Wil

6 and a half years! Christ, that must be a record. Sounds like a statement of intent, if nothing else. He's obviously delighted, which is just great.

Excellent, simply excellent news.

Good point. I think he recognises this club is good for him and knows he has an important role here. And he has said he owes us. Got a hunch he has just been disappointed with a two year offer (if true), and that is what's dragging things out. Would expect him to sign though, in the end.

March 1961 Away to Spurs, 10 years old. It was the year they won the double..... and we were relegated. However, we stuffed them 2-1 !!! Allchurch and Scanlon. They missed a pen I think, pushed over the bar by Hollins. Was just reminiscing with my older brother at the weekend. He took me to the game. Dad had moved south for work in the 30's, and my brother grew up with the 50's cup wins, lucky sod! The game was also notable for the fact that as it was jampacked I was lifted over the heads of the crowd to sit on the police bench right next to the goal - into which we scored the winner! It was on BBC TV news that night - pictures of a blond-haired boy with a big Newcastle rosette, sitting among a bench full of coppers. Always had a taste for wins over Spurs ever since!!

Hopefully, Willo and Colo will be out to show they are not going to be bullied this time. Cheik will also be key in providing the protection.

If Jose does go, in terms of the strength of the team it's his all-round ability that is pretty irreplaceable for the fee/wages we can "afford". So trying to replace him with an inferior version can't fail to weaken us. Defensively we might, just might, get someone his equal. And if that man was, say, good in the air, that could bring something extra to the team - at both ends. Offensively, a fit Hatem in front of the new man could make up for what we could be losing going forward without Jose. So a quality defender and a fit Hatem could mean the team does not lose too much down the left. (With Jonas having a part to play as well). All assuming the new defender has the right character etc. Hate to be even thinking like this. But that's the route I'd go down - putting the emphasis on keeping the defence shored up. Similarly Carroll can't be replaced with one player, but two new complementary strikers could bring the goals we need and not weaken the team. So that's Enrique and Carroll covered..... But if Tiote goes, we're fucked!

Would be more confident regards player investment affecting new contracts if I wasn't half expecting a drawn out summer of transfers held up by haggling over fees/wages etc, as Ashley and co. play hard ball with clubs/agents. They've already stated they are now taking a tough stance, and everything will be more exaggerated now we've apparantly got plenty of cash. Wouldn't be surprised if we lose a few targets along the way. and don't get people tied up until late on. Just not sure it will even be in their mindset to think they have to complete anything quickly so new contracts can be signed and sealed etc.

Looked like a pretty truthful interview from Jose. He loves the fans and the city, but he's ambitious. The only "ambition" the players will have heard coming out of the Ashley camp is about making the club financially stable and self-sufficient (hence wage caps etc). But as we know that's not the kind of ambition a top footballer is interested in. Carroll's sale was always going to have a big psychological effect inside the club, something that can't be measured however much money is coming in. and probably not something that is likely to have been understood or considered by the owner. If Jose does go, good luck to him; he's given us four good years. Unfortunately, he's pretty nigh irreplaceable. All we can do, hopefully, is strengthen other positions in the team/squad.

On the back of a good point at the weekend, last night's performance and result has changed everything for me. Instead of looking down at how many points the teams at the bottom might get, I'm now looking towards the heady uplands of an upper mid-table finish! It's all turning out much better than I would have guessed at the beginning of the season. Right now Pardew seems to be getting the best out of the players and the whole team is playing with confidence. Bound to be a few more defeats in the run in, but I'm confident there will be some good wins in there as well.

He was absolutely superb last night, and when he's on his game his qualities bring a lot to the team. He's got everthing else, so if he can just continue to develop his crossing as he seems to be doing he'll be a top winger.

The character and spirit of the players is a really big positive. I'd say it's one of our biggest strengths at the moment. Of course you need a bit of quality on the pitch, which we have some of as well, but this group has been through a lot together these last couple of years and have done it for themselves and the fans. There is a great bond there, and it must be a great feeling to be part of that as a player.

The season's been better than expected, I'd have to say. The Carroll sale has inevitably had a huge impact, and will be in our minds for a fair while yet. Support is all about hope, really. And somehow you dust yourself off, and come back for more. Pardew's doing a good job and we seem set fair for a good finish. I think we all recognise it's all about the summer now. Reckon a cup win is not beyond us in the next season or two. See - that hope again!

Been party to this madness for 50. Rob Lee perhaps in his later years when he was used more defensively, though still not quite the same type of player. Before that Stan Anderson (one for the oldies), though Cheik probably has it. (Trying not to be an old bore here, you'll appreciate!) Can't really recall such a dominating midfield presence, defensively, as Tiote.

He seems to be proving to be more progressive than Hughton, goes for it a bit more. He says that's his philosophy and I think we're now seeing evidence of that. It's good work. Early days, but it feels like he's taking us on.

Seems to be improving all the time. Must have felt like he was carrying quite a weight after AC's departure, but he's working hard to take his big chance. If he carries on at this rate he'll have earned a spot in the striker pool for next season. Well pleased to see him so pleased at the end.

Fucking great three points there lads

Good move

Would have rather had Shefki on defending airiel threat. Hope Pardew's got this right.

Willo got to play out of his skin tonight, by the sounds of it.

Seems to me the gamble here is on our scouts continuing to come up with gems like Tiote and Ben Arfa. It's all very well trying to do an Arsenal, but is there any evidence of Ashley putting any money into our scouting system? - which you would think would be part of the "plan". Not that Graham Carr's done a bad job, mind.

Find it hard to imagine ever criticising the guy. If he ever does have to leave, I hope he handles everything in a reasonable enough way, and I expect he will. This non-negotiation is a good sign. And I promise I won't believe any 'what a complete b******' hijinks the club suddenly accuse him of as he goes out the door... That wasn't suitably grateful-sounding, was it? He's given all we could ask of him and more while he's been here. A great, decent and cheerful character who's played a big role in creating what's been, or should have been, a very special time for the club. And despite everything that’s gone down at the club, there’s no doubt he’s loved it here.

Well, I'd just like to say (feeling a bit wistful here).... The 4 years he will have been with us by the summer is a comparitively long time for someone to be at a club these days. So I'm feeling grateful. Its been a complete joy watching him blossom into the best left back i can ever remember in a black and white shirt.

I agree, in normal world Enrique has done more than enough to be offered a new contract and a decent pay rise. The problem is, what if his current salary is already outside of the club's new pay policy? He'll be offered either the same money or possibly a pay cut. Now I can't really blame NUFC for that as the wages policy is clear... but it might lead to Enrique thinking twicwe about signing on again. Yeh, is my fear actually, though not verbalised. The wage cap, if it is strictly enforced, will mean our current top top players are likely to go. And I think the management knows that, they just can't make it public.

With the Carroll money in, there is absolutely no excuse for not offering Enrique and Tiote good contracts. It's a different scenario from Carroll who they argued had just signed a new deal three months before. Enrique's contract is coming to an end and he should be rewarded for being as good as any other left back. Tiote is probably on peanuts in his first year and obviously deserves a big raise as he's proven to be arguably the best defensive midfielder in the league. The only valid reason for them ever going is if they want to go.

Yeh, the pain is going to last on this one. It's always going to be about what could have been. The only way I see us replacing the number of points he would have brought, will be to get in two new goalscorers. It's an opportunity to bring some pace to the front line and play a different way altogether. Reckon they'll have to be from abroad, don't know any prem striker good enough to fit the bill - who we can get anyway.