Nate

Given Solano Taylor Ramage N'Zogbia Milner Emre Dyer Luque Martins Sibierski N'Zogbia at left-back, just because i can't take another game of Ramage there.

How dissapointing, hope we have some other options lined up - why do i doubt that..

I quite enjoyed the game, very frustrating in parts, though. Solano definetly looks like he can do a job at right back, much better than Carr. Overall, we were relatively solid defensively, depsite Ramage being absolutely woeful going forward. Didn't think N'Zogbia or Emre really got going tonight, whilst Sibierski put in another impressive performance for a free signing. As for Luque, you can see he is very short on confidence - i'm not sure many will question his effort tonight, nice corner at the end. Good result.

With the position we're in, 'better than what we've got' is going to have to be good enough, and Ricksen probaly is. As long as he's cheap and we buy superior players at left-back and center-half, it might not be the worst signing.

But sadly, our best central defender.

I'd say yes. Shepherd won't leave without appointing Shearer, let's get it out of the way as soon as possible - Keegan could only help. And who knows, Shearer may turn out to be a decent manager.

He might have done given half the opportunities Shola has had. Could anyone see Ameobi scoring as many goals in that Cardiff side? I can't. I don't think anyone is saying Chopra is good enough for our first team, but it's a shame he wasn't given a chance to prove himself when we were giving countless starts to someone who was, and clearly remains, nowhere near the standard required. I'll ask you this. Would Chopra have scored 5/6 goals or however many it is for us this season? That Ameobi has? Probaly, hard to say. To clarify, i'm not suggesting Chopra is good enough for our first team, or even that we shouldn't have sold him. I just think he should have been given more games ahead of Shola while he was here.

http://www.newcastle-online.com/nufcforum/index.php/topic,31803.0.html Parker has become considerably more unpopular in 20 days, then.

He might have done given half the opportunities Shola has had. Could anyone see Ameobi scoring as many goals in that Cardiff side? I can't. I don't think anyone is saying Chopra is good enough for our first team, but it's a shame he wasn't given a chance to prove himself when we were giving countless starts to someone who was, and clearly remains, nowhere near the standard required. But why was shola given the chances ahead of chopra? Unfortunately for the Shola knockers the old "because he is a Geordie" excuse can't be used in this instance! So why wasnt he? His style of play looks more suited to Shearer than Shola's was, could it just be he wasn't as good? Well, obviously because Chopra wasn't deemed good enough. However, if he does keep on scoring for fun in the Championship, considering how low my opinion of Shola is (which probaly defines which side of this argument you come down on), it looks like a poor decision not have given him a run in the first team.

He might have done given half the opportunities Shola has had. Could anyone see Ameobi scoring as many goals in that Cardiff side? I can't. I don't think anyone is saying Chopra is good enough for our first team, but it's a shame he wasn't given a chance to prove himself when we were giving countless starts to someone who was, and clearly remains, nowhere near the standard required.

Given Taylor Ramage Bramble Duff Solano Dyer Emre N'Zogbia Sibierski Martins

I rate Given very highly, but the commentator did get a little excited over a string of routine saves.

You.

Aye, and drop Bramble for Ramage. :wink: Did you watch the game today? As much as i hate to say it Bramble was outstanding. Dyer and Martins were also outstanding. did you watch it? martins did nowt! lazy sod You can only laugh.

Solid result. Very impressed with Martins, definetly showed his potential today.

What?

Fair enough, seems a little bizarre for Portsmouth fans to start a 'hate campaign' based on nothing but rumour, though.

Wasn't it rumoured he had his wife and son living in a council house? Now accused of being a wife beater... I wouldn't feel too sorry for him without knowing the facts.

I would be undecided for half that, definetly not.

Over-rated? Despite very impressive figures the majority of people still think he's useless.

It better not be Zat Knight.

Absolutely dreadful from both teams, made Newcastle v Man City look like an exciting game.

Realistically? Sven-Göran Eriksson or Alan Curbishley.

That's what i fear.