ohmelads

No point recalling Krul if it's only a couple of weeks, but this does serve as a reminder that by loaning him out we do leave ourselves a bit exposed. An old cheap keeper on a one-year contract might not be a bad idea.

Sam talked a few weeks ago about players like Viduka 'using their experience' to get through these first games. Viduka looked well off the pace against Sampdoria, though I'm not sure if that'll have any bearing on his decision. If Viduka was to start against Bolton, I'd have thought he'd get more than 45 minutes against Sampdoria. That implies he's easing him back. Ameobi and Martins only got that but then Martins has had plenty of match-practice and Ameobi played the next day. I've even got a sneaky feeling he might go for Ameobi (though I haven't picked him in my 11), as he'll provide the height up front and should be more ready for it than Viduka, and Bolton won't expect it either.

Good stuff, hope this makes a difference because the number of injuries has been insane these last couple of years.

N'Zogbia gives us more in attack than Ramage does in defence, and I don't think his defending is as poor as Ramage's attacking either. Plus he's left footed and Ramage isn't, so I'd much rather see the Zog there. I also reckon he'll go 4-4-2, though it's very difficult to say at this stage.

Yep. Geremi so far has been everything Parker should have been but never was. Easily the outstanding player of pre-season for me.

Brilliant work arkanoider Have you seen him play? I'm keen to see how he turns out for us, though it could be a while yet before he starts a game.

I hope you're wrong but fear you might be right. Thing is Sam said after the Cacapa deal that he wanted three more players, and we've only signed Enrique since then. So that means he wants 2 more. A cheap squad player who can cover CB/LB would do me, and if there's any money left put it on a RB who will improve the first team and relegate Carr to back up status.

We have two specialist left backs though. Baba may be a crock, but he'll do a job as cover for this season. If we're looking to improve the first team and not just the squad, then right back is the current weakest area of the first team. Bring in a specialist RB and make Carr backup. That'll allow Solano and Geremi to play in positions where they are more effective, so the benefits would be numerous. I think we've done very well to pad out the squad, in left back we had an opportunity to improve the first team without disrupting things and in Enrique hopefully we've achieved that. Right back now represents our best chance of improving the first team and picking up more points.

That's twice one of Oliver's articles has said the player is 20 - he's 21. And that's twice he's got the price "wide of the mark" by a couple of million quid. Who is this 'football consultant' he's quoting, just some mate of his? Is it the same guy he quoted last time when we were linked with Edmilson? Oliver has to be one of the laziest journalists I've ever seen, but at least it provides some amusement.

Exactly.

Excellent news that it's only a couple of weeks, considering it's his groin again it could have been a lot longer.

Don't know much about Gordon but he'll have to be bloody good to justify that fee. You get the impression they're putting all their eggs in one basket so to speak. Clearly Sunderland are struggling to attract decent quality but you'd think they could find a few older 'experienced' players, the type Sam bought to keep Bolton up. Paying large sums for 'young potential' is a gamble in their position, espescially when you consider that these players have little to no Premiership experience.

I want us to be the team that sends them down at St James', that'd be beautiful.

Apparently he was on Radio Marca earlier saying that they already knew about the interest from Newcastle about a month ago more or less.

Real shame he'll miss out on two games against the Old Firm. Sounds like Shay's injury is pretty bad if we have to recall Krul.

If they're on form, but they're inconsistent whingers who can be got at and Sam knows that more than anyone. I think both managers will be wary of the other's attacking options and each will be tempted to pack the midfield which could result in a stalemate. Part of me hopes we show some balls and line up 4-4-2 because I think our attacking options can cause their defence all kinds of problems as well.

Looks like Bolton could be missing a few players themselves. From .com: NUFC: To follow.....absentees include Owen, Emre, Barton, Duff and Babayaro with a big doubt over Given. BWFC: To follow.... Missing through injury are Ricardo Gardner (hamstring) Stelios (hernia), Blerim Dzemaili (cruciate). Doubts: Heidar Helguson (groin), Joey O'Brien (knee) Nicky Hunt (toe), Christian Wilhelmsson (awaiting international clearance), Daniel Braaten (awaiting international clearance).

Waste of time loaning out a 29-year old, I expect Sam will reject this. The only reason we loaned Robert was because his position at the club became impossible under Souness.

This one looks dead in the water, wonder who is next on Sam's list? As a couple have said already it looks like the Enrique and Cacapa deals may have scuppered this one. With Enrique taking the left back spot and Taylor, Roz and Cacapa I think Drago knew/suspected he'd be here on a rotation basis. Considering Javi Navarro is out for two months, he could be getting more games over there and with Champions League games and an improved contract, I think the switch became less attractive.

This is the first pre-season I recall anything close to 'impressive' performances from Carr. I think he deserves praise for a good pre-season, but I am very doubtful he'll be able to stay injury free for long, regardless of how long his form holds up.

I remember when Souness tried to go there and battle them off the park and it didn't work. I don't think he fully appreciated that what Bolton did was as much about pressing and fitness as it was about heavy challenges, we basically couldn't go toe to toe with them and were outplayed for most of the game. I trust Big Sam for this game, he'll know a lot more about the strengths and weaknesses of most of Bolton's team than Little Sam will know about Newcastle. He'll know what makes their players tick, who can't handle pace, who doesn't like being pushed onto their weaker foot, who needs time on the ball, everything. Thinking about it I think Sam'll go safety first and play 4-3-3, and I think Bolton will play that as well. If that's the case then I don't expect a high scoring game. My only reservation about this formation is that if Dyer is out of the fold and Zoggy is required at left back, then Solano and Milner may well occupy the flanks and we'll look as static as we did in the first half against Sampdoria. For me, whatever the formation Martins will be ideal for this game to hit them on the break and test their defence out.

No idea on the formation or lineup, which is maybe a good thing. Bolton will be really up for this, but I reckon Sam might try and use that against them. It's the start of the season, they're at home, and the whole stadium will be roaring them on to get one over on Sam Allardyce. It might leave them vulnerable on the counter, with Martins trying to spring the offside trap. Viduka looked a bit off the pace against Sampdoria but his hold up play would be very useful here. I just don't see Smith and Martins having the same effect on their own, I reckon he may try and get an hour out of Viduka and bring Shola on.

Seeing as it's only a friendly, I see no point in bringing an older player like Campbell back. Makes much more sense to bring someone young in who may one day be able to do a job, and learn a thing or two about him in the process. Taylor's a good shout for that. Giving him a chance in a friendly when there are several injuries at once does not mean to say he's good enough for the England team, it's just an opportunity to give one of the up and coming players a chance and Taylor fits that profile.

You can't sort out a squad in a single transfer window, but Sam has made a very good fist of it and has generally got value for his money. I'm liking the look of our squad now, we have youth and experience in defence, midfield, and attack and options all over the place to change things around. We could still do with one or two finishing touches, and we don't know how Roz, Cacapa and Enrique will turn out, but so far the signs are good and my initial concerns have died down. Hopefully if we can bring in the last two players Sam wants then we should be ready for whatever injuries/suspensions/fatigue etc the season throws at us. I'm a lot more optimistic than I was this time last year, simply because we have a bigger squad and a better manager.

Milner put in a couple of brilliant crosses yesterday, and his work off the ball helped the team a lot. That cross for Viduka was top drawer and he swung another one deep to the far post after beating his marker. I thought he had a good game, and is looking sharp in pre-season. He seems to gradually be getting better and better. He'll never have the pace or strength which will hold him back from becoming a top 4 winger IMO, but I think he has what it takes to be, say, a decent top 6 winger, espescially as his crossing, shooting and decision-making seems to be improving all the time.