TheInspiration

I think Beye was the best right-back in the Premiership last season, though that may be because I saw more of him. Regardless, he was superb and very consistent also. The only bad thing I saw him do was getting skinned by Ronaldo at SJP for Rooney's first goal and that's hardly something to be ashamed of. I agree we should concede less than 40 goals this season, however we should also let Bassong and Collocini adapt. That said, they look the sort who should handle the league. I also quite like Edgar, who has never had a bad game when called upon, and has played well at right-back also in pre-season.

Very early away games to Man Utd and Arsenal could be the best times for these matches to happen. Just hoping the matches won't crush the players' morales. It will be by no means the end of the world if we lose the match this afternoon, but hopefully all the players will be well up for it and put in a competitive performance.

Well Spurs today demonstrated why I was in no rush to predict they will be pushing for fourth place. I thought before those claims are very premature and don't like how they're considered the next team after the supposed big four, especially looking at last season's outcome.

Obviously you have never seen Ameobi play. Regards, Attain He's scored plenty of goals for us and done many of things right, regardless of how bad you think he is. The same cannot be said for Smith who has had one good game and pretty much every other game has been awful. Regards, TheInspiration Smith has scored plenty of goals for Leeds. But at this stage, both Ameobi and Smith are utter shiet. We cannot revisit the past, you can only base your opinion on what you see and on current performances (last two seasons), Ameobi is one of the shietest forwards I have ever seen for any premiership club. Similarly, with Smith. Regards, Attain He didn't score that many. 38 in 172 matches isn't great.

Obviously you have never seen Ameobi play. Regards, Attain He's scored plenty of goals for us and done many of things right, regardless of how bad you think he is. The same cannot be said for Smith who has had one good game and pretty much every other game has been awful. Regards, TheInspiration

He's a terrible footballer. Terrible up front and terrible in midfield. But on the bright side of things he gives 110% and is probably a nice lad also.

Good start for Pietersen as captain with the bat. Then he gets out and is unsurprisngly followed by Flintoff and Ambrose shortly later.

Not really. They can understandably be irritating if you're in a rush, but you shouldn't be rude to somebody who is most likely showing a sign of respect.

I'm not sure if this post has much worth as a wind-up as Spurs are hardly sitting pretty in 15th.

Good to see the Germans do have a sense of humour.

I'm pretty sure Milner's crosses have got even worse over the past couple of years.

This is the Key I'm a bit tired of the quick fix fans, who think that a bit of cash and a few token panic buys will be some magic salve, curing the real cancer of the club which is over a decade of mismanagement from the top-most level. I will endure yet another season of midtable mediocrity if it means we're not building our new castle on shifty sands. investment in youth and a first team who knit together is where success lies, not a team of names, nor a team of journeyman. I'm hoping we're not done buying, but I'm not expecting us to carry the preseason form on into the league. as I remember it, under Keegan we didn't ever really excite in pre-season anyway I agree. Top 10 sounds like a reasonable aim for this season. Like you I'd settle for midtable mediocrity if it means we're making some form of progress, but we might as well aim high. Our squad does have gaps, but we're expecting some more transfers, and in fairness our squad really isn't that small. When players are injured we might as well use the time as an advantage to bring in some youth, because otherwise they could get left out of the side for ages and their chances of success as a Newcastle first-team player will diminish as that happens due to a lack of progress. Our squad isn't THAT bad either. There's talk of relegation but I can't see how we're going to finish lower than last season. Sunderland can't seriously be pushing for top 10, and Middlesbrough are crap. Teams like Wigan, Bolton, Fulham and the promoted teams shouldn't be getting near us either.

Not sure about Pietersen as a tactician, but he's experienced and undoubtedly has presence on the field, so I think it's worth the risk. I'm hoping the added responsibility will help him mature, but he could always start struggling as Vaughan did. Anyway, hats off to Vaughan for stepping down. He's the finest captain England's had in years and it's good the regaining of the Ashes (at least, for a short while) is something to show for it.

This is the first time in ages I've watched Smith play a full 90 minutes and I've only just remembered how bad he is. Bassong looked impressive though - strong, athletic and looked pretty composed as well. How many times have we said that about a new centre-back here? Edgar looked alright also. In fact he has done whenever I've seen him play.

I'm heading that way also, however I'm more confident with him up front than Smith. Neither can help it when KK picks them mind.

I bet there won't be many, they don't like handing caps out like sweets. Harmi for Sidebottom probably. I think we should go back to 5 bowlers but who would you drop? Vaughan is an obvious one, but that'll never happen with him being captain (presuming he remains captain). In retrospect I think maybe four strike bowlers wasn't enough. However, if we do play five bowlers, that could mean a pretty lengthy tail depending on who is picked, and Flintoff and Ambrose at 6 and 7, which they aren't good enough for on the basis of recent performances.

I got Daniel Vettori's autograph a few years ago and said well batted to him and he didn't say thank you. Disgusting. Okay, he probably didn't hear me but that's not the point.

Graeme Smith is such an awesome batsman on his day. Hopefully there will be a few changes for the last test now we've lost the series.

Benefit of the doubt for what? For not being up to the job against the good teams. I could have sworn he got 199 not two matches ago... I was at Edgbaston today, I had a great day apart from some over-zealous stewards. KP was good but Collingwood was brilliant, didn't put a foot wrong all day, unrecognisable from the man who was scratching around for 45 minutes to score 4 in the first innings. He did once when everyone was scoring. He does not perform consistently. Graham Hick got the odd high score but England still suffered because selectors waited years to realise he didnt actually have it in him to be a real international cricketer. No, no, no. A criticism that has frequently been thrown at Bell is that he doesn't make runs under pressure. When he came in at Lord's, England had lost three wickets for four runs and were in danger of collapsing. Bell not only stopped the rot and put is in a good position with Pietersen, but pushed England from a good position into a dominant one. That said, he his dismissal today was particularly brainless. However, he is one of the bright stars of this England team, and not a weak link. Comparing him to Graeme Hick is idiotic. I agree as Hick was a far more talented player. Pfft. Flat track bully. Well his average of 31.32 doesn't compare to Bell's average of 44.28. The best is surely yet to come from him also as he is 26 and approaching his prime. I think his biggest criticism was he consistently made decent scores, then failed to convert them into big scores - I'm hoping he can build on his 199, but so far since he has made one half-century, where he got out straight after getting it. However, is Bell the problem? Strauss hasn't scored a half-century yet this series and Vaughan's highest score is 21.

Benefit of the doubt for what?

Who is quickly followed by Flintoff, who yet again fails with the bat when England really need him. Other than his 70-odd at Edgbaston in the 2005 Ashes, has he ever batted well when England were struggling?

Happy birthday.

Happy birthday.

Yes it was. He's still useless.

I reckon it will be Collocini. Hmm, nah. On second thoughts that would be silly.