James

The only player at the club who has pace and consistently knows how to use it, is Habib Beye. We were in the same situation last season and producing poor results as we just weren't stretching our opponents, but were rescued by an in-form and fit Dyer during December and January. Now, with Dyer gone, who is going to rescue us by providing an injection of pace that we urgently need?

Bottom line is, you couldn't buy the quality we got on the right hand side from Solano and Dyer for £12.5m

He lost his ability to be a non-tool years and years ago. When he joined Radio Newcastle, actually. You don't agree with him then? To be fair, that phrase is a cliche of Mick Lowes that he wheels out during every bad spell.

Look at his reaction to the goals against Fulham and Birmingham. He wants to win. After Allardyce was appointed, one poster (HTT) predicted that Allardyce's stubbornessand long term approach would make him very unpopular with a large portion of NUFC fans, particularly those whom are stubborn or impatient. This is pretty much coming true now, not trying to be patronising or anything, just acknowledging that Allardyce has a personality that will make many fans dislike him. In my point of view, us this season equals Aston Villa last season. Last season, Villa were producing very poor and mediocre stuff. This season, they are one of the teams that I want to watch. Allardyce needs more time, he has inherited a team with awful balance, and it can be difficult to realise this if you are coming in from the outside. So because one poster is of an opinion it must be true? That's not patronising, just ridiculous. It was not an opinion, it was a prediction, and whether its right or wrong, this prediction has certainly come true. But its not a prediction, its saying those who may become unhappy with SA are such and such. It is a prediction by HTT that Allardyce's stubborness would make him unpopular with stubborn fans, and it is my opinion that this has come true, and this opinion is based onposts I have read by posters (not yourself) who I perceive as being stubborn. It's my prediction that Allardyce's stubbornness will make him unpopular amongst fans with half a brain, the ones who can see that 433 doesn'tr work with the current players and that a major rehaul of the squad is needed for it to be affective so playing 442, what we know and what the players like is beneficial to the club in its current season and for following seasons as it will build be a winning mentality, build up reputation and bring good players into the club who can then possibly play 433 at a later date. Stubborn, impatient, logical and intelligent, yep its all the same in this context. And in my opinion, this may also come true.

That is quite rich from someone who has spent months crying out for a 433 formation.

Look at his reaction to the goals against Fulham and Birmingham. He wants to win. After Allardyce was appointed, one poster (HTT) predicted that Allardyce's stubbornessand long term approach would make him very unpopular with a large portion of NUFC fans, particularly those whom are stubborn or impatient. This is pretty much coming true now, not trying to be patronising or anything, just acknowledging that Allardyce has a personality that will make many fans dislike him. In my point of view, us this season equals Aston Villa last season. Last season, Villa were producing very poor and mediocre stuff. This season, they are one of the teams that I want to watch. Allardyce needs more time, he has inherited a team with awful balance, and it can be difficult to realise this if you are coming in from the outside. So because one poster is of an opinion it must be true? That's not patronising, just ridiculous. It was not an opinion, it was a prediction, and whether its right or wrong, this prediction has certainly come true. But its not a prediction, its saying those who may become unhappy with SA are such and such. It is a prediction by HTT that Allardyce's stubborness would make him unpopular with stubborn fans, and it is my opinion that this has come true, and this opinion is based onposts I have read by posters (not yourself) who I perceive as being stubborn.

Look at his reaction to the goals against Fulham and Birmingham. He wants to win. After Allardyce was appointed, one poster (HTT) predicted that Allardyce's stubbornessand long term approach would make him very unpopular with a large portion of NUFC fans, particularly those whom are stubborn or impatient. This is pretty much coming true now, not trying to be patronising or anything, just acknowledging that Allardyce has a personality that will make many fans dislike him. In my point of view, us this season equals Aston Villa last season. Last season, Villa were producing very poor and mediocre stuff. This season, they are one of the teams that I want to watch. Allardyce needs more time, he has inherited a team with awful balance, and it can be difficult to realise this if you are coming in from the outside. So because one poster is of an opinion it must be true? That's not patronising, just ridiculous. It was not an opinion, it was a prediction, and whether its right or wrong, this prediction has certainly come true.

Look at his reaction to the goals against Fulham and Birmingham. He wants to win. After Allardyce was appointed, one poster (HTT) predicted that Allardyce's stubbornessand long term approach would make him very unpopular with a large portion of NUFC fans, particularly those whom are stubborn or impatient. This is pretty much coming true now, not trying to be patronising or anything, just acknowledging that Allardyce has a personality that will make many fans dislike him. In my point of view, us this season equals Aston Villa last season. Last season, Villa were producing very poor and mediocre stuff. This season, they are one of the teams that I want to watch. Allardyce needs more time, he has inherited a team with awful balance, and it can be difficult to realise this if you are coming in from the outside.

How fucking shit is that?!

