Friedel and Van Der Sar are still better all-round keepers than him IMO, and Schwarzer at least pushes him close. If Joe Hart carries on from where he left off last season he's another in with a genuine claim. Then there's Julio Cesar, Casillas as you say, and Valdes is a close call. He's an excellent shot-stopper who still has the occasional brain-fart that holds him back IMO, much like James for the duration of his career.

Lovely 3rd goal from Man Utd. Scholes has given another masterclass in how to control a game.

He has far less brain farts than James, I'd say he has less than Friedel too.

Honestly, carl, how can you sit there and write that? Especially the all-round stuff. Reina's strongest attribute isn't even his shot stopping, but he's easily one of the best shot stoppers in the world. His best attributes are his athleticism and his distribution: he's so quick off of his line, he's rarely beat in 1v1 situations 'cause he comes out so quickly and makes himself big, he's easily the fastest goalkeeper in the league and it shows with his outstanding pace from his line, I mean, we've been able to play a 'pushed up' defence for years, but we've never had any genuine pace at the back, but that has rarely been exposed, largely due to Reina's terrific pace, he's like a sweeper; add to that, his distribution, again, is by far and out the best in the league, he is excellent at starting counter-attacks, he's solid at passing and he never has to 'punt it' down field, as he's a natural footballer, he can pass it about, something van der Sar and Friedel can't do, at least to the effect and level that Reina can.

Reina's weakest attribute is his cross-handling, whether he's a bad handler or not, I don't know, but he really struggled to 'command' the box with zonal marking, as it simply blocked him from getting to the ball with 10 of his own defenders in the box. Other than that, I'd say he's world class at every single thing, whilst I think his handling in general (ignore that fumble on the weekend, he regularly makes great saves catching the ball and so on) is top class, whilst his positioning, closing down, 1v1's and all-round ability makes him by far the most 'complete' goalkeeper in the league, if not the world.

I could control a game against Alan Smith, absolute abomination of a footballer. Scholes was the best player on the pitch, always plays well against us though.

Another long season of struggle from Newcastle awaits. Hopeless.

Funniest* moment of the night was when Evra tried to con a free kick out of James Perch and rolled into the advertising hoardings. Harper came over shouting, Churchill Dog style 'No No No - I'm not having that'. Referee didn't give the foul, correctly. Minutes later, Giggs made him look like the chump he is by smashing the third in. Lots of people asking Harper if 'he was having that'.

*not 'funny' funny but you know what I mean.

Need to sort the premier league out, these small clubs getting promoted then getting hidings straight away and putting in abysmal showings is ruining the credibility of the league. We put 3 past Newcastle last night with out breaking a sweat, Chelsea rinsed WBA without lifting a finger.

Newcastle small club?!! 3rd biggest in the Premiership attendance-wise. No shame getting beat at Old Trafford, Man U will only drop handful of points there all season.

You cant go to Old Trafford with strikers like Ameobi, Carroll, and expect to score goals, let alone get points.

They are simply not good enough.

Yes, i will go against the grain with Carroll, and probably incur the rath of the Geordies, but he isn't good enough and to me, has never displayed any glimpses which show he is good enough to be our number 9.

He played ok last night, but again had chances, and didnt take them, you simply have to convert chances in the Premier League, especially away at Man Utd.

Guthrie was a big loss for us last night, Smith, Barton and Nolan are just plodders in midfield, and their experience might tell in the CC Championship, but in the Premiership, they are too slow. Guthrie would have been in ahead of one of those last night, i am sure.

Without some more quality signings, we will go back down, no doubt about that, but i do think most Newcastle fans understand the situation we are in. I just hope Ashley backs Hughton, and gives him the money we need to stay in the league as a priority this season, and build on it from there on.

I dont know why we havent made finding a decent striker our priority, especially when we knew we would be going to OT on the opening fixture, we need goals, we someone who can find the back of the net. It's all very well Hughton stating we have 'depth' in the strikers, but look at who they are, Carroll, Ameobi, Nile Ranger, Leon Best, Xisco, etc... the only decent one in my opinion is Lovenkrands, who offers pace, and something different, and probably is the best finisher from all of our strikers.

Agrred. I can only think of Casillas.