Yorkie

I think there must have only been one Newcastle fan to vote on SkySports player ratings so far... Luque is currently on 10.0!

17th. But there's some nice daylight there now, and when you look at our upcoming fixtures, we should be feeling a bit optimistic.

Why can't Parker do Butt's job anyway? I bet he's better at that. He's too slow going forward and too inaccurate.

He's allowed to boss the midfield when he plays with Butt, though. It's a shame really because i like Parker, but i think the partnership really should Emre and Butt. Till January anyway, when i think it should be Dyer-Parker.

It is a hard job... put they're there and they're paid to do it. The linesman in the first half didn't.

Dyer looked absolutely knackered towards the end, though. To be expected. If he can stay fit, and MArtins can stay fit, we'll shoot up the table. We've just got to start sticking the ball in the net! Martins SHOULD hasve had a hat-trick today. If the goal had stood, if Emre had of passed it and if Zoggy would have passed it. Martins would have had three, and deservedly so.

The more Dyer and Martins play together, the more goals they will score. What's funny though, the team seemed to work better when Sibi came on and Dyer was providing balls for those two. Emre absolutely dominated the midfield. Zoggy was lightning when he ran at players. Portsmouth simply couldn't cope and it's very encouraging.

Delighted, absolutely delighted. We thoroughly deserved that and were absolutely deadly in that second half. N'Zogbia, Dyer, Martins, Emre - running at players. Scaring this shit out of them, we were like lightning going forward. Dyer was absolutely inspired, Martins simply gives us something else when he's got the ball at this feet, Zoggy can't pass but boy can he run and Emre simply bossed the midfield. Gutted we didn't get another really, because both Dyer and Martins deserved one. Bet Martins is fucking livid with Emre! Also, defending was pretty much faultless. Bramble's first 75 minutes were shambolic, but it made it count when it mattered. Glad he picked up but it still doesn't change my mind. Get him out. Taylor was an absolute monster back there - controlled the defense, as did Nobby. Ramage was comfortable aswell, he just can't go forward. Good performance - especially in the second half. Did everything but put the ball in the net lots of times really. We look very dangerous now. About had a heart attack when Dyer went down, though.

Is kick-off 1:30 or 2:00?

Wigan. They just ain't a Premiership club.

You're right about Geremi... Carlos Edwards. What position is he? Isn't he a full-back? I've only seen him one other time than the World Cup, where he was great. Never seen him play badly - might have a lot of potential. Sounds like a Championship kinda buy, though. As do Maloney and Melchiot in all fairness. Hardly gets the pulse rating does that lot. Beattie just needs a change, i reckon, but i'd still rather we stayed away from him in January.

Martins was excellent against Arsenal and was very lively when he came on against Celta... really looking forward to seeing him play and him proving my dad wrong. My dad's a soopafan tbh. ;-)

Chelsea can have Neill, we'll have Geremi. Sorted! Geremi's a good player, i've been gradually wanting him more and more as this season's progressed. Can play right-back very well, and he'd also be a superb replacement for Solano/Milner/whichever one leaves first.

Mrchoonz, you are right - i'm just saying: don't worry. ;-) Martins' hold up play isn't as good as Sibi's, but it's still good so it's not a total lost cause. I just wish that we would get rid of the long ball altogether, tbh.

Other than the inclusion of Emre, its the same lineup that faced Arsenal last week, isn't it? We need someone to challenge Campbell in the air and Sibi is the only one we have can do it!!! Genuine question; did you see all of the Arsenal game? Martins' hold up play was excellent. He's superb in the air. Doesn't mean to say i want us playing long-ball (which we probably will thanks to Roeder), but Martins' isn't bad at holding the ball up for Dyer...

Campbell would not only have given us an immediate improvement in the defense, but he would have brought on the likes of Taylor and Ramage massively.

I don't think the thread had been 'dead' 12 hours...? :shock:

Other than the inclusion of Emre, its the same lineup that faced Arsenal last week, isn't it? Emre's the player in our team who is guilty for playing the long balls, though. I just hope we play the ball on the floor like we did last week. Dyer and Martins will compliment each other, like they did at Arsenal, if we play like that.

Or maybe, just maybe, given the the fact that a hefty chunk of Newcastle supporters would like to see Luque play, you're actually wrong. Like i say Gemmill, i know you don't like him and i can understand why in some respects, but i honestly don't know how anyone can give Albert Luque a fair judgement - when he has never played to 90 minute matches on the bounce.

Disappointed that Sibierski isn't playing, but i don't really have any other gripes with that starting line-up. Fucking chuffed that Carr isn't playing. Emre and Parker in the middle?

Bright foreign young players need a good manager, good players and a good coaching set-up to be able to excel and push onto the next level. N'Zogbia hasn't got that and that's why he's starting to falter. And it's made even more difficult for him due to the fact that he's been dumped out of the team by a player who isn't as good as Zoggy.

1. Oliver Bernard 2. Warren Barton 3. Steven Taylor 4. Aaron Hughes 5. Nicos Dabizas 6. Craig Moore 7. Sylvain Distin 8. Andy O'Brien 9. Peter Ramage 10. Andy Griffin 11. Robbie Elliott 12. Celestine Babayaro 13. Jean-Alain Boumsong 14. Stephen Carr 15. Titus Bramble

Didn't know that. I knew Podolski was born in Poland... didn't know Klose was.

Because Miroslav Klose is German?

One of Boro's best signings... Always a consistent figure in their side since he joined from Derby - for quite a low fee i think? Decent defender and aye, i'd have him here.