Newcastle United Have Reached Boiling Point

The defeat against a distinctly ordinary City side was bad enough, but the loss of Joey Barton and Michael Owen to long term injuries was even more significant in terms of the club's battle against relegation.

We have been banging on about a small squad for months, but Wednesday night took things to another, far more worrying level. It is panic stations time. Sadly, I'm still not convinced the likes of Mike Ashley, Derek Llambias and Dennis Wise realise!

Throughout this troubled times I have always felt, the one thing that made Newcastle stronger than the other sides in danger of the drop, was the presence of Owen. A world class striker who scores goals at a ratio of one every other game. It was his goals, I thought, which more than anything else, would keep the Magpies in the top flight.

Instead, with Owen expected to be sidelined for two months with an ankle injury, Newcastle's survival hopes could rest with a striker who cannot score goals, Alan Smith and one who never looks fit, Mark Viduka. Neither, of course, are fit yet, but they soon will be, God willing (Yes, it's even got that bad, I'm turning to religion!)

On Sunday, in the derby against Sunderland, Newcastle's strikeforce is likely to be a player who had, before an innocuous run out against City, played nine minutes of first team football this season - Peter Lovenkrands - and a centre- forward who is so raw he would be blue if you cut him open - Andy Carroll.

For me, the farcical situation at the top of Newcastle United was summed up by Kinnear on Wednesday night when he said he had only one fit striker available for the Sunderland game, Carroll.

What on earth does that say about Xisco, signed for almost £6m by Dennis Wise against Kevin Keegan's wishes? And what does that say about Lovenkrands, the player Kinnear fought so hard to bring in? Both are fit and available after all. Unbelievable, I'll say it again, unbelievable!

As for Barton, what goes around comes around I suppose, but he was the driving force in midfield against City on his first start for almost three months and now he will be in the treatment for another three months because of a broken metatarsal! He has done some bad things in his life, so maybe it's just karma (more religious references) but tough break (no pun intended) on the lad.

At least Nicky Butt is back from suspension, I suppose, but a centre midfield of Fabricio Coloccini and him doesn't inspire much confidence does it? Then again, what does these days as far as Newcastle United are concerned!

Finally, there are some out there who are trying to knock our forthcoming question and answers session with Llambias and other members of the Newcastle board.

Granted it is far from ideal and it is certainly long overdue, but ultimately how many other chairman or board members at Premier League clubs are willing to attend a supporters' club meeting and answer questions direct from the floor? They don't at Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Everton, Manchester United, Aston Villa etc etc.

We are trying to make the best of a bad situation so if you want to ask a question please follow the links on the Journal or Chronicle websites and email them in. Trust me, we will not be taking it easy on anyone and as many questions will be asked as possible.