Rich

It's just a bugger having to select 2 from Oba/Viduka/Owen/Lovenkrands, for me, when they are pretty much the only players we have capable of getting goals. Viduka is the first name on the teamsheet now, surely, it's just finding the right foil for him. I honestly think Lovenkrands would thrive next to him, but I can't see those two being given the nod.

The fact that he could score from pretty much anywhere - and did on a fairly impressive basis - was monumental. Some of his goals were impossible to stop, basically. Who do we have these days capable of that?

That would be my preferred option but I think Al would give Oba the nod again if Owen wasn't fit to start. Personally I'd just go 4-3-3 and have a fucking crack at them.

Ginola was the better footballer, Robert was the most productive and N'Zogbia doesn't really deserve to be put into the same category (despite a few moments of magic). Robert has to get the nod though for time served and contributions during that time. Marvellous.

Seriously lacks pace in all areas, though, which has to be a big worry against a Villa team that isn't exactly pedestrian. Really hoping both Youngs don't make it to mean they need to have player/s out of position again.

Oh I don't disagree man! I said that since the day he signed. Extremely average player with no outstanding qualities, bar the odd free-kick every Boxing Day. There's a few I could say that about though, unfortunately.

I always thought Little Ken looked electric up front. Never stopped moving, made some lovely runs, was only really let-down by his lack of a killer instinct (although his goal record up top was hardly bad). He was a player disliked for his attitude and fitness record rather than his ability, IMO. In time, when people are looking back at the highlights of Robson's best team they'll remember him more fondly when you see just how much good he was involved with.

Could say the same for R.Taylor right back. Funny how he's got the nod as substitute recently though, when needed, and that S. Taylor has been playing at centre-half since he returned as well. Edgar wasn't even named on the bench against 'Boro OR Fulham. Why the f*** would Shearer alter the defence that much on the back of a must-win (or draw) game? It would be mental man. If Edgar is to be chucked in at the very deepest of ends, it will either be at full-back or instead of Coloccini. The latter being far, far more likely, but still not that likely at all. Stoke was 'must-win', Edgar was thrown in at the deep end and was our best defender. He's to slow for RB, that's why his proper position is CB. Using evidence such as R.Taylor has played and been on the bench means jack ****, he's **** regardless of which managers have been playing him. The man who picks the team/squad has selected Ryan Taylor for the previous 2 matches and has used him from the bench when needed, while Edgar has been nowhere to be seen. How the fuck does that mean "jack shit"? It's surely evidence that Shearer favours Taylor over Edgar in regards to the current first-team squad? IF Edgar does get thrown in, as I said, it will be for Coloccini (like it was at Stoke) not alongside him, like you were saying earlier, which would be a fucking insane selection against Carew/Heskey/Agbonlahor. I'd be worrying enough with Taylor and Edgar as a partnership after the barracking they got from Ashton/Zamora down at West Ham last season - got absolutely bullied. Coloccini/Edgar and we might as well not even bother.

Harper R. Taylor S. Taylor Coloccini Enrique Guthrie Nolan Butt Duff Owen Viduka SUBS: Krul, Edgar, Smith, Jonas, Lovenkrands, Martins, Ameobi. Expecting that as it stands, biggest doubt over Owen's place IMO.

Could say the same for R.Taylor right back. Funny how he's got the nod as substitute recently though, when needed, and that S. Taylor has been playing at centre-half since he returned as well. Edgar wasn't even named on the bench against 'Boro OR Fulham. Why the fuck would Shearer alter the defence that much on the back of a must-win (or draw) game? It would be mental man. If Edgar is to be chucked in at the very deepest of ends, it will either be at full-back or instead of Coloccini. The latter being far, far more likely, but still not that likely at all.

Edgar and Coloccini as central defensive partnership. Come off it lads.

Beye definitely out, Enrique back in training since yesterday and looks likely to feature, Owen not expected back into full training until tomorrow but Shearer remains hopeful (SSN/NUFC.co.uk). Taylor, Taylor, Coloccini, Enrique Duff in at left-back turns that into a

So, so many. You could pretty much list 50 players we've had in the PL who I'd rather we had ahead of the current crop.

