Derby almost became, IMHO, the Bogey team of Newcastle United. Thank Gawd Newcastle managed to claw back.

I have a theory. A theory that the ‘Big Four’ secretly sold their players to Newcastle United with the players being brainwashed to play as badly as they can without making it seem too obvious.

Otherwise, why is it that players like Celestine Babayaro, Alan Smith, Michael Owen, Damien Duff etc fails to perform their best?

I still think that the Gaffer should stick Milner on the right, play N’Zogbia (Duff) on the left, with Emre (Butt) and Barton (Geremi). If you wanna play Alan Smith, that’s fine. I kinda like his attitude towards the game. But, in the EPL, you need more than hard work and passion. You need the skills. Obafemi Martins is one player that I really enjoy watching. But, sticking Owen ahead of Martins, seriously isn’t a good move. If you wanna look to the future, I say, sell Owen for 8m quid to Manchester City or whoever wants him. The guy’s a liability. Since you could afford to sell Kieron Dyer (who is out injured again), why not throw them all out. Players should be paid what they’re worth.

And I say, it’s kinda weird. Newcastle has always had this habit of letting teams score. I couldn’t blame them last time, as they had Titf*ck Bramble and Twiddledee (Boumsong), and a whole list of CMIs before. But today, Newcastle boasts a line-up of 2 French club captains, the England U-21 captain, a Croatian National team regular, and a Spanish specialist left back. What the Hell?!

Nuff said. It’s depressing. I’m sure as hell gonna get stick from my colleagues tomorrow. SIGH!

I say, stick to this team currently, and let them gel.

1st 11: Shay Given, Habib Beye, Steven Taylor, Ronny Rozehnal, Jose Enrique, James Milner, Nicky Butt, Emre, Charles N’Zogbia, Obafemi Martins, Mark Viduka.

Subs: Steve Harper (he’s a good man!), Cacapa, Damien Duff, Joey Barton, Shola Ameobi

Alan Smith might make it into the team based on his terrier like style. But, Geremi and Owen, for me, have more to show for.