Yorkie

I know he wanted to play, just like Shola wanted to play those extra games before his operation. The manager has to think of the team, not the player. Like i say, any manager in his right mind would have expected a bit of a horror show because the player's mind would surely be elsewhere. Fortunately, we escaped somewhat, even though i think the first goal goes largely down to Babayaro's failings. As atrocious a kick-out it was from Harps, the pass back was poor and the attempt at the challenge was feeble. But - we did escape - but it just surprises me how Roeder, and Babayaro, has the courage to actually start him in such circumstances. Fair play to both of them, i suppose. Espcially Babayaro - condolences to his brother.

You're right mate... these next few fixtures are absolutely crucial. It's a nice little run and if we fuck these ones up, we can effectively forget an automatic European place. We've picked up some very decent points against the big guns, but those points will mean absolutely nothing if we don't capitalise against the lesser teams. I'd settle for: JJB Warriors (A) - Draw Smoggies (H) - Win Pardew's Prats (A) - Win United Wannabes (H) - Win Warnock's Wankers (A) - Draw The Wigan and Sheffield United games will not be easy at all. Wigan are still a decent side and it is quite surprising that they are way down there. I didn't expect them to have a great season when i looked at their summer incomings and outgoings, but they're down there and they've got a lot of team spirit. Also, don't forget our two atrocious performances at the JJB last season. Sheffield United, likewise, have great team spirit that has kept them up anbd a top class motivator at the helm. The two home games must accumulate nothing less than 6 points. Anything less is absolutely disgraceful. We really should be beating Charlton, aswell. 11 from 15 would be a successful accumulation from those five games.

I couldn't disagree with Roeder's line-up whatsoever at the weekend. Damien Duff had to be dropped, simple as. The two-times Premier League winner has been back only two games, and already he has shown that he doesn't appear to have the ability to improve from his early season shiteness. I heard that he was very poor against Fulham, and he wasn't very good against Aston Villa. It was pointless playing him there when he couldn't beat his man and couldn't pick out a cutting pass, when you've got Milner in the squad who is expert at each of those things. Duff had to be dropped, and the only person we had available for left-wing duty was James Milner, leaving the right-wing spot unoccupied. Therefore, Nobby Solano had to be moved forward into his old position. Roeder knew that he needed Kieron Dyer upfront, and with Milner being on the left, Nobby was the obvious choice to place on the right-wing. The domino effect continued with someone needing to occupy right-back. Taylor's played there countless times and was the obvious choice. His line-up was all about dropping Damien Duff, and the dropping of him spiralled, and forced one or two to be played 'out of position'. Duff dropped No left wing Milner moved to left No right wing Nobby moved to right No right back Taylor moves to right back. My only gripe with his starting line-up came after the game. Babayaro should not have started in a Premier League game against Liverpool in those circumstances. Any manager in his right mind would have anticipated a horror show and would have sent the player home to be with his family. Fortunately for us, we escaped.

Quite shocking how many people are still keen to see a Parker-Emre centre-midfield combination, when it is so unbalanced and highlights the better players weaknesses. The better player being Emre, when he is told to sit, he doesn't effect the game and resorts to rotten long balls and poor cover of the defense. Given Solano --- Taylor --- Onyewu --- Edgar Milner --- Butt --- Emre --- N'Zogbia Martins --- Owen Subs: Harper, Ramage, Parker, Dyer, Ameobi

Big day. Nice little accolade, and i'm not complaining. We've overcome one or two half-decent to shit teams to win it. And after all - we have won it. But if i miss the presentation i won't be crying my eyes out.

Ben Haim, Distin, Sidwell and Viduka would be superb.

Nobby has to stay at right-back. Absolutely no arguments. Taylor is alright there, he can do a job, but his positional sense is lacking and obviously he isn't as penetrating going forward, despite the penalty win the other day. However, Tayls simply cannot be dropped going on his form this season - he just can't. Nor can Onyewu, who has established himself already as a tidy centre-half. If Roeder persists with Bramble, especially after an abysmal first half performance against Liverpool and a less than convincing one against Fulham, it's just not right in my opinion.

Went down easily, yes. Obvious contact inside the area, denying a potential goalscoring opportunity following previous niggling challenges inside the box, yes. Penalty.

Aye - stoop to the opposition's level. Seen it time and again.

