Super Duper Branko Strupar

Stick Tiote in the middle and free Cabaye up, that will probably make a massive difference. Oh aye, no doubt. It will give us more opportunity to play through Cabaye, HBA and Ba. But we're going to struggle if that is the only way we can arrive at a HBA and Ba link up. We're going to come up against midfields that will stifle Cabaye and Tiote so if the FBs can provide an attacking out let, bringing the ball out and forward on the sides then we can get the ball to HBA that way. Today was a good example. We couldn't play through the middle and suffered to get the ball up top and only Sammy provided any real opportunity down the side. With 2 strong FB's Gutierrez and Obertan or whoever could essentially drift in to create an attacking diamond when attacking

Ba is out top scorer for a reason, he's our best chance of a goal and could have got one today with a bit more luck. Dropping him would be total madness. This. Despite the insistence of one person in particular I don't think it's proven either way yet whether Ba and Ben Arfa will work,it seemed to work ok today against the best team in the league? Yep. At a very early stage too. I think they key to the team playing well with Ba and HBA playing up top together with HBA roaming around is the competence of the full backs imo. With Simpson and Raylor we're never going to have enough attacking force to compete with the better teams with this formation. But with Santon and hopefully someone in Jan the full backs can play a big role in how we attack, allowing whoever is on the wings/side of a midfield 4 to push up and in to support.

Ridiculous to criticise Ba today apart from the missed chances. He saw very little of the ball which he could do nothing about. We didn't stand a chance in the centre against that midfield 3 of Milner, Toure and De Jong. HBA and Ba linked up better today than they have previously. It's going to take practice to gain understanding but I'm confident it will come. They both just need to know their roles.

Back in to training for Man Utd now. Desperate for Tiote back despite Guthrie being half decent.

RTG should make good reading tonight

At least Aguero is my captain in FF

Silva. brill.

quality finish like

FUCKIN HELL

TIMMAY!

Cabaye's touched the ball once. Guthrie hasn't had many more. Getting over ran in the centre.

Krul's kicking is as bad as Scott Carson's today

Here we go

Garth Crooks is a reet bella

Russell Grant thinks we'll win 2-1 http://www.astrodiary.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/russell-grant-2.jpg

Aye, you're right there

ALAN PARDEW has revealed that Leon Best has been appointed as a mentor for Nile Ranger in light of his recent off the field issues. The Toon boss has also backed Ranger to go out on loan and says the striker needs first team action. He said today: "Nile needs to go out on loan. "He is frustrated as his off the field problems are showing. "We can always look at yourself and wonder if we could have done more but he needs games now. "Leon Best has been talking to him and trying to make him understand his responsibilities and we have great professionals such as Shola Ameobi too." Read More http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/11/17/leon-best-appointed-as-a-mentor-for-nile-ranger-72703-29795627/#ixzz1dyXBSFs6

Absolutely spot on. Yep, it's totally stupid that games against the top 4 are the 'real test', it's games against the rest of the league that decide your final position, nobody beats the top 4 anyway. I actually usually like Samuel, I know that's not a popular view on here mind. Stopped reading him now he's at The Mail though. The article he wrote over the summer about us was the biggest pile of misinformed bollocks ever. That's why I dislike him. The man's a fucking moron. It's hardly fucking rocket science that article. Anyone with a slight interest in writing a balanced article on the subject could write that. It's plain, simple, obvious fact.

Mega. I'll be watchign that now

@NUFCOfficial: Our limited edition 130th anniversary range is now available. View the range and order at ow.ly/7rNwQ. Perch modelling the lot

priceless ITK? huh? Suggesting Mastercard as stadium sponser joke... ...never mind

priceless ITK?

What? He has a first name as a surname You're shitting me? whoosed

What? He has a first name as a surname