buzza

Think about it, what other league can boast so many top quality managers that we have and the differing styles that go with them? *Ferguson *Wenger *Benitez *Ramos *Eriksson *Keegan O Niell Moyes Hodgson Obviously only the first six are internationally renowned!! Spain: Rikaard Schuster Aguirre Koeman Italy: Ranieri Ancelloti Mancini Cuper

Here's what I would do DEFENDERS:- Sell- Carr, ramage. Ben Haim Brown Bridge Bridge covering or playing left back with Enrique, Benhaim and brown for centre back with the added bonus that if beye get's injured we can move brown to right back. MIDFIELDERS:- Sell Zoggy (he obviously doesn't want to be here!) Deco to add both bite and creativity. Romeo castellen, extremely fast and skilful right winger. Left winger...suggestions! FORWARDS:- keep all three and add somebody to replace Viduka (from: Huntelaar, Fabiano (seville) or Berbatov) Leaving us a team of: Beye-- Brown--Benhaim---Enrique Castellan---Butt---Deco--Martins ---------Owen----Huntelaar---- If you prefer 4-3-3 just shove martins up front aswell...

1)I think a top quality central defender is the highest priority we have, to partner whoever is playing better or whoever plays better together. Two full backs as cover, selling carr, and Zoggy will most probably leave us. 2)Top class striker to replace Viduka. As good as he may play he is very injury prone and doesn't seem to have the "hunger" if we want to go places. We have back up in Carrol (more minutes next season) and Smith if necessary to hold onto a lead (prefer to sell him TBH). 3)Playmaking midfielder of the Deco mould (can defend and create attacks) and possibly a midfielder (or two) with pace to replace duff and zog. 4)Young developing defensive midfielder to get minutes when Butt's knackered. 3 top class players & 4-5 "squad" players. Players out: Shola, Duff, Zoggy (prefer not...), Carr, Ramage, Emre (too many injuries)

Has anybody looked at the passes completed stats (see telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/03/31/sfgtot131.xml ), Geremi, Barton and our three forwards all got a close 90% completed pass rate!!! Unreal compared to the 60% jobs a couple of weeks ago!!

I don't think we have any chance at all, unless they have an off day. Spurs are playing really well at the moment and WILL score against our leaky defence. Berbatov and Keane are scoring for fun, if they don't they have bent on the bench... Just a small chance that owen and viduka could put a couple away in the first half and then squeaky bums until the end. This is certainly a game to give us a reality check. Will be extremely happy if we come away with a point, that will assure us our safety IMO.

With two billion in the bank at a high interest rate of around 7-8%, ashley will still have between 11-31 million to fritter away as he likes without making an actual loss from his fortune... Ooooh to be a rich man!

what did you mean with the straw men reference? not a dig, just a bit thick this morning, weekend debauchery n' all...

If Keegan is to make any "star" signing or preferably "high quality" signings then a centre back and cover for full backs is essential. Again a couple of chelsea rejects wouldn't be too bad i.e. Bridge, ben haim & ferreira... Just keeping the chelsea thing hot, don't suppose they'd be overpriced either as Chelsea have overtaken our mantle of buying big selling cheap!!

Nobody ever complained about Teddy sheringham being too slow or not having any tricks... I'd like to see owen develop into the same type of player, obviously doesn't have the same heading ability but sheringham didn't have his pace either...

Wow! A decent thread with good arguments. I am also of the opinion that we are very much part of the group of "secondary" teams in the premier league who all claim to be "big" clubs and all of their own support would bet his house that a player would rather move to his "big" club rather than yours... We are all quite similar; rich owners, decent history and managers capable of doing well: Villa, Man city, Everton, newcastle, Tottenham and even Portsmouth TBF. Any player who is worth his salt would find it hard to choose between these clubs at the moment and would much prefer any of the top four. It wouldn't be easy to get bentley here, I'd actually prefer to get some cheaper rejects i.e. Wright Philips

They certainly don't look such a bad team on paper... Still stuff 'em though! Hoooooooooooooowwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll take the same side as we put out agaisnt brum. 3 "sturdy" midfielders and three decent attackers, take off barton for duff/zog if he doesn't perform. Newcastle 3 - 1 Fulham Owen, Martins, Bullard, Martins

Personally, I don't think people realise how close we are to going down, other teams have what I would call easier run ins, WE ARE PLAYING SHI**E, we only have three win games, the rest are hands down losers. if we don't get behind the team on saturday, that difference the twelth man could have made may well come back and haunt us! FULHAM IS A MUST WIN GAME...NO DOUBTS AT ALL!!!!

good read that!! Totally a<gree with most of it.

----------harper--------- beye--taylor--faye--enrique Duff----Butt---Barton--Nzogbia ------Martins--------Owen---- If milner makes it, duff out. Bring viduka on later in the game.

Aye, bigged myself up with the Stuart pearce bit, really more "Bramble-esque"" to be honest...

I play in a "brit" side against the more technically gifted Spanish sides, we usually edge a win or draw down to hard running and powerful defending and a centre forward who scores for fun.... Phycological advantage really after the first few tackles, they are far more wary from then on and we do try to intimidate, if we were to play a passing flowing game we wouldn't get anywhere. Now and again we play an african side and they are a good match for us!! Same type of play and attitude to the game. P.S. Imagine stuart pearce type defender (lot less skill of course) and that's what I do... Fair dues, they don't normally complain too much but they are a lot more wary after a couple of tackles.

I also think there must be "other" reasons because even though I think he's slow he has to be better than zoggy, carr and company in that role?

Talks a lot of... Horny character... Likes darts being thrown at him...

Reminds me of a giant snowball being rolled down a hill

He's quite fast when he gets up to speed but his initial acceleration is abysmal!

i HAVE ALSO STATED BEFORE THAT FROM WHAT i'VE SEEN OF HIM (on the telly that is) he has looked qwuite average and very slow... I know it's not the same as being at the game but he certainly isn't the defender we thought he was going to be.

How much does a top class defence cost? 40 million quite easily... How much do 2 excellent midfielders cost? 20 million... Another striker with a bit of hunger (not Viduka's hunger!!)? 20 million 80 MILLION TO GET US ANYWHERE NEAR WHERE WE WANT/DESERVE TO BE!!!

would rather have Carrol than Smith upfront, bring viduka on after 60 mins to hold the ball up and preserve our lead

Berwick Rangers, don't like the fact that we play in the sweaty sock league...but beggars can't be choosers!