Chris_R

I'd be delighted that we won / got a draw against a very good Chelsea team. I have no interest in the title race, AIDS vs Cancer there with regards to which I prefer. And anyway, I'm not prepared to end up like a Mackem where I spend more time hating other teams and wanting them to fail than I do supporting my own team. Newcastle getting points >>>>>> Everything else.

Eh? Can you even remember 10-15 years ago? I had a season ticket then and as soon as 85 minutes came up people were flooding to the exits. Most of my last 5-10 minutes of home games was spent singing "We can see you, we can see you, we can see you sneaking out!" at our OWN fans. And the noise wasn't what people claim it was either. Even then there were people saying that "It's not like it was 10 years ago, bring back terracing, blah blah blah". Sure, it was noisier than now in the mid 90s, but we had a hell of a lot more to cheer about then too! Give us a team that's winning games and we'll be as noisy as anyone again. I'm not saying that it's RIGHT that we should need the players to inspire us to make a noise, but it's a fact now and it always has been. The best atmospheres are always when one (Or more) of the following happens: 1) We're flying high, winning games and scoring goals 2) We're in the shit and / or siege mentality has set in due to off-field events 3) We play a 'hated' team, eg Sunderland or Man U 4) We feel we need to complain about something (Eg manager, board, referee) It's ALWAYS been the case that insipid 0-0 draws against Blackburn when we're about 10th in the table and playing mediocre football will be met by a subdued crowd. Perhaps we look back on 15 years ago and think the atmosphere was that much better because we were 15 years younger, and it was us in the equivalent of Level 7 of the Leazes (Standing in the Gallowgate under the scoreboard) making all the noise whilst those who had done it 15 years earlier again we're sat in the East Stand wondering why it was so quiet around them?

Sunderland obviously way out in front in terms of hatred, but as they're not listed... - Hate Man United (For their plastic arriving-on-a-tour-bus, no-connections-with-Manchester 'supporters') - Dislike Spurs (Because they seem to think that we're not a big club but that they are) - Couldn't care less about any of the others.

Sellars was fantastic, but even at the time everyone said he was underrated. So I'm not sure who was underrating him when everyone knew how good he was anyway? I doubt you'll get many (If any) people in here saying he was crap. I always thought Nobby Solano reminded me a bit of a right-sided Scott Sellars.

Fingers crossed for the match. Watching the Arsenal - Liverpool game in town first over a few pints then on to the ground for the Reading game. I'm pleased with the way the team has played over the last couple of games so I'm quietly confident about tomorrow. I think any win will just about guarantee safety, but I'll stick my neck out and go for 2-0. Barton and Martins to score.

I haven't seen enough of him as a DMC to make a call on his abilities there, but I like him as a central defender. I'd be more than happy to start with him playing at the back next season. Agree that Butt can't go on forever though and a new defensive midfielder is going to be a priority sooner rather than later.

Personally I don't think the 2 goals are comparable to that level. Michael Owen's goal relieved a lot of pressure, but David Kelly's goal saved us from almost certain relegation and probable financial ruin.

Before Keegan arrived we won more games with Geremi than without, even when he looked poor we won more with him than without. He started nearly all of our games so I'm not surprised we won more with him than without. Anyway, I still don't rate him as a player. We need someone in midfield who can beat a man and has a bit of pace.

Couldn't disagree more. Sure, Geremi can hit a ball. But he can't beat a man. He's got little pace and even less skill. He's got a great workrate and a great right foot, but that's about all he is for me. Geremi is playing better since he came back from the ACN, but since he was playing so terribly to start with that's hardly anything to get excited about. Considering the improvement Geremi has made under Keegan, I'd be keen to see what improvements Milner can make under him before I start saying that Geremi is now a better player than Milner.

Wow, what a game. So many positives, and I could wax lyrical about most of our first 11 today but I'd like to reserve special praise for Barton and Martins. For me, Barton had his best game in a black and white shirt today. His passing was good, his tackling was good, but the main thing that stood out for me was his drive in getting forward with the ball. He reminded me a lot of Rob Lee today with his forward play and range of passing. He had a few shots as well, looked more keen to shoot than I seem to remember for a long time and that was nice to see. Martins is often criticised for being brainless when in posession, but I was really impressed with his use of the ball today. He picked some great passes out and I can't remember him misplacing a pass all game. He looked a lot more aware of his colleagues today, and took his goal really well. Great all-round performance from him.

The rules state if you take your shirt off, you get booked. Everyone knows this, it's not fucking rocket science. Any player who has a T-Shirt on underneath with a slogan on underneath his football top and goes out with the pre-meditated idea of removing his shirt when he scores must have shit for brains. Now whether the rule is a good one or not is another debate. Personally I think it's a good idea in that it stops (Or at least limits) players making political or religious statements etc when they score. You don't belong to Jesus, you belong to AC Milan. Now put your bloody top back on and get back to what you're paid to do. Personally I'd make it a red card offence, that'd stop them.

Took a great squad of players who were regularly getting into Europe, and took us to 14th in the league. So we're supposed to grant you the freedom of the city for that, are we Graeme? £8.5m on Boumsong - You fucking moron.

Beating Leicester 7-1 on the final day of the promotion season. Such a fantastic carnival atmosphere, made all the more amazing because of the turnaround from the previous season when relegation and receivership were very real possibilities for most of the season.

If we can get some flair and pace into the squad we'll do a hell of a lot better. We've got a team of grafters at the moment, and while you need grafters in your team you don't want 11 of them. The Robert and Bellamy signings are a good analogy for me. Get 3 or 4 players with flair and pace in our side and we'll be in the top half again.

Look, we paid £6m for Smith, it doesn't mean he's worth £6m!

Decent player in a shit team. We need to aim higher.

Well he doesn't have £2b in the bank though. A lot of his wealth is estimated from the shares he owns in companies like Sports Direct etc. That said, £129m is unlikely to make him loose much sleep. You don't become a billionaire without A) taking some risks and B) generally being right a hell of a lot more than you're wrong. Him blowing £129m is like one of us blowing £129, we'd be pissed off but it wouldn't leave us homeless or make us sell our car.

This'll be the first time I've watched MOTD this year!

First time I've thought that since the Spurs (H) game. Honestly. Same here. Scared, but really looking forward to it. Gonna have to get some beers down me before I get to the ground to calm myself!

So are they saying he turned up to training drunk? It's not like you can be arrested for being drunk the night before, as there'd be no evidence. If so, he's a fucking moron.

The shame is that his "all" is decidedly below average.

I'll slit my wrists if that happens.

Let's hope it's nothing trivial.

I'd love to drink heavily during the match. Sadly, I'm at work until 10. It's still tempting though! Either way I'll be putting a few away when I get home, either in celebration or commiseration. The only difference will be whether or not I kick the cat when I go in.

Ramage is a decent, Championship-quality defender. Not at all what we need now. I just hope we don't need him next year.