merlin

We needed this win and I'm pleased we managed it, but it wasn't as easy as the score-line looked. Elliot had a decent game in goal, not to blame for either goal - Tiote had his best game for ages and we needed that performance because they often went through us on the flanks...esp on Santon's side. Gouffran once again ran his heart out and Sissoko's goal was down to him, but Gouffran spent too much time covering for Santon and that undoubtedly took some steam out of him. Cabaye was class - hope he is OK, we need this player more than any other and it will be a miracle if we manage to hang on to him because he looks as if he could play at the very top. Why he hasn't been given Pens to take before now is a mystery to me because I just knew he would take a good one and so it proved. Def a pen too - blatant arm up to Debuchy's cross in the area. The OG really killed them off - had that not happened we could have been struggling to hang on to the lead. They are a good side and Pochettino has them well organized......if we had that sort of organization with our players...... Sissoko's non-stop running was a big asset and Cisse's goal brilliantly taken - much frustration evident in the way he hit that volley..! A bit of pressure off now - lets see how we handle Swansea...and Laudrup.

The lad had a good game and looked solid as well as able - his distribution was better than Krul's for most of the game, topped off by that fantastic throw out..! If he can keep up this standard he will be fine.

Its still a bit early to pass judgment on his handling of the new players - that will take a few more games - but we still look disjointed... a team of decent individuals rather than a decent team. They looked far more organized for much of the time and we conceded far too much of the midfield to them - we once again sat back and invited presure rather than pressing them - sitting back is OK if you have speed merchants up front who can use their pace on the break, but only Gouffran falls into that category - Cisse is not quick over a distance and Gouffran was having to cover too much ground protecting Santon's flank.Players are not making runs into space often enough when we gain possession whereas they always seemed to have a player available to take a pass. If this does not improve over the next few games, its Pardew's fault.

Definitely would give Haidara a few games there now - still not totally convinced about Santon. We could have paid big-time for his weaknesses today.

Could go either way - they will either be sloppy after the euphoria of the Cup win(what are those, by the way..?) or eager to put on a show for their fans...remember us playing Leicester in the last game of the promotion season at SJP when we won 7-1..? If its the latter, it will tell us much about Laudrup as a manager...not that we didn't already have an idea.. We have quality players, but we aren't a team - they are and they have a system that works. Difficult to predict....

Forster did not get anywhere near enough of a chance before he was sold - I remember plenty on here backing Krul over him even though he hadn't had games in the first team..... We could live to regret this....

A win is a must in this game - nobody should even think we should be drawing or losing to the Saints at SJP, but that shows how little confidence many have in the management.... A look at the squads, man for man, tells you we should win this type of game at least 7 times out of 10, but they seem to have responded well to their new manager and it will be interesting to see how Pardew approaches this on - and whether he gets the upper hand tactically....

I did not see this game so will not comment on Pardew's tactics or selections - my views about these in the past are already known. Suffice be it to say that in this instance we got the result necessary - against better opponents it may not, only time will tell. I am more concerned about the Southampton game - and those after it......

What was so fuckin' disasterous about Newcastle being saved from possible relegation by KK after watching the awful sh*te served up by big fat hippo heads downwardly mobile team. The appointment of the idiotic JFK and having a team full of money grabbing faint hearts like Owen, Viduka, Geremi and Duff were the reason we went down. Disasterous second coming of Keegan my arse. Wake up man! Agree totally.

This is a good and necessary step forward - it should have been done years ago as is the case with tennis. However, it is far from the only way in which technology should be used to improve the fair outcome of matches - Refs are already using ear-pieces and headsets to be in contact with other officials, so its a very small step to having things like penalties decided by a ref in the stands watching instant video replays and therefore being able to notify the referee if he has made an incorrect decision by awarding/not awarding a penalty. A penalty results in a goal around 8 times out of 10, so this can be a game-changing - and even a silverware deciding - decision....too important to get wrong. Offsides are always going to be difficult - even a ref watching a TV replay can sometimes not be sure whether the player was offside if the camera angle is wrong, but in some cases, it is clear that the player was or wasn't, even if the linesman called it wrong. Players beating an offside trap don't score as often as players taking a penalty as the keeper/intercepting defender has a chance of preventing the goal so the offside matter is not as important as pen decisions in my view.

