Theregulars

Really don't think he's up to much tbh. Would like to see him look more interested/show more urgency and desire. Nonetheless, he can turn the game in a second with his good skill and awareness, like that chance he set up against Villa or goal against Boro. However, would like 4-3-3 to perhaps have Martins or Owen up top and play it around on the deck, or 4-4-2 Shola and Martins/Owen as Ameobi has shown more thus far this season imo. However, Big Sam isn't going to be leaving him out anytime soon, unless his hamstring injury is more serious than described so far.

I think our best midfield three in a 4-3-3 would be -----------------------------Geremi-------------------------- ---------Barton--------------------------------Emre--------- Each brings something different and in combination there is tough tackling, creativity, vision, power, drive etc., although lacking a bit in pace (not sure how quick Barton is but the other 2 aren't up to much). It's bordering on insantiy/insulting to say Dyer has done more than Emre, especially using Emre's injuries as an argument to back this up. Yes, it's a shame he's been brittle thus far in his Toon career but how many players haven't been injured in the last 2 years? As much down to the crap fitness and training standards of the last 2 regimes, surely? Yeah he should score more goals but he's notched up a fair few assists (anyone have the Rothman's or SkySports guide? I'll fish mine out when I get back from work if needs be), has an eye for a pass that nobody else in our squad matches and usually puts in a hard shift. His free-kicks and corners are mostly useful if not dangerous. With him in the team we may se less of a long punt forward to Viduka and more through balls for Owen and Martins to latch on to. At the very least he's a handy squad asset. There's a reason they rave about him in Turkey and that's because, imo, he is their bst player. Now Owen's back from injury he's looking good, maybe we could be optimistic and say that Emre could be a similar asset once properly fit. Or we could sell him and re-buy Dyer, Parker and Bowyer and have the midfield that Toon's Taylor craves. Howay.

To be fair I'd select him over Robinson any day. Can actually goalkeep, isn't overweight and doesn't stand 10 yards too far off his line at every set piece.

Unknown players like Okocha, Djourkaeff, Hierro, Speed, Anelka, Diouf etc. who have shaped Bolton for the best part of the last decade? Oh, OK. They signed Andy O'Brien, that there is the fact upon which all sanity is restored and arguments won in our favour.

Only seen us lose on the road once, way back under Keegan when Wimbledon beat us 3-2. Every other time I've seen us play in London we've won or drawn. That said, a lot of times I see them somebody seems to get sent off. I was at Charlton in 2001/2 when Rennie sent Shearer off for no apparent reason. Was in the press room afterwards and Robson was going apeshit like.

Maybe it's one of those things where he wants to sort it out at the end of the season or at a later stage? Think of the logistics, we've bought five defenders in during this window, Rozehnal looks to be a regular already and Cacapa looks pretty awesome, Beye will probably become first-chocie RB and Faye is knocking around too. Maybe he wants to see if he still gets enough action to justify him committing to the club for that long. It's common knowledge that Taylor loves the club and the area, people who knock him can go watch videotapes of Boumsong and the like.

Have to say I'm far more into England cricket now McClaren has taken over, so obviously much more up for Newcastle. That said, still feel gutted when we're shit. Feel no connection as no Newcastle players except Owen ever make the team, and it annoys me that they don't even seem to consider Milner when Gareth Barry and Ashley Young can make the squad. I think Taylor is there more as a symbolic incentive to show the Under 21s that their level is actually relevant. However, never on at the same time so it's not like you have to choose.

Can't we just sack him/rip up his contract? Surely there's a notion somewhere that to earn money you have to do work unless actually injured? Even if he tried to take us to court over it I don't think he'd get anywhere.

Cretin. I think he makes me wretch more than Shepherd.

Should win but they'll be back in front of their own fans, a lot more up for it and desperate to make amends. Plus law of averages/plain common sense dictates that a team can't be that bad that frequently.... surely?

I think absence of Lawrenson has left a dire need for facial hair in the studio. Lineker and Shearer just couldn't pull it off without looking like Gay Dutch policemen so Hansen bit the bullet, what a rugged man's man. Poor defending.

who cares tbh? JOSE ENRIQUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plus Zoggy in four matches has far surpassed Babayaro in his NUFC career imho.

