I decided that I would take a little jaunt over to www.nu-fc-forum.com and get a little insight not only into the forthcoming match, but also on what has been a merry-go-round season for our friends in the north.

So what can we say about Newcastle that hasn’t already been said? Are they a sleeping giant, damp squib or just a mediocre club with a normally buoyant and fanatical support? I will let you decide.

This season started off with rumours of optimism in Geordie Land but this optimism was soon drained when the volatile Kevin Keegan pulled the old school boy trick of picking up his ball and going home after a clash of opinion with Mike Ashley and none other than our very own Dennis Wise.

Keegan of course has a history of this type of thing so maybe it should not have come as such a surprise but even I would struggle to work under a replica wearing, pie scoffing, beer guzzling chairman who looks more like a retired darts player than a EPL Chairman.

So King Kev is gone and Pauper Kinnear has arrived bringing with him to every media event the Roger Mellie Profanisaurus. Straight into his first press conference like a Toon Army Foot Soldier the much maligned Kinnear fired of a tirade of dictational perfection that would have had Stephen Fry applauding.

Things have been up and down since he arrived, wins over a good Villa side but recent loses in The Derby have seen the fans rollercoaster continue.

So that is your brief insight into the Newcastle camp so let’s get down and have a look at what the fans have to say.

Most of the ambivalence of The Toon Army has all but gone and most fans expect to finish in the bottom half of the table with the odd fan thinking they may push a little bit further and maybe sneak Europe but it is common opinion  that this is as unlikely as Chelsea winning on penalties. The early season optimism has gone and it is indeed grim up north once again.

So surely you have to look at this game on paper and say that with Newcastle’s current predicament that there can be only one winner, or are there maybe a few players in the Newcastle side that could cause us problems?

The names of Jonas Gutierrez, Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen seem to be shining Northern Lights but naturally this is a group of fans looking for some light at the end of an engulfing tunnel.

When asked who they would like to cherry pick from the team at Chelsea there wasn’t one name that really stuck out as it was more a case of “who can we have?” Everyone from Drogba, Lampard, Anelka, Joe Cole and John Terry were on the Christmas List, but to be honest the one person they would have all liked involved in their club seems to be a certain Special One who seems to be missed by the Geordies.

Most of them have conceded though that contrary to popular belief the arrival of Scolari hasn’t made us more likeable but they are lost for superlatives when describing our new brand of football this season and after Gullit introduced them to Sexy Football they know what they are talking about…

Surely the problems at Newcastle are about to end? Surely the club that has been down more than Jordan’s underwear is about to turn the corner? It would appear that that this is not the case or maybe the fans have been stung by overconfidence before and thus want to avoid building up there aspirations.

Maybe Alan Shearer is the answer to Newcastle’s dilemma but again Tyneside thinks otherwise, most fans would hate their very own Special One to come into what could possibly be a sinking ship and sully his great career. One thing is for sure Kinnear is only a stop gap in the eyes of the fans but he is slowly but surely starting to get some respect.

So down to the all important score and other than the brave souls that are clinging onto fading optimism most fans believe Chelsea will walkover the top of Newcastle. Scores range from 5-0 to a modest 1-1 but one thing is for sure most fans will be expecting to drown their sorrows in copious amount of Brown Ale on the coach back to The Grim North.

An almost Arsene Wengeresque outlook and faith in youth is starting to bare fruit for the much maligned Gareth. Currently home to one of the youngest squads in the EPL Boro are showing a few people this term that youth can pull you through if you give them a chance and with the likes of Hoyte, Digard, Downing, Turnbull and Wheater now firmly established in the 1^st Team maybe Gareth’s vision will see his group of youth maintain a Top 10 finish.

Southgate however still seems to have that etched look of despair on his face that he had when he missed that now infamous penalty in Euro 96 but he must be happy with the way things have panned out for his lads so far this season.

One thing I will say about Boro fans is they do not have delusions of grandeur they can see that Southgate is doing a good job on a relatively small budget and they have high hopes for the young players playing their trade currently at The Riverside. I of course could be getting the wrong end of the stick and the cause of such a cheerful outlook is in fact the current situation over in Geordieland with their bitter rivals current paying protection to the Cockney Mafia whilst languishing 3^rd from bottom.

When quizzed on who they believe will cause us some problems this weekend the unanimous answer was Stewart Downing. The left winger has always been The Golden Boy in Smogland and he is the one they believe could split the steely defence at SW6. They have also drawn attention to their record signing Alves and his on/off strike partner Mido. Alves has a reputation of turning up when playing against the better teams in the league and Mido has been on very good form this season culminating in a great strike recently against The Bin Dippers. Whether these lads will be the answer to Middlesbrough’s prayers this weekend is yet to be seen.

On the injury front they have a few concerns. Talisman Sanli Tuncay is unlikely to feature is this fixture as he is returning after a 8 week spell on the sidelines nursing a knee injury picked up in an all too familiar International. Robert Huth is another player that is unlikely to feature this weekend as he has also recently had a spell on the sidelines and with the homicidal hatchet man Pogatetz being suspended after almost removing the right leg of Man United’s sprightly Brazilian Possebon, Boro could find themselves with some issues at the back.

