Chase

Yesterday I thought almost all the decent chances we did create came through Milner, he was the only one going forward with the exception of the odd surge forward by Barton.

Yes, I'm juvenile. f*** it, it's Friday. We are both juvenile in that case, it made me laugh too

I think Allardyce will be more patient when bringing Duff back into the first team. IMO Barton may well have been rushed slightly as he was a new signing I think a bit of impatience was involved on all accounts, by us to see him play, by the club for the same reason and also by the club to bring him as soon as possible to justify his purchase. Duff on the other hand has been here a year now so there is no justification needed and we do also have Milner and Zog who can play on the left so there is no need to rush him. I personally think he'll be back around xmas.

To back that up I'm sure he got subbed at half time on his debut against a lower league team in the FA Cup.

I couldn't care if Arsenal had got a last gasp winner, after today's performance I'm more than happy. IMO we cuold have actually won the game given the chances we had but regardless or that a great performance from the lads in doing what very few expected us to do and that's actually get something from the game never mind give Arsenal a run for their money.

This game is going a hell of alot better than I thought it would have gone

fuck sticks

Surprisingly quite close between locals and non-local fans. Also it's a yes from me, although I live near Reading now

I'm surprised this hasn't been posted yet, if it has apologies. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7116823.stm Not going to mention names but I'm probably thinking the same things as most of you regarding the where abouts of one fat man today.

I remember them being linked with him when we signed him. Jewell came public and said that they'd approached Owen and 'allegedly' Owen agreed to join them IF he didn't sign for us or Liverpool.

one thing I've noticed with sams CB signings is that they are all willing to come out and speak to the media. Rozenhal especially seems to come out quite often and say the right things like Shay used to but hasn't done so much recently. If we've had a bad game he's not really held back and has come out and said it which personally i appreciate and I believe Cacapa will do the same more often once he brushes up his English a bit more as I dont think he's as fluent.

I can't remember when the story was out but I can remember reading about England players giving up their money which they got for an international match about 2 or 3 years ago and given the money instead to a charity.

I'd hate it if this happened and I can't get my head around why 54 or 60 teams, it just seems like a nothing number. I'm against Celtic and Rangers joining the EPL and I'm even more against a European league.

Stats towards the win ratio's are pretty meaningless. When Souness joined I think we went on a run of 10 games unbeaten, but out of those 10 games only something like 3 where league games as we had a few cup ties against teams like the mighty Dnipro where as Sam has played Man City and Portsmouth who respectibly are good teams.

IMO the 2 footed tackle was worse than Joey high boot but in all honesty I only think this has gone unnoticed within the media as there was very little fuss made about it during the game. I can't remember who the players where but they both seemed to shrug it off straight away although I honestly think if the ref noticed it then it would have been a straight red.

I really don't see the point in releasing articles like that. Each one is written with one sole intention which is to knock the desired club and lets face it which set of fans in the premier league does not think they are a big club, yes they might not be the biggest but considering we've successfully stayed in the top flight for well over 10 years now I'd consider us a big club, not the biggest but I'd certainly put us in the top 10. Also to keep things on subject so far I'm more than glad we forked out £10m on Oba instead of Kuyt as so far Kuyt has done very little to even remotely impress me.

That's what I'm trying to figure out, it's night so naturally everything is black so all you'll really see is the red and white. I dont think they should be doing this although if it was somewhere more neutral between the two cities then I would have no problem with it, I just object to flying the oppsotions colours in either city. If it's sunderland it should be in sunderland if its newcastle it should be in newcastle, if it's both it should be neutral ground

If we were in for him I'd be very wary about him taking into consideration the last 2 supposed 20+ goals a season strikers who have came over here in recent years. Last year it was Dirk Kuyt and before him it was Kezman and they've well and truelly lit the premier league alight. EDIT: bum hat, I was beaten to the Kesman comment (NOTE: learn to type faster).

Taylor has to play, he's a local lad so he knows more than anyone in the team what this game means. He mightn't be the best player but committment can just just as long a way as skill in these types of games. i said for taylor to play beye taylor roz enrique should be the back 4 I know, I was agreeing with you

Taylor has to play, he's a local lad so he knows more than anyone in the team what this game means. He mightn't be the best player but committment can just just as long a way as skill in these types of games.

I'd like to see Emre play, I think he really does care about the club and I think he'll be up for the game. Currently as things stand I think he's got more to offer than a less than match fit Barton (even though Barton will play). Ideally for me the midfield will look like Zog - Emre - Geremi - Milner although I can see Sam playing Barton instead of Emre.

Personally I'd stay clear of him, he's turned us down once this year so obviously he doesn't want to join us. If we are going to sign someone I think we should be looking to improve, not break an even back four, we need to constantly look for players who are better than what we have or players who will develop and become better than what we have, not just another make weight

The last few words do sum up everything really "The swings are incredible." He's spot on in that respect as one minute everyone is optimistic and after a single defeat we are always downbeat and having to contend with the kneejerkers talking about relegation. Changing managers constantly won't solve anything and for once I'm hopefully we sound like we have a long term plan, what that plan is I don't know but this speach fills me with alot more confidence than the old Shrinking Violets talk from Shepherd. This time is sounds like we're under control. We've pretty much got an almost new football club, not just new manager, new players because of the take over everything changes and things will take time to find even ground, people should be patient.

Yep I'm sure were likely to see Cech, Reina and Van der Sar on the bench. Can you honestly say you'd play a big name out of form goalkeeper before a lesser known goalkeeper with little comparison between their skills. I never said it was that way, but it should be that way.

Harper shouldn't have been dropped in the first place, he came in did his job well and in return he got put on the bench given the first chance. If you're playing well you should be playing, there's nothing else to it.