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Last week was a fantasy. It's good that he gets used to the reality of Newcastle life. While I understand your point, it is my opinion that he was hung out to dry today by Pardew. Who was the alternative? Could Tiote have played Centreback? It's a bit shortsighted to criticise the Perch sale because of one match where we happened to be missing three centrebacks, but it would have been nice to have him around.

Once again, the second goal came as a result of our attacking play having a complete lack of incisiveness. So often we commit the cardinal sin of pushing 6-8 players forward without having any actual plan as to what we will do with the ball. We pass the ball around a bit, inevitably lose it, and the other side gets to attack a rather unprotected back four (or two). Today, we lose the ball, Tiote is talking to the referee, Cabaye is pressing in our own half, the full backs are very wide, and with one simple pass they are 2 v. 2 against Mike Williamson and an inexperienced fullback playing centreback. This is understandable if we are causing a threat to them, but we were generally doing not much of anything as per usual. This was a step too far for Paul Dummett. He's just clearly not a centreback at this level. We don't een know if he is a good enough fullback yet, but at least he has a chance to compete there. Today, he was out of position often and couldn't deal with physicality. I hope to see him more, but not in the centre. Cisse cannot be played at this point. He is detrimental every time he touches the ball. We all admire Ben Arfa, but he has to do more. He will always be an inconsistent genius, but his poor matches cannot be ones where he provides nothing to the side at all.

It's easy to see he's talented on the ball as well.Pretty good dribbler and passer. Just his shots and crosses are inconsequential far too often.

Tiote and Cabaye shouldn't have been on the half way line while the other team was scoring.

Santon would be so much better if he could shoot or cross more consistently. Already a good passer and skillful going forward.

This is a terrible football match, every single time it is played.

Everton are a cohesive team and have been so for nearly the last ten years. We are always confused about how to fit our talented players on the pitch, which way the team should play, and whether our new players can adjust. Everton just seem to get on with things and keep going.

Real Madrid have looked clueless going forward thus far. They've had some possession, but wasted all of it.

Imagine what you had to say if Pardew decided he couldn't be bothered to turn up for the most important fixture of the season. Mind, you'd probably be ecstatic and think we'd be better off with the players managing themselves.. The correct comparison would be if Pardew had suffered some sort of temporary serious brain injury and was unable to impart any of his tactical and motivational knowledge upon the players. There would be no requirement for him to turn up in this case. Coloccini is paid to football. Right now, he cannot football. Even most of this nonsense about him fulfilling some captain role is strange to me. There is not one tangible increased responsibility that comes with the armband. Well, it appears we couldn't disagree more. The correct comparison would be if Pardew had refused to do what he was paid to do before, and left the squad of players he is supposed to manage to their own devices for no other reason than personal interest. When has Coloccini ever simply refused to play for our team? He wanted to leave last January, but it never happened and he played through it until he was injured against Southampton. Fabricio isn't the manager and won't ever be despite what some people here seem to think. When he has been judged fit, the guy has genuinely played (and done well) for the five years that he's been here. This is all his contract requires. I forgot that he will go and exchange the flag if we ever become a sovereign nation and play international football. There is no rule in football (unlike rugby) that gives captains more responsibility. There is no change to his contract that requires him to do anything different besides play football and avoid drug addiction. All the things people say he isn't providing (leadership, supporting the team while he's injured, having passion for the club, yelling at Santon) are intangible things most fans can't actually know about or things that are done to keep appearances.

Imagine what you had to say if Pardew decided he couldn't be bothered to turn up for the most important fixture of the season. Mind, you'd probably be ecstatic and think we'd be better off with the players managing themselves.. The correct comparison would be if Pardew had suffered some sort of temporary serious brain injury and was unable to impart any of his tactical and motivational knowledge upon the players. There would be no requirement for him to turn up in this case. Coloccini is paid to football. Right now, he cannot football. Even most of this nonsense about him fulfilling some captain role is strange to me. There is not one tangible increased responsibility that comes with the armband.