The media are just praying for it. Fucking bastards. They may get the "after match reaction" of our fans relief at staying up. If we go down the only reaction the fans should give the Sky cameras should be "I'm going to cancel my Sky subscription". Everyone should get over there, appear calm and reflective and then out of nowhere announce "I bet you c*nts are f*cking loving this" Hopefully the more psychopathic amongst our support will just steal/break the camera. Fuck them. I'll be keeping Wullie on a tight leash, so it's fairly unlikely.

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The media are just praying for it. Fucking bastards. They may get the "after match reaction" of our fans relief at staying up. If we go down the only reaction the fans should give the Sky cameras should be "I'm going to cancel my Sky subscription". Everyone should get over there, appear calm and reflective and then out of nowhere announce "I bet you c*nts are f*cking loving this" Hopefully the more psychopathic amongst our support will just steal/break the camera. Fuck them.

Should add that it was a hopeful line-up more than anything (in regards to Beye, Enrique and Owen being involved.) I fear the actual starting XI will look even worse.

Beye is out. Has that been confirmed? Thought the latest was that he was just struggling and was a doubt?

Harper Beye Taylor Coloccini Enrique Guthrie Butt Nolan Duff Owen Viduka Lovelyhands, Oba and Jonas to come from the bench and win the game after 60 minutes of crawl-paced football.

I'll take that like! (from NUFC.co.uk)

We were talking about this in the pub after football on Sunday. You'd expect the Man Utd team to definitely comprise of this lot for the CL Final: van der Sar, O'Shea, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Carrick, Anderson, Park, Rooney and Ronaldo. O'Shea has to be favourite to start RB after playing the last rounds there and the rest basically pick themselves, which leaves only one more place for Tevez, Berbatov, Giggs or Scholes. I cannot see anyone else getting the nod ahead of one of those four. During the two games Man Utd played against Barca last season they lined-up 4-4-2 with Tevez involved in both, and he would be my personal bet out of those 4 to be starting this time around if all the off-field shite wasn't going on. That means *hopefully* that 3 of them will play against Hull, along with the likes of Evans, Neville, Fletcher, Nani, Macheda and Rafael/Fabio. I'm sure Ferguson has said that Rio is playing to get some match fitness too? Let's guess at: Kuszczak Neville Ferdinand Evans Fabio Nani Fletcher Scholes Giggs Berbatov/Tevez Macheda Something along those lines with the likes of Rafael (coming on for Rio with Neville moving inside), Wellbeck and Gibson (for Giggs and Scholes) being used from the bench. It's a very tough one to predict exactly, but I can't see the team being too weak. If it was anything like my guess there I'd expect them to beat Hull.

It does indeed. As long as the players never ever turn around. I think it looks shocking. May just take some getting used to.

"SOS (Not you Freddie, you cunt)"

Don't think they'll have a choice this time. If the wage bill is 70%+ of turnover now and Ashley is having to put £20/30m in just to keep us in the black, what will it be like down a level!? It's a non-story really as we don't have relegation wage-cut clauses in place (if reports are correct) and so it's natural that most will have to go anyway. You can't have players earning £50k+ in the Championship, it's insanity. Didn't Birmingham fight quite hard to keep their best players? I know they wouldn't sell us Larsson and it's paid off with a swift return to the Premier. Are the players who earn £50k+ for us our "best players"? Bassong, Beye, Taylor, Guthrie and Enrique are the five I'd be most concerned about losing. The rest can take a running jump. Also. I'm fairly certain their wage bill wasn't 70%+ of their turnover prior to relegation... Basically, I don't get the relevance of your post to mine at all.

Don't think they'll have a choice this time. If the wage bill is 70%+ of turnover now and Ashley is having to put £20/30m in just to keep us in the black, what will it be like down a level!? It's a non-story really as we don't have relegation wage-cut clauses in place (if reports are correct) and so it's natural that most will have to go anyway. You can't have players earning £50k+ in the Championship, it's insanity. Didn't Birmingham fight quite hard to keep their best players? I know they wouldn't sell us Larsson and it's paid off with a swift return to the Premier. Are the players who earn £50k+ for us our "best players"? Bassong, Beye, Taylor, Guthrie and Enrique are the five I'd be most concerned about losing. The rest can take a running jump.