Whenever someone from the Big 4 travels away the opposition fans have a few players that they would like to see on the sidelines. The player they seem to fear the most is none other than Joe Cole. They feel that Joe’s trickery and ability to burst into the box will be key for Chelsea. I expect they will be happy with the news that Joe may not even feature in this game due to one in a long list of injuries currently affecting us.

Never ones to back down from a challenge and bringing up some past victories against the bigger teams Middlesbrough have some optimism going into this game. The main belief is that Boro could not only get a draw but they could also sneak a 2-1 victory.

I would like to thank the lads over at Smogland.com for answering our questions.

To get the Pompey view for the season opener, I caught up with a mate of mine, and a top bloke to boot (apart from his Pompey leanings) for a nice up of tea and biscuits, and asked….

Dan, cutting straight to the chase, what do you think of your chances this season?

First year in Europe may mean we drop off from our 8th place last year, in much the same way that focusing on the FA Cup dropped us from 6th. I’d be happy with mid table and a decent showing in the cups again.

What areas of your squad need strengthening?

After losing Muntari, we need to add some steel to centre midfield, and we really need a right winger. Little can fill in on the right as can Utaka but need a real line hugger. Any chance of SWP on loan?!

Who’s your star player? Who do we need to look out for?

Well, you know him well – Lassana Diarra. With Jose gone, he might not have as much to prove, but the lad is world class.

What do you think of Chelsea, as if we needed to ask?

I have to say, anyone who breaks the Manchester United dominance is alright with me.

What are your thoughts on Scolari, do you think hell give Abramovich the football he craves whilst winning the League?

Scolari isn’t afraid of winning ugly, but he has made Portugal into a team of winners (almost) with flair and the Brazil sides he coached did mix flair with a winning mentality, so maybe! As a tactician he’s great, so I’m looking forward to seeing him up against Wenger and the like.

Which of our current squad do you most admire?

He’s gone now, but I thought Makelele was a great professional and probably the best proponent of the holding role in the world. In the current squad, I will say Carvalho. He’s simply a brilliant defender.

We’ve built a bit of a fortress at the Bridge. Think well actually get a game out of you?

I think we will be a bit negative as we tend to be away from home. Crouch has done well pre-season and may nick us a few away from home. As long as it doesn’t make us a long ball team, I’m okay.

How will you deal with Chelsea? Do you stuff the midfield, or will we see a more adventurous line-up?

As above, I think we will start negatively with Defoe as the lone striker at the top of a 4-5-1, then have Crouch come on at the end.

Where will you finish this season?

Heart says top six, head says mid table.

What about Chelsea?

Premier league winners.

Give us a score prediction.

0-0

Dan, thanks for your time mate.  Next round is on me.

Wasting little time for introductions and other such niceties, I asked him for his thoughts ahead of this weekends game.

Cutting straight to the chase, what do you think of your performances so far this season?

Well, we a couple of weeks on and we are still smarting from that shocking FA Cup exit to Cardiff. You will know the feeling. But we played so appallingly in a game that could have put right all this season’s woes. A Wembley FA Cup semi final with the prospect of a final and real opportunity to win the FA Cup for the first time would certainly have more than made up for a very disappointing season otherwise. Not to be. Back to the realities of the relegation fight. lthough fortunately that has since eased greatly.

What areas of your squad need strengthening?

We can’t score goals. That was the biggest single issue going into this season how were we going to replace Viduka who took the pay cheque to travel up the road to Newcastle and then when Yakubu also moved on we were left with largely untried and untested forwards.

We’ve since bought Mido and Alves but both will probably be more effective next season when they are fully (match) fit. Other than that we need to sort out a long term plan for the engine room of the side. We have not really replaced Boateng but the Boat has really come back to form in recent games. But can he do it again next term? I think we will need to reinforce this central midfield area.

Do you now feel confident that you’ve done enough to stay up? If not, where do you see the extra points coming from?

Yes I think we are almost there. One more win at home against Bolton perhaps should seal it. But with recent draws v Arsenal and Villa away we will be looking to get something from our games with you and Man U.

We have a habit of raising our game against the toughest opponents and not turning up against the minnows. We finish with 2 successive home games – so if we still need the points this could be telling.

What do you think of Chelsea, as if we needed to ask? In particular, has our support been “spoiled” by recent successes?

Well, I don’t think you would swap places would you? It must be weird after years in the wilderness then Bates comes along and you become a contender. Then Roman’s revolution takes you to the very top of the tree. I wouldn’t mind sampling that.

Gareth Southgate’s always seemed like a nice guy – has he got the ‘steel’ that a successful manager needs? How is he performing now compared to his first weeks in the job?

That’s the big question everyone asks. We can’t really know the answer except he doesn’t shirk any big decisions. His first decision was not to offer Hasselbaink another contract. He has stripped Boateng of his captaincy midseason because he felt it was detrimental to both him and the team. So, Gareth makes the kind of moves that imply there is steel behind that nice man façade.

Who’s been your stand out performer this year?

David Wheater – rewarded with a callup to the England squad last week.

He has been commanding at centre back and scored a few vital goals as well. A down to earth local lad who could be a future Boro captain. He only came into the team because of injuries to Woodgate and Pogatetz.

