Rich

Direct replacement for Geremi in my book. Unless Barton gets sent down. He prefers playing on the left, though. I was thinking he goes in for Barton on that side, and Joey moves to where Geremi has been playing. Unless he goes down, as you said. I can't see him coming in and taking Owen's current role and I can't really see him playing in a 4-4-2 either.

Surprised to read this from you, if I'm honest, but I wholeheartedly agree with it. Parky is a romanticist though, I suppose, so I can't be too hard on him for wanting a maestro in our team. It's a nice thought, but I'm not sure if Modric is the man for the job, or if there's any role for such a player in the Premiership anyway, especially for us at the current time. A playmaker is more somebody you build the team around, I don't see why Keegan would do that so soon after finding a winning formula.

Just realised I've asked that same question in the Modric thread and people have started answering. Is that him spread over 3 threads now?

"Semi-denial" because I don't believe we need a playmaker On the second part, I was saying it because my original comment was all to do with us not utilising a playmaker while Sam Allardyce was manager, that's where the "wishful thinking" bit you picked up on originally came from. You got your wires crossed with your response today, which is why I began with "dear me." To get this moving on from tit-for-tat though, if Modric does come, I'd be extremely interested to see what it would mean for the current formation. I do not believe that he is a classic "number 10" from what I've been reading about him since these stories reared their heads again. If you ask me, the top three is working very well, and could be even better if Viduka was replaced by someone like Kenwyne Jones (who I just noticed while browsing has 10 assists this season to go with his 4 goals - not bad for a Mackem player) or someone better - Berbatov would do nicely (wink). Does Modric come in and play where Barton is for us now, but with more of Geremi's role, with Joey switching to the right (provided he's not in clink)?

James Johnson Campbell Laursen Lescott Young Elano Bentley Petrov Yakubu Santa Cruz Could move onto a team outside the top-10 with that selection, though...

Give me optimism over pessimism every time. I haven't got my hopes up over this, but will obviously be very intrigued if it comes off. I've seen Modric play about 3 times, though, so the only thing that will excite me is his reputation, the price and the fact that we're looking at his apparent calibre of player this summer. Wonder where he would play should he sign. Where Barton does now?

Giving Parky an unjustified serious answer for a minute, as I cannot let that disgraceful "told you so" attempt slide from him of all people: Has Modric signed? Have I missed something? Is Allardyce still the manager? And haven't we went on a smashing upturn in form by playing a settled defence/'keeper, not conceding daft goals, and without the need for a playmaker in the mould of a Modric? We've stopped conceding goals and, as I thought initially, we have the players to score them at the other end - now we're sitting atop the form table! A "playmaker" remains a namby pamby position, in my eyes, and an unnecessary one at that. It's fashionable, though, so I understand why people like Parky pander for us to have one. It's good to bite.

Wishful thinking indeed Richie baby. Dear me. Thought you'd be happy mate. I'm trying not to get wound up by your incredibly mongy first post, it's killed my vibe.

One post to each other and someone is coming out with that!

This a long fucking warm-up, like! Must be one fat lazy bitch.

Wishful thinking indeed Richie baby. Dear me.

I'd agree with reservations. I have no problem with signing a better left back, but a big name doesn't guarantee that. Keegan's record in the transfer market will stand up to most but he does tend to go on reputation sometimes. Robbie Fowler's signing at City being one example. Exactly, but I wasn't talking about a "big name". It could be somebody that Wise/Vetere have unearthed who is the bees knees. We'll see what happens, but like everything else, it's out of our hands and all we can do is hope for the best.

I'd take that Abidal fella, like...

We simply have to sign the best left-back we can possibly get. Might sound blindingly obvious, but surely that's the only real way to progress? There's no room for sentiment, as we keep getting told. Enrique has been good, very good at times, but he's hardly Roberto Carlos. Whoever is Keegan's first choice should be the player we sign, if you get what I mean, all we can do is trust his judgement.

My thoughts exactly.

YouTube is chock-full of videos from yesterday, pre/post/during game. Great way to burn some time today.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=40LUPts7upE Fucking brilliant.

Thought Barton was solid again yesterday as well. Did what he had to do, won tackles, played simple balls and was all over the pitch. Butt was again the standout player from the midfield three, but the other two were decent enough as well.

Glen Johnson for right-back, I'd assume. He has been pretty good this season in a fairly formidable Pompey backline. Corluka might be another shout. Or they might be really zany and just give it to Wes Brown.

We're actually top of the form table over the past 5 games, ahead of Chelsea on goal difference. Joint top over the last 6, only behind Man Utd due to 2 goals less scored. The turnaround has been amazing.

His name was getting sung yesterday. Na na na na, na na na na, hey-ey-ey, Michael Owen. Admittedly not deafening, but I'm sure he heard it.

Embarrassing for them. I'm in the opposite corner of the ground, but the only time I heard them was when they were singing "Sunderland 'til I die" right at the very end of the game. And even that was quiet.

Did OK but has a long way to go before he could be compared to Viduka. He has age on his side but thats about it, Viduka still does everything Jones does but better, and most importantly is always likely to get a goal. The movement is the key thing for me, though. Viduka has class about him, no doubt, but he needs balls right into him if he's to do anything with them. He was very poor yesterday aside from the bit with Owen for the penalty, I thought, and I've been an ardent supporter of his all season. He has got neither the legs or the fitness to be our main man up top next season. Jones obviously lacks Viduka's nouse or touch, but would put himself about far more and would work defenders more. I think the lad is destined for big things from what I've seen this season, and I'd love it if we robbed him off them - though I can't see it happening due to the rivalry.

The problem I've noticed with Viduka in this formation is that he offers little support out wide, because we're not playing with wide men you need the attackers to pull out wide as an outlet, Martins does it well on the left and looks like he's been told to use that as his starting position when we haven't got the ball, Viduka however just isn't mobile enough and quite a few times yesterday we were left with a big space for someone to run into out on the right and nobody to run into it, Beye gets forward well but he can't be expected to do it all and there were times when he was the one looking to play it out. Definitely. I think that's why many are hoping we'll sign a Jones sort for next season, if we're sticking with this way of playing. If we have two strikers up top and they do what you're asking of them there, split wide to drag the defenders around and open up holes in the middle, I can only see Owen and the midfielders getting more goals out of it. We can't rely on Beye to cover the whole right side, which he is currently doing because neither Viduka or Geremi have the legs to do it.

I don't think he's fit, personally, and hasn't been all season. He's only played about a dozen games.