oldtype

40 minutes, all Man U, Birmingham take the lead from their first set piece. Yup, I love football.

He's korean, he'd fit into most people's pockets. You've just reminded me how much I missed your cracking sense of humor over the past four months.

Well, this is a pretty s*** match. Doesn't help that Stephen Carr of all people is keeping wor Park in his pocket.

Would definitely rather bring Harewood or someone else serviceable on loan than blow big money on this lad. Just don't see how a 26-year old who's never played in the Prem can be expected to make the step up now. It's a gamble whether or not he'll succeed in the Championship, never mind the Prem.

Who is that brilliant right back and why does he look like Stephen Carr? Christ, and Bowyer plays for them too?

I've missed you man the non-gay man-love is mutual I assure you. Although I wish I was doing something more exciting 18 hours before having to report back for duty.

oh well, might as well watch BFC v MU since I've got nothing better to do with my weekend.

Landon Donovan plays for Everton? Between being away for 4 months and us not playing in it, I've been completely out of touch with the Prem this year (haven't watched a single match.) Going to have some major homework to do if we do get back up!

Whoever wrote that up wants shooting for putting up a headline like that in January.

Zambia 4 - 2 South Korea It just sank in that basically our entire starting XI now plays in Europe now and that we're pretty bad without them. I doubt anybody cares but it just reminded me about how fast time has gone by. I'm still used to Ji-Sung Park and YP Lee being our only players abroad.

Worthless little bastard gets overrated even now just because he's French and an SBR buy.

honestly, I imagined the atmosphere here would be a lot more festive when I got out and heard that we were comfortably top of the table. Happy New Year everyone. We're going back up!

having just went over the past four months' highlights, I've realized that I'd been blissfully unaware that Marlon Harewood or Zurab Kizanwhatshisname ever put on a Newcastle shirt.

We're not much of an attacking force without Shola and Jonas, that much seems to be certain.

For the past couple of years, "working hard" has been a pretty accurate code-word for "no signings, don't even think about it."

Michael Chopra scoring against NUFC is about as likely as Ashley selling the club. It's not impossible, but it probably won't happen in our lifetimes.

I'm hoping they can peat PSG tonight, so we can stay fourth.......behind Montpellier Never heard of them. Sounds like a brand of bottled water to me Park's improved in leaps and bounds since going to France, so with some quality alongside him this is hopefully his year.

Ju-Young Park and Gudjonsen up front for Monaco tonight! (crickets chirp)

Considering the state this club is in, I highly doubt we'll stumble upon a right back that's any better even if we're promoted. Might as well snap him up if Fergie's willing to shift him for a decent price.

Neither Carroll nor Ranger is a significant goal threat (yet) imo. We need our saviour. We need Shola Ameobi.

Terrible, terrible performance, but I'll take the three points. Cardiff are apparently supposed to be our main promotion rival but if this is the best they can put together I don't think we've got a whole lot to worry about. We were absolutely there for the taking and they put together nothing at all. Just a bunch of below-average players trying to make things happen. The main downside, I think, is that some of the players are starting to get cocky and reverting to previous form (Barton, Smith.) Danny Simpson MoM.

They've had a gajillion free kick chances and they've basically hit the wall every single time

oh dear God, come on...

Dodgy calls going our way. I love this division

Very poor after the goal, but I guess it was all the pent-up tension about this being our "toughest test" getting released. I'm sure we'll be ready to go at it again after the break. Great header from Colo. That things going to stay with me in my head for the next four months Oh, and message to Hughton: It's Loven time!