AyeDubbleYoo

At the time I thought it was a definite red card, Squillaci was well behind the play and it was a clear opportunity. I still think the same after seeing highlights... Squillaci only gets goal-side after Ranger has been brought down.

He just wants managers to be able to score them I think.

Not going to argue with that. Me either, but at the moment Ashley is doing what an owner should do... just create the environment for the playing staff to operate and leave them to it. Whether or not he stumbled on the right setup out of luck and/or despite himself is another matter, obviously.

Nice phrase, I'll steal that. And you're right, there's no way that Ashley has pissed off Hughton to the point that he would walk out. It's a nothing story.

Time to apply this rule: ...

If he wasn't a Geordie I would be terrified of losing him in the next few years, but because of that I think we've got a good chance of keeping him. Also, we keep fearing that a number of our other players are likely to be targets for better sides (Tiote, Colo, Enrique, Ben Arfa etc), but IMO if we add to them seinsibly we should start to think of ourselves as one of those 'better sides'.

Not really, in a few positions we are paper thin. It depends who the injuries are to - if it's Enrique or Carroll it would be a gutter. That said, we might pick up enough points when the players are fit to accept a couple of draws and defeats when they're injured.

In god's name why?

Was thinking this last night. Will be a couple of years yet. Aye, will be a couple of years before we tell them to get their filthy hands off Chris Hughton MBE, our trophy-winning manager!

Well I don't want him to get injured obviously, I would rather we played our strongest team in the cups and tried to win them. But I don't think I have to choose - I understand there's a risk of him getting injured playing for England, but IMO it's great to see him do it. The risk is unavoidable and acceptable.

Don't think that's a contradiction at all. I'm happy for Carroll to get a call-up because it's a big achievement for him... I understand the risk of injury.

I hope they don't get permission TBH... the plans for the housing development sound much better for the community. It is probably their last chance to get a site near Chelsea though, there's not many knocking about.

It was very clever to keep the same team but adjust the system to suit the game. More managers should do this instead of thinking "better play one up front away from home". It take good coaching to work as well, and a clear gameplan that the players understand. Credit to Hughton for both.

You should take a look at that Dirk Kuyt?

He provides something similar to what Wilshire is doing for Arsenal IMO... he carries the ball into very tight spaces, direct at defenders. But he's not running for the sake of it, he always has his head up and is looking to create something. I just hope we can maintain our robust team game when he returns, I don't want us to just go for "get it to Ben Arfa" all the time.

I burst out laughing at the thought that the next post would be Dave saying "What a wonderful debate." Alas, it was not to be. I just post the Tiote face to express a feeling that can't be put into words. It's hard to explain, the face just does the job.

Still love the "we all live in Kevin Nolan's house" song... one of the best for years.

The Everton highlights of him were scarily good... I've rarely seen a player combine that much acceleration with that much technique. Make no mistake, he will take us to the "next level".

You would think Andy Carroll is a kitten rapist. What he has got up to so far is nothing even compared to the likes of Terry, Rooney and Ashley Cole, so to be arguing he isn't setting an example is total nonsense. He's been involved in a couple of minor scuffles because he's a young lad who has risen quickly to fame and fortune. That's pretty much it IMO.

Surely there's no way Mike Ashley is going to make a profit on NUFC? He would have to sell at a totally unrealistic price to get his money back. Unless we win a cup or finish pretty high in the league for a few seasons, I doubt the value of the club has increased much since he bought it.

I know you're right, but it would be immense for him to get a cap... I'd love to see it.

Will be a bit surreal to see him run out for England. And class obviously.

In a couple years Simpson might actually be in with a chance if he comes on a bit. We're not exactly blessed with right-backs.

It's a bit much to expect Newcastle fans to be enduring one of the most painful periods in recent memory and step back and say "can't wait to see how the lad Coloccini turns out". He might have been caught up in the crossfire of the general hatred directed towards the team, but it's understandable IMO.

For a guy with Mike Ashley's recent track record, not making an immense blunder and fucking things up = steering us in the right direction. You could argue things are happening despite Ashley, but at least he isn't stopping them happening, which for him is a big step forward.