AyeDubbleYoo

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.

Nice try!

We lack anyone decent for the right wing though, Jonas has a questionable impact, Barton has rarely performed in the Prem and Smith looks horrible in that division. On paper our team wasn't bad enough to go down, we're at least as good as the likes of Blackburn and Bolton. Problem is the players never performed, for whatever reason.

I know frighteningly little about the other teams, I'm just starting to see them as lambs to the slaughter now... I'm not bothered who they are! A tad overconfident of course, but hopefully the players are feeling the same.

That is one of the things I've loved so far... not having to watch the likes of Chelsea and Man Utd whinging, diving and harassing the refs. Seems a bit more of an honest sort of football, the kind fans can relate to.

I'll be there, although my tickets haven't arrived yet. Have other peoples? Nope. Righto, no problem then, I'll just be patient.

Enjoying the fact that we will probably win most of our games, it's reinforcing my 'newcastle fan belief that we're special'. We really are too big a club to be in this division! The problems will come if we have to spend a couple of seasons down here, one is fine... but not more thanks.

I'll be there, although my tickets haven't arrived yet. Have other peoples?

A season eh, the local lads don't even get a day. Smith, Nolan, Taylor, Duff have all been branded s**** since the day they signed whereas no matter which mediocre foreigner we sign from a mediocre club they're class and have their own little fanclub. Taylor in particular has been given loads of slack I reckon. And none of the others are local lads.