ohmelads

He said he wants to use the players who have done so well in pre-season with the new ones coming in after that. He's already singled Zog out for praise at left-back, and said today he thought he was man of the match yesterday (although he performed a lot better on the left wing). Perhaps he might wait as long as the international break before starting the likes of Cacapa and Enrique, injuries permitting? A two week break and then Wigan at home, seems like a good way to start them off, after some sub appearances perhaps.

Against Bolton it will be very physical so i dont think Sam will chuck him in the deep end from the start, He might get a 15-20 min run out at the end. Im slightly concerned that Enrique wont play and someone like Ramage will end up there. I reckon he'll stick with Zog at left back. Just a hunch.

Good to see Allardyce is looking to ease him into the team. I'd love to see him playing at Bolton but let's not forget what happened to Luque who was given 90 mins against Man Utd 48 hours after having a medical, a week later suffered a hamstring tear, lost all his pace and confidence and became a joke figure at the club. To throw a young Spanish defender in against Bolton away just days after meeting his new teammates could be asking for trouble. I reckon he might put him in against Villa, it's a home game and by then he'll have been training with the team for 2 weeks.

According to someone on the Villarreal forums his nickname is actually "the buffalo". Can't see it catching on over here either way. £6.3M, shows Oliver was wrong and the Spanish papers were right, then. Very happy with this, exactly the type of signing I wanted us to make for this position (like Baines). If he turns out to be the real deal then we'd have our left back sorted out for the next decade.

I'd go with Solano, Emre and Owen. Viduka's touch is very good but he tends to get the ball with his back to goal and simply needs to control it. Wingers and forwards like Owen often need to take the ball into their stride and for those sorts of players the first touch is often the most important. I'd include Emre as well simply because his ball control in tight spaces is probably the best of anyone in the squad. For what it's worth Dyer's first touch is good as well.

Is it? I don't understand a word of the valenciano a couple of them are speaking (catalan basically, though it winds them up if you say that). I studied languages at uni and lived over there last year. Thinking of moving back out there next year. I was half expecting them to say the usual "good riddance" or "he's not that good anyway" but they seem genuinely gutted and are directing their anger at the board rather than the player. I must admit I've been reading their comments with a smile on my face! I think the other poster on here 'arkanoider' may be catalan/valenciano as he was able to translate the whole news report, most of which was in valenciano.

Papers in Spain are saying 8m euros, not 6 as Oliver claims. http://www.lasprovincias.es/castellon/prensa/20070806/deportes/club-buscara-sustituto-para_20070806.html That's a hefty sum for a young left back, though it's still cheaper than Baines and their fans are saying it's a bargain and "a ridiculous price" for him. Really looking forward to seeing him play, although the downside is he'll need some time to settle in and he probably doesn't speak any English.

Well that Spanish news report said Barcelona and Liverpool had shown an interest in him, though we were told the same about Luque. I'd be surprised if he really turned down any chance to sign for Liverpool, I think we just heard he was available (possibly due to a clause in his contract, the Villarreal fans are speculating) and moved quickly. With reassurances he'll be in our first-team and knowing that we pushed the boat out to sign him, on top of wages probably significantly higher than what he's on, I doubt he'd have wanted to wait around and see if a bigger club will come in. This is the type of signing I've wanted us to make, and the reason I was against going for mediocrity like Queudrue.

Says on the back of the Chron he'll miss the Bolton game.

Perhaps, although Solano has yet to appear at RB under Allardyce while Carr has appeared there for every game. If Sam had real plans to play Nobby there in the near future he'd surely have given him some time there in pre-season. Solano's played there a couple of times I think, not started though. He definitely played a half at Hartlepool at RB. Did he? Suppose it's a possibility then. I reckon it's Carr's position to lose at the moment though. Not that he's been in fantastic form, but he's done enough to keep his place so far. Enrique's arrival will displace someone from the first team though, and at the moment none of those mentioned deserve to be dropped (IMO anyway). It'll be interesting to see how he juggles it.

Perhaps, although Solano has yet to appear at RB under Allardyce while Carr has appeared there for every game. If Sam had real plans to play Nobby there in the near future he'd surely have given him some time there in pre-season.

The signing of Enrique will give Sam a selection headache (always a good thing) on the left hand side. Up until now he's played Solano on the right and Milner on the left, with N'Zogbia behind. Once Enrique claims that LB spot (perhaps as early as the Bolton game, given he's the only fit, natural LB we have) then I suspect one of Zog/Solano/Milner will be dropped. All have looked good in pre-season, it looks a tough decision at the moment.

