Doug

Is fouling a defender interfering. Yes I would think so, not even mentioned by the commentators.

Crying out for subs at half time.

There are a lot of second generation mags born out of the North East with north eastern family roots due to the migration south over the decades of uprooted communities looking for work. They are as proud of their team and their roots as you, and you show your ignorance of this in your post. The atmospere was passionate and support for the team terrific as it always is away from home. How do you qualify for the label Cockney mag by the way, Is it South of Leeds, Birmingham, or Luton. Remember, some of those fans probably travel a lot further than you just to get to a home game. You should'nt knock your own fans, leave that to the press and the other teams fans, they are happy to do it without your help. (ps Iwas at the game and I live in Warwickshire. that is not in London)

Early days, we are overreacting here. Some players take longer than others to acclimatize. The bloke may turn out good given time.

I'm afraid you are right. Hopefully we will play a few fit young players who might just help us in the mobility stakes at least.

Our best chant at the moment and a good line in self depreciating humour sums it up. "We're gonna win fuck all again we're gonna win fuck all! We'll still follow United!"

West ham were selling tickets for £15 adults £5 kids on saturday to get a full house for the televised game. What are our lot thinking to charge £20 cheap seats for Arsenal and £40 quid 4 days later for televised games' The crowds will be crap. Who can afford this when it is on the telly?

We should have two giant local lads up front eager to score in AC and Shola

Lovenkrands was in the last chance saloon for me against Wigan and he blew it spectacularly

Correct, that would be Blackpool and Stoke. Also Tiote certainly does not need him alongside to play well. He certainly did not have a mare against Wigan whereas Perch and Williamson behind him did along with an off pace Guthrie and Barton on the day. This combined to make it hard for our "one man midfielder" who was only good instead of outstanding. To claim Nolans absence was the reason is beyond hilarious.

certainly went against this urban myth that he doesn't do anything except score Nolan was useless at Wolves.

That was amazing, deserved a goal. Not many players capable of runs like that.

OK against a very poor Hammers team while alongside the irresistable form of Tiote yesterday. Good strike for the goal. Just wish he could get fit.

He was like a one man midfield with that sort of form yesterday.

Sitting here reading this thread with the chancellor Osborne making his speech on the radio saying how the country has run out of money and we have all got to take the pain together. Its surreal

The Boozing, smoking, drugs and shagging wont have done though..

You will be in trouble now, We are not supposed to play young fit agile players. Prepare to be jumped on from a great height.

That's pretty ridiculous but I like how you've formed a theory in your head and used some unrelated events to prove it So, if I am of the opinion is that an unfit Nolan should not be in the team, I either do not watch the games, or cannot read a game and my opinion is ridiculous. Personally I think you overeact with your Nolan protection.

Anyone who can "read a game of football" will be able to see that if we persist in playing Nolan with his poor level of fitness, we are heading for the relegation trapdoor. If your open play continually breaks down because you are carrying an unfit passenger, then your results will be all over the place as they undoubtedly have been, as you are effectively only playing with 10 men. Hughton has obviously also come to this conclusion albeit several games too late and at last dropped him hopefully with the ultimatum to get fit or be left out.

Barton will never hide, His confidence means he is constantly showing for the ball and gives his teammates an option. It was noticeable that he and Tiote have realised this about each other and find each other good partners, both always involved together in our best moves out of defence and going forward. Essential to have players like this especially when you have players like Perch and Williamson who are obviously terrified of receiving the ball. Bartons trouble is his fitness does not match his astute football mind anymore. It is a bit of what we have with Nolan only not quite as advanced in the decrepid stakes. Past lifestyles take their toll and it is what we are witnessing, I am afraid he may never regain true match fitness which is a great shame.

Agree with the player analysis but harsh to criticise the support. We still turned out one of the biggest crowds of the day despite having nothing to cheer about as usual. We forget that many of the players who last won a domestic trophy for this club are probably pushing up the daisies now. Would Liverpool or ManU be drawing support like that with such a horrific trophy return. I doubt it, Leave the fan bashing to our rivals I say.

The bloke who wrote it must have been sitting near me someone a few rows back "yeah get off you useless f***ing c***!!!" This is what makes succeeding at Newcastle such a tough job. playing at St. James puts players firmly under the microscope, big success starved crowds, nearly every other game is televised live, and the pressure is intense even without the abuse and whispering campaigns that players are bound to pick up on. Some players find it a struggle to come to terms with. Anyone who was at the match yesterday could see that this has got to certain players and their confidence is shot for playing at home as a result. Perch and Williamson seemed terrified of receiving the ball, you could see them freeze when they were in possesion. They will probably be ok away next week at WHU if selected as the abusing type mentioned in the previous message dont usually hold sway in the away fans following.

You got them the wrong way round. The blip was selecting Nolan for the Stoke game, the two mistakes were Smith & Nolan in the Blackpool game. Any repeat of these mistakes and blips for the forseeable future will ensure the same sort of results IMO. God forbid if either of these mistakes or blips are still there for the Sunderland game in two weeks. The first time substitution of Nolan against Man City may be a sign that Hughton is at last coming to his senses over the matter.

We need to start winning a home game or two starting this Saturday before we get too carried away laughing at Liverpool.