AlanSkÃrare

Newcastle Blog thinks so too The one source that get things wrong more often than Ryder.

Kovacevic was actually quite good. I remember he came over (to Sheffield Wednesday?) with Dejan Stefanovic, who was rubbish... These weren't bad players nor a bad manager, Kovacevic and Nihat tore La Liga apart that season. I loved watching Sociedad during 02/03. I still find it painful that Denoueix never got back into management after his spell there. They were amazing and pushed Real Madrid all the way. All in all, 02/03 is the best season of football I've watched. Mainly because of the endless amount of good Newcastle memories, but half-fell in love with Sociedad and Felix Magath.

I think it's a good thing Santon's rested. He's needed that for a while.

Can't wait for Sunday, simply can not wait.

It's not really about being greedy and thinking we should have picked up more points before Christmas, it's about remembering how incredulous I was when watching games where we were clearly struggling and that cretin in the dugout refusing to bring him on whatsoever. Or when he did first give him a chance from the start (Man City and Man Utd away in November) he was our best player. One dodgy first half against Chelsea and he was dragged off at half time and back on 20 minute cameo duty (if he got on at all) for the next month and a half. I remember the period vividly and I thought he was wrong then and I think he was wrong now. what IP said, HBA forced pardew to play him with the mackems game basically That half was a turning point. We played shit for quite a few games until Hatem forced his way in. Can hardly remember any player making a better cameo for us than he did in that half.

Raynald Denoueix Nihat Khaveci Darko Kovacevic 02/03

Dito. Much rather play him than Tioté. Imagine our passing and move with him, Cabaye, Moussa, Hatem and Gouffran in midfield. Not even fair.

TRAININGPICS PLZ

This is the sort of situation I wouldn't ever have expected us to come out on top from before Moussa. I think his winning mentality will have an increasing influence on the team as he integrates more. His determination will be key come Thursday, I have confidence in us for the first time in a while.

I'd keep him for 100 years if it meant I could see him one game a season.

Random managers from the 90's in the same mould: Paul Le Guen. Won everything with Lyon. Went to fucking Glasgow Rangers. Disappeared. Now in charge of Oman.

10/14

I want to see him. Flickr better update today.

Jerome Rothen Remember when he took the piss out of us in the Intertoto with Troyes? Went on to play Champions League final with Monaco.

Check your PM.

Great piece by Caulkin again, available for 30 mins. Won't put it up here this time.

Could be made up, no sources or anything. The guy works for ESPN so I doubt he'd just put it there. It's a fuckling appalling stat.

Dale Johnson ‏@dalejohnsonESPN Most long balls: Newcastle 2380, Stoke City 2190, AC Milan 2174, Fulham 2155, Real Valladolid 2148 #nufc #stoke #ffc

Aye, i was surprised Pardew didn't choose to rest him last night. Agree. Needs to "regroup" himself mentally really. Looks as if he's jaded and has lost his concentration way too much lately.

Probably because of his impending Liverpool move.

I'd play Tioté and Marveaux here and use Anita/Sissoko for Southampton.

Had a few Hatem-like "touches into space" last night. I think we saw an even more potent side of his game and signs that there is a player ready to become even better in there. He ripped their midfield apart with his runs and his determination, which looks like his most important attribute. The fact that we paid £1.8m for him is looking more and more like it's a deal worthy of the Noble Prize.

This is true. Papiss playing of Sissoko has opened up our play so much more. The problem last night was a lack of movement off the ball from the rest of the front four. Obertan was decent at it in the first half but faded quickly in the second. In my opinion, this is also a reason for Anita to be playing ahead of Tioté when we need to unlock the opposition. His movement drags people out of position, and his approach remings me a little of Sissoko's in the sense that he passes and always looks to move. But Sissoko playing off Cissé, it looks a vast improvement on what we've seen this season. Especially with Gouffran's movement from the left and Hatem slaughtering people from the right. Can't wait to see all of them.

And wasn't trying to exploit the keeper or anything, just blasted it. He did a similar thing against Derby in 01/02 when their keeper tipped it off the bar and out. Went on to score a ridiculous free kick later on in that game. Him and Bellamy have special places for me. So exciting to watch.

That cross for Cissé's second disallowed goal was better than every cross Simpson attempted in 4 years. From a CB.