Hughesy

Given the way he was dominated by Fletcher in the derby (and the fact he hasn't got any taller since then) and isn't the quickest in the world, I'm rather worried about him dealing with Carroll (and Sakho or Valencia, if fit) at the weekend.

He's done well in this spell at centre half, but he was appalling when he played at centre half against Sunderland so I am not yet convinced that he's quite as good as some are making out. There is absolutely no way that he should be starting ahead of Haidara at left back though.

It was brilliant.

I just don't get someone like Collins John. I remember seeing him score all those goals for Fulham and looking like a very good prospect and then he ends being on trial at Crawley Town. Is someone like him just not very good to begin with and got lucky?

I actually think the supposed lack of work rate from HBA was one of those myths that built up without any real evidence. I always thought he worked pretty hard for the team to be honest. I genuinely can't think of many matches where he neglected his defensive duties to the extent people claim he did.

I have no idea what he is talking about in that interview. Our work rate is amazing, but we have stopped pressing high up the pitch yet at the same time doing more running and working harder; we are like Bayern Munich, but we let the opposition have the ball all the time.

Not sure where you got your stats from, but his best ever season for any club was at Blackburn where he scored 13 league goals in 27 matches (17 goals in all competitions in 32 games - 4 goals against Huddersfield (then in League 1) and QPR (who finished 21st in the Championship)). He's never been prolific as his finishing wasn't good enough. He was helped enormously by Shearer and vice versa.

If Bellamy had treated and respected Bobby in the way that he should have done, then he might have a point (even if the stories about how we treated Bobby are grossly exaggerated). As it is, he can piss off.

I think that's a bit of myth due to the fact that Bellamy's finishing when he was with us was so erratic. Without as prolific a striker as Shearer, Bellamy would have struggled due to his poor goal return. He was a 1 in 3 striker for us and for a top 4 team, that isn't quite good enough by itself. So I think they both benefitted basically.. Souness didn't think much of his finishing and while he wasn't clinical, he was much more than a finisher. He dragged defences all over the place by pulling out wide, ran on to Shearer's flicks perfectly, crossed brilliantly from wide and was a cracking striker of the ball from distance with that left foot. That's kind of my point. Bellamy did things Shearer couldn't do and vice versa. What I am saying is that because Bellamy didn't have great finishing skills (I still have nightmares over the number of chances (especially one on ones) that he would miss), he needed a striker alongside him to be prolific.

I think that's a bit of myth due to the fact that Bellamy's finishing when he was with us was so erratic. Without as prolific a striker as Shearer, Bellamy would have struggled due to his poor goal return. He was a 1 in 3 striker for us and for a top 4 team, that isn't quite good enough by itself. So I think they both benefitted basically..

Shearer and Bellamy complemented each other brilliantly in that team. They both provided what the other needed and helped cover up the weaknesses in the other's game.

That makes for grim (but also amusing) reading.

Big b****** of a French central midfielder who plays for Toulouse, 20 years old and just recently got his first two caps for France. Have to admit he's one of those players who I got on FM a few times and turned into an absolute beast and have since kept my eye on where possible. Does actually look like he could be a tremendous player and is surely in line for a move to a "big club" in the near future. Interesting.

Not really sure how you come to that analysis to be honest. It wasn't a stellar performance but it was perfectly ok and he's been pretty good this season. You're a pretty harsh critic if his performance yesterday was enough to make you question his ability.

Thought he had a decent game today - such quick feet for someone of his height.

I do like the look of Cabella, but one thing I've noticed is that he doesn't appear to be that quick. Is that a lack of match sharpness, being unfairly compared to people like Aarons and Obertan or just that he isn't that quick?

This basically.

I agree with this. Seems anyone not foreign and not costing millions is fair game. I'm afraid that is utter rubbish. No it isn't. he gets shitloads of grief on here and never gives less than 100% and is a decent defender. Haidara is better going forward than him but isn't as good a defender but because he's foreign he's lauded on here. I don't think anyone gives Dummett shitloads of grief at all - people, as far as I can see, analyse his performances and judge him accordingly. It's got absolutely nothing to do with where he is from. If anything, being local helps Dummett.

I agree with this. Seems anyone not foreign and not costing millions is fair game. I'm afraid that is utter rubbish.

He is still quite clearly a better player than Dummett. We really should be looking to develop Haidara.

Some of his goals on that programme are just exceptional. He scores absolutely every type of goal. Such an amazing player.

I don't really get this - it isn't as if the bloke is Fumaca or something. He's quite a young, highly regarded striker... really weird. http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/aug/04/newcastle-united-facundo-ferreyra-quality-needs-confidence-football http://www.espnfc.com/blog/scouts-notebook/78/post/1962143/reported-newcastle-target-facundo-ferreyra-is-worth-a-gamble

Struggling to pick between these. A combination of both is pretty much what I love about football. Same here - I do love a traditional number 9 when they just seem like an unstoppable force of nature.

Was impressed that he took a lot of kicks today but kept going back for more against two centre halves, each about twice his size.

Not 100% sure on this, but I think there is a football stats guy on twitter (Ted Knutson) who may have just been appointed head of player analytics for us.