Gallowgate End

Always amazed me how fantastic technically Philip Albert was for a centre half. Certainly love him in our back four of today.

Not a chance. The return of Michael Owen in the coming weeks will be the only reason for a change to 4-4-2 with Sam and maybe N'Zogbia and Milner to return to Left Wing and Right Wing until then its 4-3-3 square pegs in round holes.

I would imagine Juande Ramos would be looking to do deal for Albelda considering his strength in the Spanish market and Tottenham's need for a defensive midfielder who will break up play. Nicky Butt has consistently impressed me and has done a sterling job defensive midfield for us and considering his recent new contract I doubt a new defensive midfielder is on Sam's mind for January, although having sp**k*d £6.3 million on a Spanish player recently that he won't use another one is possible.

Indeed. Giorgio Chiellini would be a fantastic signing for Manchester City but costly, tall and powerful in the air would suit the Premiership down to the ground covers well can play centre back and at 22 a potential Italian national team defender. If Sam continues to have no faith in giving his £6.3 million signing Jose Enrique a run and keeps wasting one of our most talented attacking players in N'Zogbia at Left Back then I would suggest he makes a start to correcting this anomaly by testing Juve with a bid for Giorgio Chiellini who very nearly came to the Premiership last Summer.

Agree. You would really have to start to wonder if Allardyce has not got enough faith in his £6.3 million signing Jose Enrique to play him in this match.

Nice words from Mr Mourinho.

Sounds like there is going to be a strong 5 thousand black and white colors down at Craven Cottage tomorrow the away numbers have been a real credit in recent weeks.

Have to say I hope Mike Ashley and Chris Mort stand firm on not releasing massive cash this January to Sam Allardyce. Until he can get the best out of what is a talented squad that is underachieving then giving a man with Sam Allardyce CV massive cash would not be wise especially in a January market in which I feel the market is a poorer one in terms of quality of player then in the Summer.

Have to say I disagree with this. Your view is a popular one however but in my opinion we produce World Class and technically gifted players that rival the top football nations in the World. The popular view that our country's national team are technically unable to compete at the highest level is such utter nonsense our country's grassroots has produced fantastically technically gifted players for our current National team such as Rooney, Owen, Lampard, Gerrard and others who are amongst the Worlds Best in there position such as John Terry and Rio Ferdinand. Our country's grassroots has given our current National team great players what our country needs is a great manager who will turn our great players that our grassroots has produced into a great team. On Fabio Capello he has a impressive history of consistently turning teams with great players into great teams in a short space of time he is a designer of great systems that suit the great players and manages them to win major trophies his CV is amongst the best managers in the World and with that he is without doubt considering this country's lack of current World Class English managers the right choice by the FA to get our country's great national team players and turning them into a great team.

In his last season Sir Bobby Robson got 5th and a Uefa Cup Semi Final that was the maximum that "wasn't good enough"? Dear me how many many more utterly useless arguments are there that agree to a sacking of a man 16 days and 4 games into a new season after getting us 3rd, 4th, 5th playing Champions League football and consistently qualifying for European competition? How long will this club have to wait till we hit the heights of Sir Bobby Robson's 3rd, 4th, 5th and Champions League football again? a very very very long time but such is the reality when you get rid of something special you get exactly what you deserve. We sacked a man who had got us 3rd, 4th, 5th and Champions League football, a man who had won 10 major trophies as a manager, a man who is the most successful British manager to manager abroad winning 7 trophies in 3 different top leagues in Europe (Spain, Holland, Portugal) managing the likes of Barcelona to European Cup glory, a man who took England's national team the furthest its ever been in a World Cup abroad in history we lost a great man but a even greater manager. Don't worry lads Sam Allardyce is the answer just like Greame Souness was "the disciplinarian will sort that dressing room out" and Glenn Roeder was dear me only at Newcastle United.

I think its a sad state of affairs that there is such a lack of top English managers in football at the moment where are are the Brain Clough's where are the Sir Bobby Robson's the prospect of appointing the current best English options of cockney wearler dealer Harry Redknapp or Sam Allardyce would simply not do do the country national team justice. I feel the real outstanding candidate was Jose Mourinho who tactically and in terms of man management would of taken this country national team to the next level we have really missed out there. The FA awnser to turn to Fabio Capello seems wise in terms of his outstanding club CV winning 8 titles in 15 seasons which is astoundingly rare at the highest level only Sir Alex Ferguson 9 titles in 15 season can boast better and we will have to see Mourinho in 10 years to compare however its interesting Capello has always consistently been beaten to the post for his own country national position. Ultimately we would all love a great English manager to be appointed but the current crop of English managers are simple not good enough.

my thoughts exactly.

