Heron

I thought the atmosphere was canny crap last night tbh. There was only a couple of occassions when it really picked up, and that was after we scored. I think the lack of away support was key, if they had have sold out, the atmosphere would have been electric.

I've said for years that our support rocks from 'blame the attacking quality' to 'blame the defending quality'. Then no-one appears to consider the midfield. It's been shocking since Robson left.

has happenned for years and never understood it, hes no world beater, but hes good with the ability to cock it up, he has ability and strength, a bit like bramble, highly underrated. I agree. Harewood was made a scapegoat straight away too, and pretty much got stick for everything he did when in reality he wasn't any worse than Carroll or Ranger. I'm beginning to find a complex here...

I am very firm believer in the idea that people think Shola played 10x worse than he actually did, simply because it's Shola.

I've just seen that on tele, he looked really emotional and I don't think I've felt happier for a goal scorer in years. Likewise, I felt proud for him almost. It was great and even more refreshing to see on the television when he scored, he literally looked like he was going to burst into tears.

Wasn't too bad 1st half.

Didn't realise they had. He massively went up in my estimation tonight like for playing.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Admin/BkFill/Default_image_group/2010/1/18/1263857181323/Peter-Lovenkrands-001.jpg Peter Lovenkrands, Peter Lovenkrands, signed him on a free, from nobody! Peter Lovenkrands...

Was chuffed for Lovenkrands. Out of curiosity could you here Level 7 singing his name after he scored? Because I would like to think he heard us.

Hughton wanted the managers job, he wasn't dumped into it, he made the choice. We do have problems further up and we do need players, that doesn't change the fact that Hughton isn't very good. The cracks that you mention have been visible all season and are not down to players returing to the clubs they came from, they are down to Hughton allowing the cracks to remain without doing anything about them. Who are these injured players that are starting to mount up? Hughton may have wanted the managers job but only because he had numerous stints as a caretaker. No other fucker would obviously take the job under Ashley and Hughton must have knew that surely, otherwise I would imagine he'd be kicking up more of a fuss about squad quality/size and the need for financial backing to maintain and improve the current squad. I'm not saying Hughton is a good manager, what I am saying is that he's done well enough and is doing good enough to do complete the current task at hand. I believe we may have our differences on what we believe the cracks to be, for me it's about squad size, at least for this season, for others it may be squad quality. Obviously we all agree it's having the combination like. Therefore, with the loan signings and people signed on free transfers I reckon a number of the cracks were covered but now as The Quiche, Simpson and Harewood have all gone that little bit depth we had has gone, and unfortunately now we have about as much quality on the bench and in reserves as the likes of QPR. Tonight, Simpson got injured and he's leaving now anyway, Taylor picked up a knock and Enrique did at one point. Kadar is already out and apart from that we're beginning to look at our very inexperienced youngsters. Now some of the afore mentioned may be fine but they won't be for the rest of the season, we will get injuries and where Simpson and The Quiche could cover, we currently have none. Dare I say it even Harewood was useful to a degree, despite being the Newcastle fans' latest scapegoat. There are obvious cracks, long term, such as the general lack of quality throughout, but for me it's about getting promoted and taking it from there, and as a result Hughton is doing perfectly fine for me, at the moment.

Hughton would probably confess himself that he's not so much a manager but more of a coach. The problem we have is higher up the chain if you want to go down that path. Hughton has been dumped into a role, a role he may be happy filling, but nevertheless he was dumped in it. We need more players now, if we want to maintain the current position we're in. That doesn't look like it'll happen. Nevertheless, what you have to remember is that this was a bunch of overpaid, careless, disheartened individuals, a lot of which were pre-Madonna's who thought they could still hack it at the top level but can't, Michael Owen being one. Now what we have is a team, a unit, a bit passion and belief, a bit determination and a desire to win for themselves, the fans, the club and the region. How many of us say we'd rather see 11 people run out and give 100% even if they were shit, than watch 11 quality players give 50%. Nearly all of us, well that's exactly what's happening and now people complain. Okay, we might stumble our way back to the Premiership, but Chelsea won titles by 'grafting out results' so so fuck. It's worked this far, and now that we've lost players via the transfer market and through injury cracks are starting to appear. It's clearly to do with squad size and quality, we've had the quality which is a cut above Championship standard but not up to the Premiership, and the depth with the loan signings. Now that we've lost our loan deals, we have no strength in depth and injuries are beginning to pile up, causing our dip in form. Over the course of this season Hughton has made some marvellous substitutions at the right time, and obviously some of this is down to the very poor opposition. But I'm incredibly sorry if it's horrendously stupid for me to continue to back someone who has stumbled us to top of the Championship, and seemingly on the brink of promotion. Sound like a bunch of Liverpudlians on here at times....

Cannot understand how anyone can moan about Hughton, they're almost as idiotic as the people who boo us off the league when we're top and still clear with a game in hand. Maybe they're the same idiots?

There are always going to be Shola critics and fans, alot more critics mind. However, some sections booing him off tonight want shooting with shit, literally.

It's very hit and miss I must say, and that's probably being a tad generous. We lack quality in all areas though, predominantly midfield and in attack.

Shola did Nolans job for him 1st half. Since when was Nolan a centre half? I appreciate Nolan and the goals he's scored don't get me wrong, but he might as well have not been on the pitch tonight.

He is a central midfielder and based on Nolan and Smiths lack of involvement tonight he should be tried there.

Was quality tonight, covered the ground (along with Guthrie) that Smith and Nolan should've been covering.

Coloccini's reading of the game tonight was good again. Our largest problem was our central midfielder's doing pretty much fuck all, all night.

i'd have him back, just for the craic.

Shola will bag us at least 15 Premier League goals next season. I have the faith in him. Us Heaton Manor Mags will stick together.

Racist.

In a rather mackem-esque fashion, I can't wait to ridicule the fuckers at work for this performance, since they have had plenty to ridicule us for for the last 16months I've been there.

WTF!?!?! I hate Chelsea me like, I really do, I did anyways but at now after this performance I must think "How not more!?!?!?".

It's almost as if Chelsea said "Go on, we'll let you have one". Then did so again before the final whistle.

Chelsea's goals are really top drawer like, world class. Commentator "This is just so eeasy."