ExiledGeordie

He did the job he was asked and I only remember him giving the ball away once near their area off the back of an excellent run. Plus it was a really good tackle too. Knows how to create space and provided a good outlet for us. No complaints. I could see him causing problems for Citeh and United at their grounds on their big pitches.

We were rocking a bit second half as we tired and while Everton had plenty of the ball it wasn't like Krul was forced into loads of saves. That said they definitely should've had a penalty off Gosling's handball. Still a proper gutsy, tough performance and the 2 week break couldn't come at a better time. To lose almost you're entire midfield but battle it out and get the 3 points was fantastic. Still it wouldn't have been as nervy had we gone in 2-0 up, I thought we were poor end of the first half giving the ball away and Raylor should've stayed on the post for their goal. It was a good delivery though. I couldn't give two fucks what the media say about us, they're the ones creating the "do they deserve to be there/are they good enough" debate. The media said when we went down that we would struggle in the Championship because its such a tough league and every match will be a cup final. We got promoted and I then remember hearing comments about how the championship was weak anyway, :lol: Lets just go to the Manc clubs without any pressure and see what happens. The way Man U are playing at the moment I wouldn't be surprised if we got something there.

Nothin like positivety, They may well beat us but....... Demba Ba is on fire We've conceded the least goals in the premier league The carrot of going second if only briefly Pardew seems to have them well drilled, I don't see complaceny being an issue Everton have their fair share of injury queries Everton have a leaky defence These don't mean we'll win but there's just a few positives for you

Pure speculation rather than proper analysis, rubbish. "They'll probably lose because they'll be too cocky now"

Seems like Tiote won't be risked but by all accounts a last minute fitness test. I'm still fairly confident about our midfield going into this with Guthrie as the lad is playing with confidence. There was always going to be a point where we'd have to manage without Tiote and we're going to need him at the two Manc clubs! Have read that Everton have quite a few injury question marks going into this one.

How long before the "their fans will now be expecting the title or champions league qualification" line of attack? :lol:

Yeah exactly, spot on :lol:

That's a very strange prediction from Lawrenson, it's almost like he's hoping he eventually gets one right against all other predictions Ofcourse Everton can beat us on saturday but he usually predicts results on form and quality of team and therefore I'm very surprised he didn't atleast go for a draw. One thing we're starting to realise with Pardew is how well drilled his teams are and so I'd be very surprised if we get beaten due to complacency, something Lawrenson is alluding to. I'm not in the slightest offended that he keeps predicting we lose, means nothing.

You seem to have a weekly obsession about the lineup rather than the result in hand. I know which I'm more interested in.

Atmosphere should be rocking either way!!!!!!!!!!!

Marveaux is the obvious choice to come in on the right, that seems a given. This could also be exactly the type of game where we need something from Ben Arfa to open them up second half if it's a really tight affair and how ironic it would be that it's against Everton after his display at theirs last year.

Exactly, the season only really starts properly now in relation to injuries and suspensions. Couple that with teams and players hitting dips in form and this forces managers to shift formations and bring other playsers into the action. Not sure why people are getting so het up about the whole Ben Arfa thing. First it was "well he has to start as soon as he's fit" and now it's "well it's probably not going to work out for the lad here"

Tough luck for the lad as he was really showing something against Stoke. Still there's a two week break after Everton and we have Marveaux to come in anyway who will over something different and may well be even more effective at home anyway.

:lol: Yeah I've had a few of them too. What are we supposed to be comparing ourselves to Man U and Citeh? Almost every side in the league will go to both the Manchester clubs and get turned over. If we go and lose there will we suddenly be a shit side. I think people are just waiting for us to fail and therefore keep moving the goalposts for the inevitable "I told you so" when each time we show some quality and win they have to come out with something different.

No real reason to change the team and with the way the defence is playing neither full back will be dropped for sat, the system is working. I thought Raylor did really well the other night and Simpson looked better than he has done recently. Injuries or a change in approach will bring Santon into the lineup (same goes for Marv and Ben Arfa) but to be honest it's good that we haven't had to rush things and throw him straight in. There mere presence of Santon is forcing the two lads at full back to play for their place. Away from home like the other night Obertan certainly provides a very effective outlet with his pace and he was much better with his ball retention and far fewer sloppy passes. Be interested to see how he goes if as expected he starts in this home match. Seems very much like a confidence player and if he starts to have a real go at full backs we might be onto something.

Finally watched the match this morning as a mate recorded it for me. Perfect away performance really. Cabaye wasn't his usual best but that ball through to Ba in the first half was class. Hats off to all the team for that performance really.

Players will always be sold and under Ashley who is a total loose cannon nobody has any idea what he might or might not do. A certain framework to the team has to be kept though to allow for progression even if there is the odd departure here and there.

You need your best players for tough matches so Tiote has to play if fully fit.

This. The Carroll-esque offers will always be a threat from the top clubs. But having sold Carroll and having not spent a fortune we're not in a position where we need to sell. Also the money gained from finishing higher up the league, potential european qualification revenue, higher attendances due to good football and winning (generating further money) are all reasons why the main players at the club need to be kept. And you'd like to think that this is what Ashley thinks/is being advised.

Ba really is on fire, looks electric and will be tough to handle. If Obertan decides to really start going at the full back we could really be onto something. I'm still desperate to see Marveaux get some time because he looks like a really quality player as showed by that controlled pass to Cabaye against Wigan. You know you're in for a match against Everton though. Who is missing for them, is Cahill playing?

I like Gary Neville, just gets to the point.

Seems like it was a fairly close call for Stoke so I would've thought (wild speculation) that he'll be available for Everton.

Yes that is ridiculous. Football is strange.....to think we've found a team that has gone unbeaten without him playing is a real surprise. The lad will feature and will no doubt contribute soon enough. It's often either peaks or troughs with football fans, there is a middle ground and that will be Ben Arfa featuring at some point an no doubt causing havoc in defences. This whole Ben Arfa he's either the "second coming" or "not going to happen for him here" is so tedious.

What gets me is the way the press are talking as if "well the games at Man City, Man U and Chelsea will really tell us whether Newcastle are meant to be where they are" type line of comment. There's absolutely zero pressure on us in those games because we were never expected to get anything anyway and never considerered for anywhere near the top four (well we've got a good chance against Chelsea but more so the Manc away games). Most sides in the prem will go to the Manc clubs and lose or get turned over. Those games will tell us a lot more about the side but we won't suddenly be an average side if we lose both or even all three. We're 3rd on merit.

It almost seems like he's better suited for away games for the counter attack. Be good to see him start to open teams up at home with his confidence up a bit. Maybe we'll see him really go for the full back on saturday. Pleased he did well last night though.