durhamunigeordie

Too early for that but he was the biggest disappointment today. Not that surprising though really. He took time to settle in, got into a rhythm, was one of our best players and now having basically had a couple of months off he looks rusty again.

That useless ponytail calmed us down and pull us together tonight... Nice of him to earn his wages for once. As much as a like Marveaux the exact same thing could be said of him in his time here... Marveaux's won us the last 2 games. Exactly... He's been here almost two seasons to achieve that... Lets hope he keeps it up as I'm a fan... Start him at home against the teams we need to break down and have him come off the bench the rest of the time when we need a goal and he'll do pretty well. No excuse whatsoever for him not to be starting with Hatem injured, though. Exactly. Him and Hatem are the only ones with that cutting edge/magic touch/whatever you want to call it in and around the box.

Yep, I think so. He runs hard for 90+ every game. We can afford to give him a rest I think. Honestly rather he had Man City off. Harsh on the fans going, but we've got QF/Fulham/QF/Mackems in 10 days after that.

Wasn't great, but he caught his foot and then slid up his leg.

Win over Croatia Zagreb in the CL qualifiers. 2-1 I think it was - Beresford got a brace if I remember correctly.

Well it's not technically then if it wasn't a goal.

You'd imagine they'd sell the back of the gallowgate and the other corner before they start selling level 7. They are surely going to have to open it now despite the cost implications.

I guess technically they are, unless time stands still in Portugal.

Comfortably sold more for this game at this stage than any of the other Europa games. Will surely at least pack the lower bowl.

Could do with Hatem being fit to start this.

Him and Hatem are the only two that can, as Pards has put it before, 'unlock' the door in that way. Yohan can get us on the counter and plays lovely through balls from deep, Sissoko runs like an ox with the ball at his feet and those two have that magic touch in and around the box. Would be great if we could always incorporate one of the pair into the side.

That's why Marv should play centrally.

Sad thing is he would have improved us today. Humble pie.

Sad thing is he would have improved us today.

Marv looks so much more confident through the middle. Demands the ball a bit more.

Give it to Cisse man.

Typical.

Cisse is more concerned with getting in arguments these days than finding the net.

Didn't catch the first half, but what is the point in Jonas?

Hopefully he will get another 20 or so minutes at the weekend and then be ready to tear it up at SJP next week with a striker to feed. Big European night at home could be just what he needs.

Now that is a proper post.

As a side note, seemed to me that Eto'o was playing rather deep tonight. Almost as an attacking midfielder. Traore if anyone positioned himself like a striker would. Think Willian going off meant they had to change it up. Was playing up top at the start, but yea after that dropped deeper and tried to make things happen.

Exactly, he was our best player for about a month. If not that then at very least our most creative. That injury pre-Villa has cost him dearly - he was just finding a bit of form and rhythm. He's almost a non-entity out wide though. Needs to play through the middle.

Good to see Marv moved into the middle.