Papa Lazaru

They've been very impressive and deserve to be where they are. As people have said when they hit a bad run and injuries start occuring we'll see what happens, but they've set themselves up to easilly finish top 10 and challenge for a UEFA spot. They have however unusually for a promoted small team been given alot of decisions by refs, normally the smaller clubs get shafted by refs, so that's helped them, but they are doing really well so far as a team.

Eugene Zappa for me

Its not in the least surprising, there is a large proportion of the public who buy crap music like Robbie, Westlife and some of the other rubbish listed there.

He's tried on several occasions to end the career of felow professionals, he's a complete cnut and not good enough a player to balance out how much of a prick he is.

And i was just about to announce i would be free for a drink before the match, and afterwards as well! There's usually always a few people around, so just post a time and place and see what happens.

So we employ award winning chefs but not award winning coaches and fitness staff, sounds about right!

I know what Luckyluke means, is it somebody who's a twat you don't mind, or somebody other peple think is a twat but you yourself don't. Well i'll say Mourinho, i don't think he is one at all, but some people (ie Wenger!) do.

be interesting to see what comes top in tonights '50 most scary moments' thing tonight, I think that film was well done in the list! But then Buffy has just featured in the top 20 i think! good grief 51903[/snapback] I'd just flicked over when I saw 'Buffy' in there. 51928[/snapback] To be fair none of them are actually scary as they aren't real, so its subjective at best, but the episode of Buffy they put in was a good choice. Everybody was rendered unable to speak/make a sound and a group of evil looking creatures were going around at night cutting out peoples organs and they were unable to scream for help. So there!

Its on ITV4 the new freeview channel

Wenger could ,aybe try developing an actual sense of humou and just laugh it off and get on with looking after hois own club rather than whinging about legal action. It was funny, and its certainly worked if the intention was to wind him up, and to look at him you could believe it!

I agree about covering options on the bench and there is a value to a striker with physical strength (rather than say pure aerial ability), but if you're good enough you don't have to have that option all the time. Arsenal have the likes of Henry who's shite in the air and he's played alongside and with other players who aren't exactly dominant in the air like Reyes, Bergkamp etc. Meanwhile Chelsea have shown with Drogba the value of having a physical presence, so it depends what you are working with and how well your team is playing and what style of football they're playing. And just to be annoying, i would have loved to see Owen/Bellamy up front as any defence would struggle to handle those two playing together and if you had Dyer in the same line up we would be lethal on the break! 51807[/snapback] Unfortunately I don't think you can compare our team to the Arse team that has succeeded in playing without players who provide an arial presence up top (I know you weren't doing this like). But they also in a way prove the point that it is necessary to have this alternative. In Europe their style has been far too easily snuffed out. They have only been getting to the same stage that we managed to get to last time we played in the champions league with a poorer and far less experienced team. If they had the ability to attack in a different way they could well have won the trophy. Mind you I'd be more than happy with the domestic trophy's they have won in recent years. I know what you mean about having Owen, Bella's and Dyer all playing in attack and it brings images of the Leeds games to mind but I think it's fair to say it certainly wouldn't work every game. Oh and we wouldn't have Owen if Bellamy was still here 51833[/snapback] Its true about the arse in that when a team finds them out, they don't really have a plan B, but as you say domestically we'd be more than happy with their plan A over the years!

I agree about covering options on the bench and there is a value to a striker with physical strength (rather than say pure aerial ability), but if you're good enough you don't have to have that option all the time. Arsenal have the likes of Henry who's shite in the air and he's played alongside and with other players who aren't exactly dominant in the air like Reyes, Bergkamp etc. Meanwhile Chelsea have shown with Drogba the value of having a physical presence, so it depends what you are working with and how well your team is playing and what style of football they're playing. And just to be annoying, i would have loved to see Owen/Bellamy up front as any defence would struggle to handle those two playing together and if you had Dyer in the same line up we would be lethal on the break!

That pretty much covers it, except Bramble would be in my best CB partnership and Ramage is an option at LB/RB. I've no problem at all going in with a Dyer/Owen combo up front as the pace and movement more than compensates for a lack of aerial ability and lets be honest if we were playing football properly it doesn't matter if you have nobody to hoof the ball up to from your own half.

