Isn't this a beautiful sight....

NEWCASTLE UTD 18 11 3 4 34 23 36 +11

Liverpool 16 10 3 3 25 15 33 +10

Leeds 18 8 8 2 26 17 32 +9

Man Utd 18 9 3 6 43 28 30 +15

Arsenal 17 8 6 3 35 21 30 +14

Chelsea 17 6 9 2 23 12 27 +11

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

Answers

One more game and it's halfway through the season. Even if we somehow lost and so had 36 pts at half-way, then 36 times two would give us 72 for the season and a Champion's League place. The table doesn't lie ... Being top after 4 games or top after 10 games means nothing, but by now, it's more than a fluke. Unless there's a major collapse or lots of injuries or more red cards, then I think we're heading into Europe, one way or another, and not by the cat-flap this time. We're 13 points ahead of 9th place and 9 points ahead of 6th place : these are significant gaps that we're opening up. And 4 or 5 more points means safety from relegation too. I hope the Queen was watching as I think it's going to be Lord Robson and Sir Alan Shearer in the New Year's Honours.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

I'm so happy I could cry - really it's pathetic.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

i bounced around the house for a minute at 1-0, sat down fairly relaxed and happy at 1-1, went shopping and came out as Robbie scored, got home, smiled contentedly as Al equalised, screamed the house down as we won it, i think there's something wrong with you if you only feel like crying

Highlight of the afternoon reporting for me was watching Mullery post match. Dislike the man intensely (since the 5-5) but he sat with a glow about him, he wants us to win the league, he has seen a side attack when 3-3 away at Leeds, a cavalier style, demanding to find out whether other teams can cope with our attackers. He thought we were fantastic and worthy leaders (by three points in case you missed that !). His warmth about us winning away at Arsenal and then away at Leeds was lovely.

Jeff Stelling seemed to think that the cocktail of pre-Xmas Saturday, plau "We are top of the league" would make the Bigg Market bounce tonight ..... 7.5 on the Richter scale I'd say

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

Just checked and Liverpool (our nearest challengers !) have to play Arsenal home and away, Man U away, and Villa away before the end of January

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

Bloody cheek Macbeth! There is nothing wrong with me! How we celebrate our sucesses in the privacy of our own homes is our own business. I am now having a very large drink before going out on the hoy. I may be tired and emotional later on though.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

I did cry and it cost me a pair of expensive geps. Vaporised in the excitement, so from the first goal, the game was as blurred as if I'd had ten pints instead of three. We won because we had twenty two players on the field.

What an absolutely marvellous, outstanding, exhilerating, beautiful, orgasmic up-there-with-Howway-5-0 day and ditto performance.

I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.I WAS THERE.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

Glad to see you all made it back safe Pit Bill. I'm just in the house myself after a trip that normally would have me chewing on the GNER seats but instead I just sat and luxuriated, bought the Pink at Central Station and just sat with it on my lap back to Hexham absorbing the good news through me knees.

I was there too

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

And me!! Add that to the fact I was up the @rse on Tuesday and I think you can only begin to imagine how I'm feeling right now (2:40am)!! ;-))

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

Tho of course, if Liverpuddle win by 2 clear goals the morra, we won't be top at Christmas :-(

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

Party pooper.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

Have you not finished that bottle of Cinzano yet??

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

Which one you on about Screach ? And they were Martini. :-))

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

Ssssshhh..don't say anything to my Liverpool supporting friend.....I'm rooting for Arse tomorrow. Or a draw. ;-)

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

A 0-0 would do me between Arsenholes and Liverpoo

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2001

Add an "l" to that last post :)

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2001

I've spent an enjoyable hour reading all the posts from yesterday. What a fantastic performance, and that was just Screacher. Who would have thought we'd get six points away at Arsenal and Leeds, knocking in 7 goals in the process?

It's going to be a great Christmas, top of the table.

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2001

Looks even better now Liverpool just lost to the Arse

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2001

Three points ahead, one game more played, but more goals for!! Can anybody believe it????

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2001