Wheaters form meant we could afford to sell Woodgate – something that would have been astonishing last season. That says it all.

Which of your current squad do you most admire?

Stewart Downing – gets knocked to high heaven by everyone yet gets his head down crosses the ball, passes the ball and scores goals. Is a quality player getting better and better. Wheater is tremendous as well and we all like Mad Dog Pogatetz the new skipper – the kind of player who would run through walls for you. As for George Boateng – well he is indestructible. You might hear us singing that on Sunday.

Where will you finish this season?

12th position. Not good enough really but a platform to kick on from we hope.

What about Chelsea?

2nd although you could now push Man United all the way. It could be very tight indeed.

We’ve still not forgiven you for ’89 (though ’97 went a long way to exorcising those ghosts!) – what are your memories of those games?

The play offs were phenomenal. Difficult to compare that tension. The atmosphere at and around Stamford Bridge was the most hostile I have ever experienced – well, until we went to Roma. When those gates swung open at the Shed End at the final whistle we really thought the whole ground was going to attack us. Was an awful moment. But a great event for us – in coming back from liquidation and 3rd division to the top flight in 2 seasons. You bounced back too. The three cup final defeats were pretty sickening. Blue is obviously not our colour. That’s for certain.

And finally – Give us a score prediction.

I’m going for 1-1 – we will raise our game again and it could catch you out expecting an easy win. Am looking forward to it although not catching the bus at 5.30am. Hope I remember to put my clock forward!

Well thanks for that Robert, if we spot someone sneaking in an hour into the game, we’ll know that your alarm didn’t go off! Good luck for the rest of the season and particularly the game v Man U.

Cutting straight to the chase, what do you think of your performances so far this season?

At times extremely strong and encouraging for the future, we have shown we can beat big teams on big occasions. However we have an ability still to stall which has happened in the previous four Premier League matches and I think that has been down to thin resources through injury and perhaps squad depth and as well a lack of know how to win games when our passing and movement is not at a top level, that leads to teams being able to get men behind the ball quickly but we need to work out how to win in those scenarios.

Is Billy Gallas the right man to captain your side at the moment, how do you view his apparent lack of backbone?

I think William Gallas is a passionate player and winner, he will speak his mind and I view that’s as being extremely healthy. He did not act in a completely professional way after the Birmingham match and yes he lost his head somewhat, a lot of fans did after what happened that day.

What do you think of Chelsea, as if we needed to ask? Are we now seeing the down side of having a multi-billionaire fan as owner? Do you think that Avram Grant can move us forward?

Avram Grant has done okay to date for his first season in charge, he has surpassed my expectations but the question is has he surpassed Roman’s? I think Grant needs a cup and victories over his rivals to convince. I don’t any future manager under Roman will enjoy time and freedom to do his job but as you say that is the price of being owned by a less than creditable character with little understanding of the game intent upon being in the limelight.

What was your view on the Eduardo/Taylor clash – did the punishment fit the crime?

Unfortunately the English game prides itself on fight and guts, phrases like ‘don’t like it up ‘em’ and ‘get stuck in’ are part of the culture of English football. Until we learn to embrace technique, skill and vision above those fore mentioned attributes we won’t get anywhere on a national level. The Taylor challenge was more about the fact this was an accident waiting to happen than about who did it, to the press these kind of tackles are acceptable and to the FA are treated with at most a 3 match ban. Last year we lost Diaby for 9 months and now Eduardo for a similar term or more, so the question is when are the FA going to issue bans that match the danger of the tackle or is any level of physicality fair game?

Should Arsene have put out such a weak side at Old Trafford in the cup? Did the manner of your defeat hand the Premier League initiative to Salford?

I don’t believe Arsene Wenger had much choice with 9 or 10 players missing to be honest. The manner of the defeat was more a factor of the mindset of the players who knew as Wenger did that the club didn’t have the resources to win that game. We were not helped by the fact Manchester United flooded an already water logged pitch. I don’t think the game had much bearing on our recent league form to be honest, but had more to do with the cause of why we lost the game so heavily which is the fore mentioned lack of available players to select from which has resulted in Wenger being forced to select from 16 players for 2-3 months now.

Which of your current squad do you most admire?

Francesc Fabregas because he does not behind the fact that he is young but instead revels in the responsibility placed upon him. I have a lot of admiration for Gael Clichy who has been by far the best left back in the country this season, also Flamini and Adebayor have given a great deal for the cause.

What’s more important to the fans at the Emirates, a Champions League victory or lifting the Premiership title again?

The Premier league is most important because it proves that your team is the best in the league and that much enforces belief and inspire further victories for the club. The Champions League represents a fantastic prize however and it would be fitting for Wenger to achieve that goal prior to the end of his career.

Where will you finish this season?

Well a lot depends obviously on the results against Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United. We have games against all three ahead in the league and could yet face all 3 in the champions league too. We need to dig deep now to play ourselves into form but I am encouraged that we did so against Milan and have found the resources at key moments this season against the big teams. The fact that bigger teams will come out to play against Arsenal rather than plug the goal could actually work to our advantage. Each of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United can win it, that’s all I will say.

