Rich

Snide. You'll only be disappointed, Parkster. Allardyce has a wealth of options at central midfield, most of which he loves unconditionally (Butt, Barton, Smith and Geremi). You should have taken the hint with Emre, if he's not getting a look in after some of his cameo appearances, then what evidence is there to suggest Allardyce wants a creative player in the middle? We can't just keep buying players man, he bought 3 central midfielders (ish) in the summer (and Faye can play at DM as well), I'd be highly surprised if he bought anymore.

:lol: Tbf, it's not quite as peculiar as his body shape when he's jockeying an opponent when he starts to resemble a hunchback with low self esteem. As opposed to the breezy, confident, man-about-town type hunchback? I've never seen a happy hunchback in the mould you speak of Chez. They've all got the hump, it seems.

...we only have Peter Ramage on the sick-list. Duff obviously returned yesterday, while Owen and Carr are back in full training and back in the squad. Rampage would hardly get a look-in these days, so we essentially have our FULL first-team squad fit for the first time in I don't know how long. Expect some injuries either in training or during that game because it surely cannot last, although can there possibly be a better time for everyone to be available for selection with the Festive programme combined with the upcoming ACN? A small glimmer of hope in what has otherwise been a miserable weekend for NUFC.

Faye should be back at Wigan, with a bit of luck. Him and Taylor seem the obvious combination against the pace/power of Heskey/Bent.

The one in front of me kept fucking standing up so that I couldn't see anything in the Leazes penalty area. A few swift blows to the back of the head sharp sorted him out, though, but prior to that he was the most keen ballboy I've ever witnessed. Was up and ready for action when the ball wasn't even in his half and was over the boards time and time again, getting nowhere near the ball... bit of a legend until he fell unconcious.

:lol:

When you're diverting a thread away from it's natural course with petty (and incorrect) digs about a comment made in a thread from over 4 months ago (do you keep some sort of list?) then I'd class that as "losing the plot" for someone who used to talk a bit of sense in his day. When you're away for almost a month and then return with our first real disaster in the same amount of time (in terms of performance & result) posting with glee about how shite Alan Smith is, then I'd class that as "losing the plot" as well. It's a shame.

Watch the back-tracking there Matthew, you did say we wouldn't play 4-4-2 under Sam, technically. I enjoyed that thread actually, Diop's been doing alright for Pompey like, for a grafter at least... ...So I didn't say Smith was better than Butt after all, then? Thought so. Ah, that thread gets better: I forgot it was the one where we discovered that you being proven right is more important than players at our club doing well. Magic. I'm also not judging Smith after 4 months and less than 20 games in our colours, despite him looking much improved when played in a more advanced role recently.... where were you then? Why have you just reappeared after a bad performance from the team and our new captain, in particular? You've lost the plot mate.

Are you saying there's some kind of anti-Brummie conspiracy in the ranks of ST holders? Sorry, just wanted responses from people who are seaon ticket holders or attend matches on a regular basis who are in agreement with our southern friend TBH I'll raise my hand here, in that case.

Thought so.

Agree entirely with this, especially at home. Butt and Emre need a shot together again, but it will never happen. There's no way that one of Barton or Smith would be dropped, let alone both. Didn't you say Smith was a better midfielder than Butt? Don't think so. Didn't you say we wouldn't play 4-4-2 this season under Allardyce?

It's Ghana be hard to replace Beye when he goes to the ACN Oh dear! You never know, Geremi might stay so that he gets a place in the team back. It's the only way I can see him getting a look in these days. We might see Milner at RB yet, to accomodate Duff...

Beye + Milner / N'Zogbia + Duff have the potential to be quite exciting down either flank if you ask me, hope we get to see it before Beye jets off to Ghana.

Agree entirely with this, especially at home. Butt and Emre need a shot together again, but it will never happen. There's no way that one of Barton or Smith would be dropped, let alone both.

Given Beye Taylor Faye N'Zogbia Butt Barton Emre Duff Milner Viduka SUBS: Harper, Enrique, Geremi, Smith, Martins.

Good Christ, man, have you got a football tactics book for an early Xmas present? Since when did goals scored merely become "stats"? Surely goals are the most important aspect of the entire game? You can dance ever-increasing circles around the issue all you like Parkster, but the truth is out there. It's not particularly pleasant or exciting, but it's there.

We will continue to concede daft goals till pressure is taken off the defence by a midfield that can keep the ball. I'm not sure if that excuses Derby's first today, in particular, which came from a throw-in. Derby were allowed 4 shots on goal in this game, 2 on target, we had nearly 60% posession, 72.5% pass completion... I have a feeling that you know I'm right, but being an optimist you're majestically trying to dance your way around the truth in order to keep pushing for a Diego or a van der Vaart, because you strive for emphatic solutions to what are really simple problems. Like I've said, I'd love us to sign one of these sorts of players, but the defence is a more pressing concern and one that can be more readily/realistically sorted out.

Viduka and Owen would be the slowest front line in the Premiership, with no pace at all from midfield the opposition would just play a high line making it hard for us to get in behind. We've already seen this when they've played together this season. I'm not entirely convinced that against a fully fit Michael Owen you'd see too many defences playing a high line, even at this stage of his career, there still aren't that many centre halves in the Premiership quicker than him over 10 yards. Given the right service I'd have far more confidence in these two than in Smith/Martins/Ameobi to bury whatever comes their way. Martins has pace, but how many times this season has he utilised it effectively? I've personally never seen such a quick player who doesn't know how to properly utilise his major asset, which is a great shame. Think we've been spoiled with Bellamy in his prime as far as pacey strikers go. At St. James' the higher the opposition defends up the park the more hope I'd have of us scoring, personally, because we seem to struggle the most against two deep banks of 4. When teams come here and try and play, we usually find a way to put some goals past them. (West Ham, Everton, Spurs being examples this season - although I realise Viduka/Owen were only paired in the first of these.)

Brummie, Johnnypd, Shak all talking a lot of sense here. What will we achieve by sacking Allardyce and potentially having to replace a whole backroom staff? How can it be good for the players? Finishing top 10 this season will be fine, if we sneak into Europe via whatever measures then that's a bonus. His second season will be the one to judge him by more than any, especially if he gets more money next summer.

Viduka is the first name on the team-sheet for me, along with Owen if we're playing 4-4-2. Martins and Smith shouldn't get a sniff anywhere in the team if the aforementioned are both fit.

We've only failed to score in 4 games this season, out of 20. We've scored more goals than Man City and Chelsea in the league, amazingly. (Can't believe that myself.) I do see what you're saying, but if the defence was sorted first and foremost then we'd be right up there in the mix. A creative player in the mould of an Elano/Diego/VDV is a luxury player, in my eyes, especially in a team managed by Sam Allardyce. I would love it if we played through a playmaker, I really would, but I can't help but feel it's your classic "wishful thinking" coming into play. Stop conceding daft goals (both of them today were from appalling defending, again) and the need for a playmaker becomes less and less.

I was going to remind you that you recently said The Duke only performs in the first-half or as a substitute. Today the Big Man begged to differ.

Cesc Fabregas, Paul Scholes, Anderson, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Mikel Arteta (on the wing), Pedro Mendes (when he is playing), Garth Barry, Jermaine Jenas (or Jamie O'Hara soon), Fabio Rochemback, Oliver Kapo etc. That post made me laugh, thanks.

I think someone like Hyypia or Campbell would have been an ideal short-term solution. Long-term I think our only genuine hope is Taylor.

Same here, funnily enough.