Monroe Transfer

Harper relegated to reserve duty then.

Spot on. Looks far more 'up for it' than his brother does, yet his brother is the one getting the games. Experience and scoring records count for nothing when you're playing as badly as Shola is. Even if Sammy's shooting is not up to the required level, his attitude and willingness to force the opposition's defenders to have to work hard and concentrate on him will create space and make them less comfortable. The only time defenders have to really worry about Shola is when he's going for an air ball. After witnessing that performance last night, I'd rather risk younger players (the likes of Vuckic, Sammy, Abeid, Ferguson, Richardson, Donaldson, Dummett) than continue with ineffectual players with experience on their side. I wonder how they'd perform when we're still using the same tactics that we have been recently? Btw Donaldson is absolute dogshit. So I'd rather we didn't get him a chance. Fair point. I was just viewing it from a simplistic angle. Not really seen much of Donaldson to be honest, only mentioned him because he seems to be one of the higher profile 'development squad' players. I'll take your word for it.

Should have edited in a safety wink smilie I suppose.

... with that said - I'm aware Shola was injured until recently. So I'm not sure if I'm being too harsh on him.

Spot on. Looks far more 'up for it' than his brother does, yet his brother is the one getting the games. Experience and scoring records count for nothing when you're playing as badly as Shola is. Even if Sammy's shooting is not up to the required level, his attitude and willingness to force the opposition's defenders to have to work hard and concentrate on him will create space and make them less comfortable. The only time defenders have to really worry about Shola is when he's going for an air ball. After witnessing that performance last night, I'd rather risk younger players (the likes of Vuckic, Sammy, Abeid, Ferguson, Richardson, Donaldson, Dummett) than continue with ineffectual players with experience on their side.

Rather not give strange racist people any attention, but that's just my take on it.

Load of nonsense. They all "made it" except for Obertan (due to the competition for places at Man Utd). Santon "made it" but then lost his way a little, but he's only 20.

Krul - 7 Didn't actually have to do much. On one occasion he got caught out when SWP chipped a cross over him. He needs to stick to making a decision of when to come for the ball or not. Too often he comes out, is unsure of what to do, and gets caught in no man's land. Simpson - 7 Played pretty well I thought. Better than usual. Coloccini - 7 Decent. Mr Reliable. Steven Taylor - 6 Decent but petulant. Ryan Taylor - 2 Absolutely atrocious. Did absolutely nothing well. Poor set pieces, and was absolutely dominated by their attackers. Should be a LM not a LB because he can't defend to save his life. Obertan - 5 Fairly positive movement and at least he has some pace. A few good passes too. He still looks far, far too shy and lacking in confidence; hence why he rarely tries to take defenders on and rarely if ever shoots for goal. Cabaye - 6 Anonymous too often. Played too deep and we didn't play to his strengths. A few decent long balls though. Tiote - 4 Abysmal. Couldn't keep possession, couldn't pass, got beaten too many times. Got his customary yellow card for a show of immaturity again. Absolutely nowhere near what he's capable of. Gutierrez - 6 Unlike Obertan he's a confident player who gets in to good positions. However he really needed to do a lot more defensively and I was very disappointed in this side of his game. His pace would have helped Ryan Taylor out. Ameobi - 3 Beyond a joke how he starts ahead of his brother and Ba. Slow, meandering, useless. I like him on his 'on days' but he's not had one of those for a while. Just didn't look interested. Best - 6 Much better than his strike partner. Got into a few good positions. Better service would have helped him out and he was unlucky not to score. Ba - 5 Service to him was almost non-existant Marveaux - 5 Well off the pace. Sammy Ameobi - 6 Put himself about but didn't have much time or service to do much with the ball.

Not sure what game you were watching, only one of our fullbacks was gash tonight.

Too early to judge.

If Shola earned a 0, then Ryan Taylor deserves the same score surely Stevie.

Didn't we spend more than them?

Horrible seeing Barton being so friendly with his mates in our team. He really should still be playing for us.

Tiote's worst performance in the shirt, has to be.

We've got an Italian international LB on the bench. I don't care if he's not match fit, he has to be better than Taylor. Shola is just embarrassing, Is Cabaye on the pitch? Has Tiote forgotten how to play football? Is Gutierrez half asleep? Simpson and Steven Taylor have been alright, and at least Obertan has some pace.

I can't believe we're still starting with Shola. It's a joke. Ryan Taylor, Ameobi and the atrocious Tiote need to come off.

This is pathetic. Tiote has been beyond woeful.

Funny how they're doing all their play up our left side...

We're looking terrible.

Apparently it is... drum roll... this is so exciting... you won't believe it... Garry O'Connor. http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2011/0...ecovery-120902/

Agent Bruce is doing a good job to be fair to him. Long may it continue.

It's just going to feel so wrong watching him captain another side against us.

What steroids are you on?

First time I've visited N-O in a very long time that, place looks really different.

http://www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/...54i4#msg3213666