thenige

They're just making the rubbish up. Kenney, Quashie, Lita? Total nonsense for nonsense rags.

Shocking performance once again. Reckon he's had a bet with the rest of the lads of "how many games do you think I can play purposely being terrible before being dropped?" So far he's on at least thirty.

He always seems to have a look on his face which suggests 'I don't really belong here' - don't think the rest of the lads have really tried to integrate him into the team. If we played to his strengths maybe he'd have a chance, but with our record with youth players I doubt he'll make it. Still think he has the potential to become a decent footballer, although he may have to work his way back up from the lower divisions. Hope he proves me wrong mind.

Bassong has done well, but I think some people here have very much over-hyped him. Obviously still being young has a lot to learn, he still makes the odd mistake, giving away silly fouls (Heskey showed his experience and conned him) and occasionally jumps with his hands far too high which is only a matter of time before he gets caught out. However saying that he certainly has the physical attributes to be a real find, and with Beye and Colo alongside him I think he's got a chance. Just need a decent CM to lead this team and help out defensively that isn't Nicky Butt and I think our entire defence will get the chance to vastly improve. Colo has added a lot with the ability to pass and be comfortable on the ball, something we have really missed. When confidence is flowing I really believe he will prove the doubters wrong and become a class acquisition for this club - if he and the team is given time and is sprinkled with a few quality players in problem positions.

I'd certainly take a prospect like Naughton over a 'money-grabber' like Neill. Even if Claridge has given him the kiss of death with this report - http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2008/oct/28/championship-sheffieldunited

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article5432045.ece

Have no qualms with Shay leaving or the way he's gone about this. Has been a true professional for 11 years at this club, whilst we've dicked around making horrible decision after decision. If I'd had to play under and alongside with some of the jokers this club has employed in his time I'd have gone a long time ago. Can't believe some people actually have the gumption to question this - the club is a joke, his career won't last forever and he wants so win something. Fair play Shay, good luck elsewhere

This. Has been the case for a while with our defence too, have only just managed to get full backs in who can actually claim to be professional footballers.

Jesus if he had to get any lazier I think he'd have to sit down in the middle of the pitch.

Yeah because the rest of our side are offering loads of support. Didn't play well today but just by 'running around a lot' he's twice the player Butt is.

It was a blatent foul outside the box which he didn't go down for. Let's say Bassong was pulling the shirt at 100% In the box he touched him something which equates to around 5%. Without 100% outside he doesn't go down, 5% inside he does. A blatant dive in the box, at an angle where it wasn't a definite goalscoring opportunity, it should have been taken back to the original foul, Bassong may well have been shown red anyway as he was pulling him back when clean through. However never should have been a penalty AND a red. Shocking decision.

Rumours we've been linked with Europe's top goalscorer Marc Janko, has scored 30 goals from 21 games this season (albeit in the relatively weak Austrian league), but has also picked up international goals against Italy, Serbia and France whilst playing Austria. Is 6ft 5 so could easily fill the 'target man-esque' gap left by Viduka, has scored some decent goals in his time and there is a very good video of all his goals this season which I can't link to because people on these forums do not like video links Could he do a job over here, do we need a striker and when will we ever sign a quality centre mid?!

There was a Kinnear pre-game interview that would suggest probably not: I must have missed Duff playing out of his skin. Maybe when he was out of it, he left his hamstrings behind.

Decent cameo for Shola v Pompey - did exactly what he would have been asked, didn't give the ball away much, battled hard and ultimately got an assist. Fair play to the lad.

A lot of credit for this success so far has to go to Jonas - he's basically the man Given always aims for with his goal kicks/clearances as he's our only midfielder with any real height and ability to successfully challange in the air. Bet when he first signed he didn't think he'd be used as a type of target man!

And when we went off, they weren't all over us, contrary to what people were saying last week. Ah but we weren't playing three players out of position this week!

Will never forget the day I heard he was sacked by the club, was like a JFK moment for me. Was in a train station in Crewe walking with my bag and received a text - dropped my bag and stood there just in shock. Almost missed my bloody train because of it. Was a legend, is a legend, and will always be a legend in football. Howay the Bob!

Didn't make any difference against Stoke, the shocking tactical decisions were made at half time when he moved three players out of position to replace one. We were a shambles from 45:01 onwards, Martins made no difference whatsoever second half.

FFS I've read some shite on these forums but to say Jonas is like Daniel Cordone takes some beating. It doesn't help our CM's are amongst the worst in the league. At least he tries and can create space by beating players. His assist was cracking as well. Mentalists on here.

Yeah all because of Kinnear being clueless. Guthrie had to come off fair enough, but to accommodate the change by playing three people out of position is just stupid. He could have quite easily moved Colo in CM and put Taylor at CB - job done. But no, put Beye RW, Jonas CM and Taylor RB?! So that's three players out of position instead of one?! How does that make any sense? No wonder we were all over the bloody place. Also I've got an idea - best way to be defensive is have four CB's on at the same time. Tactical brilliance.

most consistent player in my FM team, 3 seasons in - never had a lower rating than 6.5 I've had this quality left back at Newcastle for a number of years, always averages well over 7.0 we should definitely get him. His name is Jose Enrique...oh.

Bet that was Reina. Don't rate him anywhere near as consistent as Shay.

And we thought FFS was bad - looks like Ketsbia is already getting used to managing a club with a shambles of a board room - needed experience if he ever wants to lead the Toon!

To be honest I think the lad has done well last couple of games, but I certainly don't think he's the world beater some are making him out to be. A good player with solid physical attributes, but he still has a lot to learn. Then again. compared to the shower of shit we've had last few seasons, he's the messiah.

I'm no Owen hater, but he didn't look interested today, Martins looked twice as likely to do anything, and I believe Kinnear's continued belief to prefer MO over Oba will cause friction in the camp, as it was clear Zoggy was blowing as well when Martins went off. The old boys club of Butt, Duff and Owen is still going strong on this evidence.