Northern Monkey

Also, you can guarantee every player we've bought he knows all about them, their strengths, their weaknesses, which will hopefully limit the chances of failure among one or two of them. And if one or tow do flop, they won't have cost big money or be on serious wages to hurt us that way ala Luque or Boumsong.

 

I've rated him for a while and badly wanted him here but Allardyce has exceeded my own expectations and hopes from him this summer while we've made a start I wasn't too sure we would.

 

This is why I was banging on about him all the time, I think we've got ourselves a brilliant manager capable of even more and hope he and NUFC are a fixture for many a year as that will mean success.

 

He's the boy alright. blueyes.gif

 

Told yous

 

And the best is yet to come, although there are a few things that we won't like around the corner.

 

Mick, aye, it will be very interesting to see how he handles a bigger budget and what kind of players he'll go for. I think if the money is available he'll be in for Diouf in January, look to offload Ameobi, will maybe listen to offers for Martins and spend big on a more mobile striker to fill the role Viduka currently occupies in the forward 3.

This for me has been the best summer ever in terms of players in and out, almost all the bad apples have gone and we got big money for two of them, making a profit. While those that have come in have strengthened the first team and with it the squad, making the 2007-08 Toon one of the strongest we've had on paper for many a year.

 

In terms of percentages I'd say 90% of what was needed done in the summer has been done, which is staggering when you consider all the previous wasted windows that never got close to addressing anywhere near 90% of what needed done under all those previous windows.

 

All this while undergoing a takeover and on the back of our worst ever spell in the top-flight post Premiership inception.

 

At the start of the window we needed a new defence and now we really only need a creative player and some depth for the flanks, what a turn around.

 

He's no Hitzfeld, though...

 

 

He's not but he has the ability to be as good a manager as he is, although achieving the levels of success Hitzfeld has will be a tall order for most regardless of their ability. In my defence Big Sam was second on my list to Hitzfeld as ideal managers to take over and I'd have been equally as delighted had we appointed him then as we have done now. I badly wanted Hitzfeld because, well, he has that pedigree few have, that class, but on reflection I'm not so sure he would have been the right man for the job after all, not at that given time anyway, the club was in more mess than we all imagined and for a foreign manager who would bring huge expectations due to his name and CV, that could be a potential minefield. Great manager though and any club worth their salt should aspire towards such managers to lead them. How are Bayern doing btw under him again?

 

I'm happy with Sam and for once I can say with certainty we have a very very good manager running the show once again which is all that matters.

not sure on the very very good manager thing: he's good enough for us, certainly, at the moment. Beynd that? I really don't know.

few points id raise

 

1) make sure alan oliver isnt allowed to continue to be a mouth piece for the clubs dirty dealings

 

2) lets fall in line with other clubs with regards to league cup games and pricings

 

3) more than what is seeminlgy one line to get through to the box office when things like fa cup tickets are on open sale, because that 5 hour wait and hearing an engaged tone gives you a headache

 

4) more player interaction with fans to build morale and a good image with the media and other clubs. I remember leeds under O'Leary used 2 go out 15 minutes before a warm up and sign autographs for fans, this really gave a feel good feeling to fans and boosted support, also could turn our "shit club" reputation round around the country.

1 and 4, especially.

Oh, and fans to be expelled from the ground if they sing that "we are the Geordies/the Geordie Bootboys" shite.

And get rid of Carling from the bar. Its rank.

get a job, hippy!!

It makes me laugh when a big striker gets played and people automatically assume he must be good in the air or if a defender isn't 6.5 or whatever he must be shite in the air. Doesn't work like that. Speaking of heading I've always found it to be the hardest aspect of football to get right from a playing perspective, and truly admire those good in the air and I'm not just talking about players like Terry who stick a head out, I'm talking about your clever players who use their head to play the ball and not just clear it. Owen falls into that category.

 

shearer had the right place/right time/making space knack down to a tee, for me.

 

Aye, and added bravery and desire too. One of the best headerers of a ball I've seen. Sir Les wasn't bad either.

big forhead, Sir Les. And impeccable timing.

Its called building a squad.

 

2 million in todays market isn't a great deal and we are getting a premiership experienced player who as you've outlined can operate at centre-back and central midfield.

 

Anyways at the moment i'd say he is better than taylor, edgar and ramage (who is out for most the season anyways), making him at least our 3rd best centreback.

