acrossthepond

2-1 to us.

Bolton supporters singing "Are you watching Allardyce" after their goal. Load of sad deluded part-timers tbh.

From ESPNsoccernet: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=48...os2&cc=5901 Murphy is one of the few on ESPN who actually knows anything about north-east football, and also wrote an article about the departures of Solano and Dyer. The article really emphasizes the importance of the derby to both sets of fans. I dare say most Premier League clubs don't value their derbies quite as much as we do. He's right about a win for either side providing a tonic - we can both then say, "Oh, it's not so bad after all, at least we beat the Mackems/Mags." What happens in the event of a draw though? I think a draw looks worse for us - for us this is a must-win game, for them it's a must-not-lose game.

I had trouble recognizing that as the English language for a while. Have I been away too long or are scouse accents getting worse?

Here is some good sense. I hope some of those calling for Cacapa's head are listening. After putting up with some of the alleged centre-backs in recent memory, I honestly cannot believe that people are after Cacapa's blood already. He is class. Even class has bad games. He obviously didn't have it on Saturday, Big Sam realized it and took him off, now it's in the past and it's time to look ahead. He is a first-team player and a solid signing for certain - if I were the manager, I would make him (or Butt) the captain.

Here we go again, it's Newcastle United's Manager Carousel! Round and round we go, when we stop, nobody knows. Didn't think it would start this early, but not altogether surprised. p.s. Big Sam...in? p.p.s. How does Ashley admiring Hughes equate to him being "waiting in the wings?"

Not much to say. Thoroughly shelled. I don't even know who to blame. If we can't do better against the Mackems I can just see the "Sam out" chants beginning.

I hardly need to tell you who needlessly conceded the free kick leading to that goal. It all could have been so different.

It's Enrique off, Martins on. Big Sam going for glory here.

Yep he should instantly be changing games himself after months out... I'm not asking for miracles, I'm just saying he seems to give it away every time he's got it. Go team! You do your home country proud. Seriously though, time for Sam to ring the changes. I think Smith needs to go off as he's a red waiting to happen and isn't exactly setting the game alight as it is. Martins is really the only choice. Pluses to take away from the half: Owen's been good, always looked dangerous this game. The Zog and Milner have also been incisive. That's about it.

Yep he should instantly be changing games himself after months out... I'm not asking for miracles, I'm just saying he seems to give it away every time he's got it.

He never deserved that yellow though, harsh on him.

There's another yellow for Smith. What a surprise. And another thing: what is Barton doing? He's not convincing me, that's for sure.

Defence looks truly woeful. We've given a handball that surely must have been a penalty not to mention conceding three. What is going on? We've looked so solid in some previous games.

Hope springs eternal. If we can get another before halftime we might still have a shot at it.

They might get 10 now. I can't believe what I'm seeing.

It's now 3-0. Utaka has scored.

There was absolutely no stopping the first goal, Pamarot charged onto it from the back after a bad cross from a corner that bounced to him. But Benjani managed to get around Cacapa and curled it in. Brilliant stuff from them. We're down 2 after 9 minutes.

And we're now down 0-2 after a Benjani and Pamarot goal.

Holy God. That was a strike and a half. NUFC 0-1 Pompey

Smith as a striker could be promising. I'm really glad that Geremi was dropped. Looks like we might have a decent attacking game.

I'm 100% sure I don't give a damn. Just keep your trap shut, aye? You never have anything relevant to say so don't say anything at all. On to the people who actually want to discuss the topic: I am honestly bewildered at the people saying my earlier comments put a "negative slant" on this interview. If me saying it's a non-story is negative, I don't know what I can say to be positive besides "I LOVE OWEN HOPE HE STAYS TILL HE'S 40." The story is absolutely meaningless and is just something to fill column space with, or wrap your fish and chips in if you like. To The Fish, I never wanted him to say anything. Anyone can talk the talk and Owen has been talking it since he got here. I need to see results now. Owen scoring the winner today, as Alex hopes for, won't win me over, but it'll help. Owen giving his all and putting in a good performance, hopefully with a goal against the Mackems will help more. That's all I'll say for now. It's just time to wait and see as far as Owen goes.

Another moron incapable of common sense. Honestly, R|CO, who are you and why do you have something (nonsensical) to say about everything I write? Simple version for you: Anyone can and will say they're not going. Managers insist they will be the ones to save their team up to the minute they get sacked. Owen can say he's not going until the cows come home and it doesn't make a whit of difference. It is a non-story. If I had made another account and posted what I did, or if this article were about, let's say Emre, nobody would have had any comment. You are honestly just looking for excuses to go after me, and looking for hidden meanings in what I write. There aren't any.

I was quite serious. Of course he's going to rubbish any kind of link away from SJP. There's no way he's going to go "Actually, I was looking at my options..." because then people would really be out for his blood. Obviously he's going to keep saying his future lies at NUFC, even if he doesn't think it does. It's just common sense. Which you lot seem to forget when responding to me. It's a total non-story. Doesn't even bear printing. Should just have one automatically prepared and change the date on it every week. Not sure why you guys reacted the way you did, besides that you think I'm a redneck. I live in New York. p.s. for my part, I don't think he's going anywhere. I think he'd much prefer to ride the gravy train here.

Nothing to this. I think he should have his press agent put together one of these every week and just have it read off by a talking clock or something. He'll dismiss exit talk until the day (should it come) when he leaves.