I think people are being a little harsh on Emre. His last injury was the result of a bad challenge by a Reading player. I think he certainly is prone to injury, but I think this has as much to do with the fact that he is a combative, committed little player, who due to his diminutive stature comes off worse in 50-50 challenges. He's not like a Babayaro or a Marcelino. As much as a like Big Sam, I too fear that he'll pick Smith ahead of Emre for the sake of it, which would be diabolical. A 433 with Butt/Geremi, Barton and Emre has a nice balance in my view, but I can't see it happening. I think the reason he seems to be taking longer is that Sam, as he has proved so far, wants to make sure he is properly fit-obviously Barnsley was too soon. I also think it's unfair to judge Emre for not doing much in the last 2 seasons. He's been as good/bad (delete as you like) as anyone in the team. Who has stood out in the dank last few seasons? Zoggy had one, I guess Milner, and Butt had a renaissance, but those apart, I don't think anyone has put themselves miles ahead of Emre in terms of contribution. I'm not saying Emre has lived up to his reputation, but I think he has a lot more to offer.

remember o There has been many good crosses from Milner to Martins, I remember two which lead to goal. The one against Bolton and a Martins header from last season, just can't remember the team we played. remember one against watford.

Mate, nine new signings... unbelievable. Gutted about Solano, mind. Think we are light on the right wing/ right side of midfield. Haven't replaced Dyer or Solano... but still ecstatic about us actually having a defence. Is our team now the hardest in the league or what?!

Would have gladly seen him given another role at the club, maybe in Academy, some kind of ambassador type thing, cares a great deal about NUFC at heart and genuinely nice guy. Can't blame him financially and for belief in himself in taking the job on when it was offered, not exactly about to turn it down when wanting to prove everyone wrong after his failures at West Ham. Blame Fat Fred (NANANANA HEYHEYHEY GOODBYE tosser) for hiring him and sacking Robson at the worst possible time and thus leading to the crisis which Roeder nobly sorted out and thus was in the frame when he never really should have been. Also blame Jabba the Hut for ensuring no serious manager would want the Newcastle job at that time. On the other hand I wish Roeder would stop appearing on SSN in relation to us, he's irrelevant now.

Come to think of it, Rozehnal looks slightly like Lord Voldemort from the Potter films. I clearly should be asleep by now like a normal person. I don't have the required 100 posts to start a thread, but maybe this could be a fun idea for one? EDIT: On the subject of Potter lookalikes, Sammy Lee and Wormtail from the films. I promise I'll stop now.

Depends what you mean like... long term value to the team in theory would be Enrique, maybe Rozehnal. I think if Barton could put his twat side behind him then he could become the face of our club, like Gerrard at Liverpool, for a while to come. Short term could be Geremi or Cacapa, if he turns out as good as he was against Barnsley... Overall I'd agree with Rozza right now, he's a big step up in class and calm from what we've had before.

If only we could get Beardo to sit in dungarees and hold the haribo logo... it's uncanny.

He seems to be playing more DM than AM at the minute, which is a strange waste of his actual, and limited, talents. It's the same with Geremi sitting really deep, don't really get Sam's 3-man midfield, Butt usually seems furthest forward. I'd take the three and have Butt deepest, and Geremi and Smith to the right and left respectively in more advanced roles. In actual fact, I'd drop Smith for Emre in that trio.

On the subject of that lookalike above, does anyone else think that Peter Beardsley looks like the cartoon kid on the haribo packets? Not sure how to put a picture comparison up, if someone knows what I'm talking about though... had me giggling for ages like.

any highlights tonight?

I've tried a translation off the top of my head: The English club are about to complete the siging of Brazailian player Juliano Belletti. Last week the player met with his brother and representative to listen to offers and it seems that he didn't leave disappointed. Bar a complete twist of events, within 48 hours Newcastle will announce the signing of the "hero of Paris" and Belletti, who will be very sad to do so, will abandon Barcelona.

Maybe he wants an attacking RB who can cover both RB and RW to replace Solano if he moves on to West Ham? Watch a lot of Barca and has played for them at RW a few times if they playe 4-4-2/when they have a few injury problems as regards the right of the three forwrds in a 4-3-3. Not up to much defensively, mind, but niehter are Carr or Solano.

Sad/disgusting that players use family as an excuse to engineer a move for money/moving to what they see as a nicer city. So many footballers live a relative hike from their families, get used to it! You're only required at the club for a few hours' training a day, if it was that bad make the commute a few times a week, on Dyer's salary he could fly in every morning by helicopter. If Nobby loved his family so dearly, why are there reports of his lovechild?! Ridiculous. TBH would be gutted if Nobby leaves. Would pay for Dyer's way to London.