What about Chelsea?

Again the games between the top 3 can have a huge bearing as will the toll of the Champions League fixtures.

Give us a score prediction.

And jinx the whole thing? Oh no!

And with that, I left Darren in his own red & white world, happy to get back to a more blue, if not more serene place. Hopefully we’ll be seeing Darren with a frown on his face by 6 p.m. on Sunday. Big thanks go out to him for his time. Cheers mate!

I’ve braved the wilds of the Seven Sisters Road though and met up with Tottenham fan Jim Dungan – he of www.topspurs.com (oxymoron?) and asked him what he expected from our third league game in eight days & chance for revenge.

Cutting straight to the chase, what do you think of your performances so far this season?

A curate’s egg of a season. Obviously the great highs of the Wembley win and indeed the 5-1 pasting of Arsenal in the round before mean in terms of highlights it been the best for years. That said for the most part this its been a bit of a nothing season where the league was ruined by first the slackness in getting caught tapping up Ramos and then the delay over landing him. A couple of great highs but a lot of nothingness in between.

What areas of your squad need strengthening?

The best thing Spurs could do is lose the director of football nonsense. The position is either a glorified chief scout or a manager in waiting, and either way it just adds another layer of paranoia in between the manager/chairman relationship. For every “it works well on the continent”, there are more examples over here where it doesn’t work and after spending 35m on players like Bent, Kaboul, Boeteng, Taraabt who neither Jol or Ramos wants, its a dogma that Levy can’t go back on without looking daft.

As for players, “ramon” Rocha, Taraabt and Boeteng are all players only their mothers and the Spurs director of football can see the good in. More controversially (and I’m in a small minority) but I’d move Berbatov on in the summer and replace him with two Champions League/International quality players who most importantly are not prima donnas and going to spend each transfer window looking for a move and/or more money.

Anyone who has played football at any level knows a player like him is going to be not popular with the rest of his team but is tolerated for his moments of magic (which are undeniable) and I think Spurs would do better as a unit without him – just as the Goons have bounced after Henry and Everton did after losing Rooney.

Spurs also need defenders and probably a keeper but good tactics and hard work will mean more than Spurs traditional remedy just throwing money at something imvho.

What’s happened since your last win (the one we don’t want to talk about!) – why do the wheels seem to have fallen off?

Very old Spurs. Ramos innocently told the players to let their hair down not realising what that means over here and Spurs with a weakened team up at Brum and an under prepared game against PSV paid the price. To some extent it does not matter, well the League stuff anyway, but equally Spurs have lost all the momentum and positive vibe taken from winning at Wembley. The pre-season 2008/09 has already started.

What do you think of Chelsea, as if we needed to ask? Are we now seeing the down side of having a multi-billionaire fan as owner?

I view Chelsea in two distinct parts. The old Chelsea died under Bates crippling debts in the early part of the decade and was replaced by something which bears very little resemblance to what we used to know as Chelsea. Plenty of Spurs Chelsea connections in the old days both in style, substance and players and it was always a good rivalry but this has been lost in the money skewed footballing landscape.

Two Spurs legends have played a major part in getting Chelsea where they are now-Graham Roberts to get you back to the top level and the great Glenn Hoddle laying the foundation which Gullet,Vialli and Ranieri took on to a new level. Chelsea like Leeds had already broken into the elite of English football with money they did not have but unlike the Yorkshire puddin’s Chelsea got bailed out

There are two types of dislike for Chelsea. The one of envy is a bit sad. Good luck to you for your titles and I don’t think anyone should belittle them just because the owner has a few quid and as you lot probably know its more than that. Money alone would not have sorted Chelsea it was the product of decent managers and excellent players, who were taken on to the next level by the very special Mourinho

The other dislike of Chelsea is the one I sometimes subscribe to and can be summed up by the treatment of referee Frisk, the way John Terry collected his runners up medal and the unease and lack of class typical of “new money”. The dull football of recent managers add to the lack of appeal. Chelsea were always capable on their day but vulnerable and inconsistent. As yet another ‘hiding to nothing’ win against inferior opposition is put away, I wonder if you secretly long for those days again

btw – I am concerned at your use of the word “fan” around the description of your owner. Trust me, he is not doing it for the same reasons we turn up week in week out and while his net spend shows he has put lots of money in, I’m sure he is benefiting in his own way.

Is Ramos the right man to take you forward and how far realistically can you grow? What’s his most pressing challenge currently?

Spurs fans are quite desperate for the messiah, and get more desperate for each new manager, contorting reality to provide reasons why they are different and special.

Who knows about Ramos? Time frames to judge people in football are now down to hours rather than months or years with the modern press interest/internet and fans ‘have’ to have an opinion rather just seeing how it goes. I don’t know to be honest. Ramos comes highly regarded and seems to know what he is doing, and importantly seems to improve his result against a team the second or more times he plays them. And of course he already has some silverware! His points per game record is already pretty good but equally there have been some strange decisions mitigated by some good fortune but the good outweighs the negative at this stage. The time to judge will be the first game of next season

Which of your current squad do you most admire?

