pinewood...i said the very same about leadbitter and the captains armband not suiting him, his game has improved without it....probably one of our worst captains, this was a poor jewell decision to give him it in the first place...coyb

Still not buying into Leadbitter..he's been very very average since day 1,now all of a sudden his contract is almost up and he's pulling his finger out..what's he been doing for the last 2 and a half seasons?.

Personally i'm still p155ed off with how Hyam's been treated (again)...PJ'll probably drop Drury for Bowyer next and we'll be back to the early season awfullness.

Lightingboy Bowyer changed the game on Saturday?

Quite frankly I never doubted that Leadbitter was a good player, I think he is probably a relatively honest professional in the context of the modern greedy game.

Fact: many of our senior players have let us down and been very inconsistent, indeed they have let themselves down, this is not what you pay big transfer fees or big wages for.

Fact: the senior players have been put under pressure by the younger players such as Hyam, Drury and have had to compete hard to regain their places.

I am very indifferent regarding Leadbitter signing another contract unless it is a fair deal for the club and not a situation of throwing premiership style bucks at the new contract.

I would be quite happy to see a central midfield four of Bowyer, Bullard, Drury and Hyam competing for 2 starting spaces. I sense it might be easier to do a one year renewal with Bowyer rather than a two year deal with Grant. With Bowyers age and greater susceptibility to more injuries then other players are likely to get a chance.

A thought occurs. If you're trying to get someone to re-sign, who has cost an awful lot of money initially [ Grant Leadbetter ] and might cost more money to replace, then to stick him on the bench probably isn't the best way to get him to sign. Is it possible, that was why he ended up back in the team and has taken his chance. Whether we should or shouldn't be trying to re-sign him is a matter for debate. Also, does anybody know how good Hyam has been in training ? And, or was he tired and needing a rest ? As I said, just a thought, not neccessarily my opinion.

Thing is Hyam is always going to be golden boy, local lad he is a bit of an icon for many. He is a decent player, has got a new contract and will get his chance. Grant is still when on his game the better player, whilst he is playing well and scoring goals why not play him. Maybe he is after a new contract here or elsewhere only he can anwear that, but if he is winning games for us (and for me has won the last two) then why not. All this rubbish about the terrible treatment of Hyam, anyone spoken to him? Is he devistated or does he understand football is a business and currently with Grant in the team we are definatly 'doing the business'. Do agree about sub situation, its such a shame as given the extra two far more like Hyam and younger get a chance to take part.

If Grant does sign a new contract with us it will almost certainly be at a much reduced salary. I would guess this figure would reflect his contribution to the club during his entire career at the club and not just the last two weeks. Personally I believe Grant is an asset to this squad and on his day a good player.

I am as suspicious as the next town fan regarding Leadbitter's sudden up turn in form coinciding with his contract expiration. It's frustrating that a clearly gifted midfielder at this level has struggled to impose himself in games until now. The Leadbitter who played for Sunderland under Keane would scrap all day, play the ball forward and score the odd goal, which is what he is doing in a Town shirt now. I would say though in Grant's defence that he has come into a side playing with real confidence with real options either side of him (Drury, JET, Murphy) and in front of him (Martin, Chopra), which I don't recall him having before. I hope he's not just putting himself the shop window because it would be great to have 5 very competent midfielders competing for 2 places

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9152998/Sir-Bob

Good call from DanLyle: Cant see Jewells playing him like this if there wasn't already something for a new contract ready and agreed. As a team we appear so much better, with the run in six at home of the 10 left we may yet achieve 68 pts (5 home wins and 1 away win, a couple of draws and a couple of defeats) Wonder if we could sneak the play offs with that? Doubt it, but we can dream......

Well deserved,has been xcellent and proved a lot of "blinkered" morons wrong. Still being called rubbish by some!!! People who should either be at AA meetings or in rehab or are finding puberty awkward.