Rich

I hope Sunderland go 4-4-2 with Chopra and Jones up front and Richardson and Edwards on the flanks, just for the fact that it might provide us with a nice open derby game and a potentially decent football match. I can see goals in this, to be honest, and not all at their end unfortunately... it's a very different scenario to what it could have been had we both not had severe upturns in form recently. The pressure is off somewhat and it's all about North East bragging rights now, should make it a much more enjoyable affair. It's gut wrenching enough as it is, would have been fucking unbearable had it been a relegation scrap.

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Exactly, but we were talking about replacing him with Viduka. Almost qualified it with exactly what you've just put, but didn't want to sway too much from the current issue. A genuine, top-class attacking midfielder who also scores goals and takes set pieces (preferrably) would probably be an improvement on Owen. But then what do you do with Owen? That sort of brings us nicely back to my initial point about his performances up top.

The one from the miss cleared corner not much to do with his new deeper role that. Big credit Keegan for changing the system but I think the side would benefit from Owen playing higher up the pitch and Viduka deeper seems obvious to me considering what both are best at. I agree with Redknapp comments regarding Michael Owen role completely. So you're ignoring the fact that Viduka isn't fit enough to play a deeper role? No disagree with it. And the opinion that Michael Owen is not quick enough to play as a out and out striker up top and in behind the defenders anymore... bizarre. A lot of people were happy to get shot of Owen prior to this run of form in his new position, remember? I'd actually say the majority, on here at least, would have been happy to get shot and keep Martins ahead of him. Then Keegan moves him in behind the strikers, he's on the ball far more, and he starts scoring goals and looking like a player again. I'm just at a loss to understand why you think you know better than the manager, to be honest, especially when the tactics have got us 11 points from five games and put us 5th in the form table (6 games) and 3rd in the form table from those five games, only behind Man Utd and Chelsea? And when the man in question has gone on a great little scoring run, and both Viduka and Martins have been scoring as well? I should rephrase my comment, too, as it's impossible to write-off anyone really. I should have said that I think Owen will be less effective up top than he will where he is now, especially if you're swapping him with Viduka. Think you've missed entirely what role Owen is currently playing if you think Viduka can play it, as Gol has pointed out.

The one from the miss cleared corner not much to do with his new deeper role that. Big credit Keegan for changing the system but I think the side would benefit from Owen playing higher up the pitch and Viduka deeper seems obvious to me considering what both are best at. I agree with Redknapp comments regarding Michael Owen role completely. So you're ignoring the fact that Viduka isn't fit enough to play a deeper role? Aye, that was a good point as well to be fair. Viduka is barely fit enough to stand around up front at the minute.

The one from the miss cleared corner not much to do with his new deeper role that. Big credit Keegan for changing the system but I think the side would benefit from Owen playing higher up the pitch and Viduka deeper seems obvious to me considering what both are best at. I agree with Redknapp comments regarding Michael Owen role completely. Fair enough. I personally don't think he's quick enough to play "on the shoulder" these days, because most Premiership centre halves aren't the cumbering giants of old. He has struggled when playing up front this season, from what I've seen, looking absolutely toothless at times. Obviously his rehabilitation from injury and lack of match sharpness at times comes into it, but he's certainly lost a fair bit of his pace and a good chunk of his initial acceleration over a few yards. He barely got a touch of the ball during his games up front in a 4-4-2 either, did he? He was more detrimental to the team at times, in my opinion, because he wasn't involved and he wasn't a threat over the top. Everyone sees a different game though, as they say, 4 goals in 4 games says a lot though - and he's been playing very, very well at times too.

Exactly. The formation/team selection even works on FIFA, man, it's a winner.

So... then... after 3 wins, we draw 0-0 away to Portsmouth and Owen is no longer suited to the role where he's scored 4 in 4 previously? Not to mention the fact that he had the best chance in the latest game as well. Cripes.

Seems a genuine "proper player", doesn't he? Doesn't do anything spectacular, isn't just a grafter, he's just got an air of class about him and his attitude seems spot-on as well. He's been massively impressive considering the state we've been in at times this season, easily the best signing and best player for 07/08. I genuinely don't think he'd look out of place at a top four club, he'd probably look even better to be honest.

Get into them, fuck them up.