There is nothing certain about any of these moves yet ; the Mourinho one to City looks obvious as they want a new manager who will win trophies but I reckon he could also be tempted by Arsenal if they give him the budget he needs. Arsenal could also be tempted to give Moyes a whirl because he fits in with their conservative image on spending and continuity but Laudrup is also a possibility although I wouldn't rule out his being a Chelsea target either...they've tried everyone else...!! Fergie MAY do one more season at Man U although I wouldn't be surprised if he called it a day after winning the PL again but no guarantee about his replacement....they have a record of surprising people with managerial appointments. Still uncertain about what happens at SJP - our performances over the remainder of the season will determine whether Pardew stays or goes.....finish top 10 and he stays ; play badly and just escape relegation and I reckon he could be on his way. Who we would then get is a mystery but I wouldn't rule out either Martinez or Laudrup - provided he is not a target for Arsenal. He could also be a target for Everton if Moyes leaves but I reckon we could beat them off...JUST.

'cause they started the game without an orthodox striker didn't they? anyway i just meant they had a plan that was clearly worked on in training, played to their strengths and everyone was well drilled in it and knew what they should have been doing....granted we had that last year but it's easier to have a defined plan when that plan is defensively grounded as ours was Spurs plan is basically give it to Bale, and he was able to produce a couple of moments to beat us. The difference between us and Spurs that day was him and him only. Disagree with this - they were sharper and more mobile ALL over the field. They had done their homework on both Sissoko(doubly marked for much of the time)and Santon(kept back-pedalling by their quick breaks using Lennon and Walker. They deserved to win - they had slightly more possession than us and they were more dangerous up front with it. Our possession was largely in sideways and backwards passing across the back 4 and Krul and we lost it up front when it was humped up to Cisse. You can say this, but ultimately only one player caused us problems, just look at the shots he had compared with the rest of his team. I'm sure Lyon feel similar to how we felt after their result last night. You have your view - I have mine...abd I'm sticking to it. It doesn't matter WHO had the most shots at our goal - the overall effort and constructive play by the whole team gave Bale the chances he had...how many times did he waltz through our entire defence from his own half to have a shot..??

This - he has proved over the years that he isn't a suitable manager for a club like W.Ham, never mind NUFC. I doubt that he will ever get the best out of this squad - he got lucky last season with some amazing Cisse goals as well as clever strikes from HBA and Ba but the all round play was dire. Been found out this year and if we get to the end of the season still in the PL I will be delighted but this can't go on.

'cause they started the game without an orthodox striker didn't they? anyway i just meant they had a plan that was clearly worked on in training, played to their strengths and everyone was well drilled in it and knew what they should have been doing....granted we had that last year but it's easier to have a defined plan when that plan is defensively grounded as ours was Spurs plan is basically give it to Bale, and he was able to produce a couple of moments to beat us. The difference between us and Spurs that day was him and him only. Disagree with this - they were sharper and more mobile ALL over the field. They had done their homework on both Sissoko(doubly marked for much of the time)and Santon(kept back-pedalling by their quick breaks using Lennon and Walker. They deserved to win - they had slightly more possession than us and they were more dangerous up front with it. Our possession was largely in sideways and backwards passing across the back 4 and Krul and we lost it up front when it was humped up to Cisse.

Silverware. Not a chance we'll win this when it's over 2 legs every game. There's always an excuse not to try hard in cups, that's why we'll never win one. In the last few years off the top of my head: Promotion season: Promotion more important, f*** the cups off. First season back up: Avoid relegation, f*** the cups off. Last season: Doing canny well here, f*** the cups off. This season: Doing s*** again and might get relegated, f*** the cups off. We will never win a cup, ever. We don't even want to, as a fanbase or a club. Disagree that the fans don't want to win Cups - they'd LOVE going to Wembley/UEFA Final, esp if we won. Its the Board and manager that only want PL success because that is where the money is. It is a disgrace that a club the size of NUFC can't aim to hold a safe PL place and challenge for Cups and that is down to small time thinking from those at the top - certainly before January - and also poor team management and selection/motivation.....

Lose against Southampton and were f***ing deep in it again, no doubt about that. Agreed - cannot afford to lose this game...will be one of the most important of the season.

We should be giving this guy more playing time in the PL, even if it means bringing Colo off at HT. Colo will be leaving in summer and we have to look to the future - this guy is an international and cost the biggest fee last month.

Cannot comment on the whole game as I didn't see it - however, the goal at the Gallowgate end was on Sky over here and there looked to ne nothing wrong with it to me..... From the comments I have read, I would say that we will do well to get a draw over there....they have obviously sussed out Santon's limitations as a defender....

It is only to the club's 'great benefit' if the chief scout is good at his job AND the manager - who has to work with the players - is happy with what he is being given. What happens when the Scouting system fails if the chief scout leaves/retires ? Would YOU be happy having an employee foisted on you without having any hand in the recruitment process and without knowing whether he/she was going to fit in with the rest of the company ? If so, you must be pretty unique because I wouldn't and I doubt that the likes of Wenger, Mourinho and Ferguson would either - that is why both Fergie AND Wenger said that KK was right to walk out.

