.Taylor: 7 - Again solid until he came off R. Taylor: 4 - Seemed to play better as the game went on but Sturridge tore him apart too many times Obertan: 4 - How he didn't get taken off I'll never know. Gave the ball away loads and created very little Cabaye: 5 - Didn't pick up for the first goal. Wasn't as impressive as Guthrie going forward. Guthrie: 6 - If he keeps it simple and stops trying to be Steven Gerrard he'll be a good player. Drove us forward in the second half at time but gives the ball away too much while trying to do too much with it Lovenkrans: 5 - Wasn't too bad but didn't give a whole lot of cover to R.Taylor and didn't offer a lot going forward (Sammy: 6 - Promising when he came on) Ben Arfa: 4 - Anonymous (Shola: 7 - Great effort to hit the bar and helped make us look much more lively second half) Ba: 7 - Kept working and had a few good efforts.

Have to say although the quality of opposition has been high I don't think Ben Arfa has really impressed in the last three games. We offered much more with Shola on the pitch in the second half today and personally I'd drop him for Best at Norwich.

To be fair HBA was poor first half.

Not good enough in the first half. There have been some defensive mistakes but I think the problem is more that the midfield isn't keeping the ball.

subs : Harper, Perch, Santon, Gosling, Sammy Ameobi, Best, Shola Ameobi

Lovenkrands on the wing is horrific.

I know Pardew has said he doesn't want to play HBA on the wing anymore but surely he has to with Jonas out. I really don't see their being much point in playing either Sammy or Obertan of the left whe we have a player who has got several years experience playing in that position. That said Pardew seemed that horrified at the prospect of HBA defending on the left that he brought Lovenkrands on instantly when Jonas got sent off.

Based on his form in the last three games it's a shame that he will get dropped when Tiote returns.

It's not great for the fans who follow to the day to day but from the club's point of view it's a good strategy. It's also the Man Utd. team and staff (not just Newcastle fans) who have had to prepare for the possibility of Tiote playing for the last few days.

Only going to include players I've seen play. Krul Enrique Coloccini Woodgate Beye (Can't think of a really good RB I've ever seen Newcastle have) Ginola Speed Beardsley Solano Shearer Ferdinand I know it's very early to include Krul in there especially when Given served for so many years but I genuinely think he is a much better goalkeeper. Given used to frustrate me no end when he was rooted to his line for every corner and cross.

No word on how Santon played but the reserves side were 3-0 down when he was taken off in the 76th minute.

Good decision to get rid. Don't think he had a future here and he could have gone for nothing in the summer.

Quite impressed with the performance. We played much better second half and had we been a bit more clinical we probably could have made a game of it. It was encouraging to see Ben Arfa get some game time. The tackle for the penalty was awful but going forward he looked really bright at times. Day to forget for Ryan Taylor. At fault for both of the first two goals and got caught out a number of other times. I think it might be worth looking at Santon in the next game.

Sadly it looks as if Ryan Taylor has finally been found out at left back. Although the blame for the first half overall needs to go to the team. We are doing exactly what Pardew said we wouldn't which is sit back and hope to nick a 1-0 or a draw. We've shown when in possession we can threaten, we just need to keep the ball better.

Agree with everything apart from the bit in bold. From what I've seen HBA doesn't press the ball half as well as Best and it going to be vital that we put their players under pressure all over the pitch.

Feels like we are spoilt for choice in terms of team selection at the minute. Would like to see Santon and Ben Arfa both get starts but then I understand Pardew's problem in dropping players who have been doing the business for us. I think Ben Arfa could really do with a start but the problem is that in a game like this we should really be playing 4-4-2 with two proper strikers and Jonas is playing so well that we shouldn't drop him. I'd go for: Krul Santon Saylor Colo Raylor Obertan Cabaye Tiote Jonas Best Ba

I'd take: Goalkeepers Hart Foster Carson Defenders Jones Richards Terry Cahill Smalling Baines Cole Midfield Lennon Wilshere Cleverley Young Johnson Downing Gerrard Barry Strikers Rooney Sturridge Bent Wellbeck Carroll First game: Hart Richards Jones Terry Cole Lennon Gerrard Wilshere Young Wellbeck Sturridge