LoveItIfWeBeatU

Well at least we didn't have anyone sent off. Having said that, maybe if Santon had been sent off we'd have shut up shop. It seems every time we think our best team has been picked to start we seem to lose.

As good a starting line up as we can put out. There's not much to change the game with from the bench though. We know Ameobi can't last more than 70 minutes so I wouldn't be surprised to see Lovenkrands at some point. Best doesn't seem to make it to the end of 90 minutes either.

I can't see us being able to get Xisco's rumoured £50K a week wages off the wage bill until his contract expires in June 2013. No team is going to buy him or pay him anything near those wages. I'm sure NUFC would even let him leave on a free transfer to get his wages off the books. He's currently playing (when he isn't injured) in the Spanish Segunda Division and isn't exactly setting the league alight. Harper's contract also runs until June 2013. Will he ask to leave so he can get games somewhere else? Lovenkrands' contract ends in June 2012. I can't see him getting a new contract at NUFC. Alan Smith contract ends in June 2012. He won't be missed. Contract end dates taken from: - http://www.nufc.com/2011-12html/squad.html

http://www.nufc.com/ Hopefully those reports are false.

The fact that he isn't willing to sit on the bench as back up to Krul (you can't blame him for wanting to play) means we can't keep him so we may as well sell him. Hopefully we'll get a decent fee for him.

It's a 'FIFA 12' screen shot for any one who doesn't know.

Probably a Giggs but this made me laugh: - Graham Carr song in full #nufc Stick a pony in his pocket, He'll fetch Santon from Milan, Cos if you want the best 'uns, But you don't ask questions, Then Derek he's your man. Cos where it all comes from is a mystery, It's like the changin' of the seasons, And the price of Cisse But here's the one that's drivin' me beserk, How on earth does Graham Carr work? Ala la la la la lalala"

He was limping for a good 5 minutes or so before he was substituted off. No word on an injury?

He walked right down the pitch to the Gallowgate end to clap the fans at the end of the game. Good of him to make the effort and show the appreciation.

I was at St James' so I didn't hear him. Glad we upset him by winning though! I find all commentators to be biased against us. Sky also seem to like getting in biased guests e.g. Jamie Redknapp and Joe Cole as the studio 'experts' when we played Liverpool! Last week on ITV there was a sound problem for the Scumderland game and there was no commentary for the first 20 minutes, just crowd noise. It was good until they fixed the 'problem'.

I'd like to see us getting in another forward player, but not with the idea of covering for Ba's absence. He'll only be gone a month and we should be looking at getting in someone who adds something different to the attacking options in the longer term ie a Bellamy-type who has a lot of pace and energy IMO. I don't think the main reason we are after a striker is to cover for Ba being at the African Cup of Nations. Lovenkrands' contract ends in the Summer and I doubt he'll be getting a new contract with us. Also, don't forget, the African Cup of Nations is on next year too so well need another striker for then too (assuming Ba is still with us). As for Ben Arfa behind Ba, I think Ba has played best when he plays off another out and out striker. Ba is more of a support striker (who gets all the goals). I'm not convinced Ben Arfa is a 'striker'. He's more of an attacking midfielder.

http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2012/01/14/nufc-boss-pardew-admits-a-change-of-plans-61634-30120265/ Out for the rest of the season according to that.

Think Virgin have sponsored but not owned F1 teams, but correct me if I'm wrong. Correct. He's pulled out as they were s*** and beaten by Hispania amazingly who couldn't even get a car to testing for last 2 seasons. Like most of the companies Branson/Virgin Group get involved with, they owned the F1 team for 2 years and then sold it. Marussia bought it but Virgin are still involved, probably just through sponsorship. The Virgin F1 team was run on a very small budget and finished rock bottom of the constructors championship both years and never won a single point. A lot of the companies called Virgin pay to use the Virgin brand. They aren't owned by Richard Branson. Even Virgin Money pay to use the Virgin brand name. Branson will have no interest whatsoever in owning NUFC. Would you really want someone to own a club who didn't know the difference between a football "Nil" and a tennis "Love".? Branson is all about the image. Fans shouting "Spend some money you beardy bastard" is not the sort of situation he'd put himself in.

Yes it is. That photo was taken at Northern Rock (now Virgin Money) head office in Gosforth today. Shola, Sammy, Harper, Vuckic, Best, Steven Taylor and Remie Streete were all there. Steven Taylor still has an air cast on and is still using crutches. It wasn't Remi Streete it was Tavernier I wasn't sure who it was. I didn't recognise him and didn't realise Tavernier was back from loan. The only reason I thought it might have been Streete was because he was in last weeks training photos. During a photo op, Tavernier was getting his shoulders massaged by one of the women Branson brought on stage. Tavernier didn't look very comfortable!

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2012/01/09/pardew-ben-arfa-s-goal-worth-the-ticket-price-72703-30083821/ Pardew mentions what a lot of us had been saying about Gutierrez having been off the boil for a while. Good management that Pardew only went public with that opinion after Gutierrez had a good game.

Alan Pardew should 'mishear' a question at his next press conference and answer with "Yes, I believe that Chelsea want Modric and Barcelona want Bale. I hear they both want to leave Tottenham" and follow it up with "Yes, I believe tax evaders should go to prison".

The same chance as a snowball has in Hell.

Yes it is. That photo was taken at Northern Rock (now Virgin Money) head office in Gosforth today. Shola, Sammy, Harper, Vuckic, Best, Steven Taylor and Remie Streete were all there. Steven Taylor still has an air cast on and is still using crutches.

QPR had their takeover and got all their new players in just before we played them last time. They had their tails up and we did well to get a 0 - 0 draw. Now they sack Warnock just before they play us. Just our luck! Hopefully they won't have a new manager in before they play us.

Henry played on the wing before becoming a striker. Ben Arfa can play on our wing. After some time he may then 'graduate' to his supposed preferred position upfront. Is that a good enough explanation for you?

After Ben Arfa's goal yesterday the media will swing into action to try to get Ben Arfa out of our club. The media rule is that no good players can be at a club outside their top 6.

Yes but Pardew again implies that Ben Arfa's preference is to play behind the striker rather than on the wing. Henry played on the wing for Arsenal before becoming their striker. Ben Arfa can prove himself on our wing.

http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/sport/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2012/01/08/pardew-backs-ben-arfa-for-call-up-after-wonder-strike-79310-30079009/

Sounds like Ben Arfa keeps passing. We need him to run at Blackburn. Blackburn are a tall team so we are unlikely to beat them at a corner.

We needed to take our early chances. Blackburn have had a 5 day rest compared to our 2 day rest so you'd imagine they'll get stronger when we get weaker in the second half.