buzza

I think that we should have Butt and Barton in midfield as Reading are a "big" side and we need some more muscle than what emre will be able to do for us. Bring him on in the second half if things are going well... I would also stick with Geremi on the right as this makes us harder to beat. But I would change zog for Milner on the left as his work rate is far superior and his end product is nearly the same: -------Given--------- Beye---Cacapa--Faye---Enrique Geremi--Barton--Butt---Milner -----Owen ---Martins---- Subs: Roz, Viduka, Emre, Harps, Zogg

Zoggy has proved he is good enough to keep the left wing slot for himself with the few minutes he has had up front this season. Duff has never played well for us and we are all waiting for him to recover his Blackburn form... He will be good competition for zoggy and it will be good to have some pressure on our players. I think we should be looking at buying somebody in Jan for the right wing, not necessarily to replace Milner but somebody to cover that position. We are very short in this area now that Solano and Dyer have left, if milner got injured we would have to put up with smith on the right.....aaaaarrrggghhhh!

------------Given----------- enrique---Taylor--Roz---Beye Zoggy---Butt---Geremi--Milner ------Oba-------Owen------

I think Sam's idea is to instill some confidence by not losing and picking the team, that in his mind, is best suited to play out competitive 0-0 draws or just sneak 1-0 wins. It has backfired and I suppose this game has brought the players backwards rather than forwards. I hope his strikers, more creative players don't get frustrated at the team style and strange selections (as I have) and have faith in Sam's philosophy. It's only one game, I don't think it is time to prejudge just yet, here's a perspective from the other side just in case: -Zoggy can't be moved upfield until Enrique is ready to play, there is no one else to cover either. -Butt and Geremi are our only options until Emre recovers 100%, he got a slight "pull" when playing for turkey, is his head up for it? -Smith out on the right offers more solidity until Zoggy can move into midfield and milner is released. -Ameobi, I have no idea other than this stupid big/little thing?? The only real glaring mistake sam has made is this one, why the funk is Oba not playing! How many goals does he need to score? Without the midfield creating things we need a forward who can do exactly that!!!

very well explained SAK!

London - Fulham, nice traditional ground, shame about the football (watch other teams) Birmingham - Aston Villa. Liverpool - Don't like either... Manchester - Man city Sheffield - Sheff Wed Glasgow - Bigoted shite, train to edinburgh -Hibees Wildcard - Berwick Rangers (just for the sex and danger!)

I'd also go for the above and then bring on Martins for viduka after sixty minutes, irrelevant of the score and if injuries allowed...

Young and abhonloghor (or whatever his name is) were both excellent yesterday against chelsea, played "complete" football and had the upper hand on the wings mnost of the game..

A hell of an improvement on Edgar & Ramage. Squad strengthening, when we hit those injury "crisis" again we should have enough in the tank to get us home!!

I feel Jim Smith would rectify the lack of flair we have at the moment:)

What a wuss! get up Steve!!

Can we get rid of the "keep the fans as tense as possible" clauses from every funcking newcasrle player please!!!!!!!

its actually 442 with smith on right milner on left

Just posted your comments in a letter to Luise Taylor & her lezza mate at guardian HQ in post.. Didn't mention her mate "lez"..

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