Rich

Would go with this. With Martins and Owen starting up front we'll need Emre's ability to pick a pass. This'd be my first-choice eleven as well, with Harper, Rozehnal, Butt, Barton and Ameobi on the bench.

That's that sorted, then.

I cannot wait for this game... even though it looks like I won't be able to make it.

Senegal won 3-1 away to Guinea, no news on Beye/Faye but obviously neither scored.

Hope he gets his hat-trick personally, will do wonders for his confidence ahead of Spurs.

Also, just last week the Chairman was in the media welcoming input like this from fans/fanzines. Can't find the article now, but it was on NUFC.com

Keep things coming in, by all means. I was disappointed with the turn-out in all honesty so the more the better. Taking me ages to gather everything together at the minute (haven't had PC access for over 2 weeks and been moving to Hull) but once I'm settled in and sorted things should speed right up. The whole point of this is to keep it as an open loop when someone has an idea/suggestion, things can always be sent in on a continual basis as well as in one big chunk.

That bit, combined with your signature, makes me want to spew.

Without editing my post, I will also add that I think Owen unbalances this "Allardyce" team horribly - especially away from home (which hasn't really been an issue yet, due to his injuries.)

Firstly, I'm not convinced Owen will be 100% by Sunday anyway so I doubt it will even be an issue. Reality aside, Martins scored on Sunday and played well enough to keep his place and Viduka would be the first name on my teamsheet every time, if fully fit, as I think he is by far our most irreplaceable player. He was practically untouchable against West Ham and looked head and shoulders above everyone again on Sunday in terms of what he should have been doing for the team in his position, despite not looking particularly threatening goal-wise. I do think we'll see Martins/Viduka, with Owen on the bench at best. Hopefully with N'Zogbia and Milner on the flanks to provide the bullets.

I'm hoping for Martins/Viduka up front, personally. Whether Owen is "fit" or not.

But you asked "how many captains did we sign?" I'm assuming you meant this summer.

Too much football too young?

Smith - Leeds?

Great news if it comes off.

Are people forgetting how we played under Souness and Roeder here, or something? I know we haven't been the third coming of the entertainers under Allardyce so far - nowhere near in fact - but there have been visible improvements in many, many areas of our football since the new manager has come in. As with everything else the style of play will improve given time. Easier said than done, of course.

Top six this season, surely?

This isn't far wrong, actually.

This is totally correct - we should have had him from Norwich as a replacement for Shearer. Of course, he probably had the wrong Agent for Shepherd & Co.... Would have been a much better value signing for 7m than Owen at 17m ; its too late now, but who knows what may happen in a year or so... Ideally we should have had him from Crewe to learn off Shearer for a few years, if you ask me. £3M. Same with Darren Bent at a similar time, although we did try for him when Robson was here. Shearer, Bellamy, Ashton and Bent would have been miles better than having Ameobi and Lua Lua on the end of there.

Hope Ashton ends up here at some point in his career. We should have signed him ages ago.

i'm viewing it as the same as a trip to everton, villa or spurs, a draw is a good result. of course i'd take a win too tho! Considering we've only ever won once at a usually-gash Man City since we got into the Premiership, I'd say a draw against the "new" Man City would be a good result, personally. The expectation is surely to draw with these teams away and beat them at home? Do that and we'll come top six, at the least.

The bench was the strongest it's been for ages today, great to see. When you consider Emre is back in full training and will play a part on Wednesday as well then things are looking very good indeed. Obviously we have to hope that Owen and Caçapa aren't going to be out for too long and that Viduka will be fit for Tuesday, but the depth was starting to really show for the first time today - we've still got the most/nearly the most injures in the league as well, apparently.

For once I cannot complain about anyone individually, we weren't outstanding but everyone played their part. I even thought Nicky Butt was quality, and that's saying something. This was exactly what we needed after Derby. Strange day, strange game, strange time to be playing a football game - I thought the atmosphere was flat, but the applause at the start of the game was fantastic and was a pleasure to behold and set things up very nicely indeed. N'Zogbia was outstanding again, Viduka looked world-class after what we saw from Ameobi on Monday and Habib Beye made one of the most solid home debuts I've seen for a long while. We still looked shaky at times and this is obviously not our first choice eleven just yet, but it's a good result that should give us a bit of confidence and give the Gaffer some more time. I just wish Martins had stuck the 4th away to really round things off nicely, but he made the chance himself out of nothing and fair play to him for that. Chuffed.

My MOM today, easily. Obviously still new to the LB position and he'd prefer to be further upfield but dear me, what a ridiculous thread. N'Zogbia has been player of the season so far from LB, the amount of assists/goals he's got from there is insane. I dread to think where we'd be without him. Cannot wait to see him and Enrique as a permanent fixture down the left, mind. Let's hope they can both stay fit and perform.

Excellent home debut. I was well impressed with him.