toptoon

I can't believe he is so blind to the state of our away form. We need to attack teams like Reading, Derby and yes even Citeh etc etc Setting our stall out for a draw with no wingers and 4 CM's and hoping to nick a goal reminds me of Soumess ffs!! How can someone get it so right at home and so wrong away is beyond me. he needs to sort this soon or he'll not last till the end of the season. Raves on about Fergie and how good he is, i'm sure he won't come to Reading pack the midfield playing for a draw hoping to nick it, nor will any of the bigger decent teams for that matter. SORT YOUR BLOODY HEAD OUT SAM, ITS SOUMESS LIKE AND DISGRACEFULL!!! PLAY TO OUR STRENGTHS AND ATTACK FFS!!

I can't believe he is so blind to the state of our away form. We need to attack teams like Reading, Derby and yes even Citeh etc etc Setting our stall out for a draw with no wingers and 4 CM's and hoping to nick a goal reminds me of Soumess ffs!! How can someone get it so right at home and so wrong away is beyond me. he needs to sort this soon or he'll not last till the end of the season. Raves on about Fergie and how good he is, i'm sure he won't come to Reading pack the midfield playing for a draw hoping to nick it, nor will any of the bigger decent teams for that matter. SORT YOUR BLOODY HEAD OUT SAM, ITS SOUMESS LIKE AND DISGRACEFULL!!! PLAY TO OUR STRENGTHS AND ATTACK FFS!!

Still very early days with him but him and cacapa have been outstanding in the last two games. If they keep playing like that Roze and Taylor are going to struggle to get back in the team. I like Roze as a player but suspect in the air (especially against v Derby) whilst Faye is so strong and good in the air. It may well be a case of horses for courses eventually i.e. play Roze if up against smaller quicker strikers and faye for the bigger strikers. But until faye or Cacapa put a foot wrong you have to continue their very impressive partnership. Agree with some others that Roze should be tried in the Butt DM role. I like Taylor and he is a very good CB too who will get better and better, he'll just have to make sure he takes his chance when he gets it. If Faye is injured/not availiable he's better than Roze in the air.

Must admit i haven't seen alot of Reading so far this season. I like shorey seems a good player and i watch the U21's alot and was very impressed with Lita, looks very pacey, creative and dangerous and seems to always give 100% (despite missing the odd sitter that he usully creates for himself). I take it that his U21 form hasn't been the same as his Reading form? Sidwell's departure seems to have hit you guys hard?

There are major problems in MF for sure, but they're no the only ones. I hear that if Lennon spent as much time on the training ground as he does going clubbing, he could be a world class talent. The questions about King is not when he comes back, but if he comes back, and if he does come back, how long will he be back for? Crying shame because he is talented and a really nice bloke too, but he won't be the first to have his career cut short. JJ was at his best with a truly able defensive player alongside him. Carrick was up to that and JJ flourished. Take Carrick away and JJ's shortcomings are there for all to see. It's not that he can't play well for Spurs, he needs the right person alongside him and Zokora isn't that person and Huddlestone isn't (yet??). Maybe JJ would play better if we got renamed Tottenham Patriots? Is King crocked, then? Would be a shame. Arthritis. Rumoured to be announcing his retirement if this latest operation isn't a success. Sounds like his knee is just flaking away. I'd prefer to see him retire now than to wind up in a wheelchair sometime in his later life. MJ i take that jol will almost certainly get the old tin tak if you fail to beat Blackburn this weekend? Do most Spurs fans want him gone anyway now? Whats our chances of getting the unhappy Berbatov? what is wrong with Berbatov anyway, big fall out somewhere i take it? We know all about Jenas he does as mentioned flatter to decieve, can play well but is very inconsistant, you always feel he is just about to turn the corner in terms of consistantcy but he just never does, very annoying as the ability is there not too different from Dyer in that respect. I'm also not sure about his best position but think overall he's better as a DM. Very happy with the £7m!!

You shouldn't be........ If you lose it would be a tactical travesty of the highest order. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11673_2820310,00.html Reading have the second worst defensive record in the league. An open game would suit us great, as i think Martins and owen etc are likely to score alot more than their strikers will versus our new but so far impressive back 4 Is Lita fit? Didn't Derby have the worst defence? I agree with Reading Fan, if nufc lose this, once again it will show theres something wrong. Its a must win game, and a definite winable one at that. Yes thats why i said second Big game for us imo, we could go well go 4th or 5th IF results go our way, as all the teams just above us have tough games: Liverpool v Arsenal (draw? or Arsenal win), Chelski could well draw V citeh (hopefully), Spurs could win/draw v Blackburn at WHL to hopefully prolong Jol's reign and Blackburn V West Ham could go either way too. We then beat Pompey at fortress SJP and we are in a very strong position.

