I read in the Chronicle that we are thinking of "Resting" Leon Best for this cup match
to keep him fit in case we need him the following week against the "great unwashed"
Whatever happened to players playing twice a week for almost the whole season and just getting on with it!
Talk about mollycoddling!

Agree 100% Bar Bar. and two hours training 3 times a week it a hard life.

I would start with Best and Ranger,to keep Leon on the boil and to give Ranger a chance to build confidence and keep his cool in front of goal. He bangs them in for the reserves , and I suspect will score more readily for the first team when he has started and scored in a game .I would imagine they would both want to play, and should be capable of two games in a week .It will be an interesting decision as to who partners Andy Carroll ( assuming he is fit ) against the Mackems. The Stevenage game could provide guidance on that too , so another reason for starting with them IMO.

The way Best played last night i would like to see him play with big Andy. Just to see how it works out.

Me Too Polly ,and I think playing at Stevenage would give him more of a chance to settle in to the team .I saw him score in the preseason against Carlisle and was well impressed , sadly that was the game in which he injured himself .Let him play I say !

I agree having been given his opportunity and delivered, Best should play. While not making too many other changes to what is becoming a winning team I would also possibly expect Pardew to include Ferguson and Ranger in the side to give them bit more experience. As for keeping Best back to prevent him from getting injured well that is just as likely to happen in the first few minutes of the derby game or during training next week as it is anytime against Stevenage.

You would think these guys would be busting a gut to play this weekend. Such is the life of your modern day footballer.

May simply be a precaution lads as I read that Bestie picked up a slight heel injury that's why he was subbed last night!!
Apparently all our substitutions were due to injuries!!

If fit enough, I would start with Best and Ranger with Lovenkrands in reserve. Andy's out until next weekend at least

What the **** is going on 1-0 down.

After the lords Mayors show 2-0 Smith is B***** useless get rid of him now. ARRRRRRR. Tiote sent off whats going on.
I am lost for words. FT.3-1 Barton

This was a case where motivation beats class.... their hearts weren't in it today... embarrasing.
And they do they all persist in playing Perch? Ferguson and Kádár would have been better options.
Smith has done his job when he is sent off... at least we're up to ten men then instead of eight..

Well obviously Pardew is incapable of thinking on his feet.
He is as inept as the players he chose today.
Disgraceful performance all round!

To make matters worse, Toité will miss a few games after that red card.

But does that count in the Football league?

I think it does actually, it is counted as a domestic suspension... if you are sent off in any competition in England it counts for the others too.


So bye bye Tioté and hello Smith! Huzzah!

There is just one thing I want to say on this debacle, I am pleased it did not happen on Chris Hughton`s shift he is better off out of it.
ATB

I will resist offers for Smith !! is he insane or what!!?? who'd want him anyway?? Barton on the left,he obviously is insane.

AGREE.100%.

Smith has eighteen months left on his contract.
I've heard various reports on his actual salary - between 65 and 85K a week
I doubt that any club will pay him even half of that figure.
We are stuck with him, he isn't going anywhere willingly.

I'd stick him in the reserves.

If that's the case then I would too!! But will the Fat Controller "stomach" paying those wages for a reserve player??

@ LeazesEnder:

Haha... loved the "Stomach " pun mate.

It seems that terminating a manager's contract is ok but when it comes to players, clubs don't seem too interested in letting them go and paying them off.

I'm sure it would have been better to have offered Smith half his full cointract (my turn for a pun )
about two years ago and let him go elsewhere.
He's been no good to us at all.