 

you're wrong about Taylor.

 

agree, lots of people on here are saying Taylor isnt very good

He will eventually brake into englands starting 11 within 2-3 seasons

also he is young and doesnt make many mistakes anymore

 

anyone actually watching Taylor play, on and off the ball, can see that he has removed a lot of the problems he caused himself in the past, even as recently as the start of last season. he's a first team starter for me, shoudl have been captain as well, above Geremi, who can't even be given the excuse of being new to the PL for soem of his dismal showings so far.

Come on...Taylor is OK but captain...Please he is JUST A KID you know...

Better - in my opinion - than the current captain. and in fact, the best option for captain we had apart from Lil' Mikey.

Schevchenko was record-breakingly expensive, though and of course has made all the difference to Chelsea's challenge for the top.

 

one season, for a manager who didn't want him, in fairness.

 

nah, the only chairman who interferes with the managers transfer dealings, according to the mackem WUM,  was Shepherd  mackems.gif

 

He could have bought that Stephen Spence though, cracking player, apparently  mackems.gif

yes, i forgot that only our former chairman was involved in transfers. 

Wasn't Ballack free? Some record.

 

mackems.gif

 

the NUFC expert hits the stand

 

You laughed that hard over Michael Ballack being free? It wasn't that funny.

i think his bank manager thought it was fucking hilarious.

It does worry me yes, but I would get just as worried if someone like the Zog was playing great and then missed out again.

 

this.

 

Then he'd inevitable start thinking about raising his profile through (different) club football.

 

Didnt the French FA try and tell the under 21's and senior squad not to pick Zoggy because of the way he left Le Harve. Im sure they were really pissed at us and him for the way he left and Le Harve didnt even get much money.

i think so. i blame Souness.

Schevchenko was record-breakingly expensive, though and of course has made all the difference to Chelsea's challenge for the top.

one season, for a manager who didn't want him, in fairness.

It makes me laugh when a big striker gets played and people automatically assume he must be good in the air or if a defender isn't 6.5 or whatever he must be shite in the air. Doesn't work like that. Speaking of heading I've always found it to be the hardest aspect of football to get right from a playing perspective, and truly admire those good in the air and I'm not just talking about players like Terry who stick a head out, I'm talking about your clever players who use their head to play the ball and not just clear it. Owen falls into that category.

shearer had the right place/right time/making space knack down to a tee, for me.

Incidentally, Roman flouncing off, and Ellis's shit-eating grin as he shook his hand on the way out ...... the old fucker has been the bane of my life, but fair play to him on this one.

 

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/599/dougsmilexj3.jpg

 

PS European Cup winning goalscorer sat behind him.

looks like Ellis is stroking out there.

There's nothing in that sentence that should have changed my post Mr Janitor..  Anyway I agree with Northern Monkey, it would have been nice if my original posts could just have been taken for what they were.  Then we could be discussing wether the Luqinator will be good or s*** for Ajax, which is slightly less sad then the current discussion.

 

Agreed. Let's roll!

 

I hope Luque is fucking mint for Ajax as I have nowt against the bloke personally and it should provide some good craic on here if he is. I blame Souness and Roeder, personally.

Luque never got the 400 consecutive games he needed to prove himself. tbh.

It does worry me yes, but I would get just as worried if someone like the Zog was playing great and then missed out again.

this.

Then he'd inevitable start thinking about raising his profile through (different) club football.

Young and abhonloghor (or whatever his name is) were both excellent yesterday against chelsea, played "complete" football and had the upper hand on the wings mnost of the game..

i thought Young was owned by Beletti on a number of occasions. he lost that battle (but they won the war, of course).

I think Young is clearly still developing, but he's going to be good, very good.

Its called building a squad.

 

2 million in todays market isn't a great deal and we are getting a premiership experienced player who as you've outlined can operate at centre-back and central midfield.

 

Anyways at the moment i'd say he is better than taylor, edgar and ramage (who is out for most the season anyways), making him at least our 3rd best centreback.

 

you're wrong about Taylor.

