The Beard

Alright mate, enjoy your stay and hopefully you find the answers useful or at least informative. 1. Who do you think NUFC Should worry the most about on Saturday and why? Drenthe was just finding some form before his sending off against Chelsea. If he comes back raring to go he will be the main man. Rodwell is begining to look like the player he was touted to be. However as we are so inconsistent it could just about be anyone. 2. Who should we least worry about and why? Hibbert won't score, he never has. Cahill has lost pace, not getting in the box enough as he did and if Bily plays you already have an advantage. 3. Which NUFC player do you think will cause you the most problems and why? Ba for his current run and goalscoring knack, something like 15 in 20 league games since last January. Cabaye looks a decent buy and what I have seen has ran the midfield. Best's donkey work is going a bit unnoticed, deserves a bit more credit. 4. Which player do you see causing you the least and why? Gosling, I hope, for obvious reasons. Realistically if Moyes gets the midfield right, with Fellaini suspended, we can nullify other midfields. this has been proven in the past, the way Newcastle have been playing that may be our best ploy. 5. Where do you see yourselves finishing this year? Perennial slow starters and decent finishers. We have just played City, Liverpool, Chelsea and United in the last five games so hard to predict but top ten again likely, resources or lack of may tell in January. 6. And where can you see NUFC Finishing. Top ten after such a great start, obviously having a settled side has helped but confidence will have grown, however one hammering, if it happens, and mettle will have to be shown. Do you have it? I don't know but even if you collapse I can still see you having enough not to get sucked down near the bottom. 7. With David Moyes coming up to an impressive anniversary of beaning in charge of your team, what are your thoughts of him not winning a trophy in that time? He has achieved a lot without winning anything, Consistently in the top ten and more often than not the top seven. The highlighted lack of funds has obviously hindered him, he deserves praise more than he gets from a lot for what he has done. Granted he isn't perfect and sometimes tactically he gets it wrong especially with subs and he can be too negative. 8. Following that question, do you have an opinion on Newcastle Manager Alan Pardew? I gather he wasn't most peoples, if anyones, first choice but the proof so far is there for all to see. Manager of the month for October surely will only enhance what has gone before so far this season. 9. And do you have an opinion on our owner Mike Ashley? Newcastle appear to be doing better now he isn't on the cameras five/ six times a game. He needs to differentiate being an owner and a supporter, we know that more than most. 10. Finally, what are your predictions and scorers? A very close game, 1-1, Best and Saha. Cheers.

Apologies if this has been mentioned or discussed on here but I saw no mention in the press. How come Evans played last week when he got a straight red (a 3game ban) against City the week before?

I have posted the following question on the Newcastle site http://www.nufc-forum.com/nufcforum/index.php I will compile the replies later in the week. Forget about who you have or have not played so far, a 10 game unbeaten run at anytime is not to be sniffed at, even better at the start of a season to instill confidence, so, what has changed at the club to bring about this start to the season and how long will it last? Was Alan Pardew at the top of your list as a your next manager and has this changed, even taking into account the start to the season? Your two leading scorers from last season have since left the club, and your chairman Mr Ashley appears less prominent in the general media, is this any co-incidence with the new found form and unbeaten league run Apart from the obvious form of Demba Ba, who else has contributed in a major way so far this season? What is your opinion of Everton's start to the season and where do you think they will finish come May? What in your opinion will be the tactics of both sides on Saturday and who might the matchwinners be? Your score prediction Finally, we shall be arriving approximately 11.00am, where is the best place for a quick pint or three? Thanks lads The Bea

Questions are up and diplomatically I left Gosling out.

Ok, permission granted, sorting the questions out now, will post them on their site imminently.

I have requested permission from NUFC-forum.com regarding queastions for this weekend, awaiting a reply.

I'll have a go for the Norwich home game.

I have a good feeling about this one, I am with MikeO, their wheels will come off as we score a surprising 3-0 victory or have I just dreamt that.

Haha Mike, an early senior moment from me, or er er er........yep, early senior moment.

Link is on the first thread of the topic, navigate on the Everton V Man U Q & A's. On right side of site.

I have read some of the replies on Stretford End Arising from Haf's questions. Refreshing to see well put answers from both sides without resorting to inane retorts. As previously mentioned may be worth using SAE as a regular communication outlet regarding matches agaisnt each other. p.s Before I get a witty comment SAE, in this instance, is not a stamp addressed envelope.

Drenthe for me for same reason as StevO plus an alternative to Baines for free-kicks and corners plus maybe Penalties too.

