Mick

I'm rarely happy to see him in the team but I hope he's OK, he did really well for the goal and we wouldn't have got it without his input, that's probably the bravest assist we've had in a long time. I was actually gutted for him that he had to go off on a stretcher, I wouldn't wish that on the opposition never mind our own player. My view of the tackle was from the side and it looked way over the top and was always going to end up with a bad injury if contact was made. It looked a lot worse than Cabaye kicking out the other week and he's missing 3 games for that.

I thought that he started off well, I think it was him who lost it then he chased from just inside our half on the left to win it back on the right. He boiled my piss a couple of times, once when he was running towards the Gallowgate and looked like he had the beating of his man only for him to start doing step overs and then he hit it against the Villa player. Also, one time he was defending just outside the box, he went to clear it and the ball went backwards as he totally ballsed up his clearance. I don't think he's got a football brain at all but at least he put in some effort for a change.

I thought that he was injured at the end when he went down, I guessing he was kissing the grass or something.

Obertan played well today and given how easily HBA gives the ball away at times, we could have been hit on the break countless times. Bent's movement across the back line was excellent throughout the game, he just could not score for love nor money. Obertan did OK when he first came on, after his first 5 minutes he was back to his usual self.

I thought Perch had his best game for us today, he did everything simple and it worked for us.

He looks like he could be an excellent player for us, he's got fantastic movement

I'd rather see Ba taking free kicks than Taylor.

Ryann Taylor, Perch and Best is a poor line up against a mid table team at home. Pardew really is spineless, we should still win but it might be a stinker to watch.

I've just seen Beardsley at the ground, I hope he's starting.

The sun is out and it's not too cold, no way will the match be off, even side roads are virtually clear.

It's OK, it's not too cold and I think the pitch will be playable even without under soil heating.

I'd be tempted to watch it on TV if that's what we go with.

His goals were worth 4 points.

I'm not sure we would have done better with him, we've only lost Ba for a month and Nolan only scored 4 goals in the last 5 months of last season. So even if he averaged that, he would have scored 1 goal in the month without Ba which is the same as Best has managed. He probably would have offered slightly more mobility than Shola, Lovenkrands could also do that though.

I'd rather have Tiote and Cabaye in central midfield which is now our first choice pairing. Nolan was as much use as a statue as times when he wasn't scoring goals and that was most of the 2nd half of the season.

I was and still am over the moon he's gone, his goals were important and I'll never forget the Mackem hattrick but he limited our play so much.

We came 2nd.

I think I could suffer that.

I don't think I'd look forward to watching that 11 on a freezing cold February day.

The two Demba's haven't had much game time so I see no reason for them being physically unable to play. A flight from Africa is hardly long haul, they should both play based on our last 2 performances.

He probably came here expecting to be playing for a team who were sitting mid table, I doubt that he has to leave here to realise his ambitions. It's up to the club to make sure that his contract matches his importance to the team and what he has and can give us on a regular basis. We have a wage structure which we will not be able to maintain if we are to go forward as a club because we'll hopefully bring in better players and those we already have will continue to grow as players. A wage structure is great because I don't want another Alan Smith, Michael Owen etc. Having said that, it goes both ways and we should pay players what they are worth, no more or no less.

What would have happened if Ben Arfa had passed to Shola or Best instead of shooting against Blackburn in the FA Cup? I can live with him trying too much because when it comes off it's brilliant.

Stick Abeid in for Ryan Taylor and that's probably as good as we've got for the next couple of games.

The reason his last club willingly relinquished his services was because he arrived here on his own accord, they had little or no choice. Also, a player moving clubs doesn’t highlight a flaw, a club has to want a player as much or more than a club wanting to get rid before a move can take place.

I hope he only has to wait patiently until Sunday, after the last 2 games Cisse should also start as he could hardly be less effective than whoever he replaces.