KaKa

we're still playing really well! Actually better than they are. Some lovely passing and movement.

Dyer coming on!

Honestly I think I would be happy with him being our fourth choice centre-back this season if he maintains his performances in his last couple of games. Think he could be a solid contributor under Sam, and alongside someone experienced. He's looked impressive alongside Roz.

Isn't it amazing how so far we haven't missed Barton, who has shown he will be excellent for us, due to Geremi's play. Luque, yes Albert Luque, has in turn made us forget about lady Owen and her many aches and pains. Brilliant stuff!

Geremi is a star. If we use him anywhere other than in the middle of the pitch it would be a big mistake. I think we are now seeing how a good central midfield positively affects the whole team. Geremi doesn't hide but completely takes charge and is very positive passing the ball around. Parker really was too negative in the same role and this created pressure on our team while he was around.

LOL! Great ball in from Geremi there.

OH YEAH IT'S SHOWTIME NOW!

Carroll instant legend!

Huntington is an idiot.

That sucks! Luque was really looking good so far.

Ramage looks like he might do a lot better under Sam too. I might just be coming around to having him as fourth choice centre-back.

Rozehnal is one sexy footballer. Nice calm presence at the back.

Considering the players we have out there the defence has been solid apart from Iaquinta giving Huntington some trouble. Credit to Sam I think.

Luque is winning a ton of balls in the air! Who the hell is this guy? Surely nnot the same player?

Geremi's corners are excellent.

Very dodgy by Milner to win the penalty. Very happy for Luque though looks a lot more confident and up for it. Huntington is pathetic at left-back. Never aware of where Iaquinta is but keeps watching the ball instead.

And in his case all the time ...

He like every one else needs to get warmed up for the season. We were told it was nothing serious and he would be fully fit and ready to go for today. So why would it be a risk to play him today if he was fit? He clearly isn't because he is still injured just as he has been his whole freakin' life! He's a freakin' professional injury victim who occassionally suffers from a game of football every now and then, and yes I do have that the right way around. 3rd rant over

He's a loser and a lady because he's injured? Yes. That is correct. I believe we were told that it was just a thigh strain and he would be back for this game were we not? Well where is he then? Owen is as soft as a wet piece of tissue paper for goodness sake. I mean can a human being be any softer or fragile? 2nd rant over

Michael Owen is such a loser. So happy Martins is staying and Luque is giving it a go here, because at least we will always have a good number of options to fill in for the permcrock that is lady Owen. Rant over now. 8)

I don't think it's all that bad, but I do think he is basically saying we will be shopping abroad for the rest of the defenders we want to bring in. Claudio Cacapa is a very experienced and good defender but was injured a lot last season for Lyon. If he is over that he would be a good signing I think.

Losing hope of landing a new left-back Jul 29 2007 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun NEWCASTLE boss Sam Allardyce has admitted he is losing hope of landing a new left-back as the Premier League season fast approaches. And he has reiterated that he fears he will have to gamble on more foreigners to plug the gaps right across United’s defence. Having cast his net far and wide this summer and been linked recently with Reading’s Nicky Shorey, Allardyce last night declared: “Left backs? There aren’t any. “There was the lad at Lyon (Eric Abidal) that went to Barcelona who is probably the best one around, but you look for the rest and say to yourself: ‘Where are they?’ “A lot of them are converted left-wingers, so they’re attacking-minded, whereas I’ve got the opposite slant on that. “We’re attacking-minded as a squad. I need defensive solidarity and players who think defensively; natural defenders. They’re not easy to find.” As for his general search for defensive reinforcements, Allardyce added: “The choice is more limited here (in England). They are fewer and farther between than they were. “If I had been quick enough or had been in place as Newcastle manager sooner, I’d have looked at more Premiership free transfers. “I tried for one — Tal Ben Haim — and if Sylvain Distin had still been available when I’d been here, he’d have been here. “If you put Ben Haim and Distin here now, it would make a huge difference. You’d already have secured the problems with your defence, basically. “You’d probably just look for a left-back of the right sort of experience and, perhaps, a right-back and you'd be looking forward to August 11. “But that centre-back we need may not be in this country now.” The Sunday Sun can reveal Allardyce is to be offered the chance to land Brazilian stopper Claudio Cacapa, a free agent since leaving Lyon, ahead of Greek giants Panathinaikos. http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/newcastleunited/sundaysun/tm_headline=losing-hope-of-landing-a-new-left-back%26method=full%26objectid=19535650%26siteid=50081-name_page.html

Yes.

John O'Shea anyone ...

Not quite ready for that level of responsibility I don't think.