Dokko

The failings on the pitch fall down to not having the right men for the job. We have half a squad, no balance, and we've been lucky in terms of injuries so far, a lot of what injuries we have had are hangovers from the previous regime. Sam needs more money and should of been given it in the summer. He was given the basics, and really, spent on the basics. Players like Smith would be a good signing once we have two LB's, two RB's, a settled partnership in defence, 4 competent strikers and of course variety and creativity in midfield. ATM he's a waste of money, but as squad filler he'd have been an excellent bit of business. Sam isn't going to buy a bad player, he might buy average ones to do certain jobs, but i cant see him buying anything totally crap such as Souness, so yes, i'd trust him, we need to, we need to bring in more quality and if he can attract Anelka to Bolton, then he can bring in some good names to the club without too much hassle or financial sacrifice.

But you were happy with the defenders he brought in at the time. Tbf I was and co ntinue to be overjoyed with Enrique who will get better and better and Faye who is coming into his own. But as my many whinging threads about CM's (creative or otherwise) are a testament I was worried as soon as the window shut about our ability to compete with proper football in mf. I said all summer that the lack of pace and creativity would cost us and it has, replacing Dyer with Smith was madness and we're now left with a team of grafters rather than any genuine pace and penetration in the team, our only players capable of this are either on the bench or playing out of position at left back. As for signing better quality defenders, he said players wouldn't come here because we were not in Europe and I believe him, Ben Haim went to Chelsea, Distin had already agreed to join Pompey, Heinze turned us down flat, Silvestre turned us down because he didn't like Barton and Man Utd would only sell Brown if Heinze stayed, what other players with Premiership experience stand out apart from them who would leave their current club to come here? My biggest worry now is that if players turned us down last year because of no European football, there's a good chance we're going to have the same problem next Summer too. Which is why we should be playing what we know, and to our assets and resources instead of 433.

Out of order. > Its not though really is it? The click said it was ok, so it was, but really it isn't. I have to hold back on SA for now and I made a promise to myself to give him till Christmas at least. I'd give him the season, but what the hey, i'm very impatient. What does rule is that he wasn't backed properly in the last window, but everyone was happy with that weren't they?

Out of order. > Its not though really is it? The click said it was ok, so it was, but really it isn't.

I'm really glad you lot are catching up, well done.

Thread is picking up now.

I wonder hoe much we could sell him for next summer? Would be the 1st thing i'd do.

Money does play a part but as any successful business man will know, you make even more money when you are consistently producing the goods and that can only come from having a sound business plan with good foundations. I'm sure Big Sam will get enough time, providing fans stay onside. We look stale in attack and disorganised regardless of what formation we play or who plays where, although having said that we've had no problem scoring goals at home so things can't be too stale up front. I probably agree we'd have done better in a settled 4-4-2 from the start but it would only get ripped up in a year's time anyway, so why not start as you mean to go on? Of course that's impacted results and performances but I don't think by any large swing due to us being a sub standard team regardless, so its swings and roundabouts only in the near future, we'll be much better off for it and that's what everyone has to focus on, which I'm sure Mort and Ashley are doing. Well fingers crossed it all pans out the way you are hoping. I'd take all what you are saying as long as it happens. There's nothing really to argue about what you are saying, i just think the outcome could be different, but i hope you are right and it works out the way you are talking.

Then we must afford him that time. If we don't, this problem won't go away and will only grow and the next man will only want to overhaul things anyway, so why shouldn't the man we ironically appointed to overhaul things, a man with a proven track record in that area, get the time to do just that? Because a few fans don't like the football on show or are too fucking impatient and stupid to accept no matter who is in charge, they all need time? Fuck them, they are idiots who can't see past their own nose. The formation changes haven't worked? I disagree, we are 6 points off 6th place so they are working to a degree. Who is to say changing them again will work better anyway? Not that this is important at this early stage, for me anyway, I'd rather look ahead and think about where we'll be in a few years time because of these foundations being put in place now than make snapped judgments based on 12 games. I hope he does get the time, talk of sack now is absurd, but football is an impatient game, its a money game now and the more money, the less time there is to get it right. Its the high pressure of the football world at the top, its why Sam clears in a week more than 80% of the UK population does in a year. So taking that into consideration, his job is also to get it right now, as well as later on, thats really all i'm saying. The formation change hasn't worked, as we've looked stale in attack, and disorganised at the back. The results have been to the wire most games, and we could of been looking a lot worse bar a couple of incidents, this worryingly after the easiest start i've seen on paper to an EPL season for us. IMO we'd have done better in a settled 442 from the start of the season, but really there is no way to prove that.

