Well what can I say, the boys done good. Im so happy that we have stopped the rot and we are still in the draw. Match of the day were singing our praises and they all said we should have won. This will restore the lads confidence and hopefully we will have bellamy and dyer back for the replay plus a fully fit cort. Chuffed to bits that Robert put in a good performance and his defensive header in the second half had me on my feet. Bobby must have got through to him as he was tackling back and taking people on. The future's bright, its not at the stadium of light, its at the home of the black and white. Sorry the beers kickin in!!! AM

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2002

Answers

Wonderful performance.

I had the misfortune of driving home throgh most of the first half..That Ar** Hole Alan Green was watching a different game to the rest of the world. Newcastle Season falling apart..No hope midfield. When Arsenal scored I am sure he had an Orgasm (whatever one of those is?)

When I got in and switched to the telly it was a totally different game, even Lawro thought we were the better side and deserved to be ahead. Rightly so every "guest" thought we were the better team.

We certainly were which continued into the second half and the lads certainly did us proud. I am just sad we have to go to the replay...but..."we always win in London"

If any body can help out with a ticket for the replay let me know. I would dearly love to go and cheer the lads on to Victory.

I detest Alan Green!!

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2002

I've hated the simpering tw@t for years!

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2002

Anyone know who the MoTM was? My would be Robert with Acuna a close second. Great performance by the whole team. Thought we would be better served bringing in Bernard for Cort and moving Robert up front to partner Shearer. Arse won't relish a replay especially with Dyer back and the amt of matches they have to play between now and the 23rd.

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2002

McClen won man of the match.

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

I am sure he had an Orgasm (whatever one of those is?)

It's an enormous great thing. Makes a lot of noise. The room shakes. My uncle used to play the one in our local church.

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

Interesting that it was your uncle and not your auntie that used to play one of these Jonno!

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

Sat here this morning with a steaming cup of coffee (and a teensy- weensy bit of a hangover), but I`m feeling great. I am chuffed to bits over last night`s performance. They certainly pulled out all the stops, and a `team` effort to boot! It`s games like that which make it all worthwhile - never mind that we drew, that`s not the point. Everyone could walk away from that game with their heads held high, the team, the supporters and especially the manager. The rousing rendition of `There`s only one Bobby Robson` during the match brought a tear to my eye. 100 percent commitment from everyone from start to finish - fantastic! (:o)

I am really looking forward to the replay - I`m not kidding myself that it will be easy, but it sure as hell should be exciting! (:o)

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

Some highly perceptive comments already made on here. It truly was an uplifting performance in adversity, and timely when we had begun to doubt again.

I couldn't praise the team highly enough for their committment and effort - critically, all eleven of them this time.

In truth, despite conceding yet another dreadful goal, we dominated the game from start to finish: in fact it's a long time since I saw such a one-sided game at SJP - and only a lack of the killer touch in their PA prevented the comprehensive victory our possession warranted. How much was down to any lack of motivation from the opposition I don't really know, or care.

As ever, the key was our midfield performance. Most of us were really concerned how Solano..Acuna..McClen..Robert would fare against Arsenal in general and Patrick Viera in particular - especially if Robert continued his recent somnulence. Well their answer was irrepressible, with all four working their socks off to maintain control and prevent Arsenal getting time to settle on the ball - as they had damagingly enjoyed in the previous game.

McClen - a player I have utterly written off as a lower league player - caught my eye throughout the game. He isn't a particularly good tackler, but covered every blade of grass from start to finish, chasing and harrying and keeping the Arsenal man in possession under pressure and largely unable to make the telling pass. However, perhaps the most impressive thing about his performance, after chasing everything and anything that moved for 80 minutes, were two beautifully directed and weighted passes into the Arsenal PA in the last 10 minutes that could and perhaps should have produced the winner. Fantastic performance.

Acuna was also excellent covering, chasing, tackling and seemingly always in the right place at the right time. Solano was terrific again, working up and down all night and displaying real quality at times in their half.

Laurent Robert's performance exuded class - the difference being he was "involved" in the game instead of just "participating" in it.

A performance to lift our spirits, as we contemplate an interesting run in that could yet see us put some pressure again on the teams at the top, and a FAC QF replay at Highbury with hopefully some top quality players being back in consideration to come into the team. However, to their eternal credit the "stand-ins" have finally given Bobby Robson some real selection headaches - precisely what we need.

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

sadly though, yet again we failed to deal with the pressure when they scored, its like we want the opposition to score! Robert was brill.

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

The dealing with pressure part would have been solved by having a pacy player as the furthest man forward. When Arsenal attacked in open play, Shearer was the furthest forward, meaning any random clears were rarely going to land at his feet.

Robert up there would have given us a better chance - as Bellamy used to when he was fit.

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002