In their different ways, Keane and King stand out. Keane has been at the club for 5.5 years now and having just notched his 100th goal fully deserves the legend status not least for trying just as hard in Jol’s last game as he did in Ramos first – and there are not too many in that squad who can say the same. Ledley is one of this country’s best players but he’ll never get a chance to prove it outside Spurs circles. It was particularly nice that he got his Wembley cup lift the other day

Most of the rest of them are just premiership footballers. For all their wonderful skill, they come, they are often quite gifted, they go and by and large are forgotten.

What was the key reason you won the Cup Final, was it down to tactics or simply desire?

I think it was just one of those things. Spurs got everything right from desire, tactics and individual performances. Chelsea put out a decent side but it appears that stronger personalities than the manager cause problems behind the scenes and they thought they were good enough just to turn up and take the cup. That said, we needed a penalty and a fortuitous winner to make the difference and for all Spurs dominance it could have been very different. It was a proper cup game where the one chance in ten came off

Where will you finish this season?

Somewhere between 9th-11th. Spurs are currently behind West Ham in the league which says it all about the league season

What about Chelsea?

Its going to be difficult to make up the ground on Arsenal and Man U and given the upheaval at the start of your season perhaps 3rd is a par score this time round given Arsenal’s unexpected improvement. A lot will depend upon how the Champions League goes and perhaps its Chelsea’s turn in the final this year.

Give us a score prediction.

I think the best Spurs can hope for at this stage of this season is a draw. Just as the desire to win the final was with Spurs, the desire for revenge and the league points will be Chelsea’s. Perhaps Spurs 1-2 Chelsea. That said, I think its a big test for how Spurs will get on next season. After the famous ‘arfa arfa’ 5-1 win against you lot in the 2002 league cup semi, you’ll need no reminding to know that you came back to beat Spurs twice in a 10 days 0-4.

The final win gave Spurs some forward momentum (which they quickly threw away at Brum/PSV) and if Spurs are going to be anything other than an also ran under Ramos avoiding defeat preferably with a win would be an excellent statement of intent for next season

Thanks very much Jim – some interesting views there. Now to resume “Normal Service”.

Cutting straight to the chase, what do you think of your performances so far this season?

On the most part – disappointing. We’ve played well in few games to be honest, although there are signs that this could be a team able to compete at this level. We seem to lack the ability to make or periods of pressure count, and ultimately pay the price time and time again. After the elation of last seasons turn-around and the last-gasp winner against Spurs on the opening day of this season, we’ve come back down to earth with a pretty firm bump. Nobody really expected us to do anything but survive this season, even with the money we spent, but that task is looking ever more difficult.

What areas of your squad need strengthening?

Most of them to be fair. Injuries to key players have cost us dearly and we don’t have the quality in the rest of the squad to cope with this. Bardsley signing in January, and the return of Jonny Evans have helped to create something resembling a defence now, and the fact we’ve had a settled back four, has helped improve Craig Gordons confidence. We need an out-and-out proven goalscorer, a right winger and a creative midfield player desperately.

What do you need to change “now” to get the points needed to avoid a return to the Championship?

To be blunt we need to stop persisting with the 4-5-1 formation. We don’t have the quality to turn that into 4-3-3 when it’s required and quite often Kenwyne Jones is a forlorn and lonely figure up front. The return of Carlos Edwards to the right wing would be of tremendous value, but most importantly our strikers need to find their scoring boots. I’d also like to see 2 strikers being played together regularly to try and build up an understanding.

What do you think of Chelsea, as if we needed to ask? Are we now seeing the down side of having a multi-billionaire fan as owner?

Is there a down side to having unlimited money? Envious is probably the best word to describe my feelings for Chelsea. Mourinho built a great squad – and one with players who you could say weren’t “Big Names” i.e. SWP instead of Beckham etc. You’re still in with a chance of the title this season and you’re challenging for silverware every year. It’s hard to imagine how it feels to be a supporter of a vastly successful club, as Sunderland fans have had very little to shout about in recent years, apart from winning the Championship regularly!

Is Keane the right man to be managing you? Will he still be the best man for the job even if you don’t survive the season?

Only time will tell. He came in when we were in a desperate position and turned things around dramatically. I wasn’t overly impressed with his transfer market spending but he unearthed Big Ken for us and certainly raised some eyebrows with the signing of Craig Gordon. He’s still in his infancy as a manager, and is learning all the time. He’ll be the first to admit he’s made mistakes. I think with everything that happened 2 years ago – new ownership of the club, massive restructuring etc, we have to give him the shot at Niall’s “5 year plan” I maybe think we came up a season too early and could have benefited from another year in the Championship.

He seems to be getting a scouting network in place now, as well as the backroom staff he wants. Even if we do go down I hope the fans don’t turn on him. I was absolutely gobsmacked when it was announced he would be the manager, but right now I can’t think of anyone else I would want to be managing our club.

Which of our current squad do you most admire?

Has to be Drogba. He’s got everything you could possibly want from a striker. Probably the second best player in the country at the minute, behind Christiano Ronaldo.

Where are your realistic long term ambitions. You’re a club with a strong historical support, big catchment area and large stadium, how far can you take it?

