binnsy

Nightmare that it was Dennis Knight who was the player sent off, he will more than likely miss the FA youth cup game and with him and Campbell missing we are missing our main attacking threat. Especially as Knight would have played in Campbells position in that game, losing both now will cause us a few problems. We do have a league game with Barnsley on Saturday which is more than likely going to be postponed so they can prepare for the Youth cup game on the monday, might be worth playing it and putting out a young team but at least it will free up Knight, who has probably been one of the stand out players in the cup run so far.

been like that for a couple of seasons now. Gutted for Campbell to get crocked at such an important time in the U18's season. Need to hope Streete stays fully fit now, we need him and Storey to stay fit in the middle of the defence, bit like the first team, if the centre halfs pick up an injury then we'll struggle.

Hopefully he is working his socks off and working hard and looking to impress Pardew in trainging, if he spends the next week going through the motions then Raylor will get the nod for the Wolves game as he will be working 100% in training as he'll be showing the manager that he is fully fit after his injury and wants to play.

Can see someone turning up with a spray can and writing St James' Park back on the wall, just hope whoever does it spells it right!!

Absymal performance from him today. The most disappointing bit for me is that after he'd been dropped earlier he was back in the side you'd have thought he'd have went out today and looked to put on a performance to show the manager that he shouldn't have dropped him but he offered nothing, he just didn't seem interested for large parts of the first half.

Exactly. agreed. Haven't seen his post match interview but in the last few post game interviews Pardew has often complained that we haven't "threatened their goal" enough. Well it might help if we played our most creative attacking player and in doing so we may create some chances. Two massive home games coming up, lets get HBA, Cabaye, Tiote back in the side and get 6 points.

The games against Blackburn highlight the stupidity of how Ben Arfa is being judged, in the cup he scored a wonder goal and was rightly bigged up for it. In the league he tried something very similar which didn’t work out because he slightly over hit a ball while running towards goal, it went out of play and he’s dropped. If that had gone in he wouldn't have been dropped but nobody who has replaced him could do what he did. Obertan would have beaten the first man then done a few step overs until he had somebody between him and the goal, he would have then hit somebody between him and the goal. Mick i don't think he was dropped for trying to dribble and overrunning the ball, he was abysmal for the whole half he played, seemed to have been struck down with Sholaitis as it looked like he was playing with his boots on the wrong feet. Maybe one bad game didn't deserve to see him dropped but you can't say he was dropped for over running a dribble. After a okish start he offered absolutely nothing to the team either offensively or defensively from the time we scored till he got the hook at HT and it was full marks to Pardew for making the halftime sub and replacing him with Perch and making us more solid in the 2nd half.

I'm yet to see a valid reason for either Taylor or Obertan playing on the wing in place of Ben Arfa. Taylor did very well for Ba's goal against Villa but I doubt he'd do that again if he played for the rest of the season. The only reason i can think of is our team has been built on solid organisation and a hardwork ethic, while HBA is undoubtedly a better player then the other two i think Pardew knows he can trust obertan and raylor to work the the "team unit". In Pardews eyes the "unit" comes before a players individuality and until Pardew feels he can trust Ben Arfa without the ball then he may lean towards the others. I don't think Raylor has let us down at all this season wherever he has been asked to play and for all Obertans faults in the 17 games he's started we've avoided defeat in 13 of them! That may well be bollocks but he's not been left out on abilty so i'm sticking with that lol

You are totally right, but you just have to mention after all that that he just deserves the same chances to play as the others. Obertan had his chances (mostof them in the begining) as Ryan Taylor, not sure if Ben arfa had the same... Obertan partly got his chance at the start of the season when HBA got injured pre season causing him to miss the early games of the season and then had to bide his time to get his chance with the team getting off to such a good start.

Here's a true statement, Ryan Taylor gets a goal every 913 minutes and an assist every 456 minutes, Obertan has a goal every 1253 minutes and an assist every 418 minutes, Ben Arfa has a goal every 290 minutes and an assist every 193 minutes. All are in the league and not cup games. very good but not sure what that proves, i've seen every game HBA has played this season so know what he can do hence why i said i'd have him in my team.

i like HBA and i'd have him in my team but i'm sick of all the excuses on here for him, if he's as good a player as people on here make him out to be i shouldn't have to read stuff like * he'll be fine with a better right back * he'll be better with a better left back * he'll be better when he has Ba upfront instead of Shola and Best * we'll see the best of him when Cheick and Cabaye are alongside him etc etc Those statements are all probably true but they will also make Obertan and Raylor better players as well.

hope our loan jinx doesn't strike again, especially with Haris's injury record..... i think Tavernier is the only player we've sent out on loan who hasn't got crocked.

the final is two legged and normally on sky. The semi is also 2 legged although that normally isn't on tv but with a home 1/4 final against Blackburn it is now possible for home games all the way to the final. Cracking game tonight, thought NUFC played really well and but for inspired goalkeeping, last ditch defending and poor finishing could have scored a hatful. Think QPR scored with there only chance of the first half. Would have been a travesty if NUFC hadn't got through although maybe got lucky with the penalty award.

Next round of the youth cup is on this Thursday, 7pm ko at SJP when we play QPR. Would be nice to get a decent crowd as the Watford crowd in the last round was disappointing.

Douglas or Vertonghen to replace Colo who will sign for Liverpool

With the news that we are getting rid of the likes of Kadar, Airey, McDermott, Henderson etc and the quality of reserve team football seemingly getting worse every year i think we should make a huge effort to try and join the Nextgen series which the likes of Man City, Spurs, Villa, Liverpool and Celtic are playing in. Its a European league also featuring Inter, Barca, Ajax, PSV, Fenerbache, Werder Bremen and at U19 level i think. I think that is the type of competition that would be best for the development of our young players.

Good job we turned that bid down yesterday, been our best player in the last 2 games.

HBA seemed to have Sholaitis today, he couldn't control the ball....terrible performance.

i would play Perch in midfield tonight, mainly for his extra bit of height, even though he's not brilliant in the air our biggest danger is set pieces. They scored in the cup from a corner and 3 of the goals in the league cup game were from set pieces as well. If we can defend them tonight we'll get something from the game.

Tavernier will stay.

I blame this guy. i blame myself as well!! 4 bloody minutes after i wrote that he gets done!!

don't want to tempt fate but as its almost 6pm on Monday i think if he was gettng done we'd have heard by now.

i think Obertan could get a recall for this one, not that i think he does much defensively but think Pardew will want him for "protection" for Simpson as apart from Samba at set pieces the best part of Blackburns team is the threat down their left wing with Hoilett and Ollson. can see us linging up with KRUL SIMPSO WILLI COLO SANTON OBERTAN CABAYE GUTHRIE JONAS HBA BA providing cabaye isn't banned.

Don't think it would be fair on Cisse to throw him in against Blackburn. He doesn't speak English yet (maybe not that big a deal with all our french speakers) and think the best thing for him is too let him have a week on the training ground getting to know his team mates and how the club operates and set him up for a home debut against Villa. Ba is different, he should be ok to slot straight back into the team, hopefully the kitman can give him back his shooting boots cos watching him in the ACN i think he left them here when he flew out.

Just noticed that Sean Murray is playing for Watford. He played at SJP in youth cup game and looked a really good prospect.