S-Clarke

He's a young lad, he will make bad calls, but it's hard not to see the obvious quality he has in there. Very talented, but still raw. Not worth chopping and changing him, he needs to learn and grow. We didn't pay £2.5m for a bench GK.

These sort of performances have been building since the WBA game, in my opinion. In that game we went back to basics, and even though we lost, we had a new solidity and organization about us. We've carried that same method into the upcoming games after that and got our rewards. As a team we are tighter, we are quicker off the mark, we read situations quicker and we're quicker to cover for other players. Generally it looks like the entire team have grown up. A hell of a lot is down to us having Ramirez available though, the bloke is just unbelievably good. Amazed he's playing for us, we should be very, very grateful we get to see a player of his quality grace St Mary's....for us! Also, obvious credit has to go to Cork. He see's and plays the easy ball, might sound plain and boring - but it keeps possession. He's also bloody good at reading the game, and has so much energy that it's transformed that defensive side of our midfield. For the majority of the season our attacking play has been quality, that's the one area where the team has delivered this year - we just couldn't defend as a unit, we couldn't get the balance correct. We now seem to have cracked that, and we defend well in units and attack well in units - it was good to watch us today, a well drilled, disciplined and organized performance. I think in a way we've been fortunate with the last 2 games, because we've faced 2 teams on their arses - but we've caught them off guard and battered both of them it has to be said. Wednesday will be a different proposition, Norwich have been playing well and have a new found defensive resolve about them as well. Obviously it's a game we need to be winning, but it can't be taken for granted. This month was a huge month for us, and it has to be said - we've delivered.

Will be interesting to see how fit Cisse and Jonas actually are, they were both rated 50/50 for this and have probably been rushed back just to make up the numbers.

Wigan win

norwich equalise, balls

Ruddy injured for Norwich

2-2 wigan/reading

Reading were winning when i posted that

Wigan equalise, that's more like it

This is a pretty rubbish day for us as it stands.

And for me, that game was the start of an upturn for us. We looked much more of a team that night, and even though it was pretty comfortable for WBA, it wasn't the massacre many were suggesting it would be, and we actually competed well. So in the grand scheme of things, that performance wasn't that bad at all.

That's an important point....most teams struggle in the weekend games, if it's the same as the European squad. But most teams would have the ability to tweak it around so it isn't too problematic in the league game...but Newcastle can't do it at all. They will be without all their key players down the spine of their team, and they will be exhausted (and the European game was away...) I would agree with everyone else s view, there is never a better time to play them. If we can't beat them with this lineup then we'll never beat them. Stranger things have happened though, but with our new found confidence and their poor form, it's kind of pointing in the right direction...

They are on a different planet to us.

Wow, they really will be stretched. That's a big chunk of their spine ripped out.

Quality news, will be an england player in time.

More disappointed with De Ridder than any of our signings in recent years. Promised lots, but is actually a complete load of tosh. Offers absolutely nothing. Runs into blind alleys, loses the ball and has no end product. A non-player really. Needs to move on ASAP.

Bit harsh to include the likes of Cropper, Dean, Stephens etc - all signed for the development squad, not first team signings.

Falque was only signed as a stop gap as Lallana was injured, but not as bad as the club first thought - so he wasn't actually needed in the end. N'Guessan was a similar signing iirc.

They missed Collocini yesterday, and will miss him again for our game on Sunday. I think he's huge for them, without him they look all over the place defensively.

Nothing over the top, just a short appreciation. He turned us around and got us moving in the right direction, that's for sure.

Pardew pretty much signed the spine of the team. Hammond, Fonte, Lambert. Those 3 were pivotal to where we are now, so you have to appreciate his picks there. But he also signed a few duds! Dickson, Seaborne and Mellis spring to mind. Adkins has done a fine job evolving the team around the spine though.

absolute class today.

You're making a mountain out of a molehill, there is nothing wrong with him. He is looking slightly less effective this year because he's up against better defenders. However, he's still out top scorer so that should say all you need to know.

We won't come up against a team as bad as QPR again though, tbf.

He is our leading goal scorer, so yes.