Brilliant - I agree totally and that's why they deserved to win. We are NOT 90 minute fit...

Carroll - we were offered a ridiculous fee and rightly accepted it ...look at the replacements. Nolan - did a good job but had too much influence over Hughton and dressing room..reputedly. Past his best . Barton - had a good season but was often involved in controversy. We could, and did, do better. Best - the lad was the biggest loss of all in my view but he was never going to be first choice.. a bit like David Kelly when we got promoted, and I was a big Kelly fan but could see why he went.. Guthrie - only missed because we didn't strengthen enough after his departure.Not a 90 min player.. Enrique - thought the club was going in the wrong direction and refused another contract - his choice. Ba - did a good job for us but was never going to stay...same as at W.Ham. Pardew has had these players - with the exception of Ba - replaced by far better players ; Sissoko, Gouffran, Yanga-Mbiwa, Anita and Haidara(jury still out but young and with potential)....Martinez has NO chance of having replacements fo his players who meet these standards so Pardew has less excuse for producing a decent side...

I'm convinced you weren't around for Keegan's side after reading that. Cabaye doesn't come close to how effective Rob Lee was for Keegan, nor does Ben Arfa match Robert's effectiveness for Bobby. And Perch better than Steve Watson as a utility man? I admire the optimism but do me a favour. Revisionist tripe. My thoughts exactly...

Agreed - under both KK and SBR we had a far faster tempo of play...I remember the season we got promoted and the game against Luton at SJP in early Sept ; it was perhaps the first time we REALLY got the pass and move style going at speed and they couldn't live with us, even though we only won 2-0. After that, it all started to gel and some of those games in that season were awesome...beating Barnsley 6-0 in March 93, Brentford 5-1 in the same month(when Rob Lee had a goal from the half-way line ruled out) and of course, Leicester 7-1 at our finale at SJP when we were presented with the Trophy. We carried this form and style into the PL the following year and in subsequent years we hammered quite a number of decent sides including a 7-1 thrashing of Spurs just before KK resigned. Pardew's team is far too slow in breaking from defence and the players tend to bunch too tightly together to be effective - the whole squad needs to do more pass and move training instead of concentrating on defence. I saw that someone was quoting BBC stats that claimed we only had 2% less possession than Spurs on Saturday...that proves nothing because passing the ball backwards and sideways between the defence, m/f and keeper is still possession but it doesn't even begin to worry the opposition.....

Agree - my heart sank when I saw the ref reaching for his pocket because I thought he had a good chance of a red. Very lucky to get away with it.

I agree he is very negative when it's going against us but we aren't going to attract a manager of the profile you have mentioned No s*** I just want a positive manager, like Martinez. It's not about a positive manager, it's about a manager who sees football the way it should be seen. We can't seriously make a case that our squad is weaker than Soton, Norwich, Fulham, WBA, Stoke, WHam and yet we are sitting couple points behind them and without investments in the squad probably would've been even more points. I mean for me Villa has the worst squad in the league, yet we somehow managed to give them a chance to come close to drawing with us after being up 2-0. I think this and last season we have relied to much on individual brilliance and that Pardew gets far more praise than he deserves after wins. Agree, Felipao, and also with Mick's earlier post. The next home game with Southampton will give us a decent view of whether Pardew is going to be able to use this squad to the best of its potential - Saints have just had a morale-boosting - and deserved - win over the PL Champs and seem to have responded to their new manager despite all the hot air spouted after the last one was fired... However, there is NO way they should be compared man-for-man with the Newcastle squad, esp the first team. We should be comfortably winning games like this if the team is being set up and motivated correctly and as has been said, this squad has better players in some areas of the side than KK and SBR had although some of the claims are open to argument. I am convinced that were KK managing this squad of players we would take teams like the Saints to the cleaners....I also reckon we would have been in with a chance of a result at Spurs although I'm not saying we would have won ; we WOULD have caused them more problems though because KKs sides had far more movement about them, esp off the ball. Someone claimed that Cabaye was 'comfortably' better than Rob Lee - he is maybe a better passer of the ball over distance, but he doesn't have Lee's engine over 90 mins and that sort of running off the ball is what this team doesn't do enough of...that is down to the manager and coaches. We cannot afford to lose to Southampton at SJP - Villa are only 3 points behind us now so we need to keep out of the relegation scramble. Next Saturday's game will tell us much about how this side will develop under the current management and coaching staff.