 

agree, lots of people on here are saying Taylor isnt very good

He will eventually brake into englands starting 11 within 2-3 seasons

also he is young and doesnt make many mistakes anymore

anyone actually watching Taylor play, on and off the ball, can see that he has removed a lot of the problems he caused himself in the past, even as recently as the start of last season. he's a first team starter for me, shoudl have been captain as well, above Geremi, who can't even be given the excuse of being new to the PL for soem of his dismal showings so far.

I feel Jim Smith would rectify the lack of flair we have at the moment:)

with the added bonus of looking like he's very recently had a heart attack.

Editing my own posts, not other people's, just in case there's any confusion.

 

I'd never dream of doing an "NE5" on someone.

 

Anyway, this tangent is getting very steep... we need someone to come and tell us that Luque will be fantastic at Ajax and that he was dreadfully mishandled here by all and sundry to relight the fire... or we need to wait until after the international break and hope for a Luque hat-trick in his next match to REALLY kick things off.

 

Luque is the worlds best striker/winger/left player in a 433/bio-chemical scientific pioneer EVER. Fact.

 

Haddaway and shite, man. That's blatantly Laurent Robert.

I thought Robert was a waste of space/lazy cunt/kicker of puppies in their eyes???

Or was that Bellamy? Oh, i get all confused.

Owen might be small but he's still better in the air than most.

 

Spot on. It's a myth that all tall players must be good in the air. It isn't even about height, it's about anticipation, timing and technique.

Damned right.

Its called building a squad.

 

2 million in todays market isn't a great deal and we are getting a premiership experienced player who as you've outlined can operate at centre-back and central midfield.

 

Anyways at the moment i'd say he is better than taylor, edgar and ramage (who is out for most the season anyways), making him at least our 3rd best centreback.

you're wrong about Taylor.

£2 million is not exactly a lot of money in football, and even if he is brought in to be a backup, it still improves the quality of our squad.

he's a cheaper, better squad player than Smith, my far.

Aye hes not a starter so why wouldnt he want to stay at Bolton and play in europe? just because of big sam?

how about a mix of Sam, bigger club, potential to break into the starting XI, and of course: kerching!

Editing my own posts, not other people's, just in case there's any confusion.

 

I'd never dream of doing an "NE5" on someone.

 

Anyway, this tangent is getting very steep... we need someone to come and tell us that Luque will be fantastic at Ajax and that he was dreadfully mishandled here by all and sundry to relight the fire... or we need to wait until after the international break and hope for a Luque hat-trick in his next match to REALLY kick things off.

Luque is the worlds best striker/winger/left player in a 433/bio-chemical scientific pioneer EVER. Fact.

Whats the status on viduka now then? How bads his injury?

 

nothing a big pie won't fix.

 

Don't know what your problem is with Viduka, so far you have been proven wrong. I said he was a class player based on what he produced last season, which you laughed at. For us this season he's scored one goal against one of England's finest defenders and it was a goal that had class stamped all over it. These are the facts, plain and simple.

 

 

You have got to be kidding? Other than score one admittedly good goal he has been very very disapointing. He's been marked out/completely dominated by his markers, he's not created anything or been able to hold the ball up and he'd looked as dangerous as..... pattison. Martins and Owen have to start imo and i'd have Shola in over Viduka

 

Not created anything? He set up our best chance against Villa, a great chance for Martins against Boro, set up Owen twice on Saturday - once when he should have scored and then when his goal was wrongly disallowed.

 

I have never seen a player as dominated as Viduka was against Villa, same as with Bolton and Boro, I missed Saturdays game so can't comment on that one. Shola would have created/scored more imo although i'd have Martins and Owen atm

 

Yet he still slipped a beautiful through ball to Milner, whose lay off was scuffed by Smith when he should have scored. Only time we split their defence.

 

I find it amazing that people can just dismiss years of shite performances from Ameobi, and I'm not even one of these people who thinks he's that bad.  You don't think Ameobi would have been dominated by both Mellberg AND Laursen presumably? That's the two who dominated Drogba yesterday - in case you've forgotten.

so Dorgba had a bad game. Doesn't make Viduka a good player.

Better than Ameobi, but thats true of most forwards in this league.

It's a good point and it stands, but Mellberg was playing RB yesterday with Knight in the middle wasn't he?

yes, i think so.

What is going on with Lescott's hair? He has a rapidly receding hairline save for one tuft right at the front!

he was in a bad car crash years ago.

Now he looks a like Robert Earnshaws slghtly less unfortunate looking cousin.