BigWalrus

If the biting had happened first, then the racial abuse, I reckon you could change the order of that. Handing out 8 game bans for dangerous tackling is never going to happen because of the inherent risk of a dangerous tackle happening during general play. Biting and racism is completely and easily avoidable and deserves much longer bans.

He's also picked up 10 bookings this season, which probably doesn't help his cause. Horrible little turd.

Aye, I agree. Can't really argue against the ban or the length of it to be honest.

And biting is infinitely worse than McManaman's challenge on Haidara, too.

There's a photo of that in the Bamburgh suite at SJP

Suarez banned for TEN games.

To be fair, it's just something I've read. Don't know which goals they were.

Cisse tops the "non-offside" league. "Five of the goals Papisse Cisse has scored this season, that were ruled offside, have been proven not to be offside by TV replays".

Bayern deserved the win, but were helped along by two very iffy decisions from the officials. I've heard that towels have already been spotted on some of the seats at Wembley.

Football doesn't have room for a "natural attacking down the wing game" as a standalone position. The modern wide man needs to balance attacking with hanging back to allow an overlapping fullback, as well as tracking an overlapping opposition fullback. As a standalone skill, Ferguson is canny at running on the outside of the fullback and whipping a ball into the box. It's an easy one to defend as he's pretty one footed, but if we come up against a slow fullback, it could be useful. What he needs to add to his game, is awareness of team mates, awareness of positioning and the decision making process of when to attack, when to drop, when to hold. This will only come with regular games and is why him being out on loan for another half a season at least is vital. He isn't of a good enough standard to justify being a regular in the PL just yet.

I wouldn't expect any significant improvement from players, given that half of them have been injured for long spells. Improvement comes with stability and familiarity of surroundings. We've been ravaged by injury this season and its not allowed us to play a settled side for any length of time. You know its been a bad one when you lose your keeper through two separate injuries.

Cisse plays on the shoulder of defenders, his movement is superb and he is our top scorer.

Pardew's basic is very low, but he has a very generous performance related element to his deal. If he finished in the top 5 again, he'd easily be earning £3m per year, without a shadow of a doubt. If he finishes in 17th place, his bonus will be virtually nothing and his pay packet will reflect that.

You're comparing your own personal stand point with your own generalisation of a stereotypical Geordie. There are gloating knob-heads on both sides, just as there are people who don't go overboard on both sides. I discussed the derby game with a mackem lad at work like I would any other game. He said he wouldn't dream of rubbing it in as I never went over the top following the 5-1. (He did say he'd reserved the rubbing in for some Durham based armchair NUFC fans who never shut up about Sunderland).

I've heard "sack the board" a few times. Which is always slightly amusing, as the "board" who are subject to the abuse answer only to themselves.

That win against Liverpool last season was probably my favourite game of the season. Carroll getting booked for diving, Carroll getting booed off after being ineffective, Suarez being shite, Enrique going in goal. Couldn't have gone any better.

I'm just happy it's on a Saturday. I hate these bloody Sunday games.

We've created plenty of chances recently, without either of them, as Happy Face's analysis the other day demonstrated.

It's the arse end of the Championship season, against a load of poor sides with little to play for. Ferguson has played his part at Birmingham, but he needs another season on loan to have a chance of developing into a PL regular. I think we can safely say that Pardew won't recall Shane Ferguson in response to Papiss Cisse having a cracked rib.

They believe that the Clairefontaine centre (basically the French FA's main base) is where the best treatment is provided, and prefer to go back there. Personally I think the club should keep their medical treatment inhouse, but it may be that they are perfectly happy with them going to France. I know that Clairefontaine has a pretty good reputation, so it's not as if they're getting some sort of back street doctor working on them.

Shaney, Shaney, give me your answer, do, I'm half crazy all for the love of you. It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage, But you'd look sweet upon the seat Of my love-taxi, Shaney Poo.

Aye, he's got a cracked rib and has been playing through the pain barrier. He's off to France to see a specialist. Gouffran could do the business as a stand alone striker. His movement is good and awareness of team mates is also canny. I'd probably go with Shola and Gouffran up front.

Amen to that.

Is that from Shakespeare?

Companies and investments I mean. He is very active on the stock market and has a lot of his wealth tied up in shares. Investors with as much as him often plough into the markets during the bad times as they can come out of the other side with a lot more. I agree that from my personal perspective, I'd have liked to see a load more come in during the summer. I don't think the failure to bring players in was as a result of having a lack of funds though, more a failure of Llambias and team to close the deals.