Ste

Moyes turning it around.

If me auntie had balls she'd be me uncle. 3 points on the board, WHL is still a tough place to go despite their problems this season in front of goal. Next 2 games will show us where we are really at. Personally, I think Norwich will turn us over.

Incredible performance. A save every 6.7 seconds.

Definitely, amazing play from Mapou, my jaw was all Was a quality clearance, seemed to be the only one to react to it while others stood still. Spurs had 3 attackers going for it.

Shola has done canny but his weaknesses are being highlighted like you would expect.

I think it was daft letting Lukaku go out on loan again as I definitely think he had a part to play for Chelsea this season. I don't think Abramovich would prefer him over Torres though.

They have a dress code, perhaps he didn't fulfil the criteria.

Just another player we signed because they were cheap and available, rather than to fulfil any particular role in the team. He's a talented lad but I don't think he's anything special.

I think it was mostly luck, he could have easily mis-timed it or missed it totally. I'd have to watch it again, but I don't think Ivanovic even jumps for it, I think he wants it to drop or he's just perplexed as to why Sissoko isn't even glancing to the corner to see when and how the ball will be played.

As fourth choice, for a club in our position, he's fantastic. Still a bit nervous when I see his name in the line-up.

Such a lazy article. Cheers for that, Lee. Insightful as ever. Back to licking windows, it seems.

I think sometimes fans assume that because you can beat a full back with pace and trickery, you should play through the centre and run at the centre halves to get through on goal. When you play central, especially in that number 10 role that people were calling for him to play in, decisiveness is key and Hatem is as indecisive a player as I've seen, Obertan aside. Ben Arfa is most dangerous on the right wing but he does have to protect Debuchy a lot better as we've seen just how much better Debuchy looks with a winger in front of him who's willing to give and take and put in a defensive shift as well. There has to be a clear gameplan with Ben Arfa, centrally his impact is negated and out wide he's a threat but exposes a full back. As pointed out above, he's shown he can do it so I don't know why he's suddenly stopped, I don't think it's been passed down to him by the coaching staff to do it otherwise he wouldn't be dropped imo.

Ben Arfa holding onto the ball too long is fine when he's using it well and terrorising defences, but he hasn't been, so it's been very annoying to see him dispossessed or refuse to play a simple ball. I've still got a lot of time for him. Ben Arfa in the right frame of mind and making the right decisions is by far and away the most dangerous player at the club and our biggest asset. And I have every faith he will get back to that level and add consistency to his game. One positive has been the niggly injuries have disappeared, so he's available for selection more often than not. I'm not sure the weight gain has been a decision made by the club or Ben Arfa has lost control a little.

We're playing some decent football in spells, but we have capitulated a couple of times as well. I think we'll drop a couple of places and finish just outside of the top 10, but it all depends of course on the business we do in January. Cutting out the long ball crap has been pleasing to see, if we can build on that and add some consistency, it'll be a good effort from those involved given the lack of business conducted last summer. I can imagine if Sunderland had been our tenth game, answers would have been a lot different. It's been that kind of season so far.

They were fairly well organised when they went down to 9 men. Obviously being without Cattermole will be a blow for them given the poor options they have, but that was a positive for them. They dug in well although Hull were pretty toothless in attack. I think sunderland and Palace are as good as down.

Townsend hurt pre game, went to block a ball from hitting him in the face and hurt his hand. Had a bit of a bitchfit about it.

He's an example of Ashley doing things detrimental to the football club when he's upset, like Pardew pointed out.

I think it's got a draw written all over it personally. Should be a good game, it's certainly set up that way. 2nd place at stake though it is still so early.

I don't think that last point is true. Some derby games you can really get into even as a neutral. After the game, you aren't as involved as fans of either club and it doesn't stay with you as long, but it is possible to understand the rivalry.

I don't think even the Tyne-Wear derby is the biggest. I'm looking forward to the game, I just think he's overplaying it.

Dean Saunders talking about Cardiff v Swansea being the biggest game over. Give over, two clubs from Wales will never be involved in the biggest game ever.

When the story first came out, wasn't it about a game that Ferguson didn't even feature in?

It is a bit humorous to re-write history now he is Sunderland manager though. Delete my previous post on the matter, Poyet shit on that floor.

To detract from the win like that with that comment is stupid, but we all know where his loyalties lie. I do wonder who he means by we, are many of the players behind him and Ashley? I can't see there being many. Perhaps those who, under a progressive owner, would find themselves out the door are behind Ashley.

"We are together and this win is for everyone, from Mike Ashley at the top to all the Newcastle fans.” Is that what people are so annoyed about?