Sir Bobby Robson's Foreword in Alan Shearer - My Illustrated Career: He is right. Of our strikers, Owen and Martins are much better at converting chances when the ball comes from the right hand side, particularly with headers. Smith's pre season goal was from the right as well, in fact, the majority of our goals scored from crosses have come from the right. The exceptions of course are Martins' overhead kick versus Bolton, which doesn't really count as he was afforded so much time and space, and Viduka's brace versus West Ham. In fact, Viduka is the exception it seems, as he appears to convert more from the left from what I've seen both here and at Boro. However, there are quite a few times when we have made a good fast move down the left, that Viduka hasn't been able to keep up with. Therefore, there is no-one we can rely on to put the ball away when it is delivered from the left. Its not ideal, but for now, our best option is to always play Viduka, and get Duff to use his slow dribbling tendencies, or get Milner to waste time cutting back on to his right to allow Viduka to catch up when necessary. Of course, this also allows the opposition to compose themselves, so the cross, and the movement from Viduka would have to be bloody good. This is clearly a big problem. We may have plenty of very healthy sperm down our left hand side, but you need a good quality egg as well for there to be any potency, and this is not the case. Sperm count may be poor on the right, but there is still a much better chance of them finding the egg. Clearly we need to find strikers better at converting from the left, or preferably find players that can create from the right flank, even if it means sacrificing a very good left sided player to pay for it.

Merry Christmas EVERYONE

Look at it this way: Steve Harper - Goalkeeper Damien Duff - Winger who can cover at left back Emre - Attacking central midfielder Geremi - Central midfielder who can cover at right back Taylor - Central Defender who can cover both full back positions. Harper cant be changed, nor can Taylor as he is the only CB option, while Geremi is another good defensive option. It therefore depends on whether you want N'Zogbia,whom has played for 60 minutes and is obviously finding it tough due to the proposed substitution to be used in an advanced position instead of Duff or Emre.

Just watched it. He never mentions Enrique. The scary thing he does say is that we don't have to go gung-ho against Wigan like we did against Derby! No need to mention Enrique. No need to even have him or any other full back on the subs bench if he is not going to start him in my opinion (or at least certainly if other players are available). Having two players on the bench with experience of being an emegency left back makes iteven more pointless, especially when we wanted to attack today. Are you having a laugh or what, man? One change involving Jose and we become a real football team. Nah let's keep our best midfielder at left back. Much better. Its just my view that having a full back on the bench is a waste of a substitutes place and would only serve the purpose of replacing an injured player. Unless like Beye, the full back can play centre back, its a case of either start them or dont involve them, unless of course the number of substitutes allowed in the League gets increased.

I was going to remind you that you recently said The Duke only performs in the first-half or as a substitute. Today the Big Man begged to differ. Lets hope he can prove me wrong, as he is quality, and while Owen is out I'd persist with him for 90 minutes every game even though you can never be sure what Viduka shows up. Don't forget though that this was his first full game for a while, and it was against a Derby side that clearly lacks in pace, ability and fitness levels.

Just watched it. He never mentions Enrique. The scary thing he does say is that we don't have to go gung-ho against Wigan like we did against Derby! No need to mention Enrique. No need to even have him or any other full back on the subs bench if he is not going to start him in my opinion (or at least certainly if other players are available). Having two players on the bench with experience of being an emegency left back makes iteven more pointless, especially when we wanted to attack today.

Dyer went to West Ham for a medical in July and Allardyce said his replacement would be unveiled the next day, the day after we signed Smith. He seemed to have changed his mind on that one after Solano went though, when he revealed that losing both Dyer and Solano seriously reduced the teams options on the right.

NE5, Allardyce was publicly very annoyed to lose both Dyer and Solano, as both made it very clear very late in the transfer window that they wanted to leave, and Allardyce didn't feel there was enough time to get a good enough replacement. I'm sure he'll be trying to get a replacement at the first possible opportunity.

I have to laugh. A couple weeks ago according to many on here, including the thread starter, big bad Michael Owen was keeping the best striker and Geordie saviour, Obafemi Martins out of the team, with Sam ignoring the fact that theadorable Little Oba would score several goals a match while simultaneously rescuing orphans from burning buildings if he was playing. How things change very quickly.

If Mark Viduka was born with Miguel Indurain's heart and lungs, he'd be one of the best centre forwards the world has ever seen. As it is, he is a very good striker, but he wont deliver for 90 minutes week in week out. The trick is to only get him on the pitch when he is in the right condition, as the game passes him by when he is out of shape.

Funny that. The way people go on here, you would have thought that dropping Geremi would have improved our midfield. Perhaps not.

Paul Jewell deserves credit for Derby's second half performance. He observed that we were often playing 235 while attacking, so instructed the team to counter-attack early around our midfield and then isolate our centre halves.

Duff actually looked like the old Damien Duff.

I agree.

lol at Ashley

Duff who hasn't played for 7 months for our top scorer and Emre for Viduka who has been decent? Emre for Barton please. I cant see Viduka maintaining his high level of performance over 90 minutes. We need to restart quickly to get the best out of him.