aficionados

My hope is that the match was not a Kidd-type false dawn. In some respects we were lucky.But if Hughes is to be a success I would expect him to ensure the older players put in competent performances on a regular basis and that the younger ones improve.

I think that lots of people have highlighted plausible reasons for the decline in attendances and I think we have to have some empathy with them. But now is maybe the time to encourage these people to come back-the dawn of a new era.

I've read that Wigley can't get the job full-time until he's got the badge.

Is Ferguson the double of Neill?

Newcastle win their first match before he officially takes over. They then win in Europe. Then they win for the first time in the Premiership. Why couldn't we get a manager like that?

The version of Le Saux's leaving that I heard was that he had told the management that he was going to get married, that his bride wouldn't live in the north and that they had gone along with it.

My wife says we should go - 4002?

If he were to be as successful as Johnny Carey, who had a similar provenance, he would be brilliant. Johnny Carey got us promoted and brought in the youth players that won us the youth cup in 1959.

If the ref had made the correct decision they would have had a penalty, Fuller should also have scored in the first half. 1-3?

I have no reason to not like Matteo but I can't see he's a good signing.

Read the earlier posts-he did quite well. Matteo was also lucky that his mistake didn't lead to a goal. Amuroso-who apparently along with Emerton and Ferguson are the current highest earners-did not make a mistake that should have lead to a goal, which in my opinion is unusual. I'm pleased for Jansen. But I think it's important we don't get over excited with the result as Portsmouth should have had a penalty and should have scored at least 2 goals, didn't force Brad to make a save.

What a class act Andrew Cole was for us. Even the fellow behind us who for most of last season was saying "Cole, stop being so lazy etc" is now saying-"Dickov and Stead aren't a partnership" and "Cole's 11 goals last season kept us up". I don't know how others will react when you return but I'll give you respect and I'll appreciate what you did for us.

Tell us more.

As someone who was never Souness' biggest fan, I do feel rather sorry for him.At the same time, the more we learn about Uncle Freddie, the worse he sounds.

I just hope he's not Brian Kidd mk2.

Johnny Forbes-1888-1893(127 appearances). Arthur Cowell-1905-1920(306 appearances). Didn't we say F.Suter should be considered? One who wouldn't ever win, but might bring back memories-Andy Burgin.

Sounds like a great advert for this site.

Could we make Amoruso and Matteo free agents so Newcastle could sign 2 talented experienced defenders?

Uncle Jack was the club's second sugar daddy-the first was around 1912.

I also don't blame Souness for going-if it wasn't obvious he was living on borrowed time, it must have been clear it was going to take a heck of an effort to turn round the team. What is evident is that at some time in the future things will go seriously wrong for both the manager and the club. In the short term Souness has problems to deal with concerning the fans-for example in the Daily Telegraph, the reporter suggested they didn't know if they should laugh or cry into their post-match beer. After all it was their biggest win since they beat someone 5-1. Oh yes, that was us. And they'd just beaten a totally inept team. Previously managed by their new manager.

The only 2 negative comments I have to make are: there are a number of people who don't go to matches but repeat other people's opinions. there are some people who perhaps go over the top with those people with whom the don't agree.

I thought Pedersen gave one away.

What I'm also concerned about are the messages that we have a good squad that are coming from JW. In my opinion we have glaring weaknesses with very few strengths. I really don't know how many people have applied for the job nor do I know anything about their long-term potential as manager of our club. What I do know is that it all sounds a little like 5 years ago when there was a lot of complacency about the appointment which was not only going to save us but was also going to result in MU imploding.

It's hard to pick out the good players-I would say Friedel and Short,despite his age,but then I start to struggle. Neill had a bad season last season and hardly seems any better this.Gray brought balance to the defence,but struggles against real wingers.Flitcroft always needs to play quite a few matches to get match fit, and last season helped in the run-in when he was playing right midfield but is struggling in the centre. I actually thought that Andresen eventually played reasonably well there and was a bit more fluid/athletic than Flitcroft. Dickov is never going to be a world beater but has done some reasonable things without being a real partner for Stead. Radio Lancs thought Stead was starting to show some form yesterday.