thenige

Manager of Sunderland or not, bloody love MON.

System yesterday didn't help him, had few touches of the ball (likewise Ben Arfa when he came on) due to our poor distribution from the back and lack of support out wide. Think it's far far too early to write him off, I still have very high hopes for him

Part of the problem is I've never ever seen him look comfortable on the ball. When you need full backs to help develop your game from the back players like him who panic and hoof or dawdle on the ball do us no favours whatsoever.

There's potential in him to be a decent footballer but I'll be damned if anyone ever makes him live up to it. Don't like seeing our own players get slaughtered by the fans but patience must be wearing thin even for Pardew surely.

I thought we were woeful yesterday but some of the reactions in here make me a bit embarrassed to be a Newcastle fan.

Thought he was poor tonight and completely switched off when Gerrard ran through for the third. Just had too much of the ball and was asked to do things which aren't his forte such as penetrative passing.

Got it completely wrong today. Last 30 mins an utter embarrassment.

Whatever contract he's been offered by the club halve it and I'll be damned if he even deserves that. Utter rank, albeit with the even worse Obertan in front of him.

Using that analysis we should also take Krul's point savings saves out and by my calculations we'd be fucked. Basically that kind of analysis is, no offence, useless.

Conspiracy theorist - Well were were going to sign Maiga but then with the defensive injury crisis Ashley said "no money for striker, get a defender and fake a failed medical." Eternal optimist - Pardew's just saying this to lower expectation (from other clubs and our fans) so he can swoop unsuspected for a quality striker and defender in the January window. Realist - So, Shola and Best starting up front with the mighty Lovenkrands as our impact sub

Thought someone would say that, but he never set the SPL alight at all at the time. He's done well though. Always had far more raw ability and more to his game than people like Boyd though. Nobody ever touched that fat moocher with a bargepole until Boro fell into the trap. Dunno man, the difference in goal record is pretty substantial. Goal record means nowt. FLetcher was a bairn for most of those games and not playing for the best team in the league, he was always more talented and Prem scouts watching him for a while. Boyd was a fat waste of space who scored tap ins against L1 standard opposition. Great in the SPL, nee use whatsoever in a league where you have to actually be able to play football. Boyd was the same when he was younger, also had a better goal record when he was at Kilmarnock methinks. Didn't always just score tap-ins, although he does now. He's scored some belters. Remember watching this - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7666869.stm I agree that he is no use in the prem though. Have to say the defending in that clip is laughable. Also Boyd is turboshit.

He slipped and I think to be fair he admitted as such straight away. Ref had already blown his whistle for the 'dive' but seeing Klasnic's reaction he made absolutely 100% the right decision. Good refereeing.

To be fair I'm certain that was part of his thinking when he signed. We're not exactly a big draw in Spain as most of the players we've signed from there have been unmitigated disasters (Marcelino, Luque, Xisco and even Colo and Enrique struggled first season). Seems utter madness he can't get in the Spanish squad let alone the team. He's probably been one of Liverpool's best players this season too.

Best was playing well earlier this season, worked hard, won headers and worked as part of the team. Now looks like he's desperate to score and it's costing us because he's putting himself before the team.

Yeah the pair of 'em will never be the quickest but Williamson does the simple things well and doesn't take unnecessary risks. Doesn't look pretty but does the job and did it very well today.

Aye yeah, because the fans definitely would have settled for us playing for a draw at home to West Brom...

Wondered what the hell you were going on about then!

Vertonghen is quality, would be very surprised but then I was with a few of our more recent signings. In regards to Zaha, everyone's going on about Palace's amazing youth system but have any of their youngsters come of anything? Moses average Prem player at best, Bostock sunk under Harry's brilliant youth policy...who am I forgetting?

This to be honest. Thought we kept the ball well and as people have said, Swansea pretty much parked the bus. Think we let ourselves down on the wings really, Obertan is 100x more frustrating than Jonas to be honest. Just one of those games, would have liked to see Ben Arfa but can see why he brought on who he did.

Cheers guys.

Any chance of the snow being bad enough for this to be off? Unlikely I know, but being based South I have no idea how bad it is up there.

By no means our worst player out there and some of the others didn't have the excuse of being played out of position.

I think he chose to play for the under-23 to play in the Olympics because that won't tie him to them permanently. Could be talking toss though. Yeah that's right, playing for Algeria in the Olympics doesn't tie him into playing for that nation, he could still choose to represent France in full internationals.

Just not a CB. Kadar please.

Was surprised Lovenkrands started, would have perhaps tried Santon on the LM but very much doubt he's been tried there much in training. Just such a big hole when Colo went off. Going direct almost paid off as Shola shook them up a bit, Lovenkrands came off as he was knackered (although Obertan as we're all well aware was shocking) he didn't have too many other options. On another day who knows, but yeah, he must be well aware now that R. Taylor is playing himself out of the team now. Defensive options now if our worst fears are confirmed, perhaps Perch, Simpson or Kadar at CB. Quite worrying actually. Maybe even a recall for Tav?