GeordieT

Needs dropping. Don't know how he was allowed to play as long as he did.

Feels very subdued here. Not seen any bother but the police presense is massive.

My mate knows one of the physios and certainly on Friday, Gouffran was penciled into start instead of Cisse. Hope that's changed.

I would be surprised if it wasn't: Alnwick, Janmaat, Taylor, Colo, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Sissoko, Ameobi, Cisse, Perez (433/4231).

Cannot see anything other than a defeat unfortunately with Alnwick in goal. Will be going into the game with no confidence and they will play on it.

Expected to be fit.

Know its unlikely, but I would love to see Given back.

This result truly encapsulates Newcastle United under Alan Pardew.

Played against him in a cricket match two or three years ago. Can recall him dropping a catch then too... Excellent opening batsman though.

Two legged semis are they not?

Deserves shooting if that's the case.

Some absolute shockers in the left hand column as well.

Defensive winger. Couldn't make it up.

@RobHarris: Pardew asked to describe Newcastle's performance in 3 words: "No"

Worry about him for next Sunday. Looked so nervous again. Could have done better for the second and I think a better keeper might have been near the first.

Why is Sammy marking Mertesacker?

Jonas in Boots in Eldon Square, looking well.

5-1. Back to earth.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/inside-world-wyscout---tool-7554131 FM database tends to be updated a couple of times a year, it's incredibly labour intensive - probably why clubs are interested in it. Obviously actual packages like Wyscout will be updated several times a day.

Actually I am wrong, the Italian company is Wyscout - Pardew was raving about this last year. The software that utilises the Football Manager database is ProZone. The latter still has a pretty extensive list of top clients - Bayern, Arsenal, Chelsea etc. Obviously they sometimes get is spectacularly wrong, but more often than not its fairly accurate - and obviously a great starting point for clubs. The researcher inputting the data will probably see every single youth and reserve match to make judgements.

Who in the prem uses FM to scout players? Edit : please please let it be pardew! :lol: Everyone technically, doesn't that Italian scouting package utilise statistics from FM?

Think people are missing the point, pretty sure the original post - which I agree with, is that in playing games like FM and just watching matches you can develop a pretty astute appreciation of the systems and tactics. Such people are being employed (I know a lot of them will have related degrees as well) in football now in analytic's and performance departments. Obviously it's a significant leap to becoming an actual manager - because it very much is who you know etc and man management is a totally arena, but it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

Probably and there is bound to be some rotation over the Christmas period but I can see Pellegrini putting his faith in Dzeko given his record. Felt I had to go for a City striker, they have some great fixtures coming up. Bony's a good option as well, but didn't want both him and Sigurdsson.

Pulled the trigger now with Aguero's price set to fall further tonight. Took a -8; benching Fabregas and Austin. Aguero, Chadli and Chambers To Dzeko, Sanchez and Zabaleta.

Man United probably consistently have the best away support at St James'. But I figure they always have a lot to shout about. Very few teams get behind their team as well as we do given what we have had to put up with.