buzza

If you are made captain it is normally because you possess one of or all of the following: leadership qualities get on well with team mates are someone to look up to one of the best players in the team / or most consistent Other team captains: terry, Gilberto, Puyol, Scholes, maldini...just to name a few...

Captain of Marselle for the last 3 years, very well regarded right back in France...Top signing!!

Did anybody else see the barcelona - inter milan match last night? That was the best attacking display I have seen from a 4-3-3 system (friendly game tho'). -------------Keeper--------------- Thuram---milito--Marques---Abidal ---xavi-----deco---zambrotta --ronaldinho---dos santos---henri --(Messi)-----(Etoo)-----Henri (second half)

ahem!! full back, centre back...

Hard lines but it is probably a godsend for us i.e. forced ashley's hand to buy two new centre backs

Evra and neville are two full backs who know when to bomb forward and when not to, Ronaldo wouldn't get half the amount of chances if neville wasn't creating space for him by bombing down the flank.... At the moment it's a bit disjointed but when it starts working I reckon we will reap the benefits of a 4-3-3.

Man utd lined up like this: ----------Vandersaw-------- Neville---Ferd---Vidic---Evra ----Scholes---fletcher---carrick-- ---Ronny---Rooney----Riggs (ha ha ha)

As stated by Shaman the key for this system to work is overlapping fullbacks, you get an extra man coming forward normally with plenty of space to get the cross in and with three forwards waiting your chances are greatly improved. This is the reason why teams have three "burly/defensive" midfielders (makalele, essien, lampard) so that these forays forward can be covered defensively... Also one of these midfield three goes forward enough to pick up the "seconds" outside the area... 'Nuff said!

at this moment in time: Roz Hasn't really put a foot wrong and from what reports say about him is very composed and cool whilst on the ball...Makes a change from our "lump it" Cb's we've had very recently.

P.S. 3-1 Owen, Martins, Roz

I'd go for: ------------------Given-------------------- Taylor------Cacapa-----Roz-----Enrique Milner-----Geremi----Smith----Zoggy ---------Martins-----Owen----- Subs: Solano, Butt, Viduka, Harper, Ameobi

I think Sam will pick the best players to line up in our defence. Each player has unique characteristics which may be more suited to the defensive model Sam wants to apply, I think it is fair to say he will pick the line up he thinks will function best... I would go for experience given that both Rozenthal and cacapa have played a lot longer and against much better opposition than Taylor has. it would be a good idea to use taylor at right back until Beye gets bedded in and then play him in cup games and for injured players. He's still only young and learning, the "rest" might do him good and make him put more effort in getting back into the side...

Even better, he's reasonably tall for a right back: 6 foot... Captain of marsella, can't be bad.

Whilst staring at an old oak tree this morning I deciphered the words Juninho patterned on it's trunk... It must be true!

I think it's a good idea to have two birds prancing around the touchline keeping the fans entertained

We could have problems this winter for six weeks when the african cup takes place: Beye, geremi, martins, Faye. What worries me the most is the defence being weakened...

P.s. Messi is one hell of a player, just hope he doesn't turn into a Gypsy cheating barstard when he plays against england!!!

He played quite well last night considering Barcelona shat on Inter 5-0 in the Gamper Cup.

Did the basic things and didn't take any risks. Good defending...

TBH I don't think it's such a big deal either... Man enough to admit I had a good giggle when I read the chants and thought it was just banter... Certainly wound him up didn't it...

A bit knee jerk to say that cacapa should replace taylor after playing a grand total of around 45 minutes... I would say keep on doing the same Sam, give him more minutes and if he seems better than taylor then replace him...nobody is indispensible!

If we were playing 442 I would say owen but in this system he might not thrive as he would playing off the shoulder of a "big man". Joey barton is a possible "driving force" for us and he plays in the right place...

"I won't sell Taylor unless he reaches 26" Genocide for all over twenty-sixes!! (runs for cover..)

I also think that Sam wants to make us hard to beat i.e. we lose less games. This also figure well in that if we do manage to score goals, and with our attack we should, then we will win more games than lose them. I can't see us playing a 442 with wingers as that would leave far too much space for opposing attacks, but I must say that with the players we have a line up like the following would be very appetising: -------Given------- Geremi---Taylor--Roz---Enrique Milner---Barton---Butt----Zoggy --------Owen---Martins (Viduka) I personally think that we should employ this at home, we have the "extra man" that we all harp on about and the way to really get a crowd behing you is to "entertain" them and I for one prefer entertaining football. We can change back to a 4-3-3 when we go a goal up or when we play away.

Newcastle - Barcelona (3 - 2) When we use to mix it with the big boys!!