But what about Bolton, FLB? They just smashed Charlton 4-1 and with fixtures against Spurs, 'Boro, and Birmingham, I'd put them down for 6-7 points to add to their total. If we get four points, they could easily equal our points tally and beat us on goal difference. What I cannot believe is the fact that Newcastle have somehow crept into real contention for Europe this season. However, I agree that they won't get 6 points from their remaining two fixtures. Europe is very much in our own hands.

Agreed. From free kicks we look extremely dangerous, from corners we pose no threat whatsoever. Unless Savage is taking them, of course.

I think the 5million a year salary or whatever he is on is more than enough reason for putting up with the "crap" he's been getting. If you're talking about exposure for affairs and for talking to fake sheikhs about leaving the England job for more money, then I wouldn't agree. If you're talking about criticism for poor tactics then I also think that that is warranted.

IMO if we don't beat Charlton we will have thrown away our chance at Europe.

I know what you mean. I think Pearce should get rthe job because he is the best personality for the job; a man who will demand the best and damned well get it. He will feel every defeat and relish ever victory. I would say he has done a very good job at city. If they hadnt have gone on this horrible run of form, I'd say people would probably consider him a slightly more credible option. I would risk giving Pearce the job on his limited managerial experience over somebody like McClaren for these reasons. In any case, I think he is a very tactically astute manager, certainly more so than Erikkson. However, you'll see that I said that I don't consider Pearce a realistic option.

I don't know exactly. I just don't think that a foreign manager understands just how passionate a support we have and could never fully appreciate the honour of managing the national team. With Erikkson it just seemed like another job and another huge salary.

Yes, I'm looking at the poll right now and there's no McClaren on the list... I thought he was the favourite for the job?

Have I missed something? Steve McClaren isn't even on the list of possible managers... I can't say I'm especially excited about any of the possible England managers, but if I had to choose, I'd go for Stuart Pearce. He is the only contender with any kind of passion; a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and will demand the best of this bunch of over paid morons. However, he isn't really a realistic option with his limited managerial experience. Therefore, I'd go for McClaren. He has the respect of the England first team and experience with teh current set up and has a very decent record at Middlesbrough. At first I didn't want him as manager, but looking at the alternatives, he's gone to to the top of my list. I just don't want another foreign manager.

Haha, great stuff

I'm sorry, but as stupid as this rule is, you'd have to be an absolute moron to interpret the way the ref did. How more "active" do you have to be? If you're offside and touch the ball then you're given offside anyway by the usual rules that have stood for bloody ages. So if you're not active because you didn't touch it, then there is no need for the "active" rule. The ref ###### up, bad, and he deserves to be punished. A horrendous decision like that should see him demoted to the championship. It really was that bad a decision.

I'm not so sure, 5 points to catch up over 4 games against some very tricky opposition. If Bolton win tomorrow, which they most likely will, they will be only 3 points behind with better goal difference.

One recollection of the contrary is the cup game at Charlton, when we managed to score three times against a team defending a 2 goal lead. Reid is very good at controlling and pressing the midfield, but maybe we lack the power and presence of a bigger forward and some more creative players.

Looking at our and Bolton's fixtures, 6th place is totally unpredictable. I'd say we still look slight favourites, but I wouldn't be surprised if slip out of the top 6.

Today was the first time I'd seen Reid in a while and he was very good. He and Savage outplayed Alonso and Sissoko for most of the game. Hughes' tactics were clear to see in the first half - keep Alonso out of the game and give him no time on the ball. Once we managed to do this, Reid and Savage started dictating play. Liverpool aren't the same team without Gerrard. However, I thought Nelsen was our best player. Shame that Sky Sports couldn't spell his name properly...

I thought Bentley was pretty good in the second half. Liverpool really know how to defend a lead.

Yeah, I know what you mean

We were only lacking up front. Bellamy is having an off day and Dickov hasn't really achieved much. We controlled the midfield for most of the half, and up until the Liverpool goal, we were causing them real problems. We need some height in the attack and I really think we should bring Kuqi on.

On Sky Sports they're blaming the linesman, but surely this should lie with the ref. The ref should have gone to the linesman and asked whether Cisse was in an offside position, if he was then it is up to the ref to determine whether he was active or not, and he certainly was.

Hugely undeserved and unfair goal. If Cisse wasn't active, then I don't know what constitutes "active." He went to kick the ball and missed, the back line were playing him offside and saw him go to kick it and stopped. ###### typical. We have been the better team and they barely look a top 6 team at the moment.

You gotta feel for the guy. It's a shame, but I really don't think we should bring him back.

And now Dunn looks as though he's going to be taken off...

Is there any way of viewing these goals again? I think I've been at at least half of those matches and seen every goal on tv, but I just cannot remember them.

Well he's in the reserves because he is coming back from injury.

His goal was absolutely superb, and he added to this with sokme real skill to set up a team mate for the second. I'd still prefer Jansen to any of our strikers, bar Bellamy.

As long as I am not at uni at the time, I would love to play.