AyeDubbleYoo

Yeah, the topic is about right now, but it wasn't based on the West Ham game. I was going to post it after Wigan actually, but decided against it! It's more about how we feel about the team in general, despite results.

I think it feels pretty good. I know I'm posting this after a win, but I think for the first time in ages I'm starting to remember what it's like to support a team you can really get behind. For a while we've all been less than proud to be Newcastle fans, putting up with all sorts of embarrassing shit from Ashley and Shepherd before him. Not to mention the sorry excuse for a squad that took us down to the Championship. The Sports Direct signs are a bit of a blip, and we all know it could go wrong at any time with Mike, but just thought it was worth saying that it's great to be a fan of a "group of lads" that seem to really care about their game... from Hughton down. Even the players I don't rate that much (step forward Kevin) are decent characters who are doing their best.

The way he responded to the hammering in the Wolves game was a big day for him IMO. It was the first concrete thing he did to show that he might have finally done what he's been saying he's done for ages - grown up.

I would be prepared to offer him the first ever 20 year deal TBH. With guaranteed OBE at the end of it.

I really like his interviews... people might say he's boring but for me he's just a down-to-earth guy doing the best job he can.

Not really, if you're aiming to win the league you can fall short and still have done well. If you're aiming to stay up and fall short it's a fucking disaster.

Wow, that post got a lot of flak.

300 shots on target would be impressive mind.

I think Routledge was dropped a bit too soon, with two forwards to aim for he might have done OK.

I don't think we can have any doubts that he's willing to learn and change things around any more.

You simply can't take that into account when passing a verdict though, you have to look at the case on an individual basis and simply at the evidence available. You can't base it on "Well he's a dodgy bloke so he probably did it" or "Well, you're a nice lad so we'll ignore that bit of evidence and assume you're innocent." Is it only civil cases where you can use previous convictions to tar someone's character? Has to be relevant of course This is what the latest law says, I'm not sure I can understand it. Seems the rules about introducing evidence of bad character have been relaxed quite a lot. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_Justice_Act_2003#Bad_character Whether or not it would affect sentencing I don't know. Obviously that's the most important thing when someone pleads guilty, as in this case.

Yes, it really depends who the injuries are. Enrique, Carroll or Jonas would be disastrous obviously. We have done well to cope with the players we've had out so far though.

Might do that anyway with a finishing position not exactly screaming of "this club is starting to go somewhere again". Well, possibly, but the risk is less. I would say that the players who stayed through relegation will now be seeing that we can mix it in the Premiership. If we're unlucky enough to finish 17th then it might be disappointing for them, but I doubt it would make anyone leave.

It's a bit mad, if they'd priced it normally they would be guaranteed a massive crowd (hence more people buying food/drinks/merch etc) and a good profit. It's a massive faux pas bearing in mind it's on TV.

Yeah, I would agree with this. Injury is a risk, but he might equally get injured in training etc, so I wouldn't worry too much (touch wood).

yes they won't die but they could easily get injured! And that injury could be fatal!

I really don't want him to be hitting passes more than 10 yards, not necessarily anyway. If he develops a wider range of passing as he gets more comfortable then great, but at the moment I don't see it as a weakness at all. He retains possession.

I would be (a bit) disappointed if we finished that low at the end of the season, but if I could guarantee survival now then I would probably take it. I couldn't face another season in the Championship, and losing some of our best players.

I always thought Noble was quality, but then again I haven't watched him through many full 90 minuteses.

I have forgotten about Alan Smith, for this alone Tiote deserves a medal.

As I said, I thought that we would be better when not carrying Nolan, but it doesn't seem to be the ase so far. If Routledge was performing it would be easier to design a good side that doesn't include him, but at the moment it isn't. I would like to see us try a team without him for 5 or 6 weeks, but I can understand why Hughton doesn't think he can take the gamble. Let's just hope that he'll keep getting the goals if he I'd going to play.

Well, a less stylish Mourinho then.

I say Carroll's guilty. Guilty of being a Geordie hero!

Can't believe he finally wore a suit! I've been saying he should for months. I still haven't seen it, bu I imagine he looked like a more stylish Mourinho.

I'm a certified Nolan hater, but I'm beginning to think that the idea that the team will do better when it isn't carrying him is a bit of wishful thinking. With the players we currently have, I'm starting to believe that we're better off with Nolan than without him. It's weird, because I still think he's not athletic enough for this league and he contributes not that much.