Broke up the play time and time again Abdoulaye Faye was a GIANT at the back

This. Emre is vital to the service of a Martins and Owen partnership. Judging by Big Sam comments I think he realizes this and will play a team that will play to Martins and Owen strengths tonight. "We can't play too many balls up the middle to allow Spurs to head it straight back. "I don't think they are similar players, they are only similar in size. Oba plays a completely different way to Michael. Michael likes to drop in the hole and work off the shoulder and Oba likes running with the ball at players. "I'm confident they can work together but we'll have to see how it goes on Monday." Could be fantastic if the performance of the two as a partnership gives Big Sam a headache for when Mark Viduka is fit.

TommyW - what is Martin Jol likely line up tonight considering your playing on Thursday night too...? And is Aarron Lennon back in contention for you lot yet? haven't seen him get played for a while now.

Alan Oliver saying today Cacapa has won his fitness battle and will play tonight.

Likely he was commenting on the £40 million Martin Jol w*nked off in the Summer all to end up in the relegation zone. Very jealous Martin.

Wouldnt suprise me either, They could play 4-5-1 because didnt Bent used to play up front on his own for Charlton? Tottenham season ticket holder friend of mine says Martin Jol always plays 4-4-2 the only time he hasn't was indeed 4-5-1 against Newcastle last season... But Defoe was due to play but got injured in the warm up and Mido was not match fit. So can't see Jol playing anything else other then 4-4-2 given the current striker options he has.

SSN are saying Berbatov picked up a knock for Bulgaria last Wednesday and is a doubt. Considering they are playing on Thursday too with 3 games in 7 days I would not be surprised to see Bent come in for Berbatov for this one. Good time as any to play Spurs at the moment I feel.

Just heard that on Sky but it is not true, they've not lost in 6 games. Not lost in 6 games, winless in there last 7 premiership games, facing their 5 consecutive loss against Newcastle.

Big game for both clubs who both have the aim of 5th this season. Looking at the table Manchester City are so far ahead already with 22 points and Blackburn and Portsmouth with 18 so its vital we build on our last two wins at home against West Ham and Everton to keep close with them and relegation zone Tottenham who are on a mere 7 points must be wondering if Jol can turn it around with no wins in 7 premiership games. With Spurs missing Robinson for this one there weakest link is removed which gives them a chance to improve on there dreadful 3 clean sheets in 37 league games. For Big Sam we need to build on our two impressive home performances against West Ham and Everton this is the first time he has some really good options i feel with the return to fitness of Emre and Barton who will be looking for a place alongside Nicky Butt, you would fancy Joey Barton and Butt up against Jenas who will be out for his weekly stroll and the immobile Huddlestone however Emre craft and creativity will be needed if Big Sam decides on Martins and Owen to start up top. Hope to see 4-4-2 using Viduka and Joey Barton for the opening hour bring on Owen and Emre if needed to change the game again ala Everton. -----------------------Given--------------------- --------------------------------------------------- -----------------Taylor----Cacapa-------------- --------Beye--------------------------Enrique-- ----------------------------Butt------------------- -------------------Barton------------------------- --------Milner-----------------------N'Zogbia---- ---------------------------Viduka------------------ ----------------Martins---------------------------- Subs - Owen, Emre, Faye, Rozenhal, Harper Sounds like Big Sam is going for ------------Given--------------- Beye-Faye-Cacapa-Enrique-- Milner-Butt-Emre-N'Zogbia-- ------Owen--Martins----------- As long as its 4-4-2 either of these two sides should provide another good home performance from Big Sam men which should provide our 5 consecutive win in our last 5 games against Tottenham in all competitions.

Paul Robinson on Monday night

they could bid whatever they like Manchester City still wouldn't get him

Agree ever since Robson. With the likes of Owen, Martins, Viduka, Duff, Emre, Barton in our Squad I certainly think with a more positive approach/formation against the weaker sides/average sides away we will have the quality to win games. Bolton had the joint highest win's away last season for me Big Sam will improve our away form of recent years.