Dr Venkman

Gods sake man, channelling anger into a performance was exactly what Rooney was doing and on any other day he could've been sent off for it. Give me a team fighting for and protecting each other any day over the alternative, which saw us get relegated recently.

To be fair he's done well to be the best footballer in the North East. There's a lot of pressure up here in the North East. Fans expect you to be at the least competent in the North East, as Steve Bruce keeps reminding us.

hope city absolutely obliterate them

I think it will actually be the hardest of these 3 biggys. They looked very good on Motd last night against Wolves and Sturridge and Mata in particular will cause us all sorts of bother. I agree. I think Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs are a class above the rest regardless of their current position, they have players who can be unstoppable on their day. I think a draw would be a great result and anyone who thinks a win is going to be a likely result needs a reality check. I agree that they have the players to absolutely hammer us on their day, but the reality you speak of is that we're a team in form,defending well and they're a team that looks dis-organised and shaky at the back unless they're playing wolves at home. We've just played the best two teams in the league away and done well in one and very well in the other. Give the lads some credit man,there comes a time where you have to say we can beat these lot like,and next weekend is one of those times. I'm not saying we can't beat them...it's a possibility for sure. I just think that expecting to beat them is a bit much, and there seems to be this feeling that they are ripe for the taking. It can happen, but we'll need to score first then defend for our lives IMO. Fair do's. I think expecting to beat anyone is a bit much tbh.

I think it will actually be the hardest of these 3 biggys. They looked very good on Motd last night against Wolves and Sturridge and Mata in particular will cause us all sorts of bother. I agree. I think Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs are a class above the rest regardless of their current position, they have players who can be unstoppable on their day. I think a draw would be a great result and anyone who thinks a win is going to be a likely result needs a reality check. I agree that they have the players to absolutely hammer us on their day, but the reality you speak of is that we're a team in form,defending well and they're a team that looks dis-organised and shaky at the back unless they're playing wolves at home. We've just played the best two teams in the league away and done well in one and very well in the other. Give the lads some credit man,there comes a time where you have to say we can beat these lot like,and next weekend is one of those times.

Villa won't finish this with 11 men. 'kick them' undoubtedly part of mcleish's game plan.

That was a disgraceful challenge

Sinclair first and Swansea win 2-1, 56/1

mint, no rape crack though please alan. 'ohhhh he's gone past him without his consent there' will do nicely

it clearly was though

my commentary on it went thus....'pass it, pass it!......pass! it!.....ahhh ok'

woah, that's some horrible news.

They're fucking shit like The lad i travelled down with yesterday is from Sunderland but is a Man U season ticket holder (whole family on his dads side are Man U fans so it's legit). He lives in Newcastle now but still has a lot of mates from Sunderland and occasionally goes to watch us and them, anyway, we were both agreeing yesterday on the way home how utterly deluded they are in terms of rating themselves and their squad. Also on the subject of who their next manager is gonna be, Ancelotti? Benitez? Are they fucking mental?

It's November 27th and we're 4th in the league. This bloke is doing an absolutely outstanding job so far

genuine lols at this spot the obvious retort

I criticised him heavily based on his performances and the sort of things he was saying behind closed doors about teams coming in for him. On the pitch this season he's been fantastic.

He was fine against City. If Obertan can play, so can Sammy. Obertan's better in just about every department. Significantly,for one thing he puts his foot on the ball and thinks about it, sammy's just running on adrenaline at the moment.

I started to set out my team with the intention of putting him up front but realistically who on earth is gonna play on the left? Sammy wont provide enough cover, may as well just go for it with HBA.

2 strikers? we need a bloody left back and a centre half!

Also a special mention for John Carver who was absolutely quality in front of the fans after the final whistle,grinning from ear to ear and punching the air,was brilliant.

That was absolutely brilliant,spat my tea out.

We won't see him at his absolute best until next season,people under-estimate how long it takes to get to 100 percent. Look at Taylor this season and Barton last year,both after having proper pre-seasons for the first time in ages.

Incidentally walking in and out of the ground yesterday,the conversations I overheard included: 2 groups of Irish lads A group of Dutch people A couple from down south And one old bloke from Manchester The whole ground's surrounded by stalls that sell cheap scarves and flags to tourists,one of the most soulless things I've ever seen.

Hmmmmm, Jonas is a massive miss considering where Sturridge plays, don't think we've really got a way to protect the left side so he might just have to go for it. Krul Simpson. Taylor. Colo. Raylor Obertan. Guthrie. Cabaye. HBA Best. Ba

Pardew's not gonna change the system man, we're 4th in the league and defending like gods,it's not going to happen. Not a great game from HBA yesterday but a bit of class from him gave us the opportunity to score,and that's the second game in a row against top class opposition where this has been the case. They were noticeably dropping off him yesterday btw,there was one passage of play when he had so long on the ball he literally just stood still for about 3 seconds and they all just looked at him,was bizarre.