James

Some Leeds fans didn't think much of Ferdinand.

Kazenga is Lomana's cousin, not his brother or nephew.

In the 30th minute of stoppage-time. Sam wanted the players to get a long run out.

Kieron Dyer has just scored an own goal. A 25-yard backheel as Forster had turned his back to towel dry his gloves.

Doesn't make sense if Luque is on his way out. Either he's staying, or he is a bloody nice guy.

It's a teams own fault for being s***. In fact, for poorer teams it could be an incentive to develop better youngsters, plus it would allow these fringe players to improve their game by getting more matches. What wouldn't change is that only 14 players can be used, but in an injury crisis, these smaller clubs , having given more time to fringe players off the bench, will be able to use players with greater experience. You keep talking about how fringe players and younger players will get a chance, but if the rule still stands at 3 players max coming on why should that change the managers views of bringing on a younger player or a fringe player for that matter? Because only a top club can afford to not have fringers or youngsters off the bench, and later on in the game, a manager can make a more accurate observation as to whether a youngster should get a go without it being bad if his inexperience leads toa cock-up. A manager couldn't take those liberties when they must pick 5 subs a day before with no indication regarding the outcome of the match.

It's a teams own fault for being shit. In fact, for poorer teams it could be an incentive to develop better youngsters, plus it would allow these fringe players to improve their game by getting more matches. What wouldn't change is that only 14 players can be used, but in an injury crisis, these smaller clubs , having given more time to fringe players off the bench, will be able to use players with greater experience.

At the World Cup, weren't all 12 non starting squad members substitutes? Somewhere around 10 substitutes (3 per outfield position) is the way forward in my opinion, with stipulations that you have to have 4 players in the 21 who are under a certain age and under a certain number of top flight appearances.

Perhaps any suggestion by the Premiership would be vetoed by shit managers and chairman who feel that it is giving clubs that bothered to build a squad an advantage *cough*Roeder and Shepherd*cough*

You are right, and it is something so simple and uncontroversial, I don't understand why it hasn't happenned, which is why I started this thread.

I don't think the English rules of allowing five substitutes is good for the modern game. It is time we followed other countries and footballing bodies in allowing seven substitutes to sit on the bench. The modern game has more teams playing more matches, which increases the number of players that the larger clubs will sign to bepart of their squads. However, with just 16 places up for grabs, some decent players are left out altogether, which is no good for the player, the player's country if they are an international, and the harmony within the team itself. These days, substitutions aren't just about bringing in fresh legs, backing-up an injury, or piling on the attackers/defenders in losing/winning situations, it is about having the options to make instant tweaks to the team set-up to help that team control the pace of the game. Also, with so many limited places, the youngsters aren't going to get many chances. With more places, there is opportunity for youngsters to be brought in with the possibility of getting time on the pitch if the game situations are favourable. Right now, youngsters generally only get chances in injury crises. Injury crises will have less effect if the youngsters got a bit of first-team practice before hand. Bobby Robson certainly took theopportunity to give the youngsters a chance in settled European games.

The absense of Enrique from the reserves suggests he is fit and ready to start. I think we'll see: Harper Carr Rozehnal Taylor Enrique Milner Smith Geremi N'Zogbia Martins Viduka Subs: Forster Cacapa Butt Ameobi Owen

Also, I think that if Allardyce wanted Diouf, he'd already be here.

Fair enough, but I think we have to now add Martins to the wingers if we want to play 433. Also, we'll be playing 442 a lot at home. I dont think Diouf would be happy on the bench, I don't think he is suited to 442, and I wouldn't really want him starting ahead of Milner or Martins, who are not quite as good as of yet, but have the potential to be better in a couple of years, which is really the time frame the manager and board are looking at right now.

Good player, but we've already got enough good strikers/wingers, so I'm not sure how he could play and still keep Milner in the team.

What do you mean this isn't my team's stadium?

He's angry about the fact that Allardyce poached a lot of backroom staff from Bolton.

No this is the year when he joins a club to replace a star player whom has moved to one of the best teams in the world, and gets relegated, lambasts his teammates for being shite, and engineers a move to the top flight. Bellamy's career goes in circles, so its time that scenario gets repeated.

I'm not on commission or owt but you may find that .com have a few more than 5000 people logging on. But are they season ticket holders?

.com have an effect No website is going to influence 52,000 people. .com serves 5,000 season ticket holders at most, and only a small minority of those will be influenced by what is basically a two-man editorial that isn't taken seriously by many quarters.

He's not. He's saying how bad the quality of players has dropped Not entirely sure why he added Sholas name there though, can't see him being best impressed. About the booing thing, I think thats a massive thing for Sam to say, and a lot of fans need to take note. Maybe you should make an exception and give it a thread there. I'd like to see if anyone disagrees with what he's said, without having to sift through all the stuff in here. So basically, he's comparing the best of an era with the mediocre of a different era? Surely he should be comparing Shola to a player that was as equally forgotten about as Shola will be in 40 years. Nothing there made sense, and he'd have been better off keeping his mouth shut regarding Shola in my opinion, true, or not. Still a brilliant manager though.

The last time we were top was Christmas 2001 wasn't it? We were genuine darkhorses for the title for the next two seasons, after that, only being ruled out of contention around April of each season. Those days were great.

I dont get this Crouch, Davies, Ameobi comment. Surely if comparing with Macdonald, Royle etc as players playing in the same league at the same time, the quality would be exceeded by English centre forwards Owen, Rooney and Shearer.

Agree with your analysis of that there. In addition, where abouts was James Milner during that corner? I'd imagine he'd be best deep outside the box too, given his long range shooting ability, and his determination to track back.

Smith and Butt men of the match - they really controlled the central midfield area that gave Martins and Milner the space to attack in the first half, and who really calmed the game down and let us take back control after a torrid start to the second half.