No team has done anything in the EPL utilising 3 at the back. It's total shite and doesn't work. 51651[/snapback] Correct and should be the end of the matter once and for all! As for 4-1-4-1, or 4-5-1 or whatever, Owen has never looked as good on his own as he does in a two man attack and we as a team have rarely looked anything but shite when we have played any variation on the 4-5-1/4-3-3 theme.

Keeper and defence had barely allowed them a shot on target in 45 mins, none of them were even close to shite in the first half. Nobby and Emre had shown some nice touches without great penetration but a couple of chances were created, again neither close to being shite and the same applies to Parker and Zog. 51319[/snapback] Owen was just as woeful though. (in 1st half) 51321[/snapback] I think he said as much in his interview after the match! The great thing with Owen is he could be shite for 90 mins (but rarely ever will be) and you'd still back him to score a goal or 2 if the chances are created.

Keeper and defence had barely allowed them a shot on target in 45 mins, none of them were even close to shite in the first half. Nobby and Emre had shown some nice touches without great penetration but a couple of chances were created, again neither close to being shite and the same applies to Parker and Zog.

Given- 8 did everythign required of him Baba- 7.5 Impressive game Boum- 8 This is how he should be playing Taylor- 8 Normal performance from Taylor! Ramage- 7.5 Defended well, set up Shearer's goal Zog- 7 In and out but set up Owen's goal with run and cross Emre- 8 Played well and was tacking back tenaciously the whole game Parker- 8 Mr. Consistent and a player we've needed for ages Nobby- 7 Lovely touches and usually involved in any good passing movements Owen- 9 He's a striker with 2 great finishes and involved in build up to 3rd goal Shola- 6 Seemed to have lost his first touch completely at times Shearer- 8 Goal from the bench, looked energetic and battled away Dyer- 8- Involved in two goals and looked lively

They got a full house against Arsenal 50849[/snapback] Adult tickets were £5, kids tickets were £1. 51174[/snapback] On a serious note a sound bit of business by the Mackems. They could get 20k in with the regular prices or drop the prices, fill the stadium, rake in loads of cash through food and drink sales and get the masses that don't usually go to games intrested in football...although after that performance they'll probably end up supporting Arsenal. 51277[/snapback] I think it was a good idea as well and one we could have done with for early uefa games last season. Make the tickets cheap, get a full house, better atmosphere and end up making about the same money as with more expensive tickets but less fans buying them. Even something like £10 for adults and £5 for kids would have worked well for us.

We were comfortable first half as they barely managed a shot at goal, we created the odd thing but weren't spectacular. Then we scored and had a dodgy spell, but we held out and then took over the game with some good football and well worked goals and finishes.

I'll ignore the "left wing" comment, but please enlighten me as to why you think it won't work? 51251[/snapback] I wouldn't ignore it as (and i can't remember his exact words) but i'm pretty sure Souness stated he intends to use him either left wing or left of an attacking 3 (tho hopefully that formation is now dead and burried) and that he would also provide an option as a striker is needs be.

Even though it was a brief cameo appearance, Dyer showed exactly the threat he can bring to our team with his pace and direct running, especially when he combines it with the end product of assists and goals. But we really need him to get fit and stay that way for a run of games this time.

Seemed to be limping a bit as he went off, and its the Newcastle way, get injured when you're playing well!

Its a role that would now be perfect for Shearer, but only if we have other strikers playing so well that he can't get into the team. At the moment you'd still start most games with Owen and Big Al, but he will be really dangerous coming of the bench in games he hasn't started.

I did enjoy the fact that the match commentator made a point of telling everyone that the toon fans were singing "Down with the mackems" and later "Are you Sunderland in disguise"

I'm glad to have been right! Owen shows what a world class striker can do, Given as usual made a crucial save and Emre and Nobby transform our football. Great cameo from Dyer who us lethal in that form. Apart from that spell after our first goal the defence was impressive and Boom actually had a really good game for me, typical that he then got injured!