LoveItIfWeBeatU

Glenn Johnson kicked a ball out of play yesterday simply because Martins was running at him. Martins is unpredictable (and sometimes unreliable) but opposition players are scared of him.

Testa Mora, you appear to be a black hole of depression and negativity today. It's understandable but if I were you I wouldn't spend any more time reading about Newcastle today. It's not helping your mood.

Guthrie has to start for me purely because he can take a corner that doesn't hit the first man.

I wish Owen had left his chance to Martins.

It was far from great but I thought we played a lot better yesterday than the previous 3 games. We actually created a few chances which we have barely done in the previous games. We are relying on Hull and Middlesbrough being even more awful than us but you never know. If we have to, I could see us getting something off Aston Villa. They are in poor form and will probably have nothing to play for when we go there (that can work against us too as they may play with more freedom). I'm still on a 9. We should be dead and buried but thanks to the other poor teams we're not. I'll not give up until relegation is a mathematically certainty.

As people have said, it's hard to predict games at the end of the season. Who honestly expected West Brom to beat Sunderland never mind 3 - 0? Teams still in the Champions League but unlikely to win the Premiership title rest key players. Teams that are safe don't necessarily get the results you expect them to against the teams fighting for their lives. Middlesbrough are a bogey team for a lot of the top 4. The results went well for us today. Let's hope that continues tomorrow too. Monday is where the Newcastle team better make these results matter!

Garth Crooks called Sunderland pathetic. Long may it continue!

Doubt he'll be fit to face Sunderland then. Pity.

That's where the plan falls apart.. Hopefully NUFC won't look the 'gift horse' in the mouth yet again. Come on Aston Villa, beat Bolton! The more clubs in the relegation dog fight the better. I worry about our rivals playing teams with nothing to play for or with other priorities.

They're in much worse form than I realised actually. We really need them to be safe though, as they still have to play the mackems and Hull. Yes but I'd rather they still had something to play for. If they're safe they may not bother themselves.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8018067.stm That brings back memories.

They've always been the cocks of the north in my eyes.

Shearer is 6 foot (maybe) in shoes. I'm 6 foot 4 inches tall and was a lot taller than Shearer when I saw him at a Wallsend Boys Club fund raising do that was taking place in the hotel my gym is located.

This makes me think Martins will be starting: - http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1637948,00.html

Don't forget 'Big' Al is only 6 foot tall but he is a lot taller than most players. Football at the highest level seems to be a game played by people usually less than 6 foot tall. Carroll is 6 foot 2 inches and he towers over the rest of our squad.

Exactly, imagine how much worse he'd be if he drank alcohol. Seriously though, I understand the players need to relax but being seen in the bars and clubs of Newcastle when the team is in the shit isn't a good idea.

A huge order of Ipswich Town shirts with Keane on the back will be on it's way to Ireland as we speak. Expect "You've got to love Ipswich Town" stories in the Irish times with "Does the Championship need Norwich City?" stories coming soon.

Who the hell are an Irish newspaper to talk about what the English Premiership needs? Do English papers talk about which clubs 'should' be in the Spanish, Italian, Etc. leagues? Talk about your own shitty league. Some of the worst plastic fans come from Ireland. Their league is shit so they support an English team (while possibly 'hating' the English). I wonder how many of the Irish Sunderland fans still exist now Keane is gone?

Past history is a useful indicator but no more. Not much point mentioning our current goal difference. It could look very different after we play Liverpool away. We may as well look at it one game at a time. The most important game in out recent history is on Monday. If we beat Portsmouth it puts a different spin on our other 'must win' games.

It all hinges on the Portsmouth game. Win that and there will be a glimmer of hope and belief. Draw and it looks highly unlikely. Lose and we are more or less doomed. A lot of questions will be answered a week today.

I'm still on a 9. It all comes down to our home games. We must win them and that's it. It's going to be very uncomfortable looking at the table over the next few games. As long as we aren't in the bottom 3 at the end of the season is all that matters. Today we created nothing until Martins and Viduka came on (a bit like last week when Jonas and Carroll came on). Our midfield has no creativity and we are awful at set pieces. Fitness permitting, it's time to do the Martins and Viduka in front of Owen sitting deep formation. I assume you took the hammering Liverpool will no doubt give us into account?

If results go our way before we play does that make the team think "It's not as important if we don't win" or "We must win to climb the table"? If results don't go our way before we play does that make the team think "We HAVE to win" or "If we don't win we're doomed"? It can work either way but there have been examples in the past when a dodgy late kick off has been 'engineered' so one team is still playing when a rivals fixture is over. I'm sure that has happened with Man U before so they must think it is an advantage.

The problem with looking ahead to other fixtures is that teams with nothing to play for (but pride) will be playing teams that are fighting for their lives. We usually got a good result against Chelsea at the end of the last few seasons because we needed it more than them. See also West Ham beating Man U, Etc..

I'd go with Carroll up front with one of Martins, Lovenkrands or Ranger with Owen behind them in a front 3 like last seasons Viduka, Martins, Owen formation.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/nufc/newcastle-united-news/2009/04/13/shearer-set-for-martins-inquest-72703-23375453/