AyeDubbleYoo

I never understand why stadiums don't put the majority of the corporate and guest seats away from the half way line/main stand... the people don't care about seeing the match anyway. As long as the bar was luxurious they wouldn't mind sitting behind the goal!

I think Heskey (along with Barry) is a major reason for the good play of Gerrard and Lampard. They know that the ball is going to stick more up front and so they can gamble to get forward. I rate Defoe but the team is more important then any individual.

Well no rule applied by a human referee will ever be perfect, it's up to the ref to decide on what he sees. If we're talking about reviewing games on video and banning people later (which I would like to see), then I think it's pretty clear when someone's dived. If it's not clear then no action need be taken.

Nice to see Slavan Bilic defending Eduardo http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8245629.stm

And there it is. It really is f***ing easy to make this club a success as all one needs is common footballing sense. Ashley and his cronies have clearly lacked this and here we are, slowly clawing back to normalcy despite the fat one's ineptitude. Do we not want big signings, attractive football and the Champions League again though? Playing devil's advocate, but to get those things you need serious money nowadays.

Mourinho ruined Duff and Joe Cole during that time. He was more interested in seeing them work their socks off and tracking back rather than attacking the opposition. He might have ruined Duff, but he made Joe Cole IMO... turned him from just a tricky player to a really effective one. A bit like Fergie with Ronaldo. I remember after one Chelsea match Mourinho came out for a post match interview and tore Joe Cole a new one just because he tried some back heel pass or something. Said something like if he does it again he won't play for Chelsea again. Wtf like, what kind of way is that to behave to a good, skilful player like Cole. Can you imagine if a manager said something like that to a player like Ronaldinho.. don't think so. Can't remember that TBH, but I still think Cole was a better player after working with Mourinho than before. He might have done that anyway I suppose, no way to tell.

Mourinho ruined Duff and Joe Cole during that time. He was more interested in seeing them work their socks off and tracking back rather than attacking the opposition. He might have ruined Duff, but he made Joe Cole IMO... turned him from just a tricky player to a really effective one. A bit like Fergie with Ronaldo.

Ive asked everyone at work,and they all told me NOT to wear colours! But thats what i purchased my shirt for! I haven't bought a kit for years, my newest one is the grandad collar Keegan era one! I was going to buy a new one especially for this... not sure now

There's definitely no sense in bringing in a manager now, with the transfer window closed, the lads doing well and the takeover not complete. Unless it was somebody truly world class who became available.

I'm amazed, and delighted, that we managed to hold onto all three. Like you say, they all seem to get on and Enrique & Jonas combine really well down the left.

Any thoughts on wearing colours to the match? Some people I've mentioned it to say I shouldn't, but are they just being pathetic? My view is I should just wear them and take my rightful place in the front line of the toon army.

They enhance his performance.

I agree that a breach of the rules should be based on whether or not the substance would effect performance anyway, if it's just for a cold then surely no harm done? All I can think is that it is impossible to detect the difference, or the level of dosage (or something like that). Otherwise it would be fairly easy to detect cheats as opposed to people with a cough, no?

I haven't read the details, but I think it's more likely it was over-the-counter without prescription.

We'd have noticed if he hadn't been at West Brom. I suppose so, in hindsight. There are were many possible outcomes though, someone else might have started instead and scored a goal... or we would have scored a goal in another situation because of the difference in our lineup and tactics. All I'm saying is that Damien Duff was not a very effective player for us, losing him is not a big deal (except in terms of numbers).

Selling Duff for £4m in our situation was an incredible deal... we were right to bit their hands off. Have we really noticed the difference, playing without him?

9 months seems harsh, but I can't believe footballers take any drugs that have even a hint of anything banned... you've got to be pretty careless and/or thick to trip up like this.

All joking aside, I've completely stopping hoping for a takeover or a manager now, I don't even check for news.

Apparently the deadline is friday.

I thought it was a very odd signing by Hodgson, considering his pretty good dealings so far. I haven't got a clue how good Riise is, but slagging off your new teammates is best avoided I would have thought!

I read an analysis on the PL (think it was Finkinstein in the Times 3 or 4 years back) which claimed that 38 games, in context, wasn't a big enough sample size to adequately differentiate between the teams and that, therefore, the best team didn't always win the league. Can't remember the exact conditions he applied mind so it could have been bollocks. Statistically that's probably right, luck/random chance will play too big a part over such a short time. Although normally Man Utd win the league, and they are usually the best team!

We look good in the Championship because our weaknesses aren't so much of a problem. No pace? Doesn't matter, the game is slower. Give the ball away? No problem, so do the opposition, you rarely get punished. We don't have a bad midfield when they're all fit, but if we go up we will need to strenghten it and add some dynamism/pace for sure.

I never really bought into the fact that it would be more physical or tougher in any way. Maybe sometimes you will get a clogger that wants to kick lumps... but generally I would have thought that players used to the speed of the Premiership would find it far easier. They must think they have forever on the ball, the game is much slower. The physical challenge of the Premiership must be much greater I reckon.

No-win situation this one, really. I can see why the Heed players would be traumatised and not up to playing, but the opposition shouldn't be forced to travel and play again. Hopefully Gateshead can just give the three points to the opposition and not be docked additional points for refusing to play. Maybe common sense will prevail for once.