Dr Gloom

hard not to go when it's a close mate though innit. it just seems expectations on weddings have gone up massively in the past few years. the first mate in our group to get hitched had a stag night out in london. that's a rarity now. the last 7 or 8 i've been to have all been weekenders around europe - then you've got an additional night out in london for thsoe that missed the main event, that most people go to anarl. not that i'm complaining too much like given the paucity of boys' nights out i get to these days. combine that with the increasing number of overseas weddings these days too though and you're looking at a not inconsiderable bank raid.

hangover 2 was balls wasn't it. sometimes they just need to leave good films alone. unless there's a sequel that can match or better the original, don't fucking bother.

seems to be the trendy thing to do doesn't it. it's an expensive game once you factor in the additional few hundred quid you have to shell aside for the fucking weekend long stag do in europe somewhere. i swear ive spent as much on mates' weddings the last few years as i have on holidays for just me and the mrs.

just back from kettlebells. lord have mercy. just had a supersize nicoise salad. reckon i could do another one back to back.

for all louise taylor's faults, it's nice to see the gruaniad having her covering the game from st james park and not the sports direct arena. the arseholes at sky should follow the example of a few of the broadsheets in sticking two fingers up at ashley on that one.

:lol: it's only january and already we have a post of the year contender

fucking infuriating isn't he, putting in a shift like he did against man u then fannying around like a big wet flannel yesterday. definitely one of the most annoying players to watch that we've had in recent years. we all know he can do it when he turns up but for every good showing you've got 4 or 5 like yesterday. fuck knows how he's won so many contracts over the years. cheap i suppose.

i remember him posting on here back in the day. RIP :-(

nowhere of any note this year, sadly. going to have a series of staycations thanks to spending all of our savings and then some on a new house. am going to ibiza for a wedding in may but other than that, nothing more than the odd weekend in france and italy. nothing expensive - and certainly no long hauls with the bairn

Win WIn enjoyed it. 7/10

behaved a bit better than last year. i enjoyed the beaver gag, and the umcomfortable looks on the famous faces

ooooh. bad taste but i like it

even staunch royalists would find it difficult to defend this suggestion in the current economic climate. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jan/15/queen-royal-yacht-diamond-jubilee-gove

kettle bells again for me today.

Just got to hope his dodgy knee holds out. Would be nice if we signed a natural left sided defender too

No chance.

I'm going. Hoping for. Better result than last season! It's a good away day out but not a place we've had a lot of success in the years I've been going.

Interesting comments from Pardew. I wonder if this means we'll see him starting finally.

He's good competition for Taylor. I don't think there's much in it between them - both old fashioned,big, no nonsense centre halfs. Colo is the one with a touch of class. I wouldn't fancy pairing the other two together if the skipper was out. The less said about our 4th choice option at centre half the better too.

Did seem a bit funny how Cabaye was up on his feet one minute pushing that qpr player in the back then going off on a stretcher the next. Butch Wilkins-tastic. Love the crab me.

He's going to need to put in a few more game like that until Ba comes back given we're 'not in the market for a striker'

No, it isn't. I want him in the side. That's why it's frustrating that he hasnt put in a better performance. Pardew kept him on the bench after he played better than that so I don't see him starting next time. I'm frustrated with Pardew for not giving him more chances and I'm frustrated with Ben Arfa for trying too hard when he does get the chance. He should be starting. The whole fuckin thing is frustrating. I fully expect to see some comments from Pardew in midweek about him having more to do more to fit fit into our style of play.

I haven't said I think he's right to bench him have I you bell.

I want Hatem starting. But he's played a lot better than that and then Pardew's still kept him on the bench. And you can fuck right off with that Wilkins comment.

Very pleasing result considering the performance. I was willing Ben Arfa to do well with every touch. We desperately need a player like him in the side to give us a bit of creativity but I've got to say I thought he was poor. He seems to be trying too hard, which is understandable give his lack of chances. There were some moments of class from him, a couple of tasty through balls, but overall he was frustrating. I don't think pardew is going to start him if he's not getting a look in at home to qpr and that 90 minutes won't have done his case any favours, sadly. Thought Guthrie was class. Continued his good form from earlier in the season and hopefully he'll keep it up while tiote away. Thought Ryan Taylor had another decent game. Looked competent in centre mid too. Every squad needs a utility man. Perch coming on with 15 mins to go was the right move, despite what the boo boys say. Crap defender but a half decent holding midfielder to help see the game out. Pardew's used him like that a few times now to good effect. Bet was good, a knock there is a worry. Shola did his usual thing of running out of steam after about an hour. Probably would have been subbed if Best hadn't gone off injured. Ba's absence highlights how short of quality we are up front. Shout to Jonas too. He has his critics on here and his final ball can be frustrating but you have to tip your hat to the shift he puts in every week. He never stops running.