Newcastle v Everton. 28th Dec at 16.15.

[Robertor]

Struggling to find positives but thought playing Baines in midfield worked really well, he's got all the traits; high energy, passing range, good tackler. His ball for Mirallas' goal is assist of the season for me. Hope he continues with it for a bit.

 

[Del]

Chelsea city and the Derby all coming up

There's 9 points dropped guaranteed

 

[R.Reddington]

Moyes out

Chelsea city and the Derby all coming up

There's 9 points dropped guaranteed

 

[R.Reddington]

Imagine if we lose to Hull ffs.

 

[Khalekan]

Struggling to find positives but thought playing Baines in midfield worked really well, he's got all the traits; high energy, passing range, good tackler. His ball for Mirallas' goal is assist of the season for me. Hope he continues with it for a bit.

I don't even think it was the "assist" of the match.

Seamus wins that accolade for me.

 

[Khalekan]

Imagine if we lose to Hull ffs.

You know what, I think even a point at Hull now is a bad result.

If we can't emulate blooming Leicester then despair will set in given the run of games coming up.

 

[Dozbik]

Someone tell Graeme Stuart to start warming up for the season finale, we might need him...

 

[R.Reddington]

I kind of fumed on somebody when they said 'We showed great sprit to score 2 today'..... I mean wow.

 

[BNJ1878]

Can't be bothered trawling through every page of this, just a few quick thoughts.

Robles doesn't inspire confidence, but his first start in ages against a completely makeshift central defence and a completely ineffective holding midfielder is hardly the game to judge him on. (This doesn't mean he's good enough, but can't fault him for any goal today)

Distan - Rubbish. We can moan that Cisse shouldn't be on the pitch at all but the simple fact is the initial ball over from the left should have been dealt with easily by Distan. Later in the half he let another ball over him in the same way that almost gave the fella a tap in, it was only an 'amazing block' by Distan that saved a goal. If he stays foccused it doesn't happen.

Alcaraz - Beckenbaur one minute, the worse parts of Yobo the next.

Barry - MLS pre-season about the start, he would absolutely love it there. Come on Roberto, don't hold him back. Real pity, he was vital last season, but his drop in form this season is ridiculous.

Just once, I would like to see a strong team, free from injuries playing players in suitable positions for 3 or 4 games. Chopping and changing week in, week out does nobody any favours.

If we have any money I don't even know where to begin spending it. Martinez has his squad size to play Premier League and Europa, the only problem is that outside of about 12/13 of them, the rest are bog average to poor.

 

[Arteta2391]

IT'S ON.

 

[paulus]

I can remember just Barry speed from yesterday .... Horror.......Horror

 

[Titus Bramble]

15.

Eh?

 

[nsno-chris]

Clearly you are not a Sky subscriber.

Yes I am

 

[MACCA75]

Thought Baines did ok in a midfield 3, but if you are going to change formation and the role of one of our key players - what an odd time to do it.

Not when we've had a full week of training to get used to it, but when we've been playing just 48 hours earlier.

 

[AndyC]

Yip.

And so many people are in denial about our current plight it is staggering.

This Baggies game is shaping up to be a real nerve jingling evening, unless sommat remarkable happens against Hull and Man. City.

After Hull we have City, the derby and away to Chelsea in the following six games.

These are scary times, lids.

I fear this may be quite correct.
Realistically at present the best we can hope for is a point from Hull and hope that City don't get off the bus and we somehow steal a point from them. Then the WBA game on what will possibly be a freezing cold Monday night will be crucial.
This squad of players, the manager and his coaching staff need to wake up and smell the coffee, we are on the fringe of the relegation scrap and these three games during January are simply massive.
I never expect anything from the derby and a trip to Chelsea is almost as welcome as weeks self-catering in Kabul.
Will we be able to attract some fresh blood or loanees in the window who might actually have a positive effect and not just be here for the cash - who knows.
Will we out some of the injury prone, slowing, aging players aka Gibson, Pienaar - who knows.
Possibly more importantly, will we be able to keep the likes of Mirallas ??

These are certainly concerning times and if January goes totally pear-shaped on us, then the concern will morph into worry.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I honestly think that El Bob has prioritised the Europa League in the (looking increasingly vain) hope of qualifying via the back door for the Champions League... and possibly with the tacit agreement of the board who want the big CL money.