Christmas Tree

Quite like this woody fella as well (if not his accent). Seems to be the party / fun guy behind the scenes.

Missed this but so spot on. I would find it hard to believe that anyone who experienced one of our recent Wembley appearances would not do anything for the chance to go back. Seeing the black and white army take over London for a weekend is a joy that everyone should get the chance to experience. Would be nice to win the occasional game there as well, but the "whole" cup final experience is one you will never forget, even if you lose. This team in particular has the ability to do anyone on their day.

Might put a few pennies on him to score tonight.

Let's hope he had a blinder :-)

A good point.

Hopefully a decent side out tonight and a nice easy win. With regard to the next round ( fingers crossed), only Man City worry me. The rest I think we could give a good game on the day, especially with a home draw. Really hope Marveaux has a blinder tonight to cement his inclusion against Stoke.

Honestly get these four watched. The back room banter between Carver, Stone and woody is very funny.

Not sure if its mentioned anywhere but NUFC.co.uk has quite a few FREE nufc tv items on today including last weeks reserves v liverpool highlights. The paint balling video is very good.

Hardly a wind up as all I have done is add some comments to a Newcastle story in a Newcastle paper today! Well done for answering although I dont particularly buy your reasoning. Both players were / are match day players. I appreciate you might not want to burn a player out, but surely he could have gained some match fitness playing for the reserves. You could also argue that he would benefit mentally for coming into the first team match fit rather than playing below par as he is currently doing.

Marveaux has only played once for the reserves. Listen statto, he played twice for a full 90. One might of been the behind closed doors game. The question which you've nicely dodged still stands.

This is getting a bit like groundhog day! Marveaux is out a year and part of getting match fit naturally involves him putting in 2 or 3 90 minutes performances in the reserves. Pardew obviously thought this was a good idea. Ben Arfa is out a year and does none of the above even though at one point he was in the team to play for the reserves until a last minute withdrawal. Everyone on here believes he needs to get match fit and get games under his belt. Can no one offer any explanation as why Pardew would see fit to do this with players like Marveaux but not Ben Arfa. (my last attempt at trying for an answer to this). :-)

Hates them both. 2 of our most talented players. Madness. Re Ben Arfa, quite a few share the opinion that his performances so far since his return have been well below par. What the fuck are you expecting man? I would have liked him to improve his fitness / match sharpness in the reserves as Marveaux did. Im a bit insure why anyone finds this strange??? Anyone who does should at least give some sort of opinion as to why this hasnt happened. I can't see the down side tbh.

Why do you think it was brought up in the Sunday Sun and again in the journal today See I see a player like Marveaux, out nearly a year, desperate to get fit and taking part in every reserve and behind closed door game he can get. I then see Ben Arfa, know his previous, see these comments in the paper, listen to what Pardew is saying about how they have to be very careful with his character etc etc Forgive me for WONDERING if there could be any smoke without fire. How silly of me :-) You're seeing what you want to see, what about when Pardew said Ben Arfa stops back and does extra training? I'm simply talking about today's press comments is all.

Why do you think it was brought up in the Sunday Sun and again in the journal today See I see a player like Marveaux, out nearly a year, desperate to get fit and taking part in every reserve and behind closed door game he can get. I then see Ben Arfa, know his previous, see these comments in the paper, listen to what Pardew is saying about how they have to be very careful with his character etc etc Forgive me for WONDERING if there could be any smoke without fire. How silly of me :-) Probably because the journalists involved work in the same room about 6 feet from each other. Two questions: 1. How do you know if Ben Arfa has refused to play for the reserves (going against all EVIDENCE from Pardew that he didn't)? 2. How do you know if Pardew even wants him to play in the reserves? Not every player goes that route when they come back from injury. 1. We know the journos were told he was playing. We also know he didn't travel and ended up in Tunisia. The club then talk about a relative being ill and then talk about it being a mis communication? I don't know if he did refuse or not. I'm simply commenting on a story in today's papers. 2. Well that route seems good enough for everyone else, particularly Marveaux. I also doubt he would have been named in the reserve team to play had Pardew not wanted it. The club initially said he wasn't in the reserves due to family illness not because the club didn't want him to appear. Everyone is talking about him needing games and fitness yet no one seems able to explain why is isn't getting this game time in the reserves? Could have got a good forty five minutes under his belt last week but didn't appear. Just all seems a bit odd to me. I would rather have had him coming back onto the first team at near full fitness and sharpe. Regardless of this conspiracy story, perhaps someone could shed some light on why he isn't taking the Marveaux route back?

Why do you think it was brought up in the Sunday Sun and again in the journal today See I see a player like Marveaux, out nearly a year, desperate to get fit and taking part in every reserve and behind closed door game he can get. I then see Ben Arfa, know his previous, see these comments in the paper, listen to what Pardew is saying about how they have to be very careful with his character etc etc Forgive me for WONDERING if there could be any smoke without fire. How silly of me :-)

Hates them both. 2 of our most talented players. Madness. Really? Where did I say this then? Like a lot, I havent been a fan of Jonas over the years due to his shocking end product. Big deal. Re Ben Arfa, quite a few share the opinion that his performances so far since his return have been well below par. In two matches running he has given the ball away leading to attacks on our goal. I support Newcastle, not players and therefore if he comes good I will be delighted. However I would hope must fans agree that if a player does refuse to play on the reserves then they should quickly be shown the exit, regardless of who they are.

The journal story today about Pardew .......Even Pardew’s formula is not foolproof. Newcastle dismissed the news Hatem Ben Arfa recently refused to play for the reserves as a breakdown in communication, but it might not be the last we hear of such problems. Highly-strung and highly-paid footballers do not take kindly to playing for the “stiffs” at faraway locations.

Today's journal half way down one of the other stories. Not too sure why they chose to mention it again.

Not at all, just discussing comments in today's journal. If that upsets the Ben Arfa fan boys then so be it. :-)

Because the journos were all told on the morning of the game he would be playing

Innocent til proven guilty of course, but I remain a tad suspicious! We know from his former club he is a bit precious! He was meant to play in the reserves but didn't show! An excuse was then given about some random relative in Tunisia being unwell! I think I am right in saying we heard nothing more about this relative! Although in desperate need of match fitness, is still not playing in the reserves. Still commenting on it three weeks later in the local rag! Is it so implausible mlud?

Shoot the messenger why don't ya :-)

Not serious according to Lee Ryders "reliable source".

Due to the eviction at Dale Farm the travellers have been offered an alternative site at the stadium light. Furious at the thought of dirty, thieving, in-bred, semi literate animals living right on their doorstep, the travellers have turned it down!

I seen there's a few lines in the Journal this morning regarding Ben Arfas "refusal to play for the reserves" and that the club say this was down to a misunderstanding in communication. Hope he's not the rotten apple in the barrel. If he is he needs moving on pdq.