1. What are your thoughts on Saturday’s game? What team is Moyes likely to select and what formation will he adopt? What weaknesses in United’s team will Moyes look to exploit? If United provide us with the 'assumed' backlash after last week then we could be in for a torrid afternoon, however if we start well and take an early lead, anxiety may spread through your ranks. This means Moyes must start positively and exploit this and your far from strong defending at present. I don't think your defensive midfielders have been shielding your defence well so far this season. Having said that Moyes will start with one up front and hand the initiative to Man Utd. If Rooney is playing a little deeper don't be surprised to see Rodwell in close proximity and Drenthes fresh of breath air pace (if he isn't banned) may cause problems. Optimistically 2-1 for us, realistically 1-1. 2. What are your thoughts on Everton’s start to the season? A complete mixed bag with the best performances, against Villa and up to the sending off (and beyond) Liverpool yielding one point, while the worst performance against Blackburn got us three points. A more positive approach and we can know we can compete against the best albeit not on a regular occurrence, this inconsistency really costs us. We had the chance to get off to a great positive start before the current tricky run we are in but blew it, again. 3. Tell us about the potential of Ross Barkley? He has impressed on the limited amount I’ve seen him, however is being over-hyped? Or is he a special talent? Are you worried about losing him? It is there for all to see, however after starting the season and not looking out of place, Moyes has decided to go with the established pros, which was to be expected, but I think if Barkley had more game time he would already be flourishing. I am worried about losing him if only it is because it highlights our current fianancial predicament but of course losing another possible star is always hard to take. 4. Similar to Barkley, Rodwell received plenty of attention when he burst on the scene. Has injury and selected in different positions stunted his development? Has he stagnated? How has he started the season? Do you believe he will fulfil his potential? Last season I said that he was our biggest under achiever but he is gradually retrieving his status as a possible star. He played well at City, man marking Villa and did a really good job until Everton had to change their game plan. He was bossing the Liverpool midfield until that ridiculous sending off. With the card rescinded he has the chance to cement his place and kick on. It is up to him now to show the real Rodwell and kick on with a repeat of his performance against Utd two seasons ago a nice start. 5. David Moyes is approaching his tenth anniversary as Everton manager. What are your thoughts on his ten years as a whole? What are your current thoughts? What does the future hold for him as Everton manager? In the main Moyes has done well for Everton. It is well documented the Everton financial constraints he has had to work to and I believe he has achieved as much as anyone else could with that burden. This burden may well also decide his future, however he has never really complained about the lack of funds and has carried on his role admirably. Although he has broken the transfer record on a couple of occasions, usually all eggs in one basket transfer policy, it remains to be seen how he would cope if he had unlimited funds. A big frustrating thing for me about Moyes can be his negative play, especially against the 'big four/ five/ six' (depending on the current hyp). No away wins in 50 attempts at Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool is no coincidence. Marks out of ten, Moyes would get an 8 from me.

Er, isn't this thread regarding the Fulham game?? Anyway not the best performance but points all count, some good decent spells in the game, a little more consistency and we will back on track.

Toss up between Drenthe and Howard but Royston just gets it from me.

A drab 0-0, 1-1 on the cards I am afraid. F*ck it, back to my optimism, 3-0 away win for the Blues courtesy of Saha, Fellaini and a Velios supersub strike.

I asked the missus for a w*nk last night. Next minute she's got her key-ring around my kn*b. I thought to myself i'm getting fobbed off here. The government have advised people to check their Olympic 2012 tickets aren't fake. I think i'll be ok, my tickets for the mens wheelchair triple jump look ok. Woman answers phone to a pervert. He asks "have you got a tight hairy tw*t". Woman says " Yes he's watching telly, who shall I say is calling".

Travelling with Gene Hunt..........now where's my denim shorts and dyed blousons.

I'm off to Tenerife in January, and yes MikeO that means The Canaries but there are very nice parts to. Weather is usually really good in Jan, late 70's/ early 80's.

McFadden 11 goals in 109 appearances first time round that spanned nearly six years (five seasons) and his only long term injury of note was a three month spell sidelined. Bily 52 appearances with 8 goals, spanning just over two seasons. Statistics, make what you want with them.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2032980/Sportsmails-guide-players-available-free-transfers.html All these currently available, maybe we should grab them all and really improve the squad immensely.

Avinalaff, I could not disagree more (apart from the goal v. Charlton) with your description of MacFadden. One of the most frustrating players I have seen in my forty odd years watching Everton. Hard working, honestly I have seen habitual doleites work harder. I wasn't shocked to see him leave three years ago, in fact most Blues I know where quite happy with that decision because he offered nothing to the team, more shocked at his return. A championship side don't want him, a constant premiership relegation side don't want him and a struggling team in a two horse race don't want him, if they did they would have pulled out the stops to et him. Your quote of "I wasn't going to bother posting for a while, as I've not felt enthusiastic about anything football related for weeks....." really sums this episode up for me. Like most who have voiced their disagreement let us hope how wrong we are.

Have to agree with Boroblue, really highlights our plight and how far we are falling and quickly.

True, an extra body is the only positive. If we remain in both cups he may well be an asset. DOH!!

He may well be an addition to the squad but so would any player without a club be. I totally agree with Hafnia and Bailey regarding this smacking of deperation and MacFaddens' all round contribution of practically zilch. I don't see the queues of clubs looking to sign him. Hoping I am wrong but it will take something special to lift the doom and gloom from measures taken like this.