Fatwax

Fosters attempted save for the third

Man Utd away, Villa at home, Wolves away, Blackpool at home & Everton away. Two wins, two losses and one draw. Last week I felt that the villa result had been voided due to us dropping needless points against the tangerines, but a return of 7 points from 5 games is better than I originally thought we'd get. When the fixture list first came out what did you think we'd have from our first 5 games? I thought we'd have 4 points.

Awesome run up field on the break in the second half. Never doubted this players ability and always said it would take him a few seasons to get up to speed. It's a shame he lacks a turn of pace really.

He wants to end his career here he's said.. just hope the turbocunts in charge don't take matters into their own hands.

Read the first 8 pages of the match thread or so. He made a notable difference on the teams' dynamic. He's mobile, can make a pass and can tackle. Awesome all over.

Hughton told Smith to sit back down

I reckon it could be a crafty 4-3-3

Tiote and Ben Arfa trained for the first time on Thursday didn't they? Regardless of ability it would have been daft to put them in the starting XI. No question that the subs should have been from half-time though.

This looks like something out of Street Fighter.

A bit of poetry?

Dropped for todays game

It's live from St James park, just talking about Blackpool for now.

God loads of respect for Holloway after them comments on himself. Kept grounded.

Haha, aye

NOW!

Hitting the post or bar counts as off-target. Can anyone remember the mass argument on GSS about this? Got really heated, the initial argument lasted about 10mins with Stelling trying to move it on but couldn't, then it was mentioned for about 6 months after. Was a totally different panel, when they used to chop and change all the time. Can't believe there's ever even a debate. The idea of an on-target shot is that it was going in before it was intercepted by a defender or the goalkeeper. Just because hitting the woodwork seems like a big chance or whatever doesn't mean that it's on-target. Has anyone ever thought that if it hits the post and goes out it should be a corner? I have, it seems fair. Thats a bit silly. Whats your thinking behind it out of interest, is the post part of the opposition?

Surely the nicknames are from when they were players and they just stuck?

Must be s**** then Whoosh

Uh oh.. Xisco time again!

Both of Accringtons' goals were rockets and the opportunity came from poor clearances. There's very little that Krul could have done in fairness.

I can see Hughton being like Moyes, but likeable.

To be fair he was about to make a sub and then Carroll scored. It would have been daft to change the team afterwards and with the momentum we got. He doesn't rush with them though, you're right in essence.

Go on then, get started.

That's Hughton's biggest test imo. To drop one of his favourites (it seems to be the case, at least) with Nolan. To drop Barton instead of Nolan would be just crazy. It's not a case of dropping his 'favourite', it's dropping the club captain. I was expecting him to play on Wednesday as well to be fair so there's a chance he will be dropped, but I reckon it's much more likely that he'll be accommodated elsewhere in the midfield. This in itself brings a whole host of problems, assuming we stick with the 4-5-1. In the central (DM/CM/AM) role we have: Tiote Guthrie Barton Ben Arfa Nolan Smith Gosling (almost forgot about this fella) That's an extraordinary amount of central players.. all of which have shown that they have the ability at the top level. Obviously with some it's just being once in a blue moon, such as Smith, and others have only just started to show their potential in the squad, such as Barton. Then we have full (current) Internationals that will almost expect a starting role, such as Tiote & Ben Arfa. I would think that a 4-3-3 could potentially solve a few problems, as Ben Arfa could be played wide right or left in an attacking role and that would give 3 central slots to the other ones, but apparently HBA was told he would be given a central playmaker role.. so who knows! I can't imagine the effect that having Keane in the side would have with selection.

I don't mind him, he goes out to wind up supporters and always manages it. I remember him doing it at Derby away last season when he kept turning his head around. Blatantly hates the toon, like.