Mr Logic

LB's: Enrique, Babayaro, Zoggy. CB's: Rozenhal, Cacapa, Faye, Taylor. RB's: Carr. Am I the only one that thinks any of our 4 CB's (assuming Faye completes move) could do a better job at RB than Carr? Add Geremi or Solano in desperation and maybe Sam thinks the position is covered until he gets who he really wants January or end of season.

Good grief!

Anyone know pubs that show the game? It'll be on in Shearers bar I suppose?

Would the Chinese and Icelandic rumours not make more sense if Ashley had been toying with the idea? Personally I think it's a story that's developed over a few pints between the journalist and his mates talking a 'what-if' scenario in the pub. When you've had a few beers things can fit together much better than when scrutinized with method and endeavour. But there may be some mileage in the story, it's not completely the daftest thing I ever heard. Watch this space.

Bad news if we don't get another RB in, wonder if Sam has any rabbits in the hat?

Interesting thread. I don't have anything to add to the main debate regarding the right strikers but I did want to ask a question regarding points raised about the Villa game. I was over in Cumbria camping and only heard the commentary, and it wasn't terribly complimentary. It seems the team reverted to a 4-4-2 after Owen came on. Sam even claimed in comments after the game he changed it twice. I would suggest that not much changed at all really, as changing the appearance (shape) without changing the style (long balls) isn't worth much. Would that assumption be correct? I find it a tad disconcerting if true. Roeder was strongly criticised for his inability to change things when they clearly needed changing and leaving it way too late when he did make a change. I'm hoping this was just a case of Sam desperately wanting a clean sheet and not having the players on the bench he needed to really change things. If with a full and fit squad there's more of the same I'm afraid I'll draw the conclusion that whilst Sam is an innovator in many ways when it comes to tactics he's really rather one dimensional.

I saw a bid has been accepted for Yakubu today, (BBC). I think they're going to be in real trouble this season relying on Aliadiere and Mido. Comfortable win for us, 2 or 3 nil.

Do a thread for name suggestions. (Was that supposed to be a link in the OP?) Here's some ideas. The Choir Toon Choir The Geordie Choir The Geordie Faithful Toon Faithful The Sound Toon Sound The Magpie Voice The Magpie Sound Twelth Man

As usual the comments from Allardyce are uplifting. They're not excuses, just the sound of a man talking sense as he sees it and I for one agree with them. I might not have enjoyed the football too much but two games in with a completely new regime and they're all steps in the right direction.

Good results all round for us.

Quality transfer window, the squad has been transformed since the end of last season and is looking a lot stronger for it.

Geremi and Barton with Emre in front of them is a mouth-watering prospect for a midfield 3. To be ideal you'd also want proper left and right forwards - but we could make do I am sure. Sure to see a lot of goals from midfield like that.

I've got my fingers crossed for another ManU draw. City could rip Derby apart, maybe. Birmingham to shock Sunderland, and all the players wives are throwing stuff at Keane. Fulham to get beat by a 'new look' 4-3-3 Bolton. Chelsea to win by one goal Middlesborough to book tickets to the Championship with Sibierski scoring again!

That Blue Star player pictured ( don't know any of their names ) chased after that ball and cleared it off the line in a manner not dissimilar to Martins first goal against Bolton. Sam was there, he arrived just 7 or 8 minutes before kick off. Nice car, some sort of Bentley. I was just getting a ticket as he pulled up about 10 yards away. Pretty sure Ameobi's first goal was meant to be a pass to Owen (who was clear in space) that was misdirected. About three minutes after that Owen laid a ball off to him when he was in loads of space and he had loads of time too. He bent it out with a looping soft shot which even if he'd kept straight might only have met the post. Saw Owen having words with him after that, not nasty like. Troisi was very industrious and always looking for the ball, should prove to be a good player if he keeps developing. Kasanga also looked lively at times, skipping past some challenges nimbly and with pace. Dyer played in fits and starts, much like any other game. As often as not he took it too far though, running into trouble when an earlier lay off would have potentially been far more productive. The only booing I heard was when his name was called out right at the beginning and it wasn't many and quickly died. More a token gesture by some fanatics than anything else. Maybe it was the eggers! Cacapa, couldn't really judge him. Sat deeper than the rest often during the first half with Ramage doing most of the clearing up. Ramage actually looked quite good at that level. They played a 4-4-2 and I know it wasn't a 'real' game but it was not a patch on the Bolton game. Hope they were taking it easy because on that showing Blue Star were definitely not there just to make up the numbers. Not many players looking for space, at least not with any real conviction. Good enough warm up.

I'm going on my own, if I see someone else on their own I could wave.. ..hmm, maybe not.

I see Ollie is also still insisting Enrique cost 4.2m. He really does seem determined to print whatever he wants. I doubt e-mails will have any effect as his boss has already come out and defended him once before.

Yeah that was a bullshit FK, Petrov may not have made much effort to get out of the way but I never saw which foot his weight was on, maybe he couldn't get out of the way. Gerrard could have done a lot more to avoid the collision and basically ran into him to get the FK.

How many of the muppets who boo will read that though? Can only hope that people who do boo and shout crap at players get quickly shouted down themselves by others, or even told to shut the fuck up. But for the lads to be increasingly worried about playing at home is terrible, the opposite to what we would really wish for. Hopefully that information makes it into programme notes too.

I wasn't impressed second half either. I thought the idea was to go 4-5-1 breaking up their possession in midfield before it got started. Midfield sat too deep and gave them way too much room for the formation, then when we went 5-4-1 and it was like inviting them to get a second. Hope they get a bit more fluent at tactical changes. I know Sam will have a few video clips for them to watch.

Bolton----------------------Newcastle 63.10% Possession 36.90% 55.90% Territorial Adv 44.10% Those stats are garbage from Sky, might be right for second half only though when we sat deeper and stifled the game.

Just realised I haven't seen a prediction league on here, I said 3-1 somewhere too.

Aye, on this first half show we're not really being given much competition. Still, good for our confidence though and I'm sure we can get better.

All into ice baths for 2 minutes, quick massage, cup of tea and back on the pitch for a couple more goals in the second half.

Know what you mean about the trauma.

Softest goal of the season that.