NSG

Probably the team I dislike second most in the league.

@ Spurs

I'll go to that

Sunday Sun. SAM ALLARDYCE is ready for a New Year battle with Sven-Goran Eriksson for Romanian centre-back Dorin Goian. Both Newcastle boss Allardyce and Manchester City rival Eriksson sent scouts to watch Goian in Champions League action for Steaua Bucharest in midweek. And with Steaua on their way out of the competition after Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Slavia Prague, the race for £3.5 million-rated Goian is on. At almost 6ft 5in, the 26-year-old has real physical presence and is renowned as a threat at set pieces. Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart have also monitored his progress at Steaua and for the Romanian national team.

Would love Sheff Wed away like

France, Holland and Italy drawn together.

France and Holland drawn together

Draw on BBC2 now

Rubbish, even by your standards. He gets beaten from distance with monotonous regularity. No keeper in the world could have saved the free kick today. If that makes it easier for you to accept then believe it. Hmmmm ... we do seem to concede these 'amazing no keeper in the world could have stopped that' goals when Shay is in goal. Elano, Pamarot, Gerrard and now 2 from Bentley. Harper was in goal vs Pompey wasn't he? I'd like someone to (seriously) name a keeper who could have saved any of them.

Aye, 6' 1" is tiny. Is compared to you lanky Piss off

Rubbish, even by your standards. He gets beaten from distance with monotonous regularity. No keeper in the world could have saved the free kick today.

Aye, 6' 1" is tiny.

Kev you're talking shite.

We weren't s***. well we wernt good shit tactics, played for a draw, all went wrong for fat sam once again Played for a draw? If anything cost us the game it was the fact that we went bombing forward too much in the second half. Something I prefer seeing rather than a pathetic surrender.

Support from us was top notch today. Just got back, can barely speak. Amazing day. Didn't deserve to lose. Aint read the match thread but we were denied a stone wall penalty for handball, and Bentley's free kick was awesome.

Morning everyone, just got up, off out in half an hour to catch Swifties, have a mint day everyone going down

Personally, I thought Porto more than held there own in that match, with only a lucky penalty and some classy Torres play making the difference.

It's in the Blackburn thread.

NEWCASTLE United fans have already snapped up nearly 6,000 tickets for Saturday's trip to Blackburn Rovers - but you can still be part of the huge Toon support at Ewood Park. Tickets can be purchased on the day from the Darwen End Ticket Office from 1pm. Fans are reminded that prices for this game are £20 (adults), £10 (senior citizens) and £7 (juniors under 16). Please note: Anyone wishing to buy a concessionary ticket must show proof of age before purchase.

From the Ronny JOHN BERESFORD feels Charles N’Zogbia sums up everything that is wrong with the current Newcastle United side. The former United full-back loved to link up with some of the best wingers in football during his time on Tyneside after turning on the style alongside the likes of David Ginola, Scott Sellars and Keith Gillespie. Frenchman N’Zogbia has become a fans’ favourite, and has been one of the brightest stars this season. But by frequently playing him at left-back, Bez feels Sam Allardyce isn’t getting the best out of his young wide man. And he feels by turning back the clock and utilising the wingers at his disposal, Big Sam can drag United out of danger. He told the Chronicle: “It’s only my personal opinion, but what is wrong with simply playing a 4-4-2 system and getting the wingers into the game? “We have players like Michael Owen and Mark Viduka who will score if you get the ball into the box. “But it’s not happening. For me, the best example is Charles N’Zogbia. “The lad’s head seems to have gone. No disrespect to him, but he has been fielded left wing-back, left-back, left midfield and wide right! “He must be confused. “He’s a left winger – give him the ball down the left and tell him to cross it like we know he can and don’t over-complicate it. “Chopping and changing isn’t going to get the best out of him.” Meanwhile, Bez feels Damien Duff and James Milner can still help excite the Geordie nation. He added: “Damien and James are quality players, just like N’Zogbia on his day. “If you create crosses you score goals and these players have made a career from it. “But when you are playing Alan Smith wide on the right or in the holding position it will go wrong. “Smithy will work hard, but he is a centre-forward. “He can play elsewhere to help out, but he should be in his natural position if we are to get anywhere.” BERESFORD IN!!!

Coincidentally, the same month you spanked us 2-0.

We'll still get hammered.

Especially since you stole that gag from the page before

SAM Allardyce says that sidelined star Michael Owen will not be missing for the six-week period first feared and is confident that the United striker will be back in action before Christmas. The 27-year-old's season has been disrupted by niggling injuries having only returned from cruciate ligament damage at the end of last term. And the latest problem - a torn thigh muscle sustained during England's recent friendly in Austria - had threatened to keep Owen confined to the treatment room until the New Year. But Toon boss Allardyce has revealed that he is hopeful of seeing Owen back in black and white sooner rather than later. "We feel we have speeded up the process and it's going to be a little quicker than we first thought so that's really good news," Big Sam told Newcastle World TV. "We will only bring him back when he is 100% and will not rush him. "But we think it's going to be a lot less than six weeks."

Argentina playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme has revealed he turned down Spurs to move back to Boca Juniors. Riquelme, 29, has been frozen out at Villarreal this season after falling out with coach Manuel Pellegrini. He is now putting the finishing touches to his return to Argentina, but admitted Spurs had tried to sign him. Riquelme, who has not played for Villarreal this term, said: "I thank Spurs for their interest but my family and I want to return home." He added: "I am a simple person and all I want is to play football every Sunday. "This move is the only chance I have to play at the next World Cup, which is the thing that motivates me most. Owen-esque "People should know that of the three parties I am the one who has made the biggest effort and that I have offered to play a year for free with Boca. "I have also told Villarreal they do not have to pay me what they owe me for another year and a half." ------ Good lad