Rich

If Shearer can do it and if the players are happy enough, it surely can't hurt just to go for an exact replication, as there really wasn't too much wrong at all with how it was set-up. I'd love to see Jonas (left) and Guthrie (right) either side of Butt, until Barton is fit at least, but I'm fairly sure Nolan is going to be given at least another chance after all the talking up Dowie was giving him earlier this week. In Shearer I trust though (can't do anything else).

It probably would help to have a left-footer in that position, though, I agree with that. We don't have anyone who fits the description now like (I always fancied Charlie there last season). Bassong, Enrique, Duff, Lovenkrands, Martins and Carroll are the only players in the senior squad who are naturally left-footed, I think (off the top of my head).

Howay man TRon. Elementary stuff not knowing what foot our players are! There were dozens of times last season where Barton ran into a blind alley because he barely has a left-foot, which meant he had to turn back inside and slow things down. I know it's been a while since he played regularly for us, but it's like he's transformed into a completely different player since he's been out. Left-footed, quick, brilliant player...

you still in favour of Butt starting? Certainly in that role, I am, and I would assume Shearer is as well. Having players who played it last season can only help and Butt is one of 5 outfielders in that proposed/expected line-up who would be in the exact positions they occupied at the back end of 2007/08.

There has to be a left footer in the three man midfield surely? Barton did that job under Keegan and Geremi likewise on the right. It gives it a nice balance. Barton's right footed though? It's as close to last season as you're gonna get with the players that are currently in favour.

Harper, R. Taylor, Beye, Bassong, Enrique, Guthrie, Butt, Nolan, Owen, Martins, Viduka. Can see that being the team in the 4-3-3/4-3-1-2 formation, with the main question mark being over Guthrie (Jonas potentially). If all are fit then I can't see anything other, reading into recent comments from Shearer and Dowie regarding our squad.

Bottom left is fucking gorgeous. Are the badges central just to avoid nipple chafing, you reckon? Think it looks shit like that personally.

The seriousness people are giving this game of football is magical. Nah, it was just a seriously bad tackle in a 5-a-side league game, the lad looked up and saw me coming to clear the ball, turned his body sideways and stamped just under my knee as I cleared the ball. Foot was planted in the ground, shin took most of his body weight (felt it bend) and my knee hyper-extended...some strained ligaments and a series of cuts running down the top of my shin. It looks nice and colourful along with the swelling and bruising, might be a nice shade of green by the time I next see you I can't wait!!

I am undertaking the most rigorous training programme since the Communists made Ivan Drago into a mean, lean fighting machine... that got beaten by a brain damaged Rocky Balboa. I have been up the occasional mountain and celebrated at the peaks in Siberia as well, because I'm fairly certain that's what gave Rocky the edge when it came to the big fight. I've also managed to secure a very partisan Red Team crowd, who will gravitate towards the majesty of the Blue Team during the match, eventually cheering our name and loving our capitalist ideologies. All-in-all, I am extremely prepared on all levels.

The seriousness people are giving this game of football is magical.

Christ, just seen the back...

It's alright like, sponsor looks fucking terrible on it. Will grow on me in time, as the current one has done. 'Keeper kit is very smart.

The general argument that Ashley doesn't have good intentions for this football club still bewilders me, by the way, and is still constantly glossed-over by all and sundry. There is no logic to spending the money he has on a club and then running it into the ground, none at all. He's been naive and made mistakes, the ultimate one could be becoming the first man to get NUFC relegated from the Premiership, but I don't think anything has been done out of malice or spite. Ignorance, maybe. Not entirely unforgivable or irretrievable in my book, but then I'm a forgiving sort.

I'd prefer to say that he'd accept mid-table mediocrity as a necessary short-term evil. Much like Shepherd did when Robson was appointed? (When there was fuck all money available as well if I remember rightly.) I think that has been the "plan" after he discovered the financial state of the place, however I cannot argue that it has gone absolutely tits up on more than one occasion. If we go down he deserves all the shit that is headed in his direction, much like Freddy would have done. However, if Shearer keeps us up then I still think there is a decent possibility of a bright future under Ashley in the Premiership. Can only hope for the best.

He was very good the first time he came back this season. The first two times he started this season we got our two of our best performances of the year and two wins. He was instrumental in both. Undoubtedly so, but am I wrong or was that after a behind closed doors game and a reserve match or two, though? No time for that this time around, which is what worries me. He'd be getting chucked straight in at the deep end with people expecting the world from him.

Slow on the uptake or what!?

Which results in no goals and no end product. He needs to sort that side of his game pretty quick or he can fuck off in the summer as well I look forward to the days when we have a squad of 0. At least then people won't have anyone to whinge about... except the owner/manager/chairman for letting us get into that state of course...

I would bet my bottom dollar that after all this hope, hype and build-up surrounding his return that he gets dog's abuse after his first appearance for doing fuck all. People shouldn't expect too much. Obviously I hope I'm completely wrong like but I do fear people are remembering him with extremely rose-tinted spectacles. He's not much quicker than the dross that's available already, for starters, and he's not going to be anywhere near match-fit. I think people forget just how bad he's been the last few times he's returned after long layoffs for NUFC, it's taken him a good while to get into the swing. His presence and attitude are going to be definite bonuses though, I won't argue at all with that. He won't fucking hide like Nolan does, either. Basically: I'm not expecting you to be our saviour Joey, but feel free to prove me wrong. Howay the lad.

Fucking hell. All mates have been in pub watching it. I'm stuck in doing this fucking assignment! ARGH! Someone please tell me MOTD is on tomorrow.

There'd probably be more, but 34 is the maximum return... It's another case of "damned if you do..." I'm afraid, he'll be back in a week.

This is absurd. Yes, I suppose he was being "abusive," but surely some of his frustration is understandable? Simply can't go around calling people "cunts". That's really all there is to it. I like Pilko, but just because he's a "decent user" doesn't make him exempt from the rules. Frustration is understandable and it happens to all of us, myself included, as far as I recall I haven't resorted to calling anyone a "cunt" on here though in all my time registered. There's just no need for that level of abuse.

Sorry folks, just had to alter some stuff on the server due to some software tweaks that have occured today! That should be it sorted now.

Blefescu, how much do you love PhysioRoom.com?

The key word there is WHEN. When Owen doesn't have the ball he is next to useless. When he does get a sniff he can be a killer. 14 games now though and he has been relatively invisible. Hence why KK moved him deeper and made him the central cog in a very effective machine towards the back end of last season. He obviously saw enough in Owen to build the team around him in that way and I'm assuming Shearer does too. That's enough for me, personally. He is wasted in a 4-4-2/3-5-2 in this team though, and has been since Shearer retired, we are simply not good enough.