So you think all those defenders youve mentioned are better then King and all those strikers are better then Berbatov? Got to admit they should be in there normally (based on last year), but if you based the lists on just this years performances or at the moment its probably near enough correct.

Buy him to play with Owen/Martins, he's got more in his locker than Viduka and he'd do alot more for us. http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2197965,00.html Berbatov stalling on a new contract apparently. Out of contract summer 2009. So at the end of this season spurs may well be willing to sell if he still hasn't signed instead of risking losing him on a free. Hell the lad clearly isn't happy there they may sell earlier (although i doubt this). I don't know why he's unhappy but he clearly is....enter Big Sam because if anyone can sort him out, he probably can. If Toon are the team he supported as a lad it may hold some weight with him. Get Shearer (his idol) in on the talks too! We may get him cheaper too as his stock has fallen this season. I'm sure there will be bigger clubs after him too but we should definately try as would surely be a welcome addition to our squad. There definately seems to be something in this http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_2823374,00.html it would be nice if we could pick him up in Jan on the cheap, however Jol will probably be sacked soon so its a case of watch this space.

You shouldn't be........ If you lose it would be a tactical travesty of the highest order. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11673_2820310,00.html Reading have the second worst defensive record in the league. An open game would suit us great, as i think Martins and owen etc are likely to score alot more than their strikers will versus our new but so far impressive back 4, plus Butt. I do agree with Reading fan that speed i.e. martins and Owen is the way to go. Is Lita fit?

Worryingly Pompey have already played some serious sides. As have Villa and their just 3 points behind us. Anyway lots of ifs and buts, but if we get 3 points against Redding and if say they drew with W/Ham, we then beat Pompey at home and we are 4 points ahead of them with a game in hand. I don't think they'll carry there form on. We've got a better squad than both Pompey and Villa, they will no doubt struggle if injuries strike their better players. Citeh are the best team we have played thus far, Elano being the difference between the two sides on the day. So far they look like they'll probably finish above us, but there's a long way to go yet. If we can beat Citeh at SJP and if Elano gets injured they may dip in form then we still have a chance. They have Chelski away next, it makes Reading an incredible opourtunity for us to re-gain ground and to climb the table come Saturday.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2197965,00.html Berbatov stalling on a new contract apparently. Out of contract summer 2009. So at the end of this season spurs may well be willing to sell if he still hasn't signed instead of risking losing him on a free. Hell the lad clearly isn't happy there they may sell earlier (although i doubt this). I don't know why he's unhappy but he clearly is....enter Big Sam because if anyone can sort him out, he probably can. If Toon are the team he supported as a lad it may hold some weight with him. Get Shearer (his idol) in on the talks too! We may get him cheaper too as his stock has fallen this season. I'm sure there will be bigger clubs after him too but we should definately try as would surely be a welcome addition to our squad.

No. i don't think that will suit Owen and Viduka + vidukas lack of mobilitly against good defenders worries me. Nothing/not enough down the flanks imo + Cacapa and Faye are forming a very impressive partnership i'd like to see that continue. No Zoggy or Milner means we are not going to stretch teams enough imo.

I don't think we'll be too desperate in Jan we have a good squad with good options knowing that they'll soon back (injury free hopefully). The loss of Beye and Geremi who are our best RB's could be worrying. Taylor or Perhaps Milner may be able to do a job for us if we have Zoggy LW and Duff RW (if he's fit and on form), i have a nasty feeling he may go for Car though. It does depend on who's available and who will improve our squad though, i'm sure Sam will get it right. Longer term i'd love to see top quality players such as the like of Berbatov, Ashton and even though i don't like him Diouf (cracking player). Big Sam seems very keen on Edmilson too. Now i know its much easyer said than done but any one of these players would improve us and thats what we should be looking for imo Chris Mort has often hinted we can buy big, so if Big Mike wants to buy us a nice present ...... great.

Pretty much agree 100%. Tempted to start with Milner on the right this time or at least bring him and Barton on at some point. Need to carry this attacking momentum on and not do what we did at Derby i.e. invite them to attack us by playing too many defensive players. If Oba and Owen doesn't work this time then try Smith up top again as he was impressive v Everton.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_2819095,00.html Rummours of a Jol Brebatov rift. Hopefully he's trying to engineer a move to his favorite team!! This would be one trophy signing i'd welcolme, he was class for the short time he was on the pitch last night top top quality player. If big Mike wants to buy us a great present then look no further. Him with Owen/Martins would be something else.

Drop someone after they played well and scored, that would be a bit daft. Agreed, i'd go with the same line up again too.

are you off your head? Agree with jonny PD either your a WUM or you were watching a different game or you just have shockingly poor opinions.