The way I look at it we don't have the players for any formation or rather regardless of how they line up I still don't think there will be a huge swing either way. Playing 4-4-2 with Zoggy and Milner left and right won't suddenly make us into a crack outfit, and neither will playing Martins and Owen up front together for example. We are that shite or substandard as a team, we would get beaten away to Reading however we lined up while we'll always beat your Evertons at home all the same. To become a consistently strong side however home and away, will require a lot more than playing good players in their right positions, it will require a game plan based on a system that each player understands and is comfortable with 100%. Only then will we become a top team, irrespective of how many good players we have and it is these things that separate your Liverpools from your Spurs (last season) or us and Liverpool at current. We like them have good players, although not as many, but they are also a good team, and we aren't. Me, if the manager wants to gear towards 4-3-3 for the future because he believes that is the best way to succeed or the only way, at the expense of short-term gains, more power to him as it won't matter and if anything, will obstruct development because when it comes to introducing 4-3-3 and everything that goes with it a year down the line, he'll have to undo 12 months of 4-4-2 or whatever way we play and will need a year anyway to get things going for 4-3-3. I guess you could say he's laying down the concrete before he builds his house. He could just knock up a hut which will keep us all warm I suppose, but will it stand the wind, rain, sleet and snow of 4 seasons? I understand, and long term its a good goal, if it works. But i've never seen NUFC move to a different formation other than 442 and for it to work. We need a complete re-haul of the team, i just don't think SA has the time for that, and he needs to show ASAP that he knows what he's doing, or whats going to happen is he gets sacked mid change, and we start again with another manager. That's going to be more harmful than good. The formation change hasn't worked, and it wont with this team, so what is best right now is that we pick up as many points as possible while making ourselves more attractive to better players in the future by showing were back in business. If he's here for the long term, then this would be a better course of action than sticking with a 433 regardless of form and results dont you think?

One downside is that it requires specialist players which in our case means they'll have to be bought if they can't be converted. Aye just a bit, and we don't have the team for it, so lets not try and put square pegs in round holes.

Thats a good assessment of how we should probably be thinking.... not been the best so far but dont get the knives out yet Its nice to know we've got a manager who is a: Fully qualified b: Respected in at least one country c: knows more about football than myself. So it is in whole an improvement on the last two. But, its not working is it? Something is still wrong. For all the hard work he's done off field, its not getting it done on the pitch. Its been a blessing so far that we've had an easy start, because he seriously could right now be sitting on the top of the sack race if he had it difficult. That though is a worry, we've all discussed it, and really, were in a false position overall, and thats not good news for him and the start of his revolution. The board, although i love their new style, haven't backed him enough for me. He should of been given the best possible start, in the end he got to spend probably what we would of got if FS had still been here. Lets hope it was just an issue of money going towards debts, and that isn't a trend for the new reign. Still though, a lot of cunts have departed, a few more still need to go but i am sure they will and next season will probably be the season were all waiting for, big changes and some real structure to the team, i just hope he wins enough games between now and then for him to keep his job. Saying all that though, if Milner didn't fluke an equalizer yesterday, i think i'd be hoping for a new manger this morning, fickle i know, but am being honest.

He's under performed on the pitch since he's got here, and isn't showing any signs of improving, yes he's under pressure and rightly so. PS: I'm still behind him though, and still have faith he'll put us in the right direction by the end of the season.

Someone was asking me about this yesterday, i said i din't know, does anyone have any infor please? Ta.

in a nutshell, taking the piss out of the mackem accent. and anything with the "ee" sound in will do the job Also the thick shits keep eating each others keys and passing them through their bowls the next day, hence why the need to ask who's are they? Its quite common in some of the boozers down that way to not know who's keys they've swiped at the end of the night and digested for a light snack. Its even worse on derby day when more than ten of them find themselves in the same place supporting their team. Too many sets of keys at once sends them loopy, and leaves many sleeping on their doorsteps.

he fkn is as well thought you were kidding http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10278~1163935,00.html He's gonna get mobbed!

What makes you think that they will have a that either? We'll beat them. Because their crowd will give it to them. True it only happens once every other year (promotion, relegation etc) but they do get rather excited when they play us at home. Roy Keane will give them the edge, we'll be praying we don't get beat, probably play for the draw...again.

Eh? Not read the News Guardian? Place is full of 'em. Na. But i've seen some dodgy looking Asians in the Townhouse a few weeks ago, drinking vodka straight, sitting on the pool table watching the back of the plasma screen (where all the inputs go in) for about 5 mins. I asked if the table was free and the made some sort of 'noise' which could be described as communication, downed the 2 double vodkas each in about 5 seconds, and bolted out the door. Thought they were very strange. Must be them, they looked Vietnamese tbh, without sounding a twat or anything.

Eh?

Were going to get embarrassed by them imo. We lack passion, fight and confidence, something i was sure SA would bring. Without that in a derby match, you are fuked. It wont be a big scoreline, but i think they'll outplay us from start to finish.

i think he's in a lose lose situation, if he does not celebrate the fans might take a dislike to him, That said if he scores a late winner id say there fans couldnt care less if he did or didnt. The club is a stepping stone to him. He's got a release clause lower than what they paid for him. That might be the idea but I can't see him going anywhere bigger or better personally. Not from this season no. Jones is the one attracting the attention.

i think he's in a lose lose situation, if he does not celebrate the fans might take a dislike to him, That said if he scores a late winner id say there fans couldnt care less if he did or didnt. The club is a stepping stone to him. He's got a release clause lower than what they paid for him.

I think i'd probably be delighted for the lad. in fact ecstatic, full of the joys of spring.

Excellent, gets the prick off Sky Sports as a pundit.