Away Toon

PSG have the Brazilian midfielder/winger Moura arriving in January I think. He cost a lot 40M Euro's and was wanted by Man U. If he lives up to his reputation and they strengthen in January they must have a serious chance of going a long way.

Swansea were well worth a point and the LB who is deputising for the one we tried to buy looked excellent.

Fantastic noise being made by the Swansea supporters, good game too.

I don't know why nobody will spell it out, Pardew is not a very good manager, he wasn't before he joined us and he isn't now. We finished 5th last season despite not playing very well for most of the time, mainly because Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton had such poor seasons. Would Moyes do better with our squad, absolutely he would, would Rodgers, well at least he has a plan. Watch the way Swansea played last week against City and then Liverpool in midweek, and then watch the ugly dross we come up with. It's horrible and Pardew seems unable to grasp that. Our good technical players, Santon, Cabaye, Ben Arfa are completely wasted the way Pardew sets up the team. The premier league is pretty much dross this season and last, the fact we are in the top half illustrates that perfectly.

From BBC Sport Jonas Gutierrez: Newcastle United are a marked side Newcastle United's Jonas Gutierrez says teams have changed their approach to stop key players such as Demba Ba, Yohan Cabaye and Papiss Demba Cisse. The trio were pivotal to the Magpies' European qualification last season, with strikers Ba and Cisse scoring a combined 29 goals in the top flight. "Teams know us more than they did last year. They know the way we play," Gutierrez told BBC Newcastle. "For players that come in it's always difficult in the second season." Gutierrez on Europe "The fans like the competition, we as players feel the same, we always want to win and play every game in the Newcastle shirt. "It's a really good competition for us, we've had to enjoy and do our best, because we never know if we get through the group stage then we never know who we play against. "The most important thing is to get through the group stage, and then see what happens." Last season's start was vital to a Premier League tally of 19 wins in 38 games, after Pardew's side went unbeaten in the first 14 matches in all competitions. The fifth-placed finish last season brought European football to Tyneside, and Newcastle's progress so far has added five additional games to the schedule. "Maybe we are not at the same level last year in the league but we have another competition now, and it's always difficult," Gutierrez added. "Teams who aren't normally playing in Europe and don't have a big squad can find it difficult to play in an extra competition. "It's our first year, it's something new, but the whole team is thinking about that and trying to enjoy it, everyone wants to play. But it's made the beginning of the season tougher. "This season [in the Premier League] we have picked up good points against teams we've played this year, we know we lost against Manchester United and Chelsea. "The win against West Bromwich Albion last weekend was really important to take the points at home."

The only NUFC player who skill wise was close to Beardsley was the great Tony Green, who only played 33 times and had to retire at 25 after being brutalised for the ennium time by some nameless thug playing against Palace I think. Same kind of balance and the ability to dribble his way through a team. Ben Arfa is the nearest we've had to these kind of players for probably the last 30 years.

Playing 442 all the nice passing and movements gone.

Playing nice carpet football most of the time which is a good idea as Cisse is definitely not a target man. Tiote definitely needs to stop dawdling/getting caught in possession in our own half. His range of passing is excellent it would be nice to see him push further up the pitch and let Bigi and Anita cover behind him.

Ameobi playing well is negated by Tiote playing shit

Ameobi is a rarity in that like Ben Arfa he always seems to find a way to beat his man.

How's Enrique playing? Oh forgot he's on the bench again, despite Kelly being injured and somebody I've never heard of playing RB, Rogers still prefers Johnson on the Left. Jose what did you think you were doing?

It was a beautiful free kick from Cabaye, I don't understand why the French goal was disallowed.

Spain 1-0 against the Frogs

1-0 Ramos who hit the post first with a free header, put his hands on his head and then just in time watched the ball ricochet to him before he thumped it in from around 6 yards, nearly went over the top.

He's currently part of the French team watching the Spanish keep the ball and run rings around them. No goals yet though, Spain are looking for perfection first.

I thought Vieira and Petit were the best centre midfield partnership for Arsenal and then for France.

Sorry can't be bothered to translate it but basically the Spanish especially Del Bosque are saying that Cabaye is the most talented midfielder the French have, he takes the free kicks, he directs the game, he's a little bit their Xavi. Karim Benzema, « l'un des meilleurs attaquants du monde et un joueur extraordinaire », selon Vicente Del Bosque, et Franck Ribéry sont les deux joueurs que craignent le plus les Espagnols, à la veille de recevoir les Bleus, à Madrid. Mais ils sont aussi noté l'importance de Yohan Cabaye dans le jeu français. « On connaît bien les Français, assure Cesc Fabregas. Il y a eu quelques changements depuis l'Euro, de nouveaux joueurs, mais il y a toujours les deux meilleurs, Benzema et Ribéry, et aussi Cabaye à la création. Il faudra faire un grand match pour les battre.» Vicente Del Bosque, qui a aussi souligné que le forfait d'Abou Diaby était une absence importante pour l'équipe de France, est allé plus loin, concernant le joueur de Newcastle?: « C'est sans doute le joueur le plus talentueux que la France ait au milieu, juge le sélectionneur espagnol. Il tire les coups de pied arrêtés, il dirige le jeu. C'est un peu leur Xavi. » Malgré sa victoire en quart de finale du dernier Euro (2-0), l'Espagne ne s'attend donc pas un match facile, face à son principal adversaire pour la première place du groupe. « Après ce match, il y aura encore quinze points en jeu, note Del Bosque. C'est vrai que cette double confrontation peut être capitale pour les deux équipes, presque comme un match de Coupe. Mais on fait des prévisions aujourd'hui et, après, on peut aussi perdre des points ici ou là. » - L. D., à Madrid

Linked with Hooper in the Sunday rags. Liverpool as well. Maybe Hooper could play with Cisse, we know Ba can't.

I was going to go but the weather is pretty wild today and into tomorrow, with a tropical wave heading up through the islands, lots of rain and lots of wind. Still nice and warm though!!

Come on Antigua, 1-1 after 30 minutes. USA population 300 Million, Antigua 75,000.

Sammy's there by default because the others we've tried wide left have been generally terrible when they have played, Obertan, Marveaux, and Ba. Admittedly we don't have many options but that's what happens when you don't invest and strengthen. Could try Amalfitano though it looks like Pardew doesn't rate him.

Well maybe Sammy can play on the left in a 433 Cisse certainly can't and Ba sulks when he's asked too. Maybe Ferguson can, maybe Marveaux, but no more of this 442 shit with Ba and Cisse getting in each others way, and the midfield overran.

I think today just showed what a lot of us have been thinking, and that is Pardew is not utilising our players to the best of their ability or picking them in their best positions, or apparently using the training ground to either defend better or keep possession of the ball.. He insists on playing 442 and yet there is no sign that Ba and Cisse can play together, we don't have any wingers, and Cabaye and Tiote constantly get outnumbered and then overran in midfield. It's time Pardew grew some balls and ditched the 442, and started making some difficult decisions. Irrespective of injuries, Perch is not a premier league Centre-Back, Ferguson is not a Left Back, Anita is not ready to play as a defensive midfielder. I would go for a 433 Krul, Anita, Taylor, Colo, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye, Jonas, Ben Arfa, Ba, Sammi Ameobi. Simpson for cover at RB, Perch as a Defensive Midfielder, Shola and Cisse if Ba is not working, Ferguson to play left wing if we need to change the system, Williamson if we really have to etc.

We were completely out classed, quite simple really, too many average players and a technically challenged manager. Still only another Eight years.

good job Cleverley still can't finish