duo

I know. He's worth at LEAST £30m. If Carrol is worth £35Mil -Tiote must £50Mil+

How bad must our Academy be if Perch is the best we can come up with at CB? Perch's cannot header a ball. Surely Santon would be a better option? Time to go to plan B Mr Pardew cause that pairing didn't work. Maybe: Raylor, Simpson, Santon, Ferguson

Was quite underwhelmed when I heard we'd signed Ba - how wrong I was. What a first touch - guy has great feet.

Santon - Simpson - Perch - Raylor Should be interesting - Looking forward to seeing Santon.

hasnt he already said perch will start?

Looks well of the pace atm.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/12/03/alan-pardew-faces-up-to-nufc-injury-crisis-72703-29889083/ Taylor has ruptured his achilles. Not good.

No way can Talksport know that just yet.

Where? Talksport How can they know.......too early to say surely.

What is worrying is there are not even glimpses of any potential.

Luck just wasnt on our side today - hit post/bar four times - one clearance off line and it clearly wasn't a Chelsea thrown in that lead to their 1st goal. Saying Chelea did have their chances - Krul keep us in the game for much of it. Oustanding performance from the lad. We really missed Jonas, Peter never tracked back which gave Sturidge way too much space. As for Mata he just seemed to be everywhere - great player. I hope Ashley now sees how weak our squad it - a few injuries and there is nothing on the bench. Very worrying about Collo/Taylor.

Given is in tears - poor lad - this game shouldn't have gone ahead.

I am in shock - RIP Gary.

He didn't seem to mention how lucky they were for the 1st goal. Cannot wait for him to retire.

Bad bad losers.... I am exhausted after watching that. MOM Tim Krul for me.

Should have at least have at least given Santon a run out at some point today. Lad needs to get some min under belt.

lol......classic episode.

The Newcastle board are now actively searching for new, lucrative backers — but they will have to temporarily ditch any branding next summer during the Olympics. Football matches will take place in Newcastle. But a spokeswoman from The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said: "We will continue to refer to the venue as St James' Park. "The IOC branding has rules about having clean (non-sponsored) venues at Games time." Newcastle, who are third in the Premier League this term after an unbeaten start, do not play at home again until December 3. And Ashley will be clearly hoping the anger will subside by the time Chelsea arrive in the North East. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3928172/Joey-Barton-blasts-Mike-Ashley-over-St-James-Park-name-change.html

Jeff Stelling take a bow: Naming and shaming Rebranding should not come at expense of heritage, says Jeff Jeff Stelling Posted 10th November 2011 view comments The hideous decision to rename Newcastle's ground has well and truly got my goat! Although the caption on Soccer Saturday will refer to whatever the stadium's official name now is, I for one will do my utmost to call St James' Park just that. Trust me; I've got history in this area! I remember when Wycombe's Adams Park became the Causeway Stadium in 2003. I religiously refused to call the ground by its new name and we ended up in 'discussions' with the club for some time. Ground down: Jeff wonders whether St James' Park will ever be usurped by a sponsor I must admit that I felt a small triumph when the name eventually reverted to Adams Park. Heritage I'm not being deliberately difficult; I feel that it is wrong for owners to change the name of a stadium that is steeped in tradition and history - one that people can identify with - when they don't own that heritage. It's a different matter when you are naming a new stadium, of course; in that instance the sponsors should be able to call the ground whatever they like. People all over the world recognise St James' Park as Newcastle's home. To destroy that affinity is abject nonsense and I'm sure that every true Newcastle fan will abhor this name change. Jeff Stelling Quotes of the week But people all over the world recognise St James' Park as Newcastle's home. To destroy that affinity is abject nonsense and I'm sure that every true Newcastle fan will abhor this name change. I'm sure football people and anyone with an appreciation of history know exactly where I am coming from. Tarred Newcastle say the rebranding gives them the chance to show future investors what they could get for their money, which in itself could lead to the farcical situation where the stadium is renamed every couple of years. But if I was a potential sponsor, I'd be wondering what I'll get back for my money and the answer I'm sure is 'not much'. The newspapers are unlikely to refer to the ground as anything but St James' Park - and the same is probably true of most television and radio companies - and the new sponsors will be tarred with the same brush as the current owners are. Will this really help them sell more products? There are much better ways to increase brand awareness. A sponsor's name doesn't tend to stick unless they are right in there when the ground first opens although it's interesting to see how the Etihad Stadium is hanging around. I much prefer Eastlands but the day that I hear the bulk of City fans calling their ground The Etihad and the bulk of Newcastle fans calling theirs whatever the new name is, I'll be happy to fall into line. http://www.skysports.com/opinion/story/0,,12088_7302390,00.html

Agreed.

Agreed however it's a no win situation, kick off & he gets exposure, don't and he has our blessing to do this and more. Don't think he's be smiling though if come kick off the stadium is empty. He's just expecting fans to accept it and turn up as normal.

It's not just the history of the club it's the history of our City.

I've my ticket for Chelsea but it'd be nice if EVERYONE stayed away to show how strongly we feel about this. Of all the things he's done to the club this is by far the worst. The match is live on Sky so it'd the perfect game to do it.

Well exactly. They've clearly been planning this for a while, hence all the SD banners. All very sad.

Athletico were unlucky not beat the mighty Barca. Muniain looks a canny player.