STM

Park would balance our right side of midfield out wonderfully. Having two hard working wingers, with no lack of talent would be brilliant.

In that case i would go for: Harper Taylor Coloccini Bassong Enrique Butt Guthrie Taylor Jonas Loven Martins Depending on Owens fitness.

Why sign a winger and then play him in the centre of the park? Somewhere he has never played before (guess). All of Gutierrez's play is classic of a good winger, he dribbles, works hard for the team and try's to set up his opponents. The problem is that he hasn't been told where he can be most effective and this is once again down to poor man management. Someone needs to sit him down and tell him that he needs to get to the byline more often and then get his head up. I have no doubt in his ability to pass the ball form that range, he just needs to get his head up. Martins goal against Villa is the best example of Jonas potential from these situations.

With Oba and Loven up fornt we will get chances, that is clear from last night. However, with Geremi and Smith in midfield, they will have ball an awful lot too. Hopefully, they show a lack of firepower and we take our chances. Who returns for this game, just Owen?

That reminds me, how does the atmosphere sound? I would think our fans would be relatively roaring right now, or at least hope so... Sounds like we are doing the singing.

Speaks volumes for the attitude (of lack of it) from some of the senior players. Speaks volumes on how Butt and Ameobi can effect the team.

Keep the fucker locked.

Every minute without conceding deserves a celebration.

Fancy Gutierrez to have a good game and skin O'Shea.

Neither have the ability to play in the hole, i'd be asking both of them to drop deep and work hard. In the hope that they can make up with it with their pace. Will be interesting to see if we can get the ball off them, thank fuck Scholes isn't starting.

Viduka injured again?

Looks like the yellow bib theory has worked once more. Will be interesting to see how we line up. If it's 442 then we have two very pacey strikers.

Any team news?

messi is in a different class I honestly thought is was impossible for anyone to be "in a different class" to Ronaldo, because as we all know Ronaldo is a great player but since i've started watching him i've realised it's true. His ability to move with the ball so close to his feet, at the pace that he does, is uncanny to Maradona.

I've only seen him a coupld of times but he was always going to have great feet when his second name is Lua Lua. There is a huge question over whether he has the physicality for premierleague football. The ideal thing to do would be to give him a free role behind a striker when we are ahead in a game, the problem is that is no time soon.

Ronaldo is an amazing footballer but he's a cunt, no two ways about it. Messi is better IMO.

Rick Parry anyone?

It's because he stands in an offside position everytime and forgets to come back on side... everytime.

Happy enough with the endevour of the lads. The only stand out player for us so far has been Ryan Taylor, who's worked his socks off and caused problems from set pieces. There were signs of us getting a foot hold in this game, since the opposition lack any kind of tecnhical ability. Although i think Shola has done fairly well in holding up the ball, Viduka could win us this game in the second half. Shite game, even worse commentary.

What? Newcastle are gaining a really bad reputation now. Between Barton, Guthrie, and Nolan, we're pretty much considered a team of butchers. Scousers *Cough*

With that 20k we should be able to prise Kaka from Milan

So why did he jump at the ball with his two feet? Unless he was about to show us some sort of ball control that had never been seen in the premierleague. He was never going to get the ball with that sort of movement. Regardless whether he was to get the ball or not, it was a criminal challenge.

Nolan clearly went in to hurt Anichebe. My reasoning behind this view is that noone ever goes into a tackle like that. How is he supposed to win the ball with his studs going over the ball? However, i don't think it was a case of "i'm going to break his leg" but a moment of recklessness/madness.

I'd go as far as to say he's the best centre half of his age in the league, unless i have missed someone obvious. Personally, i think Coloccini has had a decent first season but Bassong has eclipsed him. I worry that Bassong will have second season syndrome next year, which young players sometimes do.

I couldn't seperate Bassong and Enrique yesterday, both had fine games. The only difference is that when Enrique is defending i think he will deal with it, where as with Bassong i KNOW he is going to. I just wish we had a manager that would sit down with Jose and point out where he is going wrong and where he is not. I think he overlaped (a terrible) Duff yesterday and put in a brilliant cross, which he is capable of. If someone sat him down, showed him it, and encouraged him to do more of the same he would be a better player for it.