Hughesy

City getting through in CL could help. Clinging to any hope here...

We gave him 80k a week? Ha ha. He's not even worth half that.

I went a Times online chat with Rory Smith (who wrote a book with Benitez on winning the CL) and asked what was going on: His reply was: "It's a mix of things, from what I can tell. They're apparently training really well, really keen and enthusiastic and determined, but then it gets to match-day and they just...melt. That's what he meant by anxiety: they get so overcome with the situation that they forget what they've been told, which is the whole point of training. Then there is the imbalance in the squad, a few issues with some players' fitness...but what's stood out to me is how bad some of the players are. Watch them. Even the players you think are quite good - Sissoko is the one that got me - are really bad. I worry about them now. I'm surprised he hasn't got at least a couple more points, but I suspect the problems were more complex than he realised."

I'd like to see Sissoko in the middle as part of a midfield three to be honest and just tell him to run with it, Forrest Gump style, at the heart of their defence.

This is the most telling part of that: "Over the course of the 4495 minutes, it works out at a goal or assist every 179.8 minutes, which is basically a goal or assist every two PL matches." In what world could we, of all teams, ever have deemed this to not be good enough? Absolutely baffling. And this includes minutes where Pardew would bring him on and hope for a bit of magic.

I'd have: Mitrovic Townsend Perez Tiote de Jong Sissoko/Wijnaldum

I suppose I use 'run' in a loose sense. Whenever he comes on, he seems to bring players into the game and speed up our passing. We don't seem to have anyone else who can do that. Shelvey just slows the ball down while he tries another pointless Hollywood pass.

I like Mbemba and think there's potentially a good defender in there somewhere - he's been poor since he came back from injury though.

I expect a lot of people will disagree but I reckon I'd go for a midfield three of de Jong, Tiote and Sissoko/Wijnaldum. For all Tiote's faults, he has a bit of energy and has some presence. De Jong can keep things ticking over and generally run the midfield and hopefully that releases Sissoko to hit on the break or Wijnaldum to get into the box.

I don't think De Jong's individual talent is the important thing - it's the fact he has a brain and actually makes us play coherent football. He links up play quite well with quick one touch passes and actually makes the players around him look and play better. Personally, I'd get him in a midfield three and get him to run things, not the braindead Shelvey.

Not sure how we measure levels of toughness but wanting to come back on after being knocked out seems pretty tough to me.

Thought he played reasonably well when he came on. He's actually got a footballing brain and can move the ball quickly. Would be tempted to put him in a midfield three.

Think Townsend has got a bit of determination. Shelvey is just a waste of space.

Why o why would you do that to yourself? I've made a concerted effort this season in trying to convince my 9 year old son that he should support NUFC by experiencing various atmospheres (the derby, away games etc). At 3-0 down today he wanted to leave. It feels like I'm doing entirely the wrong thing tbf but I'm from Newcastle and all of my family bleed B&W even though we don't live in the NE anymore. Not sure I'm doing the right thing but, if Ashley goes, you never know. It's the hope that kills you. There was quite a young kid in front of me today - he was pretty much sat down the whole match and looked pretty fed up with life!

Good comments by him earlier on bbc. Got it spot on.

He's absolute turd. Should be dropped.

Next weekend is absolutely screaming this. As far as I'm concerned we've only got 9 pts to play for, can't see us getting anything from games other than Swansea, Palace and Villa and even then it's pushing it. You can make a case for us getting something from the other games - however unlikely it is. Southampton - nothing to play for; Liverpool - nothing to play for and might be going all out to win the Europa League to qualify for CL; Man City - could be concentrating on trying to win CL (although will obviously wanting to ensure they get 4th or better in the PL); and Spurs might have nothing to play except finishing ahead of Arsenal.

Was thinking about whether they have anything to play for. Could well be the same for Liverpool (either nothing to play for or concentrating on Europa League) and Spurs (probably only finishing above Arsenal to play for). Not sure re Man City - I suspect they will still be fighting to secure 4th.

Think it was at the Emirates (maybe the 7-3?) when we had a throw-in near the end of the 90. He just pointed at the ball instead of defending after doing the worst throw-in ever witnessed in football, Arsenal went on to score and he was stood on the half way line where he took the throw in. Pleb. Forgot about that. Don't think it was that game but I do remember it. Think it was this game wasn't it? http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17254808

I thought he was OK yesterday. Because he's sharp (although not quick) he makes defenders a bit more nervous I think. Did alright in the air as well by his usual standards. Would play him and mitro upfront from now on.

He loses the ball through misplaced passes less than nearly all of our other attacking players when they just have the ball at their feet. So? All you are essentially saying is that he is as bad as the other crap we have? My gripe is that he plays passes that he isn't good enough to actually execute.

Might end up needing mbabu.

Not really defending Taylor or Simpson regarding their backing off, but no-one has ever really advanced an alternative option. If you are the last line of defence, it's quite tough to push up on a player quicker than you and try and pinch the ball. It isn't necessarily a terrible tactic if you are trying to buy some time.

At least Spurs might have nothing to play for on last day and a large number will have euros to think about.. Clutching any straw available..

And it's an attribute that doesn't even come off that often. Some of his drilled balls from the centre circle in a vertical line to the keeper were beyond baffling - it's a pass that would literally never work.