stozo

Didn't do to badly in my opinion. Should have been 2-0 up at HT but then really weathered the storm. We'd have lost that game earlier in the season.

This. I like Cabaye and he does a good job for us but if PSG offered us £20m I'd sell him.

I think going forward there are only we two realistic approaches we could/should take: 1. Stick with Pardew. This essentially subscribes to the view, one which I happen to believe, that all virtually all manager's are a much of a muchness. Pardew will have some good seasons, some bad ones but will improve over time based on him gaining more experience and the squad gradually developing. 2. Get a footballing vision. Do what Swansea, Ajax, Barca etc. do and decide a way you want to play football and find a manager who fits into that philosophy. I, and a I think everyone else, would rather see 2 but I personally don't see it happening. I think the Llambias/Ashley approach is too business-like to have a real focus on playing a really specific type of football. Basically unless we're going to subscribe to a specific footballing vision then we might as well keep Pardew. If we sack Pardew without moving to a specific vision then we'll get someone like Jol, who'll leave in 2 or so years when things get a bit difficult again, he'll be replaced by xxx who'll leave in 2 years or so when things get a bit difficult again etc.

Got it wrong today. Clearly a mistake to play Jonas instead of Haidara and there was just far too much long ball and not enough penetration.

@NUFCOfficial: #NUFC (4-2-3-1) v #SAFC: Krul; Debuchy, S.Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Gutierrez; Tiote, Cabaye ©; Marveaux, Sissoko, Gouffran; Cisse. #TWderby

Corker of a team.

To be fair he did his job tonight. There's absolutely no other reason to start him than to keep the game close and as it was 0-0 when he went off he did the job he was asked to do.

Proud that we got this far. Gave it a go tonight but came up short in the end, damage was done in Portugal really.

Marv and Perch both on bench along with HBA. It's either bizarre or Pardew is a genius.

I just think that's grossly unfair on him and is pretty largely based on what we saw Sept-Jan this year. Don't have time to get into a full on debate but look at the 2 years as whole. We've finished 5th and then made the QFs of the Europa League. With a squad that at various times has featured in the first team: Simpson, Williamson, Guthrie (who is in a team that is now bottom of the league), Best (now playing in the Championship), Obertan, Shola Amoebi and others (Ferguson, Sa. Amoebi, Vukcic) who aren't yet ready for the Premier League.

He's still getting a lot of stick based on earlier in the season in my view. Since the Norwich game (when he got his first new recruit) we've got 16 points from 11 games. If you applied that kind of form to the rest of the season we'd be at least 8th in the league. We'll see how the rest of the season goes but certainly think there's been an improvement in the last few months.

Actually think we've knocked the ball around well. Just need a bit more incision in the final third. Not too worried at this stage.

Good team though considering who's fit.

No Hatem on bench.

Is this from today? Could be a fitness test?

Frustrating but we were just unlucky with a few individual errors. Just got to make sure we go at them at SJP now.

Don't panic - he didn't actually score from open play, it was a penalty.

You'd leave Sissoko out for Perch then? On this occasion yes. Don't get me wrong I think Sissoko is a far, far better player than Perch but I don't see a lineup we can put out tonight that will outplay Benfica so I think a defensive and physical XI is our best chance of getting something.

As limited as the bloke is I actually think tonight could be a good night to play Shola. I'd go something like Krul Simpson Taylor MYM Santon Marv Cabaye Perch Jonas Cisse Shola

Really? You need to lower your expectations. To be fair we've not played anyone this year who we couldn't have HOPED to get something from - even if we weren't favourites.

That is what i was thinking , like to think we can get a few of the kids to step up . He's a left back so I'd doubt that he's a direct replacement for Simpson. Going to be tough for him to get ahead of Santon and Haidara so perhaps he'll go out on loan again (maybe to the Championship).

Great news that McManaman is getting banned. Deserves more than 3 games for a challenge like that.

From the Uefa text feed: The first legs of the quarter-finals will be played on 4 April, when Newcastle's Vurnon Anita will celebrate his 24th birthday. Hi team-mate Nile Ranger turns 23 on the day of the return fixtures - 11 April. Who wants to break them the bad news about Ranger?

Have to say I love the odd person in the past few pages slagging Pardew/NUFC off for rushing him back. They're probably the same people who were going ballistic every week he wasn't in the squad. Fingers crossed he's healthy again soon!

Advice to the people I've seen on here wanting to go in the Gallowgate and waiting for cash turnstiles - I wouldn't wait. Looks like they're opening up the remaining blocks in the Gallowgate and they're selling out pretty fast - there's also pretty much nothing but singles anywhere else in the ground.