He didn't see it.

Hate Arsenal.

I'd certainly have Reo-Coker at £5m. Slightly less of a gamble in that case, even though it is quite a lot of money. I think we'll need a centre-midfielder in the summer. Emre's injury prone, Butt's getting on a bit, Parker's inconsistent and Dyer simply isn't a midfielder anymore. £5m for Reo-Coker would certainly do that job and i wouldn't be unhappy to see him here. He needs a fresh start, desperately.

Like we really should have just brushed Birmingham aside? The UEFA cup is our only chance at silverware, I hope we don't get complacent. Aye, we should have brushed Birmingham aside. Just like we should brush these ones aside. They're a very poor team. I don't think we'll get complacent as such, but i really do see this as a time to give one or two others a chance. After all, that's what Roeder has been doing all season long in the UEFA Cup. He hasn't played his best side every game, notably Palermo, where we rested two or three key players. I've researched Waregem and they're not a good side. That was a good win against Standard Liege, but they've had some naff results of late. I'm not complacent, i'm just highly confident.

I think that every nufc fan was hoping that we can start the season in a good way Aye. But the vast majority of posters on here tend to use their head over their heart, because they're intelligent. If you look back to the August 31st threads, it was absolute doom and gloom around here, and people were even talking about relegation! That, of course, was an exaggeration, but there won't have been a huge amount who were expecting Top 6. There was a lot of pescimism at the start of the season.

Aye Channel5 are doing it. Ace! We really should be just brushing these aside. They're currently 12th in the Belgium league, they're absolutely shit. I hope we give one or two others a run out. Harper Solano --- Taylor --- Edgar --- Huntington Milner --- Parker --- Butt --- O'Brien Martins --- Sibierski Subs: Srnicek, Bramble, Babayaro, Duff, Luque, Carroll, Dyer

Ah yes i remember you starting the thread about Zulte... Have a great time, mate. I'm sure your son will love it.

Bringing Beckham back would be a big step backward and would absolutely reek of depseration from McClaren.

*Wanks*

Would rather have Ben Haim on a free than Distin on a free. Wouldn't sniff at either mind. Or both.

Up against the Premiership's best aerial striker one week, then Liverpool's attack the next - which included an in-form Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt. I think he has been tested...

Would love it to be true. It'd certainly open up another European spot... But Spurs will be there or thereabouts come the end, don't you worry. Im not worrying as they won't be. Expect a shock then mate. Do you have a soft spot for Spurs? They are rubbish. People bang on about Berb but he is terrible away from home, JJ is rubbish, Robbo is a joke and dont even get me started on Dawson. Tut, tut, don't you know we're just the luckiest team in the league, after all Spurs have a world class chairman, manager, defense, midfield, attack, scouting network, transfer policy, tea lady, etc. It's a complete freak that we're ahead of them in the league, have conceded less and scored more goals with our reserve team playing for most of the season considering we have the worst chairman, manager, defense, midfield, attack, scouting network, transfer policy, tea lady, etc in the league. Give it a rest ffs. I said they had a better squad than us. And you back that up by claiming we've had to play with our reserves most of the time.

http://home.skysports.com/matchratings.aspx?fxid=298356&cpid=8&clid=4

We bash Spurs, but they're a good side - they're not shit in the slightest. I'm being realistic, they're more than likely to be there or thereabouts come May. Berbatov has done well scoring this amount of goals, Spurs are nowt without Jenas even though he was shit for us, Robinson's hardly the worst goalkeeper in the world and Dawson has been assured and professional - he's just not as good as Taylor.

Credit to him, but i really can't see how anyone would actually play someone in a Premier League game against Liverpool, when they're in that frame of mind.

I didn't see the extended highlights of the Fulham game (un)fortunately. I couldn't bring myself to watch it. However, from people on here and from several ratings here and there from various newspapers and websites, it appeared to be that he was assured and controlled at the back. And today, again, i haven't seen it yet - but i will do - it seemed to me that people were pleased by his performance. Great news, so far. We shouldn't get too excited yet, but it's certainly encouraging. Baring in mind that he has taken part in two hurrendous backlines so far, and has stood beside Bramble on both occassions. Will look forward to hearing how he and Taylor perform together. But so far - sounds promising! Did you see today's game, T27?