Given - 7 Good did virtually everything right ut didn't have much to do. Beye - 7 Got forward very well. Found it tough defensively at times. Its great having good propper Fulbacks! Cacapa - 8.5 MOM Great goal and Mr Cool defensively a great find , the lynchpin of our defence now. Faye - 8.5 Outstanding. Won almost everything in the air, a real tower of strength. Enrique - 7 Defensively sound, excellent passing and took Malbranque out the game. Butt 8.5 - Did what Butt does at his best, gets stuck in, breaks down attacks, passes well and gets forward when needed. Emre 7 - Very good passing and good link up play. Could have done more though (possibly will do if given a run). Zoggy - 7 gave 100% battled hard trying to create, but didn't really get anywhere. Martins - 7.5 Got the all important first goal that again, probably only he would have got. A big threat to them throughout. Had alot of blocked shots, i thnk he's fantastic love watching him play, very exciting, deadly on the break. Owen - 7 good link up play but disapointing efforts on goal, could have had a couple on another day. Roze - 7 Good Milner - 7.5 Cracking goal to finish them off, held the ball up well too. Barton 7 good. Overall Started off fairly even, with both sides creating the odd oppourtunity, Martins brilliant goal out of nothing really was very very important and really shook them. We played a long (50 yards?) ball which the defender tried to control but kicked Martins who had run (like lightning) between player and ball then quick as a flash controlled the ball and smashed it goalwards onto the onrushing keeper and it deflected into the roof of net. Most strikers would not have even attempted to bother doing this nevermind have got there fast enough. The cracks then started to show in their defence and midfield and we exploited them superbly well and they were shockingly bad at times with defensive errors and misplaced passes gallore under our pressure. Sam got the tactics right. I hope we've learned from Derby and attack more against Reading.

Agreed, will definately wind our players up hopefully, he's helped us motivate them for tonight. If we beat them, its going to make him look even worse than he already is!

FOR: I like Martins alot, he is one of those players who's capable of something very different, he's a nightmare to defend against, can open up any defence, he's two footed, very unpredictable, very fast, has an absolute rocket of a shot, gives 100% running round trying to make things happen for himself and the team, he's tough and rarely injured and leaps like he has springs in his heels. AGAINST: There is not that much to dislike really, but he could improve in the following areas: he sometimes picks the wrong pass or shoots when he should really pass, he needs to make more intelligent runs (quality rather than quantity sometimes), he's missed some great chances so his finishing can improve. CONCLUSION: Well definately keep him, he's a very good team or squad member especially considering owen's injury record. We need fast players and they don't come much quicker than Oba he's a big plus for me. Madness to talk of replacing him with a 'big man' striker, i'd definately look at replacing Viduka way before Oba. PREDICTION: He had a slow start to his first season and then exploded and was on fire for a long period last season, he'll get better and better and his next screamer is just round the corner imo providing Sam plays him of course.

Would love Berbatov and Dean ashton here, these are the sort of players we should be targeting as they are top draw. Ashtons injury record concerns me a bit as he seems to struggle for fitness alot. Either would obviously cost alot too especially in comparrisson to players like Anelka and Diouf. Maybe we could eventually swap someone plus alot of cash somewhere down the line for one of them? But next season Edmilson, Diouf plus either Berbatov or Ashton would be absolutely amazingly fantastic! Berbatov in particular with either Owen or Martins could rival any strikeforce in the Premiership and possibly Europe.

Agreed. Where as in seasons gone by Shearer and Given were collosal head and shoulders above the rest, like Stevie G is for Liverpool we don't really have one at the moment, which isn't a bad thing. Zoggy imo has been our best player thus far, although has faded over the last game or so, so i'd have to pick him if i had to atm. Given has also been collosal season after season. Alot of our players have the potential to including Emre, Barton, Owen, Martins, Cacapa, Taylor imo

Gerrard was particularly s****, could have won us the game with that chance and didn't do anything good of note. I was pro Gerrard over Lampard but now thinking about it would go with Lampard against Croatia. Bad team display. Mcclaren out! was never a penalty either but Russia deserved something out the game at least. Hope rests on Israel getting a draw/win. But it shoulden't have had to come to that.

I actually like your line up and was going to have a very similar one except for maybe Geremi in the middle instead of Butt and have Martins on the right wing and Viduka up front with Owen I'd go martins and owen up front. But IF Viduka has to play up front and IF Milner is as tired as some make out, then i agree with Martins on the RW as he's such a handfull for teams. BSA may shock us all and start with Barton with Butt/Geremi in midfield. Personally i'd start Geremi/Butt with the very impressive (against Everton anyway) Emre and if Emre fails to deliver or we go behind and need a spark then bring on Barton at some point after the break. Prediction 2-1 to us. Zoggy and Martins scoring.

Isn't Smith suspended? I'd go with the team in my sig. I hope we attack and don't play too defensively in midfield. Got a bad feeling about this one for some reason.