Altamullan

Got it Daily Mail..

Can't find announcement. Where did you see/hear of EggNog's departure?

ElCid. We both no doubt hope you're wrong. 'Not being good enough' is a bit over general for my taste in explanations that might actually help clarify a solution and last season's results only influence here is on player confidence/tolerance of fans. It does make a difference seeing games, as otherwise how can you know what we're working with? Of course people see it differently, people actively perceive everything through their own knowledge and biases. What I've seen gives me some encouragement; I hope I'm right.

May seem odd, if you're smarting from the score line/only seen highlights, but I thought Anita was excellent in the first half yesterday, and continued working/kept his head-up in the second. I was near the back of the away section (way up high) which gave a great view of the shape and who was doing what off the ball. Really impressed by how much work he did closing down and supporting defence: left and right. Really covered the distance and put in some crunching tackles. Credit where it is due; well played the lad.

This! Had this argument with many braindead idiots. Not saying we would have gone on to win ffs, but to deny that it would have been a different game had we gone in ahead by 2 goals at HT is just stupid. It wasn't even a borderline decision, or a dubious sending off. It was a clear goal. A well worked move and a finish at the end of it. Boils my p*ss tbh. Your piss. My blood. Same pan. what a f**king image!

and i think you're kidding yourself - no chance with the current regime Well...wouldn't be the first time. However, I've seen six games this season and the way we have played (in spells) has been really encouraging (3 points, I know...). The second half collapses against Chelsea and Man City, seem to be more about confidence that competence. I don't think I am being unrealistic to imagine we can win 9 or 10 of the remaining 30 fixtures. The Makems stayed-up last year winning only 7; as did West Brom, the year before. Our confidence with pick-up with a couple of wins. I am as anxious as others to see this happen, but at this stage I am personally not panicking. I think we'll see better football than last couple of years, though doubt we'll amass more points than 2013-14(49, 15 wins, 4 drawers, 10th place).

I thought Anita played well. Gouffran was clearly a liability, even in the first half.

We've got 3 points from a possible 24; that's 12.5%. Carry on that dazzling return and that would mean another 11 of the available 90. Obviously, a total of 14 isn't going to happen; but it does show just how dire D3 L5 is. Maybe the bit to focus on is 90 points available. To end-up on 40 points, we need to take 41% of the available points; a total of 43 points would require a 44% return. Watford's 10 points is pretty much a 41% run of form; Southampton's 12 points represents a 50% run of form. I think we can do somewhere between the two.

He sauntered over, the last man over to applaud the fans--looking knackered. As he raised his hands and clapped us, we were singing his name (MI-TRO, MI-TRO...). He looked genuinely moved/humbled: kind of half shook his head and turned back for the long trudge to the dressing room.

We were immense first half; crowd was rocking, Gini was taking the p*ss, Mbabu was in control, Mbemba was colossal, Mitro looked like a train, thoroughly enjoyed it. We seems nervous (crowd and players) when we came out. Too many unforced errors, some by players who had been great (Mbemba passing to them for instance). Really f**king shell-shocked to be honest. Crowd excellent once recovered and doing Ole's for our passes, and singing we're going to win (6-5...then 7-6). Just imploded man...similar in kind to Chelsea, but just more dramatic.

Fell into deep sleep/dissociative state for the second half, did I hang on to my three points??

City's pre-match angst and braggartry is worth at read: http://forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/threads/city-v-newcastle-pre-match-thread.316241/page-14

Hoping you're not 'THE' SMc...me thinks we need a tad more positivity in the dressing room

This is the third week in a row I am now imagining Man City losing... I am also aware (all too keenly) that I have always, even if only fleetingly, developed a kind of pre-match delusional optimism (yes, even with bitter recent experience). Soooo, do I change my prediction of an honourable loss to a low probability bookie-baffling win? Or stick with the pre-delusional compromise...welcome to my troubled mind (must go and add something-up to distract myself... ). Happy Saturday folks!

My kids would love to play Minecraft on that oversized tablet stuck on the wall.

After 25 sets of predictions our group guesses (median home and away goals, turned into results) look like this: Crystal Palace 1-0 West Brom Aston Villa 1-1 Stoke Bournemouth 1-1 Watford Man City 3-1 Newcastle Norwich 2-2 Leicester Sunderland 1-1 West Ham Chelsea 2-0 Southampton Everton 2-1 Liverpool Arsenal 1-1 Man Utd Swansea 1-1 Spurs A lot of 1-1 draws this week. In terms of the safest place for our nomination/double-up, our game is the favourite again, with 10 of us nominating it (again)—and a good spanking predicted (again). Nobody has nominated the games at Everton or Swansea yet.

Fear not my Macnamara Marras, although not to everyone's taste (Urrrgh flashback to my Aunty Ethel's New Year's Eve bash... ) apparently you can easily make your own Egg Nog/DIY manager. Destructions here: http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2012/11/diy-vs-buy-dutch-eggnog-advocaat-brandy-christmas-drink-cocktail-party.html If you find it isn't very effective at leading your team, you can always dip your Little Dick in it and hope for some attention from one of Big Dick's favoured Amsterdam window decorations.

Father Lawro Jessup: "I've always REALLY enjoyed watching Newcastle at Middle-East-lands.... NO I'll be taking Newcastle to win 3-0..." http://www.azquotes.com/author/8584-Mark_Lawrenson "Vurnon Anita isn't the tallest of Lads, but his height more than makes up for that."

Happy to mate, though may have City fans in tow. Where are you going pre-match?

Happy days! They are worse without Toure and Kompany; Nasri is also a constant threat. Silva is main worry, closely followed by Aguero, but let's face it ... They have a canny squad. All I'm hoping for (thinking of drive home with four City fans...) is we make decent fist of it, score an away goal (or two) and maintain/build confidence.

Same back five; he'll go 2 3 1 again. Anita as one of the 2. Either Tiote or Wijnaldum alongside (not thrilled by either prospect in this position tbh, but would rather have Tiote if he's performing in training). With the three, I would be tempted to play Perez left, Sissoko right, and (if Wijnaldumat CM) de Jong behind Mitrovic. I think de Jong is more likely to keep possession (we sorely need to keep hold of the ball on Saturday) and can see him linking well with Perez, in particular. I also think Perez will work to give Mbabu some (no doubt much needed) support down their right side. Thauvin to come on as second half sub and score a top corner scorcher!

fantastic! Albeit slightly disturbing....

I haven't seen anything from him to suggest that he is a striker. I'd include pre-NUFC 'highlights 'in this too. He looks busy and athletic and potentially good at creating space around the box/chances for others: kind of Craig Bellamy without the finishing...maybe that will come.

It look kinda purty, all neked 'n' all...

Shared because it's a disgrace. http://s22.postimg.org/mtxfockup/image.jpg Head's spinning at that one Degs...nice one! Anyone else think Lane 2 is the only one who doesn't look a 'little seedy'? (CD...sorry )