Long–term with the size of the fan base we have, the relatively new stadium, the young and dynamic chairman and manager – we should be aiming to become an established top 7 team. We should be giving ourselves a realistic chance of winning some silverware year in and year out. I don’t think we’ll see any club break into the big 4 now – the gulf is huge and seems to grow every year. If we can become on a par with the likes of Everton. Blackburn, Aston Villa we’ll be happy I think.

Where will you finish this season?

17th or above hopefully. I think it’s going to go right to the wire and it’s a lottery really. Derby have gone, I think Fulham have too. It’s any one from seven for the last relegation spot. I’ll be moderately happy with 17th, more so if we finish above Newcastle J

What about Chelsea?

Win your games in hand and you’re right back in there. Again it’s going to be close but bearing in mind you have Derby & Sunderland to play this week you’re going to pick up six points by next weekend.

Give us a score prediction.

Sunderland 0- Chelsea 2

At last a note of realism. We’ll happily settle for that Craig. Good luck for the rest of the season.

Cutting straight to the chase, what do you think of your performances so far this season?

This season was always going to be a difficult season for us. On the plus side we have been a difficult side to beat at the Stadium of Light, although we narrowly lost to Everton last weekend. Prior to that, though, we’d won four in a row at home. Getting points away from home has been a big problem where we have lacked the quality required to get a win on the road. Performances have been OK generally this season and there have been games such as the Aston Villa game at home, away at Reading and more recently at Derby where key decisions went against us which would have lifted us into a healthier position in the league.

There is obviously a lot of room for improvement, as our league position shows. We have a lot of young players though who can only learn and get better. It has been particularly frustrating to see our most creative players, Kieran Richardson and Carlos Edwards missing for the vast majority of the season and I’m convinced we would have been much higher in the league had both these played more games.

What areas of your squad need strengthening?

At the moment we are desperately in need of creativity and a natural goalscorer to take the pressure off Kenwyne Jones. At the back we look a lot more solid with the signings of Phil Bardsley at right back and Manchester United centre half Jonny Evans. However, we have badly missed the width of Carlos Edwards on the right hand side. Up front I think we lack a striker in the Kevin Phillips mould who would be a perfect foil for Kenwyne.

What do you need to change “now” to get the points needed to avoid a return to the Championship?

In recent weeks we’ve adopted a more cautious formation. Last weekend, for instance, against Everton we played with only Kenwyne Jones up front. Although Everton struggled to create any decent chances our first shot on target was in injury time, which is disappointing given that we are at home. Although we look a lot harder to beat, if we are going to survive this season then we are going to have to score more goals and attack teams more, and for me that means we are going to have to go 4-4-2.

What do you think of Chelsea, as if we needed to ask? Are we now seeing the down side of having a multi-billionaire fan as owner?

It is always going to be difficult to maintain the level of success and silverware that Jose Mourinho brought to Stamford Bridge. However, you’re still in the Champions League and if expected, you beat Derby tomorrow night (we did – just! Ed), then you’re still in with a chance of the league, so it could be worse!

Is Keane the right man to be managing you? Will he still be the best man for the job even if you don’t survive the season?

I’m 100% behind Keane and he’s the right man to manage us in the short and long term. I’ve been very impressed with the job he has done so far. He’s very focused and brought a professionalism to Sunderland that was missing prior to his arrival. He arrived at a club that was, make no mistake about it, on its knees and plummeting into League One. The turnaround has been quite remarkable. The club is unrecognisable behind the scenes and the future looks bright. Keane is still only a baby in management terms but Sunderland is the right club for him, with our stadium, support base, and backing from the top. Should we survive this season then I firmly believe we can push on.

Which of our current squad do you most admire?

Joe Cole. Although you have some great players such as Petr Cech, John Terry, Didier Drogba and Anelka up front I’ve always enjoyed watching Joe Cole. He’s a fantastic little player, skillful and always looking to create something. I was very surprised he didn’t start in the Carling Cup final.

Where are your realistic long term ambitions. You’re a club with a strong historical support, big catchment area and large stadium, how far can you take it? As far as we want it to go. We’ve got everything in place to make great strides in the next few years. In Niall Quinn and Roy Keane we couldn’t wish for more focused, driven individuals to run our football club. I honestly think if we don’t get it right under this set up then we never will. We’ve got the financial backing in place, average crowds of over 40,000, and have a first-class stadium and training facilities. It is vital for the progression of our football club that we survive this season. If we do that, then we can only get better.

Where will you finish this season?

Although it will be close, I think we’ll be ok. There are seven clubs that could easily take the last relegation spot, including us. In my opinion, Derby and Fulham will go but the league changes week by week so it’s hard to predict. I think our home form will carry us through. What about Chelsea?

I think you will finish third, behind Manchester United and Arsenal. However, you still have them both to play at Stamford Bridge so that will be very interesting.

Give us a score prediction.

A very difficult game for us but I fancy us to give you a tough game. First goal is crucial. If we score it, then we have something to hang on to. If Chelsea get it, then they will be a tough nut to crack. 1-1

A big thanks to Keith for his time. Let’s hope he’s smiling come May, if not by 5pm on Saturday!

Cutting straight to the chase, what do you think of your performances so far this season?