If a deal was imminent in the next couple of days I wouldn't have thought he'd have played today. Then again Dani Alves played too and there's speculation surrounding him. It might be that the player is having doubts despite the two clubs agreeing on a deal? After all he's 31 and has helped get his side into the Champions League, this may be the only chance he gets to play at that level.

Playing in a Newcastle XI against Gateshead tomorrow according to .cock. Ameobi is also included for that game but it seems highly unlikely given he played 45 minutes today.

Good debut, unlucky with the offside decision because he was clearly level, so he should have had two debut goals despite playing half the game in midfield. Given the lack of fitness of a few of our players and his performance today he's got to be down as a definite starter for the Bolton game.

Sampdoria look a decent side, wasn't a bad game overall. Some of our defending wasn't the best, Taylor looks half-a-yard off the pace at the moment, second best to balls you'd normally see him winning. Another decent, tidy game from Rozehnal. I don't think he's anything special but he looks a decent, consistent defender, comfortable with a ball at his feet, dominant in the air and maintains his concentration for 90 minutes. Could be a very astute signing for the money we paid, but time will tell how he deals with better strikers. Carr has had a good pre-season, but you just never know when his next injury is around the corner. I've always maintained he isn't as bad as people make out, he's just an average Premiership full back, held back by injuries and laziness, who holds a team challenging for top 6 back. He's definitely lost weight, looks fitter and sharper and looks up for the challenge ahead, but he has a lot to do to convince the fans. Another good performance from him today, Sampdoria got little change out of him. We should give credit where it's due, we've looked a lot more balanced with him in decent form, Solano may be a much more gifted footballer but he isn't a natural right and you can see the added balance we have when people are playing in their favoured positions. Geremi was a class act once again, could turn out to be the signing of the summer. Milner's crossing was very good, swung in a couple of brilliant balls. Smith had a good game, hardly put a foot wrong and should have had two goals because he was onside. In terms of the team, I think the biggest change has been our off the ball play, we look a lot more hungry to win it back than we ever did under previous managers and you know the training is paying off when you see Carr charging up and down the wing. Bad news about Given, hope he's alright for Bolton. It was his groin again apparently, doesn't sound good :S

He was the signing that excited me the most, I knew he'd be quality but he looks even better than I thought, and definitely looks cut out to play central midfield which I hadn't expected. Seems to have found his level with us. Really looks a class act in defence and attack, captain material too. He looks like everything Parker should have been but never was. Very impressed so far.

Good to see Taylor and Butt back, should mean they'll be alright to start at Bolton. With Butt back it gives us options rather than the midfield picking itself. Geremi can go to right back or right wing and Smith can move up front.

Exactly. The deal isn't done yet so if Enrique broke his leg or something we could just pack him back off to an unhappy Villarreal! Would we have been happy letting West Ham play Dyer before a deal was done?

Good read, cheers! He reckons he could be close to fully fit within a week. Didn't Sam say somewhere he may have to throw him in against Bolton because of injuries? If that's the case we might see a bit of him today I'd have thought.

Good to hear he's in the starting XI right away and impressing too. Will be interesting when he's up against Celtic or Rangers, would love to see him put in another Palermo performance

Perhaps he can win loads of free kicks for Geremi to take with some poncy diving. http://estaticos01.cache.el-mundo.net/albumes/2007/02/03/21_liga/b0c79b74ffee4a217a31d2284da880a7_extras_albumes_0.jpg

Any idea if Cacapa will be making his debut?

Posted on the Villarreal forums, had a few responses. I asked what type of player he is and whether they think he'd have the pace and strength necessary to adapt over here. They've basically agreed with each other that he has pace and strength in abundance and a fighting spirit to boot, he never gives up on a ball and his game is suited to England. He's very quick apparently, beat Aguero in a race starting from behind, and that Messi struggled against him. They also say he's very consistent, rarely has a bad game. His crossing isn't his strongest point and he's nothing special technically, but he shields the ball well. They're very confident he'll go on to be Spain's first choice left back and are saying we've made a brilliant signing (they're talking as if it's a done deal).

Don't think it's good for the mood of the whole squad to keep such an unhappy player. Hope this gets sorted out quickly.