Neil

I think this is a classic example of having to score when you're on top. You are certainly going to have a spell or 2 where you will be on the front foot, whether it be through chances, general pressure, Jonas going on runs, tackling back, getting the crowd noise cranked up. I agree pace is the way forward, what other options do you have instead of Oba and Lov? I thought Carroll/Ameobi were injured? I also think, as hinted at with some of the comments, that Jonas will be key. It's time to see how he performs with mobile targets in front of him, i.e. whether he has the quality to split the defence, because it'll have to be pretty good to do so. Or, all of this analysis is utter dogs**t, and Ryan Taylor will score from 30 yards. And not a simple Hadouken, Kaiz?

Jonas is good at holding onto the ball and in Martins and Lovenkrands we'll have a couple of mobile targets for him to aim at. What are the chances of Martins starting? I was under the impression he was bench-fit. We're theoretically there for the taking, I agree, but the more adverse the situation gets, the more resilient we get. And we're already pretty hard to break down in the first place. Just can't see where these 3-1 predictions are coming from. But it's a great chance for Newcastle, it's whether you can perform for 90 minutes.

I think Martins and Lovenkrands will have you on the back foot if they both play, home win. If the midfield provides them with some service. Their pace imo is useless if they're not playing on the shoulder of the defenders, if they come deep for the ball then that will suit us just fine.

As I've said, the Everton forums are full of illiterate mongs who can't construct a sentence nevermind an argument, but why shouldn't they/we be confident ahead of a game where a win would usually be expected, given the current situations of the 2 clubs?

If you're taking that from Everton forums then it's not worth the webspace the comments are posted on. Our forums are full of utter mongs. As in, real, full-on mongs.

Cahill and Hibbert suspended, Vaughan, Yakubu and Saha injured (although rumours the latter might be on the bench), Pienaar Fellaini and Osman all touch and go. Woop. GOSLING TIME!

I fall into the student-type of what Stu said and aye I agree, 2-3 hours is hardly going to destroy your exams, and if they are, work harder beforehand. I'm fine with whatever date is chosen

Cahill being out for you is a massive plus for us tbh. Do you know why he was wearing a black armband today btw? For those who lost their lives in the Aussie fires. And absolutely, it's a big blow but it won't affect us that much imo. That said, our record with and without Cahill makes for very interesting reading. And nope, I don't have the stats in hand, which is useful.

Delighted by today. 3rd goal perhaps gave a more comfortable reflection on the game than what was accurate, but I don't have a clue where MON is coming from when he says Villa were the far superior team. Also delighted by what was for once a kind draw, and a superb chance to reach the semis.

I don't see any substance to the "we have players missing" argument, we've had players missing all season really, more in fact in the last few weeks but it hasn't affected us one bit. Still can't see anything but a draw though.

I hope that if Villa do secure a top 4 place, that they manage to build upon it. They are not in a position where we were 4 years ago where we clearly were nowhere near ready for the CL (albeit robbed by Mr Collina). I don't know in detail about their finances but I'd guess they have more money than us as well. If they can continue to build sustainably, keep the squad together in the summer and a couple of quality players, maybe a quality central midfielder to complement Barry, then there's no reason why they can't be near the top of the league for years to come. And also there is some bitterness, that could well be us if we hadn't had f***ed up the start to our season, because iirc it's something like 2 defeats in our last 19 games in all competitions. I do feel they've had an awful lot of luck and haven't impressed as regularly as their position would make out, but what the hell, good to see them up there. Liverpool and Chelsea could fall into the 2 aforementioned categories.

In the list of scathing insults, "ridiculous parameters" is surely up there.

Counter-attacks: Barcelona style

Good for us as well; I'm convinced we can catch Arsenal. Was gutted we didn't beat them recently when we were much the better team. Furthermore, they have to go to Anfield and Old Trafford.

Intriguing game atm, West Ham clearly have confidence at the moment and as such aren't letting Man Utd settle too much. That said, Man Utd are predictably the ones who are having the controlled possession. And this whole issue to do with the Spurs result is purely down to personal opinion, what one person sees as an embarassment may not be an embarassment for someone else.

Taylor to curl a 25 yarder past Harper. But yeah. Nolan, Jonas, Coloccini, all nailed on to score.

Nah, it's based on 7 days after or something. Sigh.

Can't see anything other than a draw. I thought 5 yellow cards meant a ban in the match immediately following the one after? I.e. why Jonas wasnt suspended against Sunderland, but was today?

Fair enough; Ameobi to bundle in from being 10 yards offside? I wish I could laugh about that incident

Basically, you've picked the bottom 5 teams iirc.

We'll beat Everton. Draw written all over our game.

Did Enrique eat Kinnear's hamster or something?

Agreed. Perhaps reading too much into it but is it possible he's doing this to take some of the attention off the players, post-derby victory?

A bit unprofessional perhaps but hardly shocking when he's asked about something that was specifically off-limits. Don't agree with him walking out though. He's often come across as quite sulky at times, not really one of the journos' best friends in terms of interviewing.