Well, it doesn’t take rocket science to work out that we were not performing to our potential under Martin Jol, although we did perform well at Old Trafford and at Anfield under his guidance. Ramos arrived and made an immediate difference with his quick responses to a need for tactical change in his first game, when we beat Blackpool in the 4th Round of the Carling Cup. Gradually, under the new management team, Spurs have progressed to the point where they have out-played Arsenal three times, and Man Utd at home. We are now a team that is capable of matching anyone in this league, so that includes YOU!

What areas of your squad need strengthening?

Historically, we have clamoured for a left-side midfielder, which is why Spurs were once again linked with Stewart Downing. Whilst not a winger, Steed Malbranque has been one of our players of the season, and has held down that spot. A fit Gareth Bale would also fill it. Having let Defoe go to Portsmouth without replacement one would have to say we need to recruit a quality fourth striker. I would also say that to reach the next level (Champions League) Spurs would have to find a midfield general.

Who’s been your form player so far? Who do we need to look out for?

I mentioned Malbranque who is one of the hardest workers in the team, with some cute passing skills to go with his battling style. Robbie Keane has been a goal machine now for the last 15 months, and is more likely to score than not in each game. Berbatov needs no introduction, and is surely coveted by any top side. He hasn’t got as many goals as Keane this season, but his game is not just about scoring, but winning and holding the ball, together with quality distribution. Ledley King has probably been nursed to enable his appearance in this game, and could be alongside a recent quality signing – Jonathan Woodgate, whose culture was immediately evident when he made his debut at Goodison Park at the end of January. Alan Hutton will probably play at right back, and he has been impressive since his January signing too. He’s a big powerful full-back, and useful going forward, as required of any full back recruited by Mr Ramos. Pascal Chimbonda will probably move to left back to accommodate Hutton. Huddlestone and Jenas have also hit form, but Hudd may have to sit this one out (he could play at centre back) with Zokora back from Africa. This IS a different Spurs side you are facing you know, with quality all over the park.

What do you think of Chelsea, as if we needed to ask? Are you impressed by what the manager’s doing, or do you think Abramovich has a right to expect us to walk the League?

Truth be told, I prefer not to think about let alone talk about Chelsea. Avram has of course done well, and that has been a bit of a surprise bearing in mind the absences of Terry, Lampard and Drogba in recent weeks. Abramovich certainly has no right to expect results, as that would be arrogance in view of the competition.

Is Ramos the right man to take you forward and how far realistically can you grow?

I think I have already suggested the answer to these questions, and have every confidence in Ramos, now and for the future. He quickly made Spurs a fitter team, and they are now more consistent, more competitive and more skilful too! As for growth, I incorrectly thought that Spurs could challenge the top four this season, but quickly came to my senses after two lost games. Next season, under Ramos, it could be different, and that will surely be the objective.

Which of our current squad do you most admire?

I’ll pick one player as the man you have missed more than most, and that is John Terry. Not the biggest centre half on the planet, but certainly one of the most skilful. A great leader too, and scorer. Any team would welcome him with open arms. Drogba comes a close second for me. Great strength, presence, skill and of course goal-power – even if he does get too dramatic at times.

We’ve built a bit of a fortress at the Bridge. Think we’ll actually get a game out of you?

Er, you’re not playing at The Bridge of course, and of course you will get a game out of us. You will no longer regard White Hart lane as “Three Point Lane” and last season’s win coupled with our 3-1 half-time lead in the Cup last March should tell you to expect a game off the new Tottenham Hotspur any time!

How will you deal with Chelsea? Do you stuff the midfield, or will we see a more adventurous line-up?

Ramos has plenty of fit players that he might choose as a tactical option to still the skill and pace of Joe Cole and perhaps Sean Wright-Phillips. Tainio MIGHT be chosen as a defensive midfielder to allow Jenas licence to get forward more. The thing is that it is difficult to second-guess Ramos, who springs a surprise tactic or two almost every game. Spurs are an attacking force, but will probably sit back initially and hope to score on the break, but that has been very effective in some of our better games, such as the semi-final against Arsenal.

Where will you finish this season?

Hmmmmmmmm, after a very bad start, we’ll be doing very well to get as high as seventh.

What about Chelsea?

You’ll stay third, I think.

Give us a score prediction.

It will be tight, but I’ll be cheeky and predict a 3-1 to Spurs, with no capitulation this time!

Thanks very much Paul – we hope you find your way to the stadium in good time and enjoy your “underdogs” big day out(!)

Cutting straight to the chase, what do you think of your performances so far this season?

Danny: Inconsistent results and uninspiring performances. Up until the signing of defender Rob Page before the 4th round tie at Oldham, we had one of the worst defensive records in League One. However, since then we’ve won every game without conceding a goal (at the time of typing – there’s still a midweek game at Carlisle before we play Chelsea).

Ben: Up to January or performances have been very very inconstant; win one, lose one etc. Our biggest problem was that we would always concede goals.

What areas of your squad need strengthening?

Danny: According to the manager he’s chasing a striker. According to many fans we need to strengthen the midfield.

Ben: Truthfully we could do with a quick forward who can remain fit and we could do with a decent proper left winger.

Who’s been your form player so far? Who do we need to look out for?

