Rich

Allardyce played 4-4-2 against Hartlepool and 4-3-3/4-5-1 against Carlisle. Hardly conclusive evidence just yet, is it?

"Despite the shitty effort....that was a gag.......really!!!"? Why would you say that on the radio, like?

"Despite my accent... I am actually a Geordie... really!"?

Understandable! So it looks like Malouda - Lampard - Essien - Cole as their first choice midfield then, most of the time? Along with SWP, Makelele, Ballack and Sidwell there as back-up. Still question marks over SWP, though, and there's going to be a big hole to fill if Robben goes.

Mourinho was saying that he thought it would be more effective if he went to 4-4-2. I thought he played 4-4-2 last season. A more rigid 4-4-2 with wide men did he mean? Aye, more a "flat" 4-4-2 than the "diamond" thing they used for a lot of the games last term. Makelele seems like a fringe player on that basis and it will be very interesting to see who he pairs with Essien - who is apparently an automatic starter for him now, according to the Egomaniac himself.

Ramage played against Carlisle, you maniac. You might be thinking of Milner, who felt a twinge in the warm-up? Those 7 you mention are definitely out and I suppose you could class the three above as "doubtful", along with Edgar, Dyer and Luque - for varying reasons.

They played 4-4-2 against LA Galaxy and Mourinho was at the pre-match press conference explaining how he was going to make it work and that the players had been "practising" it.

Am I alone in still wishing for a big powerhouse to play in this "deep lying role" behind Barton/Emre/Both? We still seem desperately lightweight in every area of the park to me, both in terms of numbers and physically as well.

Have to agree with this. He did have an initial plan with Boa Morte and Anelka, seemingly, but that soon went up the spout with the arrival of Owen/Luque. Shepherd to blame? CAN OF WORMS!!!

I know Heinze can play CB, but surely he'd be classed as a "LB" by the likes of Oliver? Someone less obvious by the sounds of it.

And that he was from overseas:

Put more spaces in, then! I could only be arsed with the two in between each player I'm not arsed about finding people who rate Emre over Geremi, I never challenged you on that, it's your opinion. I merely stated I'd be happier seeing him play CM than Geremi (who I'd prefer to see at RB/RW personally given the current circumstances.) But if you're wanting to debate it, I'm not actually sure if I've seen enough of Geremi to make a decision either way on him and Emre, especially at central midfield. Would like to see how much he's actually played there for Chelsea/'Boro/Cameroon and even moreso at how many times you've seen him there with your own eyes to make the comparison between the two.

The key being the "IMO" part, of course. From my own personal perspective, I'm not as excited for the Celtic game because he's missing... along with the others I mentioned. To get back to the subject of the thread: I'll say we'll get around 28,000 in for the game, that we'll draw 1-1 and that this team will start (hopefully): Given Carr Ramage Rozehnal N'Zogbia Solano Butt Geremi Dyer Ameobi Martins I'd also hope to see something of Luque and Milner during the second-half in a potential formation-switch along with Andy Carroll. Also, for those who keep using "----" in between players in formations, there is a "centre" option on posts as well (along from the B, I, U, S...) - to save you's some time.

Since when was Emre an exciting prospect anyway? I think we'll beat them comfortably. Emre's more exciting than watching Butt, Dyer, Geremi or Solano playing central midfield, shirley? Not about the result really, as we keep hearing. I was expecting more out of Big Sam's first home game, is all. Disappointed with Barton/Owen being crocked more than anything.

Only two new signings on display, no Owen, no Taylor, no Emre... it's not exactly a thrilling prospect anymore.

Would people agree that his only fit "senior" players for this one would appear to be (and this is best-case scenario): Given, Harper, Krul, Carr, Edgar, Ramage, Huntington, Rozehnal, N'Zogbia, Solano, Geremi, Milner, Butt, Dyer, Luque, Martins, Ameobi and Carroll? Missing will definitely be: Babayaro, Taylor, Barton, Duff, Emre, Owen and Viduka (all arguably current "first-choice" players!) I'm not as thrilled about paying £15 for this game as I was a while ago, that's for sure.

He's the China Captain, you know?

Have to say he looked extremely bright for Charlton at the back end of last season, but... really?

If Oliver is to be believed we were never in for Baines because of his height I suppose we'll see if this is right very, very soon.

Surely it isn't that hard to get used to? Swiss posted the story in this topic and I thought it made sense to let people know that there had been new developments in the story, to allow people to have something new to read. Surely it takes one look at the first post of the thread to see that it's not a brand new thing and then you can just skip to the end to find where the new information has been put in? Untangle thy knickers, good Sir.

He told the Sunday Mirror: "I believe I showed at Arsenal last season that I can play in England, score goals and make goals. "Newcastle is a big club, but before I consider a move I need to know about my future with Real. "I want the chance in pre-season to show our new coach, Bernd Schuster, I should be part of his plans. "If things don't work out here I will have to look at other options in Spain and England."

He played a fang-tastic gig at fresher's week at Glasgow Uni when I was there and liked it so much (or got paid so much) that he came back within 2 months to do another one, which was also fucking ace. Then he was the legendary face of 5ive's coverage of the NFL alongside the equally brilliant Mike Carlson and then he even bettered this with his coverage of our UEFA Cup "campaign", which was better than anything else I saw last season from BBC/ITV/SKY. That singing thing he did is an obvious negative, but aside from that he's still in the black as far as my opinion goes.

Further proof the guy's an utter twat. I like him!

I would have thought that if he was looking good it would have something to do with his level of performance. He is a handsome chap, mind.

It hasn't... and let's hope that Big Sam isn't talking bollocks and that Luque can get a lot fitter and consequently a lot better.