Shayno

This young UAE squad looks quite promising. The North Korean captain could be in a little trouble if they end up losing this game after missing a penalty.

Does this double as a Newcastle based Secondary School's message board or something? I'd hate see Mimi's message inbox right now, poor girl. I think the worries about HBA are pretty unfounded. Has barely been injured his entire career. El Arabi is a risk imo, only really started performing this season and im not sure he can sustain it.

Never doubt the pulling ability of a wealthy silver fox

Eh, are you also a girl? Thought that was obvious

Mimi is right about Ben Arfa though, he has upset and turned alot of french against him with his lack of respect to French football royalty and the clubs and fans he has played for. Hopefully he has matured through his mistakes.

Men are so silly

Agree with everything except the young and promising part. Turning 26 this year like. Who exactly do you suggest we sign instead of him, for the same amount of money? Stating facts tbh. Nothing more in it. But to answer, I'd prefer an exciting Carr-scouted player. Well, no, you're stating your opinion, as has been evident throughout the thread. How do you know it isn't Carr that recommended we sign Larsson? Why would he recommend a team mate to one of his former clubs that nearly drove him into early retirement? idiot...

<------- It's a damned shame this guy isn't available... Cut his hair, he is dead to me... I wouldn't start him anyway.

I have been crying out for Cahill and Kewell up front since Viduka retired India are rubbish and in no way an indicator of how the team is going. Average age of Aussies first 11 is 30 :/

Hey Mimi, do you think Hatem Ben Arfa has developed a similar attitude to Anelka a few years ago which is the desire to prove the French media and all his doubters wrong?

wouldn't mind seeing this? Is it a woolly jumper or something?

Colo turn his back on shots too much imo.

Uses the excuse of players being tired, then why the hell play them :/

Don't they have Blackpool this wednesday? would love to see Liverpool finish outside the top 10

Will be keeping my eye out for a potential NUFC player

Krul Perch Willo Kadar Fergie Routs Smith Guthrie Vuckic Best Ranger

If we could fuse Larsson and Routledge together somehow we would have a top player on our hands I think he is about a mid table EPL standard right winger who also can play at right back or on the right side of a three man midfield. 1.5 mill is a great price for a player of his quality. Is he the type of player we are crying out for right now? I'm not so sure but he would be a good signing regardless. From what Pardew has been saying I don't think Seb is the player Pardew was hinting about in the last 24 hours.

Harper - 7.5 Didn't have alot to do but got the job done when needed Enrique - 8.5 Some great runs through West Hams midfield and awesome as always defensively Thought his passing wasn't great though. Colo - 9 Made it look so easy in that second half. Rarely troubled but timed some challenges perfectly in that second half. Saylor 7 Had little to do but didn't put a foot wrong. Simpson 8 Attacked alot early on which was impressive. Don't remember Noble or anyone on the left getting behind him all game. Jonas 7.5 Took a knock early on which definitely hampered his performance but was good for his 60 minutes. Nolan 8 Good finish and was able to find himself in more space than he usually does in the centre of the park. Tidy in possession and Ranger should have finished off one of his great passes in the box. Tiote 9 Defensively it was a faultless performance. Passing was as accurate as always but looks despereate to score a goal for some reason. Barton 9 Controlled the game in the first half. Didn't have much to do in the second and did look like he was pretty tired towards the end. Lovenkrands 7.5 Got himself into good positions and will probably be credited with an assist for the first two goals. First touch was poor though. Best 9.5 Who would have thought Leon Best would be scoring a hattrick on tyneside? Apart from 3 well taken goals he won quite a few headers that were knocked down to Lovenkrands or another player. Top performance from a player most thought would be out of the club by now. Williamson 7 Little to do and it is great to have a CB of his quality as back up to our first choice pairing. Ferguson 7 Good to see him get some time. Laid a good ball back for Nolan and looked quick. Held his nerve pretty well against Ben Haim Ranger 6 Looked gangly, uncoordinated and missed a sitter. Needs time out on loan to get some composure on the ball. Great performance!

In what way? In terms of quality. We may aswell play Lua Lua ffs. Gradel is just a more experienced version of Lua Lua

Today was the first game where i thought he was beaten. I have no idea why Martinez swapped Cleverly's position but it sealed the three points for us

Get stuffed, my ratings are awesome!

People need to cut this argument out. In the situation the substitutions were good. I just think we were doing fine with 4-4-2 and there was no need to change that. The subs were fine, but there was no need to go so defensive - we weren't exactly troubled by them. 2-0 up and you've got a case, but with just a goal in the game, you're asking for trouble. We didn't actually play any more defensive though. We still pressed in the same areas as we had done all second half. This, Nolan went to ACM after Loven came off. You might not of noticed but that is down to Nolan being lame.

Harper 7 Didn't have too much to do apart from one good save from Cleverley. Thought he looked hesitant with crosses but Wigan didn't produce many of note. Enrique 7 Looked clumsy on the ball first half but was much more composed 2nd half. Defensively sound Colo 7.5 A quiet game is a good game for a CB, Unlucky with that great headers of his. Saylor 7 Couple of stray passes throughout the game and think he looked very slack with Cleverley second chance who was in acres of space while Saylor, the closest defender stood there doing nothing Simpson 6 Cross for Shola's chance in the first minute was a beaut but was bossed about by Cleverley all day who made him look pretty ordinary. Passing is meh for a right back Jonas 7.5 One of his good games where he rarely lost the ball and had some great runs down the left. Could perhaps have done better with his one on one chance Nolan 6 Didn't really have any impact on the game Tiote 7 Solid but the commentator was right in saying he cuts on to his right too often. Pardew should ban him from shooting Barton 8.5 Great game from Joey after a poor match last outing. Won some great contested balls, put in alot of running and his set peices were back to his great standard. Definitely tired towards the end however Lovenkrands 6 Showed elements of the striker we need to partner Carroll with his pace and the way he looks to got onto the end of headers and behind the defenders, and the strikers instinct he showed for our goal today but once he is on the ball he is poor. When he comes deep the ball becomes a hot potato and he always looks to one touch pass it backwards. The way he wasted his opportunity by cutting onto his left and into defenders really frustrated me. Ameobi 6.5 Great tap in. Showed have scored in the first minute which could have cost us. Won some headers, one or two instances where showed some good touch but not enough for the average Premier League team imo. Routledge 6.5 Worse end product than Jonas. Showed some good dribbling and pace though. Best 6.5 Fluffed his chance in front but did well until he lost his footing. Couls his appearance mean Ranger is going out on loan? I think Best could play a similar role. Pardew 7.5 Thought his subs were good and the team played well.

What was the problem? Lovenkrands wasn't contributing anything in that second half and Routledge's pace and ability to knock it past the defender against a side that didn't have a left back at that particular time was a good move imo. Really spread the defense and left Wayne to deal with one of their slower CB's and he was able to expose that time and time again. Of course he couldn't do anything afterwards. Shola can't last 90 minutes. I was surprised with Best instead of Ranger but Leon contributed everything Ranger does in his sub appearances. Smith - Nolan and Barton both looked fagged at the 80 minute mark. Needed Smith to come on to shore things up as well.