brummie

Technically they should be, but I'd be interested to see how they cope once the UEFA Cup comes back in. They're not playing at their best but I'd argue they can't play consistently well. There's no doubt they're getting a lot of breaks. It'll be interesting to see how they respond to a few injuries, a few bits of bad luck etc. Carew has been out for ages, he's a very important player for us. We've played 10 UEFA cup matches already (and we largely play the reserves in those games). Getting a few breaks is fair enough, but we're not third because we've been lucky. Also our remaining fixtures are looking pretty good. Our next five games for example Sunderland (away) Portsmouth (away) Wigan (home) Blackburn (away) Chelsea (home) We know where we've got deficiencies in the squad, and we've got the money and a month to sort it. I think he'll fix it.

I don't think we will be challengers for the big prize, but you've hit on the really important point there that a lot of people don't seem to realise. We've been without Carew for a couple of months now. He's not a prolific goalscorer, but he shapes our play enormously. We've been playing five in midfield and Gabby alone up front as we've no other realistic options up front. We've also been conducting a European campaign at the same time. I'd say 70 percent is possibly a little generous, we've been playing well within ourselves. I can only think of Ajax, Slavia Pragua, Spurs away and good spells of today when we've looked anything like playing near our best, but we're still getting results. It bodes well if we can put together a run where we really do play as well as we can.

Benitez was right in his points about Ferguson, but he's quite clearly got to him. Liverpool will bottle it.

In fairness, there were five defenders, Carson and Agbonlahor in the area. One of them should have made a move towards him, at least. It was Carson's fuck up for the goal, but ultimately, the shot wouldn't have gone in had the defenders done their stuff. Carson made a few other excellent saves that stopped us sticking considerably more than 2 past them, though.

Finally started to perform in patches today. Should really have been further ahead in the first half. Never really felt threatened by Albion. They did exactly what i thought they would - pass ball around midfield impressively, then lose it - for 45 minutes, then brought on Bednar who created far more trouble for us, but they were never going to get anything. They need to learn. Sometimes there's nothing wrong with being more direct. They can outplay Liverpool at Anfield for most of the game like they did recently, but they'll get fuck all if they don't score more goals.

Vile scrote joins vile club.

Don't see how it would suit us, Shorey's crap. This.

N'Zogbia: "I want out of Newcastle, what are you doing about it, what are you doing to earn your money Mr 10 percent?" Agent: adopts panicky facial expression "I am in talks with some clubs about you at the moment" N'Zogbia: "Who?" Agent: randomly chooses clubs "Villa and Spurs. Arsenal might be interested too" N'Zogbia: "Ah, so you really are doing your job then" Agent: "Phew"

I can't believe we'd be in for him, for the following reasons. 1. What for? He'd be behind Ashley Young on the left wing. 2. We're supposed to be punting the woeful Shorey off somewhere else, so maybe it is to play him there. But he's not a LB, so what's the point in getting a LW in to play LB when you know he's not really that good there, and doesn't like it? 3. Everything I had ever seen, here or elsewhere, about him tells me that he is a stroppy, mardy arsed cunt. That doesn't strike me as the sort of player MON likes to sign. No truth if you ask me.

On a wider point (ie football in general), is anyone else who remembers the time starting to think that the 80s weren't actually that bad after all? There might have been 15-20,000 in grounds on a frequent basis, but at least they all gave a fuck and weren't just doing something to keep little Jonty and India entertained for a couple of hours before the theatre.

I dont understand why you'd care tbh, what with you lot riding high in the league. When we were in your position, i cant say i gave 2 fucks about what Villa were doing. It's all about the media.

sadly so We got beaten at home by QPR. Shite.

Although, Nigel Clough being at Derby is one of the most resonant appointments in the game for a long, long time. I loved Cloughie. He was a fucking genius, and a flawed one, always the best type.

The absolute worst result would be for Derby to reach the final, thus almost guaranteeing Spurs a trophy. We'd never hear the end of it.

Whatever happens to NUFC in the near future is going to be part of a wider crisis (Southgate is right, incidentally) which will hit the game. This will be the first recession of the high-ticket-prices-Sky-PL era, the entire game is in a state of uncertainty right now. Interesting times ahead.

Playing decent stuff? When they came to our place, Fulham - sorry, horrible football cliche coming here - "parked the bus" from the first minute, played for a draw and engaged the most horendous timewasting straight from the kick off. I like Hodgson (if only for his funny face and On The Buses style accent) and I really like Fulham as a club, but whilst they're doing ok, they're gash to watch.

If Willie Mckay told me it was 2009, I'd seek out the nearest calendar just to double check.

Kingdawson - have you heard anything about these rumours linking Harry with a move for Nicky Shorey? I hope they're true.

Well yes you are right - but we are in Doug Ellis rather than Randy Lerner territory here. Even Doug wouldn't have been that stupid, and Ashley - cock up though he may have made at Newcastle - is still an incredibly successful businessman.

he wont leave.. Carew on way out based on that shonky story about Galatasaray wanting him? I think not. Harewood is on his way out though

Probably the daftest post I've ever read on an internet message board. I mean that with no offence or malice, but really, why on earth would he want to do that?

I actually like Downing.

Laursen's injury is rumoured to be worse than expected, hence the interest in Upson Oh and Lien, 1878, that Serbian twat gave another interview earlier this week saying he was knocking us back too as we might be in the top four now, but we're not a permanent fixture there. He comes across as a knob.

That was a horrible cup tie for anyone with a partisan interest. I really, really did not want to have to play a replay.

First time the ref's given us anything. Some of their challenges have been fucking shocking.