The Prophet

What's shocked me most is the work ethic, effort and improved team spirit of the side. Hughton deserves a lot of credit for picking the useless bastards up from last season.

If Ashley stays and fails to invest in the next two transfer windows I really fear for us wether we are promoted or not. The current crop of players wouldn't cut it in the Premier League, if we are promoted without spending I can see nothing more than a throughly humiliating season. On the other hand you only have to look at the likes of Sheffield United and Reading to see what a couple of years without significant investement does to you in the Championship. You'd hope he'd of realised that by now...

I think people are still expecting the worst because that's generally the route the club has gone down in recent times. Last night's results means a win tonight could provide us with a decent cushion after ten games, a cushion that could be vital later in the season if or when a blip eventually comes. I have a feeling tonight's game will be similar to the Leicester game in that the opposition will create the odd chance and won't roll over and die like Ipswich did at the weekend. In spite of the current list of injuries we have a group of players playing with condifence and a manager who has finally realised the correct formation for them, add to the equation we generally have more quality and the backing of the home support and I'm going for a narrow home win.

Yes we should close it down. In fact why stop there, we should start a smear campaign to ensure they can't get another job for the rest of their talentless lives. Should of done the same to the seniors when they were turned over at Blackpool. There's no place for losers at this club, we need to make examples of them.

Aye I'm in.

I'm not sure what to make of him. He puts himself about, holds the ball up well and has a bit of pace to burn. However he drifts into the wide positions and doesn't really take up goal scoring positions. When he does get himself into a goal scoring position he seems worryingly reluctant to pull the trigger. Having said that the lad has never really played in a 4-4-2. It will be interesting to see how he plays off another striker such as Carroll or Ameobi where he won't have the need to drift out wide so much.

Got off the mark for the season today. Newcastle Leeds MK Dons Bournemouth 9/1

22/09/2009 Llambias: Derren responsible for stalemate. Derek Llambias has launched a scathing attack on Derren Brown after claims the showman’s attempt to control the nation saw the progress of Newcastle United's sale come to a grinding halt. "It's just not on" claimed an angry Derek "Mike (Ashley) can't even move his arms, how is he supposed to sell a football club?" "The progress was slow going as it was, now it's come to a complete stop." "Derren has got a lot to answer for, if Mike remains in this state then the club may never be sold, we may even have to start legal proceedings."

Blackpool have made themselves difficult to beat, losing only one of their opening games, having said that they've drawn four. Unless we do something drastically wrong they shouldn't have too many goal scoring threats it should be a case of whether we can break them down or not. Losing Smith is a worry but given his technical ability it shouldn't be too much of blow, we'll miss his energy more than anything. Think I'd go with the five man midfield again due to our lack of forwards though. Although a lead at the top of the table would be nice it's only early days, a draw wouldn't be an absolute disaster. We're inevitably going to drop points at some stage as are West Brom and Boro. I'm going to go with another narrow win tonight due to our extra quality in midfield.

I know where your coming from Binnsy but not sure I entirely agree. We didn't defend that well today. We gave far too many free kicks around the area, got sucked to the ball far too much and it was only because of the lack of quality up front that Cardiff didn't score. It didn't help we didn't keep the ball as well as we have been doing today. We did in parts but far too often we just smashed the ball up field and invited pressure back on to the defence. One of our best qualities this season has been our work rate off the ball, that wasn't there today, we inivited pressure and we didn't defend from the front. Don't get me wrong I'm happy. We didn't play well but won a game at one of the toughest places to go in the league. I just think we need to improve before we meet a team that actually burries a couple of these chances.

Harper 5 - Nothing to do for large parts but flapped at some pretty standard crosses, considering how solid he's looked in the previous match it was a pretty nervy performance. Simpson 6 - Steady again, nothing special but did a job. Taylor 6 - Will get stick for the hand ball but though he was alright, pretty solid for the most part. Coloccini 6 - Very good performance for the most part but made too very unnecessery and rash lunges towards the latter stages of the game one of which put Smith in a situation where he got himself sent off. Enrique 6 - Alright at the back seemed hesitant going forward. Taylor 5 - Did a lot of nothing really, decent ball in for the goal. Barton 5 - Poor again with the odd flash of potential. Smith 6 - Put in another important shift in but needs to calm his ass down. Guthrie 4 - Was he on the pitch? Really need to get him central. Nolan4 - See Guthrie minus the excuse. Ranger 5 - Held up the odd ball but drifted off far too much and is the guy really that afraid to have a dig? Jesus. Felt sorry for him playing up front with no support but he showed absoltely no strikers instinct today. At times balls were coming into the box and he was no where to be seen. Overall average performance today to say the very least but it's three points in the bag. We need to improve.

"Ghosted in" - No one in their right mind would use it outside football surely? "Oh look who's just ghosted in" you'd look like a right tool. "Tucks it away" - Would make sense but you'd probably get some funny looks. "Piledriver" - Sounds wrong on so many levels. "Screamer" - Guess it could work in some context... "Cuts inside" - Doesn't make sense in any context. "Curls it in" - Curls it out perhaps, curls it in maybe not.

Noe Pamarot or Lauren anyone?

"...and erm...yeah, something is happening at St. James' Park but what? Who knows? I certainly don't, it isn't my job, but Newcastle fans should stay tuned in regardless."

Ashley and Llambias are probably sat watching SSN waiting for the identity of the mystery players to be revealed.

We had one centre back on the pitch yesterday and one fit striker, surely even the dullest of people realised we needed to get the cheque book out to continue our current success, obviously not...

Fucking hell calm down man, as long as he's signed up before we travel to Wales I couldn't give a shit.

Word around Liverpool is Kranjcar is on his way to Finch Farm for a medical. Sky seem to think he's off to Spurs though...

Would be a cracking signing, especially in the Championship. So far our delivery into the box is generally what has caused teams problems. Lovenkrands would add another dimension to the side and give us the ability to stretch teams with his pace up top.

:lol: Have you read it? Excitable chaps aren't they?

NUFC Blog headline: "Brilliant Magpies get win in classic."

For £2m. Bargain! Looks like Bentley is on his way to City, Levy's looking for £14m + Petrov going in the opposite direction. Burnley want Alnwick. Good. Muntari and JJ swap isn't going to happen this window. Sandro won't happen this window either Chavez will probably sign next week. Apparently that's ok as his trial started before the window closed. seriously? thats so jammy, but typical of spurs. kranjcar: remember to turn out the lights when you leave. pompey have just got relegated Don't believe it for one minute. With a new owner is charge Portsmouth would surely demand much much more than that.

Diego Arismendi signs for Stoke on a four year deal. Good signing.

Stuck a couple of quid 1-0 S.Taylor. Should of covered my bet, school boy stuff.

Chopra nailed on to score.