Pilko

Would be nice, really hope the stuff about him wanting to stay in France above all else isn't quite as firm as it's being made out.

His end product and crossing in the first half was absolutely hopeless. He looked like a totally different player after the break, he was magnificent. Seems to be gradually improving. I think the inconsistency is the Ameobi gene.

For once, was pleased to see him come on at half time, because nowt was sticking up front and Gouffran looked isolated. Was largely poor but got the all-important goal, fair one really.

Thought he was shaky. Bit of good, bit of bad.

Elliot - mixed bag Debuchy - defensively decent, going forward poor Good - impressive Mapou - few hairy moments and needs to distribute better Dummett - gradually improved Bigi - poor Gosling - OK Vuckic - non-existent Marveaux - flitted in and out Sammy - shit first half, very good second half Gouffran - shite Shola - shite but scored Ben Arfa - canny, two assists Sissoko - cameo We were lucky really. Took a lucky deflection to see off a League 2 side. At least we won.

Pretty impressive. Other than losing his man for the first Gosling off the line clearance he was solid.

Gouff FGS @ 11/4 (DD/HH)

Canny team actually.

#NUFC (4-2-3-1): Elliot; Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa ©, Good, Dummett; Bigirimana, Gosling; Sammy Ameobi, Vuckic, Marveaux; Gouffran. #NUFC subs: Alnwick, Santon, Streete, Anita, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Shola Ameobi.

Really hoping Dummy and Bigi in particular shine through tonight.

Chances are he'll probably be 19th or 20th man but being in the squad is a really encouraging sign for the lad. Mega for him if he makes the bench or even gets on.

Hopefully they will, the last time we 'let our hair down' a 34-year old Louis Saha absolutely took the piss out of us and we shipped 5 goals.

Accrington, Millwall and Morecambe patent for tonight. Also all the League Cup teams to score this evening. Cisse is 5/2 FGS with DD/HH on Fred and if he starts I'll be getting on that.

Would probably be a good game to blood young Curtis in actually, seeing as he had a successful loan spell at this level last season.

You would hope so. The talk was that they were struggling to keep him anyway, without any CL money going their way they might have to speed up the deal.

The 'disagree with my negative droning and you therefore love Pardew' thing at the moment is the new NE5-style straw man.

Surely as long as you get through with minimal amount of squad damage, it's a good night. The aim is just to be in the next round, that's all that will do regardless of who is selected. The games don't exist in isolation though. The players need some goals and confidence. They won't get any of that from sitting at home whilst the reserves squeeze through. Quite possibly, but your also running the risk of injuring a Ben Arfa for Saturday or longer. Liverpool lost Toure/Allen/Cissokho though injury, easily done. Could have been a Sturridge or Gerrard. I’d prefer we went through with the kids out but obviously that carries a bigger risk of going out, a mixture of both would suffice for me. I don’t fancy seeing HBA playing that’s for sure though. When Ben Arfa's walking down the street, he could trip and break his leg, or someone could crash into his car. We can't make him a Bubble Boy ( "Moops!" ) I just don't subscribe to the theory that we must wrap players in cotton wool as much as possible. We treat footballers as if playing football is the absolute worst thing they can do for their health and I'm bloody sick of it. A risk ffs. I watch football to be entertained by my team playing good stuff and scoring goals, not to watch some blokes not getting injured. "Great game tonight, awful drab football but wow, they all looked fine at the end" Good God man. Certain players with a history record like Ben Arfa's don't need to play in games like this? Half the people on here were furious when he got injured in an away leg of the Europa Cup and sure enough Pardew took all the blame for it on here for selecting him, now he should be starting against Morecambe! Good God man. There is no winning with some, like. The club will always be doing something wrong. This doesn't apply when things are going well, I should add. Although, I'm not sure if that applies to Wullie, like. This is basically why the football forum is a big shroud of tedious dullness at the moment. There's a problem with everything and it's the same few names that keep popping up to cry about every last little quote or decision, or lambaste those who dare to try and see any form of positive.

I think the side needs freshening up anyway so playing a mixture of senior players and fringe/youngsters is a good idea, as long as it's balanced and we don't end up with Vuckic playing wide or anything daft like that. I would however include Hatem and (don't laugh) Shola on the bench to bring on through if things aren't going well. Shola's shown he's basically a flat-track bully against these shit sides however I wouldn't want to see him start after Saturday.

He's been knocking them in for the stiffs so far this season, good luck to him.

I'd have him back in a heartbeat. We aren't in a position to be picky, and he's pretty much a guaranteed goal-getter.

Agree entirely with the "what's the point, we never get a lucky draw and will find arsenal or chelsea in the round after" sentiment. The teams that win it as unlikely winners are the ones who don't face a big team til the semis or final; we always get them in round 3 or 4.

GW3: Man City 3-0 Hull City Cardiff City 1-2 Everton Newcastle 1-1 Fulham Norwich 0-2 Southampton West Ham 2-1 Stoke City Crystal Palace 1-0 Sunderland Liverpool 1-1 Man Utd West Brom 2-2 Swansea Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham

They were 9/4 today, feel so daft for not sticking a single on that. Like printing money.

Palace's late consolation just won me £22.50 :-)

Loaning him out would be the most stupid, pointless and fucking senseless move we could make.