TRon

See your point Rich, but i just disagree. For seventy million pounds, i know i'd expect a little more than 'Premiership stability'. A lot of teams have survived without spending anywhere near that amount of dosh. It's obviously what needed to be done, though, as it just about kept them up last season. This season they've spent money on what you'd expect to be "better" players which should kick them on another level. Who else has come up recently and remained stable like? Reading managed a season and then went back down, after being runaway winners of the Championship, Birmingham and Derby both sunk last season while Sunderland stayed up. Watford and Sheff Utd both went down the year before when Reading did brilliantly, Birmingham and West Brom the season before after 4 seasons and 2 seasons up respectively (hardly stable). And so it goes on. Wigan were the last team to come up and put together any kind of stability, and they've had to spend a pretty penny to do that as well, even then they've only been a PL team for 3 seasons so far... It's not easy - or cheap - to do, at all, especially when you've a team as bad as Sunderland's is/was. Sunderland's plan is obviously to become a PL stalwart, like we are, is there anybody else who has managed that in recent times for a really prolonged period? Only Blackburn, Fulham and Bolton, probably, way back in 01/02, when the market wasn't as crazy as it is now. More recently you've only got Wigan and West Ham who have survived more than 2 seasons since coming up, and even they've been really, really close to going back down at times. It's a funny one, but as long as they stay up again and can afford to spend the money they have done, you can't really argue. I agree that Sunderland's spending is necessary to ensure Premiership survival, but I think they may be over-spending on the wrong type of players long term. Diouff, Chimbonda and possibly Malbranque won't give a rat's arse about Sunderland within 4 months IMO.

I would be more confident of winning if we had a few more goals in the team. Only Oba's likely to hit the back of the net out of our attacking players so 3 points isn't a foregone conclusion.

There's obviously a problem in persuading Tiago to commit to England, he's been reluctant to agree to join us and Spurs before that. Bearing in mind that KK said recently that we will be looking to sign players for the right reasons, i.e. they WANT to play for us, I think we should bin this as a potential signing (assuming we haven't already). So bye bye Tiago and fuck off.

does he? why? Who?

Why does he deserve it? (Just out of interest?) Deserve what?

Just boo the cunt onto the pitch. He deserves it.

Ignoring the figures mentioned, as they are undoubtedly fictional, I'll say only this: Ashley has shown he is a tough negotiator and I'm sure that the real contract will see Owen handsomely rewarded but it will probably be based on appearances given his injury record. That would be a fair deal for everyone concerned.

I would add belief in his footballing philosophy and courage under fire to stick to his guns.

Keegan hocked up a nice chunk of tuna all over the interviewr's lapel. I was impressed as he didn't bat an eyelid and just carried on giving the interview.

The positive passing game, and general adventurous approach I put down to the KK factor. Not to mention the upbeat cameraderie only a true leader like him is capable of instilling. What impressed me today was how well we kept our shape when defending, which is not something I associate with Keegan. I hope it wasn't a fluke and we can keep that up. We will really be going places then.

That is the ultimate for me, and most others i think. You could also switch Zog to the right wing and play Jonas left, allowing Charlie to cut in and shoot more. Either way, we would be more direct and have pace down both flanks.

SA, came along to see what all this New Fangled, Attacking Football stuff was all about. He looked sick as a pig watching our effective passing football.

Enrique in at left back, Zog left wing, Jonas right. That would be worth a look.

I agree Martins looked isolated, but I don't think we need a 'beast' of a midfielder, just a more decisive one going forward. Duff should have been the one today, but he doesn't attack with any real intent. You might as well play Guthrie there if you want a few turns and tidy passes sideways.

I said in the pre-match thread that once the season proper started that Duff would disappear up his own arse as usual. He buzzed around looking busy but the few times he got the ball on the break he bottled it and faffed around allowing Man u to get back and re-group. Enrique in, Duff out next match please.

The feelings mutual.

. More than harsh where Taylor's concerned I think. I thought Taylor had a good game. Milner didn't provide much of an outlet, and Duff went predictably back into his shell after enjoying the friendlies.

His shooting was embarassing today. What's the point in having a powerful shot if you are going to panic and blast it high into the stands as soon as the opportunity presents itself?

That quality should never be under-rated as most good passing sides are built around it. He's still a work in progress, but a few of our midfielders could learn from him in this regard.

I haven't seen him before today, but while he eased himself into the game, one or two things he did had the stamp of class alright.

This is a special player. Not only bags of skill and pace but lion-hearted with it. It's a long time since Andy Gary has kissed a Newcastle player's arse but he was forced to pucker up a couple of times today.

Coloccini looked assured alongside Taylor who also put in a decent shift, and Guthrie looked very good at holding posession. Jonas was outstanding and I would urge Duff to try and follow his example. Whenever Jonas got the ball he went fot the Man U jugular, Duff after a good pre-season looked too scared to go at Man U with any real intent. I don't want to dwell on negatives though, as a team we generally did ok. We kept our shape and our heads for 90 mins and it's not often we can say that at Old Trafford. Well done lads.

KK has never given me the impression he really trusts Enrique, but I would imagine he'll be back in the side soon enough, because he is a proper full back and Zog isn't.

This is what leads to players getting booed onto the pitch.

Good post, sums up my thoughts and I didn't know that about Bassong's age. Cacapa by no stretch of the imagination is a PL def. dont think he's bad defender to be fair. Made a good impression start of last season, and after one game (where he was carrying an injury if i remember correctly) he got hammered. Was playing in a piss poor team that gave him/back 5 no protection at all. Not 1st choice, but not a bad back up. He's a good defender technically, but a bit lightweight for the Premier. Faye, in contrast was probably less good technically, but very strong and dominant.