Newcastle V Sporting

Agree, they looked to have very little attacking options an the physical side of Poppins and Ameobi had there defence rattled on more than one occasion. Newcastle will defo score out there and win quiet comfortably

Hughes used to play left back for NI hence why I said he was his understudy & McCartney wont have any problems adapting to the Premiership he did last time The man who can pick both Breen & O'B prefers O'B fact. I take it your pals at work haven't been to game since the turn of the year because he has played very well since.

Remember your boss signed Caldwell who was our 5th or lower choice centre back & you rant & rave about him you would think O'B was Franco Baresi (sp) if he was wearing red & white kit.

Pete,

It is amazing how Sporting go past Boro with ease & Boro being a team that are above us in the league & "Better than the Toon on paper" said one former Sunderland fan, we beat them & it was expected.

Aaron Hughes would not shift George McCartney from the Sunderland left back slot in a million years and i dont care what you say, McCartney played very few games last time we where in the premiership as Mickey Gray was our left back, It will be very interesting to see who gets picked out of OB and Breen in the next republic game cos apparently OB is suffering "a big loss of confidence". You can say what you like about Caldwell but he has been superb for us and only time will tell if he can do it at a higher level, he may of been average at that level for you's in the limited appearences he made but nobody has any idea how he will perform at Premiership level this time round. The Leeds fans spoke highly of him after his loan spell at them when he was playing regular Premiership football and i think he has come on alot since he signed for us he may just suprise you.

With Hughes being right footed utility who can play left back I wouldn't expect him to shift an international left back. O'B is not suffering a lack of confidence he is crap but lets not kid anyone that Breen is better, he had a good World Cup & is decent in Cola football but the facts are he has been at the centre of defences of two teams that have went down. Caldwell is what I call 100%er & will nick the odd goal @ corners but he is raw & will never be anything but. Who are these Leeds fans? Your arselick crew? Are they deaf & blind because Caldwell was a disaster for them.

I take it you think O'Briens got no confidence ?!?!

Im not fucking surpsied cos he's probably already won the Grand National with that hooter

I think when Boumsong / Bramble get back they will add alot more stability to the defence cos they play well together

Stephen Carr i think hasnt done owt to prove his worth and Aaron Hughes is just jack of all trades

There is some signings needed like for the defence, probs another centre half and two full backs id say

Yeah some good points mate, i honestly think Caldwell could suprise you, i doubt you have seen much of him since he left you lot and his game has certainly come on alot, i have noticed it just watching him over the last few months, Breen will possibly struggle at Premiership level due to his lack of pace but he will be needed at time for his fantastic organisation skills, dunno what u mean by "arse lick crew" but i posted a message about Caldwell on a Leeds fans forum and got back alot of positive responses about him. The good thing about him is his age he still has a long time left in the game so he will continue to learn and develop even more over the years to come i think he has the potential to be a cracking centre half

I just meant they were being really nice to you by type niceties about Caldwell

as i say alot of them spoke highly of him and the time he spent there, he looked dodgy when he first joined us but over the last few months he has really stood out and marshalled the back four well, he throws his head in were i would not put my boot and you are always guaranteed totall commitment from him. I have been impressed

people go on about carr, he may have been a bit unsteady at first but since he has come back from the injury i think he has been solid and consistant, although i dont have a season ticket so cant comment on every appearence.

we had terrible injuries, although i would say the manager has to shoulder the blame as he had the chance to streangthen in the transfer window... however the amount of injuries we had was shocking.

in the second leg we played some good football, they looked ordinary... pity we couldnt perform at home, even tho they showed their inadequecies at the back in conceding 2 late goals. im not gonna complain as it was a fantastic first season in europe and being beaten by a club of the calibre of sporting is nothing to be ashamed of.

i wouldnt say it was easy for sporting, if anything we shot ourselves in the foot in the first leg.

smog!

Aaron Hughes is a good player to have in the squad! he always gives 100% every game.

he's defo raised his game since carr arrived IMO,,hes bin consistent an he's always available to play centre half n'all,,,,,,,,,,,,,which is nice