For appearances sake, it would be useful to have him around, but at this point, I am much more concerned with him being in an environment that is conducive to his rehabilitation and eventual return. If there is any indication that Argentina is going to slow the process or is a move to distance himself from NUFC than action should be taken. To me, the actual "club captain" is not so important. We saw Tiote carry the band well on Saturday and even saw the likes of Williamson come and take authority. It is more vital that there is a culture of leadership and professionalism at the club, which is more tied to the manager, imo.

Is Kevin Constant really much better than Onyewu?

Amazing "goals" scored seconds after the whistle.

For the fee they paid he should probably have scored eight already, disappointing. Have a feeling Liverpool won't feel so butthurt about the whole Andy Carroll thing after this. Or I could be really, really wrong. Even if Bale replicates last season's form over the next three seasons, he's not worth what they paid for him. Especially when Ozil, a markedly better player, left for less than half the price. Anyway, old, re-hashed debate. Carry on. I don't agree.

Just get up after that, why ask for a penalty?

The entire "bookings for accidental arms in the face when jumping for headers or jostling" phenomenon needs to be eradicated from the game, unless it is a blatant attempt to injure, such as the Obi-Tiote incident two seasons ago.

Juve have been extremely unfortunate with decisions tonight. Even the penalty is something that isn't always given.

There have also been several incidences of racism towards players of African descent in Italy, Spain, and Portugal, yet Lisbon will host the CL final this year and Madrid and Rome have done so in the past five years. They even gave Poland and Ukraine the past Euros, despite their history of violence and racist behaviour. There are legitimate concerns in Russia of course, but people should stop pretending they care about this racism. One-off incidents of racism ≠ institutionalized racism. That doesn't excuse racist fan behavior in western Europe, mind. Also, that last sentence is utter rubbish, particularly if it's directed at me. Not towards you at all. Just European football in general. If we are being honest a majority bigger football nations in Europe have had overt displays of racism from crowds in recent years. Of course there are differences, Deuce, but nothing about tonight was institutionalised or different from what we see throughout the season, so what is your point?

There have also been several incidences of racism towards players of African descent in Italy, Spain, and Portugal, yet Lisbon will host the CL final this year and Madrid and Rome have done so in the past five years. They even gave Poland and Ukraine the past Euros, despite their history of violence and racist behaviour. There are legitimate concerns in Russia of course, but people should stop pretending they care about this racism.

I guarantee he would have smashed it into the crowd or missed completely if the whistle hadn't gone. That sort of player.

Another injury pushes the current squad to its limit, but I am fine with Yanga-Mbiwa + 1 for 1-2 months if Colo is injured.

Sorry, but I don't agree with this at all. He's become woeful at keeping the ball as well, he can't go on the sort of runs he did when he first arrived, at best he might win a free kick, because we sure as hell don't want him to attempt to pass the ball. He's one of the clumsiest tacklers I've seen as well, which means he's always close to giving away a free kick. Hope to f*** we don't have to see him on the pitch on Sunday, he's easily one of the worst players in our squad. Just because he's not a good attacking player doesn't mean he's got no value at all now. Sometimes you need to bring on a player to close down the space and track back. Jonas is very good for that and he'll usually put in a good shift as well. Pretty stupid to write him off as a squad member when the alternatives like Obertan and Sammy are purely attacking players. Who are either complete rubbish or not ready for this level yet.

If you wanted people to ignore your comments you should probably have deleted the post instead of seeking attention by posting that. I committed an error and the first part of the post was still relevant. Schalke controlled the first half, but Chelsea were relatively comfortable throughout the entirety of the second. The opposition just didn't have the quality to break down the wall in front of the box.

Actually I am a complete fool. Ignore my comments.

OM the door mat...it is a shame. I don't think Arsenal make it out of that group, fwiw. I believe Napoli are more likely to win at emirates than Arsenal at San Paolo.