Rich

Thats about the best we can put out at the mo, although i'd be tempted to put Rozehnal in the midfield with Zog moving to left midfield/wing and Duff or Milner on the right purely as the original midfield I fear would, unless we take complete control with attacking play from the off and get them shitting themselves, prove a bit lightweight with Stoke's big lads once the games gets bogged down. Roz isn't the strongest of players but i'd feel abit safer with him in there. Agree entirely, but couldn't be arsed to go into that much depth. It's between Emre and Rozehnal, IMO, for who gets the nod. I'd expect all the others to start, unless there's any injuries....and that Carroll will probably be on the bench, completely forgot about Big Andy. I'd also be amazed if we play anything other than 4-4-2, as well. That's the editing done with.

Given Carr Taylor Cacapa Enrique Milner N'Zogbia Emre Duff Viduka Owen SUBS: Harper, Rozehnal, Edgar, Lua Lua, and Carroll.

I'll still buy the book, though... will be "interesting" on here when it comes out.

Didn't it? Is Mick not thinking of Houllier/Evans? Maybe, there was no number one with them two was there? Evans was manager and the Liverpool board brought Houllier in to work with him as a joint manager, that was never going to work tbf, it would be like bringing in Houllier to work with Allardyce if he was still here. I can't see what problem Shearer would have working under him, it's a great learning experience and he'll know that the foundations are down for him to step in when Houllier retires or moves upstairs. Right on the first bit, and I agree on the second. Wonderful.

Le Tallec came in with Pongolle. As for Smicer, even though he was widely considered a failure, surely a goal in the second-half and the winning penalty in the Champions League final made him worth the money alone?

Houllier would please me far more than any of the British candidates, that's for sure. Quite optimistic about this.

Didn't it? Is Mick not thinking of Houllier/Evans?

Aye, none of the critera directly rules out Big Al, does it? And the fact he's back from holiday today, along with Ashley as well. Contact is bound to be made.

They need to be careful on that front, but I think it's commonly accepted (by the board and the fans) that winning is first and foremost. ... and that Newcastle are not soon to be a team that can expect to win all games, hence a "style" of football where at least those kind of inevitable losses are at least in some kind bearable and not resulting in booing-orgies again. Agree with this, most definitely. From what I've witnessed at SJP from the crowd over the past few seasons, I genuinely think the booing will be quelled if the team is going all-guns-blazing against whoever we are facing. It's different being utterly atrocious and getting beaten by Sheff Utd, etc. than it is having a go and going down fighting. For all people say that results are the top priority (which is right, of course), the performances do have a major impact on things. Even as recently as Man City, where we went 0-1 down before half-time, the players were applauded from the field because we'd been playing it on the deck and having a real go at the opposition. That said a lot to me at the time, and resonates now.

"And then worst of all, the man who mends telephones for a living has had a go at iz on his website. Do you think we can take much more?" While describing his exciting weekend and the slaggings off he's had, from Sir Alex in his programme notes and one of Allardyce's "press friends", (Custis?) amongst others.

Thought as much, I knew you or Mick would know like.

Interesting, for the first 30 seconds or so. Who is "the man who mends telephones for a living"? The bit where he reveals he doesn't want a foreign manager because it won't fulfill his need for "back page leads every day" is also rather interesting to hear from the horse's mouth. Apologies to horses everywhere.

Speaking of Moyes, Ashley has personally assured his good friend Kenwright (Everton chairman) that he'd never try and take his manager off him. So he's even more realistic than Mourinho.

VENABLES! That took a while! You have just put yourself on the list... and I'm not talking about the good list. Think of Santa's "naughty list", only far worse.

VENABLES!

And then the bullying REALLY begins. HUZZAH!

Lippi? Van Gaal? Realistic? You have got some nerve, yes? Why not, Birmingham went for Lippi and he turned them down, but he is rumoured to be after a job in England, and I only put Van Gaal down because somebody mentioned him Van Gaal has recently said he's not interested, hasn't he? Lippi is as unrealistic as Mourinho is. Just vote and move on, its no big deal You're the lunatic who's made an entirely new thread/poll because you think Mourinho is an unrealistic target and you don't like the fact he's whooping everyone else out of sight. Oooh, I could crush a grape.

Deliciously ironic.

Lippi? Van Gaal? Realistic? You have got some nerve, yes? Why not, Birmingham went for Lippi and he turned them down, but he is rumoured to be after a job in England, and I only put Van Gaal down because somebody mentioned him Van Gaal has recently said he's not interested, hasn't he? Lippi is as unrealistic as Mourinho is.

Lippi? Van Gaal? Realistic? You have got some nerve, yes?

Whatever we said, whatever we did, we didn't mean it, we just want you back for good. (Want you back, want you back, yeah we want you back for goo-ood!) I like the sound of this. "It only takes a minute Kev, to ring that phone, to rinnngg that phhoonne" [/it only takes a minute girl] You've spoiled it now. My thoughts exactly

Whatever we said, whatever we did, we didn't mean it, we just want you back for good. (Want you back, want you back, yeah we want you back for goo-ood!) I like the sound of this.

At least it's not Tottenham TV, as advertised by Martin Jol. Then there'd be real trouble. Ash, your timing is a bit off

Not necessarily. Been pondering those Ashley comments and if you're being really cynical it sounds like he's after a "yes man" rather than a Mourinho. Does a manager in the Keegan mould exist these days? Would managers like Redknapp/Hughes have altered/alter their own philosophies on football and team selection, etc? It's a very funny one. I was speaking purely as a football fan. Watching teams pitch up for a goalless draw is rubbish, whoever the teams are. As always, I just hope for the best, and that the comments aren't meant as you say. Ashley deserves a bit of slack on the first few goes at this IMO. All we can do is hope, really, and support whoever accepts the job. I think it's plain to see that I'm now back in Hull... and that it's Monday tomorrow