durhamunigeordie

Love the bloke. He's class, but he cannot keep having to try and cover the arses of all the other defenders. Such a shame Taylor got injured when he did - really hampered our progress this season.

He's shit. But what is worse is that he doesn't put a shift in.

Just got back to mates house in London. Gutted. Really thought we were going to nick a point there. Obertan once again was shit. Everyone else put a shift in. Williamson had a decent second half and Perch was acceptable. Simpson's throw at the end though...just shows he has absolutely no footballing brain. Will no doubt try and exonerate himself from all blame in his own mind. Just listened to Pardew's post match interview. Hope he sticks to his word and has a different game plan against Norwich. Cisse in for Obertan please Alan.

Exactly. Hope that they identify as many of the perpetrators as possible and at the very least scare the shit out of them. Should make them think twice about misbehaving again. They are just kids really, but they need to be taught that you cannot behave like that in civilised society.

He should be prepared to accept the criticism for backing off and showing players inside. If he did this he would be able to learn from it and it would ultimately benefit his career. At Bristol City a couple of years ago there was no way Maynard should have been able to cut inside onto his right foot and get a shot away. Problem is he's so brain dead that he would rather spend his time developing games on for iphones. Shouldn't really expect anything else from someone who tried to convince a magistrate to take sympathy on him because he is only on 5 figures a week rather than 6 and therefore couldn't afford a few taxis!

I haven't forgotten how bad a full back Raylor is, I just don't think Simpson is that much better. If given the option to keep one of two in the squad next year it would be Raylor. Simpson should not be our first choice right back and there is not much point having him on the bench as the only position he can cover is RB. I hate the fact Raylor starts games for us, but would have him in the squad as 17th/18th/19th man as he can at least cover a number of positions if we get injuries.

Yes, but only the basis that I couldn't get a ticket in the away end. If it was a choice between a free ticket in the home end and paying for a ticket in the away end it would be the away end every time.

Simpson is an athlete, Taylor is not. Taylor has good footballing technique, Simpson does not. Simpson shades it as a RB, but he is the lesser of two evils.

Nail on the head this. Totally agree. Was ridiculous hearing him on Goals on Sunday the other week where he was criticising other defenders for backing off and letting the attacker get the cross in. Think it might have been Arshavin's ball for Henry at Arsenal. Those in glass houses Danny.

Finsbury Park is pretty grim, avoid. Ah cheers. Any good away pubs? The football ground site just suggests opposite finsbury park station.

Just on the train down to London as we speak. Looking forward to this now. Think am going to head to Finsbury Park overground and hit one of the pubs around there. Anyone else plotting up early?

Announced as 2995. Not even going to look on rtg, they will be loving the ripping down of the signs. I hope tyey catch those involvedvand give them lengthy bans, absolutely disgraceful way to carry on and very dangerous as well - you'd know about it if one of those things hit you. As for the game given the amount of first team experience we had out there we really should have been winning. Obertan started brightly but then looked uninterested 2nd half. Richardson was bright until he went off. Gosling did a Nolan in picking up a goal having been anonymous. He then started to charte about and picked up two quick bookings. Streets was stretchered off at the end of the first half. Thought storey looked decent and perch looked comfortable on the ball, but youd expect that at tye level he was playing. Lost a few headers to their big lad up front, although it was a mismatch. Young keeper had a night to forget - mix up for the first goal and parried the second straight into noble's path. Abeid - meh.

Gosling is a clown, but the stand is full of chav kids behaving like dickheads. Its embarrassing.

Shame for him as he seems a genuine guy. Great championship striker, but just not up to it in the premier league at this stage in his career. Will not be particularly sad to see him released from a footballing point of view, but will go with my thanks. Am sure he will pick up a contract at another club to see out his career.

Yea think I am going to pop along.

Well we actually got relegated away from home (Aston Villa) but yeah, the away fans applauded the team off the pitch. Colo was one of the first down the tunnel that day. Thought i'd never forgive him for that. So glad he has proved me wrong.

Proper Bantersauras Rex! That's how I roll!

Remember a few years back a group of us at uni were hungover and trying to get footballers numbers from direct enquiries. Tried loads before finally we got a number for a Mr P Ramage in Newcastle. One of the lads rang him and said 'Oh hi is Peter there, it's David Edgar here' to which Ramage responded 'Alright Eddy Lad'. Uncontrollable laughter ensued for the next ten minutes and it is still a moment that is fondly recalled. Think it is one of those where you have to have been there though!

Don't know if it's been mentioned but according to Andy Woodman's twitter he got sent off at half time!

I know Alan, how about leaving Ryan Taylor out of the side once in a while.

Awful, but then again we already knew that.

Please, just please

Regardless of his record against the mackems, what kind of sane football manager is genuinely 'tempted' to start a bloke with one goal all season and, more importantly, one who has turned in a string of the worst performances by a premier league centre forward in history, ahead of anyone, let alone the likes of Ba, Cisse and even Ben Arfa. I hope this is just a case of Pardew making the right noises.

Don't think there is any need at home to play another central midfielder. Ba comes quite deep anyway and if we are struggling he has a tendency to slot in and play just ahead of the midfield 2. Would love us to start with Cisse and Ba up top, but if Cisse isn't fit I'd rather Guthrie came in there and Ba played up top on his own with Hatem and Jonas either side than Shola get in the side. Yes Shola is a mackem slayer, but he has a tendency to look much more up for it when he only gets 20 minutes at the end, so i'd leave him on the bench and have him as an option if we need a goal towards the end.