Danny: As mentioned, Page has made a big difference to the defence with his leadership but I suppose Luke Beckett would have to be the one to look out for as he’s scored in every round so far. Don’t give him an open goal from 2 yards as he rarely misses.

Ben: Overall throughout the season our best performer has been Andy Holdsworth in central midfield. He has the most goal assists for any player in league one. He will run all day and tackle everything. Other players to look out for are Phil Jevons upfront linking play and Robert Page at the back. Page has only played 5 games for us but for the first 4 we’ve not conceded a goal; his performances have been just immense!

How’s Frank doing at the Galpharm – a lot of us still have a great affection for the man?

Ben: Frank is doing well at the Galpharm, usually very dependable. He plays at right back for us. He seems to have taken to wearing flat caps though. I can only put this down to a Yorkshire influence! He’ll be talking about buying a whippet next.

What do you think of Chelsea, as if we needed to ask? Are you impressed by what the manager’s doing, or do you think Abramovich has a right to expect us to walk the League?

Ben: Avram Grant seems a decent fellow but I can’t see you winning much with him. Sorry but with Mourinho I believed that Chelsea would win the big games. Grant just seems to be another run of the mill Manager.

Danny: I don’t think anybody has a right to expect to walk the League. Obviously, the money makes a big difference but it can only get you so far before you need some talent to build a winning team and Mourinho clearly had that talent. I probably know as much about Avram Grant as you guys know about Andy Ritchie but I can’t say from having watched Chelsea on TV recently that they’re playing any more attractive football than they were under Mourinho – that was the intention, wasn’t it?

Ben: Personally I have a lot of time for Chelsea. You get some unfair stick over Abramovich’s billions. Lets face we’re all jealous and would much rather have a bonkers Russian than a debt loaded yank to come to our club any day!

Danny: I loved watching the Chelsea team of the late 90s with Gullit, Vialli and Zola. It was far easier to admire you when you had Zola rather than Drogba!

Ben: With Regards you manager, well I’m still shocked you got rid of Mourinho. I think most Town fans had great respect for Mourinho when at the end of the 2006 FA cup game, he came out to shake the hand of every single Huddersfield town player and then turned to applaud the Huddersfield fans. That meant a lot to us!

Which of our current squad do you most admire?

Danny: Jimmy Smith. He must get some stick in your squad for having a proper 1950s footballer name. He’s destined for the Nationwide League with a name like that, I can’t believe you’ve given him a squad number even if it is 46.

Ben: Michael Essien is the most complete football player I’ve seen since Roy Keane in his heyday. While Joe Cole has all the skill in the world, Carvalho is an immense defender and Drogba is a quality forward; it is Essien who allows these players to show their skill. He might not be pretty, but he tackles, he passes, he runs and he always holds the correct position. He also seems to be a nice lad too. Mickel seems to becoming more like him every time I see your team.

We’ve built a bit of a fortress at the Bridge. Think we’ll actually get a game out of you?

Danny: It depends whether you’ve got an eye on the other games on the horizon. Regardless of the team you put out, you should beat us. However, I’m presuming it won’t be your full strength team so I’m hoping we can make a game of it.

Ben: Absolutely! Straight up if the Huddersfield players play to the top of their ability then they are a match for all your Chelsea stars. Huddersfield have some really good players and our inconsistent form means our league position does not reflect the potenital talent we have in the side.

How will you deal with Chelsea? Do you stuff the midfield, or will we see a more adventurous line-up?

Danny: We had one up front against Birmingham in the third round and relied on a player operating between midfield and attack to support the lone striker. I think we may well go down this route again with Beckett the lone striker and Phil Jevons sitting slightly deeper.

Ben: Huddersfield will line up 4-4-1-1 if all the players are fit. If Johnny Worthington is fit for Saturday then the central midfield partnership of Worthington and Holdsworth will be like dogs of war and will shut down the likes of Ballack. I assure you your midfield will not get anytime on the ball!

Where will you finish this season?

Danny: Mid-table mediocrity beckons.

Ben: Where we finish in the league depends entirely on or league performances after the Chelsea match. If we win the next couple of games after the cup game then Huddersfield will be well in the hunt for a playoff place. If we suffer indifferent form then we will finish the season in the middle of league one! Let’s hope for the playoffs and our own visit to Wembley!

Would you swap victory in this game for a play-off place at the end of the season?

Danny: Yes, without a second thought. The play-offs are far more important to the regular fans at Town.

Ben: Yes without a doubt! Huddersfield need and deserve to be in the Championship, then lots of new teams can visit our wonderful Galpharm stadium!

What about Chelsea?

Danny: Looks like you’ve got 3rd place sewn up.

Ben: Chelsea won’t with the League this season but you have a chance in the cup competitions

Give us a score prediction.

Danny: 3-0 to Chelsea.

Ben: Two nil to Huddersfield with Luke Beckett scoring in the 85th minute. Well that’s what I dream of! In all honesty Chelsea will probably win but do not be surprised if you find yourself coming back to the Galpharm for a replay.

Thanks very much to both Danny and Ben. Enjoy the big day out, if not the “90 minutes of sheer hell” (© John Barnes, 1985) on the pitch.