James

Could Xabi Alonso to Juve, Tiago to NUFC be the transfer merry go round that Keegan anticipates?

If he does, it reduces the chances of a transfer to Everton, but keeps our own chances exactly the same.

He's staying at the Hilton man. the hilton? are you serious? have you ever stayed in one? its just a glorified travelodge I'm deadly serious. You haven't killed him there have you?

Theory #468: He hasn't signed yet because we want to save money on wages.

Theory #467: We've signed loads of shit hot players, and pretending they haven't signed, plus we'll lie about Gutierrez's status and Owen's injury. Manchester United will look at the tactics for playing the following team: Given Beye Taylor Cacapa Enrique Milner Butt Guthrie Duff Smith Martins but at 3:30pm we'll announce the following: Given Beye Coloccini Faye Warnock Gutierrez Xavi Tiago N'Zogbia Owen Martins

So in other words the reporter couldn't remember which Faye his Source was referring to, so put both names down as if his source is correct, 50% accuracy isn't bad.

I think we need players who can mix it up. Passing/creativity is just one element, you need players with the speed and pace to carve holes into the opposition, you need players who can stick their foot in, you need two central midfielders who can attack and defend in tandem, and you need players who can dictate the tempo of the game. Although we may need to upgrade Milner/Duff/N'Zogbia, our midfield has very good balance for the 442 system we intend to use, and the creative midfielder people are wanting would be as useful as a chocolate teapot. We don't have that. So how can our midfield have "good balance"? Barton and Guthrie will be perfect. This is a thread about ambition, and you are happy depending on a player that struggled for form even before his two criminal convictions until halfway through the season (even then then wasn't spectacular) paired with a somewhat promising but by no means exceptional youngster who had a solid, unaccomplished season on loan at Bolton? Barton will likely be suspended for anywhere from 6 weeks to half a season depending on how much the F.A. hate us. So what we'll probably see is Butt & Guthrie. And quite honestly, there would be Fulham and Bolton supporters who wouldn't be happy with that as their first choice. Barton had less than two months on the pitch after suffering a broken foot (a very difficult injury to come back from in form, see Rooney, Beckham and others), and after a stint in jail, was one of the best players in Keegan's team.

Our midfield is one dimensional and will get run ragged by the better teams as we are lacking both pace and creativity. Our central midfield is our weakest position when we can put out our first 11 as I don't think a pairing of two from Butt, Smith, Faye, Guthrie and Barton is good enough and will be walked straight through as we'll. If we play 4-4-2 with those in the middle then we'll need our wingers to play well every game or we'll struggle to make use of our forwards. To say the creative midfield player people are wanting would be as useful as a chocolate teapot is totally wrong. I believe Gutierrez has the pace and skill to disrupt the other side, creating spaces that will make it much easier for others to pick out a good attack-minded pass. Barton and Guthrie will be perfect at what? I think they'd make a good tandem. Both can attack and defend, both have a good engine, and both can together bring a new dimension to the team.

They've been trying to sign Amdy Faye. Someone has got badly mixed up.

I think we need players who can mix it up. Passing/creativity is just one element, you need players with the speed and pace to carve holes into the opposition, you need players who can stick their foot in, you need two central midfielders who can attack and defend in tandem, and you need players who can dictate the tempo of the game. Although we may need to upgrade Milner/Duff/N'Zogbia, our midfield has very good balance for the 442 system we intend to use, and the creative midfielder people are wanting would be as useful as a chocolate teapot. We don't have that. So how can our midfield have "good balance"? Barton and Guthrie will be perfect.

Bringing on N'Zogbia for Enrique at left back as an attacking substitution is the only use for Zog at left back.

being kind on Charles there N'zogbia at LB is probably the clearest example of a player being out of position since 05-06 with Ameobi on the wing/pitch He wasn't that bad. He was awful. The majority of chances last season were created from Zoggy's zone, and clubs took note and specifically attacked him down that side to great success.

I think N'Zogbia benefits from the extra space he is afforded when at left back. Right now, he is no more than second choice in any of his positions. Needs to improve quickly. The competition will make or break him this season.

I think we need players who can mix it up. Passing/creativity is just one element, you need players with the speed and pace to carve holes into the opposition, you need players who can stick their foot in, you need two central midfielders who can attack and defend in tandem, and you need players who can dictate the tempo of the game. Although we may need to upgrade Milner/Duff/N'Zogbia, our midfield has very good balance for the 442 system we intend to use, and the creative midfielder people are wanting would be as useful as a chocolate teapot.

nice poll btw, nice and unbiased How is it biased? well given all the talk of "the future" & "plans" and "youngsters" or whatever else we've been hearing why ask such an immediate question? why not ask "do you think the club should essentially replace 22 year old enrique with 26 year old warnock?"? equally subjective, you might even get the same answer, i don't know... but it's ultimately the same as asking, should one be fit and we signed the other, "who's the best player at the moment, viduka or derdiyok?" anyway i've had enough, bring on sunday and sep 1st can't some soon enough for me We aren't replacing Enrique with anyone. All we are doing is bringing another LB to the club and if Enrique is good enough he'll still play. How can that possibly be a bad thing? read the earlier posts edd, to all intents and purposes we're "replacing" him in the first team aren't we? if not we're signing an inferior player? can't be arsed, the points been made elsewhere So we aren't allowed to sign a player who will replace him, but we aren't allowed to sign a player who will be behind Enrique in the pecking order? Damned if we do, damned if we don't. same to you james, read the earlier stuff re: bassong etc... I couldn't care less if a player was 22 or 26 if they helped to improve the team.

how so? Because successful teams have never had these fantasy players, and yet people on here think that signing Elano will have a dramatic effect. It won't.

nice poll btw, nice and unbiased How is it biased? well given all the talk of "the future" & "plans" and "youngsters" or whatever else we've been hearing why ask such an immediate question? why not ask "do you think the club should essentially replace 22 year old enrique with 26 year old warnock?"? equally subjective, you might even get the same answer, i don't know... but it's ultimately the same as asking, should one be fit and we signed the other, "who's the best player at the moment, viduka or derdiyok?" anyway i've had enough, bring on sunday and sep 1st can't some soon enough for me We aren't replacing Enrique with anyone. All we are doing is bringing another LB to the club and if Enrique is good enough he'll still play. How can that possibly be a bad thing? read the earlier posts edd, to all intents and purposes we're "replacing" him in the first team aren't we? if not we're signing an inferior player? can't be arsed, the points been made elsewhere So we aren't allowed to sign a player who will replace him, but we aren't allowed to sign a player who will be behind Enrique in the pecking order? Damned if we do, damned if we don't.

This endless 'we need a midfield playmaker' nonsense is complete fantasy.

With Coloccini coming, I think Enrique is the weak link in our defence to be honest. If Warnock came, left back would be made stronger by competition, which should mean that the player on form will play. Having said that, the defence isn't too shabby as individuals, so it could be more about the team as a unit, and the style of play Keegan wants to see from his team. All will be clear in a couple of months.

Results and performances, and the club's reaction to it.

Those who go, make sure you photograph all mystery triallists and put them up here...

The fact that you don't even know what positions he can play means that you aren't really in a position to judge the quality of this potential signing.

Quality player, but I don't think we are looking to sign him.

What's wrong with that?

KaKa, explain yourself, otherwise you are in for an epic Fail.