Oh I'd never advocate relying on him in any way. I have some doubt as to whether he can actually tell the difference between fit and fat, as he seems much happier being fat, and only seems to get fit after being prodded, pushed and cajoled for months. But I just have a weakness for the man, he has to be the most attractive big man to squeeze into a NUFC shirt on his day, when he pulls the most utterly sublime and ridiculous touches out of his (sizeable) arse. Gives all us FABs delusions that we too can pirouette on a single blade of grass to pop in a goal from 25 yards like it was something you could do any time you wanted. Clearly though any smart opposition would set up a free meat pie stand about 15 yards to the side of and behind their goal mouth. Would completely throw the big man's radar.

We're going to turn the cunts over, aren't we?

I wouldn't say Cesc is underrated, but Hleb certainly is. He was on fire at the start of the season. It's all about Rosicky, man. Gone to shit without him.

It's May Day over here in England, Deckster. Bank Holiday.

:lol:

On hitting his marker with every cross. Bad craic! Seriously though: I'd say Geremi, Butt and Barton have all been at least as bad as - quite probably worse - than Milner has this season, and look at how they're playing now. Milner has had some seriously impressive games for us during some of our lowest spells, I hope that Dan is right about him and that he can hit top form under Keegan as well. I've seen the lad be practically unplayable at SJP at times, none moreso than against Man Utd in that 2-2. There were times last season when he looked the only player capable of making something happen. He's never going to be quick, but he can play a big part here still.

Nobody has mentioned the important fact. Does Ronaldo want to stay or does he want to go? That's what it will all come down to.

Fuck the Champions League... Barnsley are 3-0 up away at Watford! Good news for the Tykes AND Hull! Cracking result for me, that.

Spurs, although sometimes wavering with the quality of football that they play... great team to watch... and the fact that Woody is there now. Swiftly restored by arseholes of the calibre of Robbie Keane moaning to the referee every five seconds, fat Paul Robinson being hailed as "England's number one", Jermaine Jenas... and their fans.

Aye, my post got cut short cos the oven started bleeping, but Taylor himself does have to take a lot of responsibility. Circumstances haven't been easy for him here since he made his debut, but he hasn't done himself any favours at times. He needs to grow up and fast, I'd say, because he does have all the required attributes to be a good Premiership centre half. Maybe he does need to move to sort himself out and realise his potential. Like you've said, his stock is still high at the moment after the U21's in the summer.

Think Taylor's better, personally. Playing in a far inferior team, alongside far inferior (and often vastly less experienced) defenders and he has to do/had to do an awful lot more defending. Senderos stands out like a sore thumb for Arsenal at times, and did again last night, I genuinely believe Taylor wouldn't look so poor there. Senderos has the aerial ability and the physique, but he's been found out time and time again, playing in a very good Arsenal side with world class defenders all around him.

He's been the real outstanding player all season, this performance has been the icing on his cake. Just hope he stays fit personally, because there are no doubts over his motivation and ability.

Hoping Barcelona win the thing tbh. I'm dreading the prospect of a Man Utd v Liverpool final almost as much as Uefa. Only know one Liverpool fan and one Man Utd fan, both of them are cracking lads and never give any jip at all. Proper fans an' all, so I wouldn't suffer too much if it did come down to that. Barcelona can get to fuck, hated them for years.

Liverpool/Man Utd final, hopefully. I know most can't stand either of them, but that would be some fantastic fucking viewing if it did happen. Man Utd to win it.

Certainly deserves to stay, but I think he'll need more competition to keep on pushing him to that next level. In fairness to most on here, the consensus when he signed that we were getting as close to a Gerrard sort as a club our size could manage. He had been the fulcrum for a decent City side for a few years and had shown some real promise on numerous occasions. I think most, including the club, felt let down that he's got himself into even more bother after he'd been taken out of Manchester on a day-to-day basis and that, allied with some truly questionable performances (quite probably due to his off the field troubles) had caused a lot to lose faith in him. It was fair enough, I think, considering it was something of a two-pronged thing - he'd been a cunt off the park and he was playing shite on it. Now he's sorting himself out on the pitch and playing like he can, but he's still got stuff hanging over him hasn't he? He's a funny one, and we probably won't see the best of him until the court stuff is all behind him, but he's definitely worth sticking by.