Neil

Seriously man, do yourselves all a favour and stop predicting us to get a clean sheet. It just doesn't happen.

I think as true Newcastle fans most of us will be delighted at getting beat 4-3, which of course we much prefer to 1-0 victories. LOL GEORDIE NATION

Didn't see the game so I won't say much but all I will say is this turned out a hell of a lot better than nearly everyone expected. There are surely some positives to take from that, regardless of the immense frustration in losing it late?

Have to admit that on this occasion, we got lucky today. First goal was a deflection and how the referee didn't give a penalty for them I'll never know. Not that I have much sympathy given the catalogue of shit we've had this season but I'd feel hard done by if I was a Wigan fan. That's still only 2 clean sheets all season, and none since mid September. Absolutely massive test against an in form Chelsea at the weekend.

This. Their next fixture, as well, is West Brom at home. While they've started the season fairly well, I'm sure Man Utd are quite capable of winning that game without Rooney or Van Persie. Mind, I'd be tempted to drop Rooney tomorrow anyway if I was Ferguson. Abject "performance" at Swansea.

GW19: Everton 2-1 Wigan Fulham 1-1 Southampton Man Utd 3-1 Newcastle Norwich 0-2 Chelsea QPR 1-2 West Brom Reading 1-2 Swansea Sunderland 0-1 Man City Aston Villa 0-1 Tottenham Stoke City 1-1 Liverpool

Boxing Day bets? Got 6/4 for Swansea at Reading which I think is great value. Reading for their 2nd win all season it is.

Damn right, this place is class. Merry Christmas to everyone.

Howard as 2nd best goalie. He's made more errors this season than at any other point in his time with us.

Yep, aside from his creativity and passing ability, his all-around workrate is very important to the team. You've got to assume that if just running about was causing him pain every week then it's a reasonable excuse for his below-par performances. You write this within half an hour of taking the piss out of Pardew for suggesting Cisse's lack of goals may be related to Ben Arfa and Cabaye missing due to injury. Well done for consistency. ....and a Happy New Year.

Agree.

Think it might've been posted alread but anyway, Guardian's top 100 players: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/datablog/2012/dec/24/world-best-footballers-top-100-list Top places are near enough bang on IMO.

On a vaguely related note, I'm sure it's not just me - the standard of officiating this season has been fucking dreadful. Yet another one for us with the Osman disallowed goal, and you're seeing it in so many games across the board nowadays. Getting sick of it now, you can accept you'll get some bad decisions but the only consistency that seems to exist currently is the consistency of wrong decisions. Of course, in this game West Ham also had a decision go against them that was more than 100% wrong despite that not even being possible. And then of course, the referee had to send Gibson off later on. Consistently wrong, I guess. Not saying officiating decisions solely decide games but they seem to be playing an ever-increasing role in influencing the outcomes of games. And that's one big problem when the decisions are so bad, as they have been this season. IMO, anyway.

In the heat of the moment I think most people would be as angry as Van Persie, can't blame him for reacting like a human being. I'd sure as hell be pissed off if someone wellied a footy at my head like that - regardless of whether he meant to hit him or not. As far as I can see though, Ferguson's comments are just a simple, deliberate move from him to defend his team and take the attention off them - something Chappers actually pointed out (or at least suggested) on MOTD2, which was refreshing to hear on mainstream TV.

I do think Lambert will, providing he's given time, do a good job there. They'll also be fine this season. But that performance today was embarrassing - regardless of whether the team is young or not.

In many ways, I'm now mentally scarred. Permanently.

He might have had worse games I didn't see, but that's probably the worst I've ever seen him play. Shame to see him like that, frankly. Such phenomenal natural talent. And, it should be added, Ferguson will know that. He'll have let Rooney and the rest of the team know exactly what he thought about that result. He still sounds fucking ridiculous, but he won't care. If it deflects some negative attention away from his team's finishing ability then that won't be a bad thing in his book.

He might have had worse games I didn't see, but that's probably the worst I've ever seen him play. Shame to see him like that, frankly. Such phenomenal natural talent.

Fair play tbh.

If Walcott had scored when Di Santo was off. Should have, as well.

Livens the game up at least.

Interesting that we recalled Barkley only not to play him. Instead, we're playing Neville again. Anichebe.

That's my point, though. I'm not making a snap judgement on him, I'm saying that there's this general perception of him (at least that's the perception I get) that he's currently a top class player, which I don't think he is because, in no small part (and as you've said), he's still very young and has had a very nasty injury to overcome and is probably in some ways still recovering from. As I say, I might be gauging the general opinion of him inaccurately.

Jesus Christ, did Jamie Redknapp just talk some sense?

Haven't been watching this game in particular but controversial opinion time: Jack Wilshere is overrated. Don't get me wrong. He's a very good player and I think if he continues in his current direction, he'll become one of Europe's very best players. I certainly hope he will anyway. But I get the impression people generally seem to think he's already there? That's certainly the opinion I pick up from the media, fans, even on here. I don't see it, currently. I think in part his ability is exaggerated due to players of his style and quality not usually coming from these shores. So when he comes along, he's seen as something remarkable. Maybe I'm not gauging the general opinion accurately.