Nate

Martins has an incredible lack of composure for a centre-forward.

When Sam wins his first trophy here, we will look back upon this day as the turning point. Chelsea 1-2 Newcastle.

Nail and head Until he's had the job and done whatever he can with it the job is always going to be being kept warm for him. I'm firmly in the no camp and sick of his mention everytime something happens. And all this balls about getting them to play for the shirt.... if Shearer had really had this club at heart he'd have kept to his word and quit when he said he was going to and maybe we'd have won the FA or UEFA Cup that year when everyone was beginning to pull together. If he did get the job i see a situation like the one the mackems have got where no-one dares criticise him for fear or sullying the reputation. The press are so scared of the dog walker its unbelievable and brilliantly its doing the filth more harm than good. Get him in, if its a sucess brilliant, if its not then case closed and we can all move on. Is it? That may have been the case under Shepherd but i can't see Mike Ashley, who has poured millions of pounds into the club, allowing a complete rookie to take charge simply because he used to be a popular player amongst the fans.

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/6469/n5500969573024947326jj1.jpg

Fully deserved, Chelsea have barely got out of their own half.

That will be the team, salva has been right several times in the past.

Merry Christmas.

Given Beye Caçapa Faye Enrique Butt Barton Emre Duff Viduka N'Zogbia It would be nice to see the 4-3-3 with players who are actually suited to the wide roles, rather than one who cannot pass and another who currently appears incapable of taking the ball past a defender.

The fact that Emre, the closest thing we have to a playmaker, has been demoted to an occasional substitute is a concern. Is it possible Allardyce hasn't recognised the need for creativity in the middle at all?

The fact he looked a threat of any kind in 20 minutes, after being out for so long, was promising. Still unsure about Duff but he did at least remind me what a first time cross looked like today.

He increasingly looks like a sprinter who has just been thrown onto a football pitch. Can you imagine what N'Zogbia could have produced if he saw as much of the ball in that position? I appreciate it's an unnatural role for him, but his inability to make the most basic movement and complete the simplest of passes is beginning to grate.

I would have preferred Rozehnal or Caçapa with Taylor. Smith better not start in central midfield again..

Not sure Chiellini would want the kind of competition Garrido is offering tbh. I mean what ambitious LB is gonna sign for you with a player like that in the shirt already??? Garrido always looks like City's weak link when i watch them, wasn't he dropped for Ball today?

Immense leap, though.

David Pleat before the penalty: "Keane does not miss. Keane does not miss."

Uefa Cup: Aberdeen V Bayern Munich. Bolton V Athletico Madrid. SK Brann V Everton. Rangers V Panathinaikos. Slavia Prague V Tottenham.

Why? Inter are yet to lose a game in Serie A and top, whilst AC are 13th. Their trip to the World Club Cup won't have helped the ageing squad, either. Nonetheless, it promises to be a great clash between youth and experience.

Extremely tough draws for Celtic and Liverpool. I can see Arsenal beating Milan, though.

That tackle may be the last thing Crouch does in a Liverpool shirt.

Three Tottenham players deserved to be sent off and Zokora wasn't one of them.

AC Milan 4-2 Boca Juniors. Full time.

1-1, Inzaghi & Palacio within a minute of each other.

What is that 'A' celebration Andy Johnson, Marcus Bent and Cameron Jerome have started doing?

I thought Megson was a comical appointment but he's got them playing well again, to be fair.