acrossthepond

Missed the game, ESPNgamecast still says it's 1-1, the worthless dross that it is. Think we were lucky to get off 3-2 from the sound of things, looks like Big Sam's tactics worked quite well this game though with a much better starting XI than before and obviously effective subs.

Where are Owen's fanboys now? He doesn't care about us. How many times must I say it? He only wants to play for England and collect from us. He'll play 70 minutes of shite for us on Sunday, bugger off to England, and that'll be him out until the next qualifier, just like his previous appearances this season. Here's a few more: he doesn't care about us. He doesn't care about us. He doesn't care about us. I hope it is beginning to penetrate your thick skulls.

Strangely missing our best player out of that team You're surely not meaning Owen? Maybe it's because he's crocked again. By the way, why is it "a good point" when someone mentions Duff's never seemed motivated to play for Newcastle, but absolute rubbish when I say Owen's never seemed motivated either? Tbh they seem to be two sides of the same coin - both good for other teams, both came here for the money, both perenially injured and lacking in form.

You know a great British word? Tosser. It's perfect. We yanks don't have a word that so perfectly encapsulates you. You are a tosser, Stevie.

Never doubted it. What the hell does Dida think he's playing at? He's no good, and he's also been stretchered - aye, stretchered! - off the pitch after being "slapped" by a supporter who got on the pitch. Sure, the supporter's an idiot, but look at the Brazil national keeper flopping to the ground after the feeblest of touches. Embarassing, just like this loss.

What a match this could turn out to be. I can see anything from a 0-0, a Celtic thrashing, or a Milan thrashing. YNWA on the telly was special enough, imagine singing along at Celtic Park with tens of thousands around you. I want us at SJP to be my first live football match, but I wouldn't mind my second being at Parkhead. 'Mon the Hoops!

Yeah, I'd say that beats Martins. What a strike.

Kind of wish I'd seen this Hartlepool lad's goal, then, if Martins's goal against Spurs came second to it. Anyone know what it was like?

Exactly right. Couldn't have said it better. People have tried to build him up as Best, Geoff Hurst, and Jesus Christ all rolled into one, but he's just another overhyped England man. He's mercurial, able to create something out of nothing as many have said but also quite capable of creating nothing but a yellow card and a growing sense of frustration in many matches.

Do people get paid to come up with this stuff? That sounds like a pretty easy job to me. "Well, news is slow today, why don't I just make something up? BECKHAM JOINING SUNDERLAND, that's absurd enough, should convince some wallies..."

It's on the books now, but the play previous to the goal was clearly offside. Look at these morons celebrating a 4-4 at home like they've won the league. The bad news? They're still 18th.

Mind, they've scored and have a penalty now. Watch Villa throw the game away. We probably would.

This is it for Jol, no doubt he's already been sacked and they'll wait until the end of the game to tell him. They're celebrating their 125th birthday the night as well, the sad sods. Not a date to remember tbh

You know that's not what I asked, though, right? I know, but I don't enable haters. Sick of defending Martins - if you can't tell he's one of the class players out there in black and white, there's no point in talking it to death. Emm...how am I a hater? I gave you a chance to show a balanced view, a "fanboy" is just as irrational as a "hater". How old are you btw, if you don't mind me asking? Not taking part in this witch hunt. Your view is already unbalanced. If you think my "fanboy" view will somehow create an equilibrium, you weren't listening when your mam told you "two wrongs don't make a right." And yes, ignoring that last completely. Although most those on this forum seem to think otherwise, it doesn't actually matter who's behind the computer screen. It's the content that matters.

You know that's not what I asked, though, right? I know, but I don't enable haters. Sick of defending Martins - if you can't tell he's one of the class players out there in black and white, there's no point in talking it to death.

Especially Smith... both ends of the "Attacking Midfield" spectrum him and Elano.... Smith has just been stroling around all game. Smith's been nonexistent, Butt's been atrocious (horrific tackle early on, and a deliberate foul on Petrov in front of the ref that surely merited a yellow) and yet the one time Geremi's looking vaguely decent, it's him comes off. Big Sam's tactics as of late have been less than satisfactory, he must realize that buying the players is just the first step. Any thoughts on the number of times Martins' poor touches have surrendered possession, broken up an attack and led to a dangerous counter? Actually I thought that Martins and Milner provided the only energy in this game. And I believe the game was lost in midfield although the defence was pretty shocking too, which is why I focused on them. Next match: GK: Given RB: Beye CB: Rozy/Cacapa LB: Sanchez RW: Milner CM: Barton/Butt LW: N'Zogbia ST: Martins/Viduka bench: Harper, Taylor, Faye, Geremi, Smith (SMITH as striker not mid) You heard it here first

Especially Smith... both ends of the "Attacking Midfield" spectrum him and Elano.... Smith has just been stroling around all game. Smith's been nonexistent, Butt's been atrocious (horrific tackle early on, and a deliberate foul on Petrov in front of the ref that surely merited a yellow) and yet the one time Geremi's looking vaguely decent, it's him comes off. Big Sam's tactics as of late have been less than satisfactory, he must realize that buying the players is just the first step.

They've always deserved a third, but there was no stopping that goal. 3-1. I feel like really we've had so few clear-cut chances that we're lucky to come away with 1.

And, getting pasted again. Taylor gets the armband and promptly gives it up after being subbed for Faye. As Sima said, proudest "moment" of my life...

Zog to finally get out of this hopeless LB and move up? We might have some actual action in midfield now.

Taylor, fucking woeful. Rubbish tbh... whoever put that header straight in the path of Petrov with 50 yards to run into is to blame. Yeah, that's who I was referring to. Abysmal header, what was he doing?

Truly feeble defending by whoever that was, I didn't see. Feeble. We may as well just put the ball into the net ourselves if that shite is how our defence is going to play.

Taking a hammering since their goal. Need to get in still level at halftime I think.

We've done it! GOAAAAAAAL! Martins with a perfectly controlled goal, so much for "no first touch." Flawless.

Better to be good sports whenever possible tbh although they obviously were not putting it out for us.