ChrisMcQuillan

Barton will probably get a three game ban, whereas neither of the two red cards Cattermole escaped over the last week will be talked up.

Additionally, the SJP atmosphere these days is dire.

Which is why the calls for Sol Campbell to get his chance are completely justified. I think in hindsight that's probably correct. Campbell would have had the strength to deal with it. However, it's not just the backline. Our tactics the whole way up the pitch were off tonight. People weren't in the right places to offer movement. Tonight could have been a case for the 4-5-1 with Smith coming in to add some strength to that midfield. The long-ball thing wasn't going to work. Simpson was screaming for the ball out right over and over again, and we just wanted to hoof it to Carroll. Samba was too fucking huge for it to trouble him.

We struggle against these big, physical teams. Stoke and Blackburn for instance. We have to learn how to play against them.

I thought it was a foul on Williamson, tbh. Roberts went in with his elbow.

You taking the piss?

f***ing hell. Mind I didn't even rate Simpson prior to the last three games and I'd still rather have him than that mug Johnson so anything's possible. is it possible the championship is better than the prem, it's just the ammount of players we have who look better so far in the prem than they were last season in the championship has to be more than a coincedence. Routledge, Perch and Lovenkrands have all looked worse, though. And no, it's not possible.

Perch?

Reckon a bit of rotation might be in order: Krul Simpson Williamson Coloccini Enrique Routledge Nolan Smith Jonas Carroll Xisco Rest Ameobi, Tiote and Barton. Maybe that's resting too many. I just don't want to burn Ameobi out, or have Barton or Tiote succumb to injury.

Xisco got a three-match ban for a straight red in a Reserve game. Unless professional foul and violent conduct deliver different punishments.

If Hughton gets sacked for those reasons, I will cease to support Newcastle United Football Club until such time as Mike Ashley has been replaced with a much better chairman.

What a bunch of dicks. Found that quite funny, tbh.

Agreed, he's simply not good enough. Would be good to shift him in Jan, seem to have enough cover at right back and right wing now. I still think he can have a role to play coming off the bench, 1-0 down with 20mins to go, who would you rather have in the squad taking corners and freekicks? Even if he does nothing else... You're making out like he takes set pieces like Beckham. He isn't good enough defensively to see out a lead. Compared to other players in our team, he does take set pieces like Beckham! How many other players have actually scored freekicks in their career? Ryan Taylor obviously has several, can't think of any others, maybe Barton has scored one, but I don't remember him scoring any... Guthrie scored one last season against WBA. Was a beauty, that one.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9141736.stm Talking a lot of sense on Football Focus here.

This season is so blatantly corrupt.

I wonder if he takes it literally as an offer?

Sounds like Carroll's being allowed to move out: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-11658291

That's why we did play some brilliant football against Wigan. I'd agree with you, if I hadn't seen that match. Edit: Oh... think I've quite misread your post here.

We're better as a team with him than without.

If someone gets injured by him, Tiote will just decapitate him with the force of a perfectly legal slide tackle.

Best performance in a competitive game for us.

Was awful tonight. Definitely needs a loan.

Smith was definitely booked for the tackle in the first half, BBC confirmed that. But no one seems to have noticed the second. My mate beside me saw Smith push the ref, and get booked after the Williamson goal. No one else was doing anything to merit a card, but no agencies or stats groups seem to have actually noticed it. There was 100% a card waved in the air at Smith after the goal. Smith kept having a go at him afterwards, and I thought he was going to head off down the tunnel. But when no one made him, it looked like he just stayed on.

Nobody was booked after a goal. Smith and Barton were booked for us. Smith did get booked twice which was typical of a terrible refereeing performance. He went over to complain after the 2nd goal and softly shoved the ref, he was promptly booked. As for racist singing in east corner, I didn't hear anything at that's where my seat is.... unles calling mackems is now classed as racist? Yet every television network, sports website, journalist and the majority of fans missed it? I think you're barking up the wrong street mate. I'm just stating what I saw mate, at the match... I haven't seen any TV etc.... My eyes must be playing tricks on me....?!? but I did see it.... He stormed past Williamson, who was having a go at the ref and shoved him (not hard like) and I thought, f*ck he's in trouble here, you can't touch the ref... then he showed him the yellow... Yes, I saw exactly the same. A card was brandished after the second goal at someone. I dunno at who, but definintely. Again, dunno if it was on the TV, but I saw a yellow from the Gallowgate end.

0-3 Bent (pen) Bent (pen) Bent (pen) Carroll's leg broken by Cattermole in a cynical challenge in their penalty area, but Cattermole goes unpunished.