TRon

You could say "it's only two games" but that's a shallow way of looking at it. I think even some of us who were here last time Keegan was in charge had forgotten how good he is. Owen's deeper role has been a fantastic success reminding me of Steve Howey being converted from a striker to a centre half who was then picked for England by 'master tactician' Terry Venables. Switching to 4-3-3 has suddenly transformed a midfield which resembled a clapped out banger into a rolls royce. All of this under the relentless barrage of scorn and criticism from a relentless media. Keegan hasn't allowed the spirit to be dampened and the players are now starting to reflect their manager which all teams do in the end. I think Keegan's quote after the game says it all:

Not to mention we all have two eyes and can see us playing a far more effective and enjoyable brand of football.

An accurate summing up. The defenders bought have been pretty good quality, if not the best. The problem was Allardyce's terrible style of play which almost destroyed players like Geremi, Barton, Viduka and Owen who rely on quick passing and movement.

He might see it for what it is and laugh, nobody is advocating that anything the KKK does is right, they are rightly known as a horrible bunch of thick evil bastards. Maybe someone should show him it and see if he thinks it's funny then?

I'm just wondering what made anyone even think of it?

Don't know about you but I'm more bothered than anything about what our players do on the pitch, clearly their lifestyles off the pitch mean more to you. Unfortunately managers can't be so idealistic or they'd only be in charge of Sunday 5 a sides in a church league.

There's a difference between realistic transfer targets and pie in the sky wishlists. Bentley is a realistic target regardless of whether he comes. Berbatov and Carrick are more dreamland category currently. If we were a year further down the line maybe.

one good game doesn't prove he' s a quality keeper. Fucking Pattison got motm in his debut And the fact that he's done very little since then doesn't prove he's a shit one either. I'd be very happy to see him given a chance in the cup games, depending on the importance/quality of the opponent, obviously. Krul looked outstanding in nearly every department in that game. Unless he's looked shit elsewhere since then, I could only rate him as a fantastic prospect.

I was curious ... games goals shots fouls committed yellow cards red cards Nicky Butt 29 3 22 54 11 0 Alan Smith 25 0 26 75 8 1 75 fouls committed. Sooner we're rid of the better. 25 games and 25 shots. I can remember saying early on that for an attacking player he hardly had any attempts at goals. In fact I started a thread called 'Just what is Alan Smith's role exactly?' for that very reason.

If Emre was going to play in the new formation it would have to be in Owen's role, i.e. link man between the midfield and forwards. Both Barton and Geremi have been doing some sterling work defensively in that midfield which has allowed us to field 3 forwards. I don't think Emre has the capability or the drive to do that amount of work. He's a player I like for his technique, but his long spells on the treatment bench make him a liability.

If Shearer had Drogba's pace he would have been unstoppable. If.

It depends what people deem as success. If it's winning a trophy, that would be nice but there are no guarantees in life, unless you can spend more than everyone else by a considerable margin like Chelsea did. If it's getting us up there challenging for the top 4 then I know Keegan can do that. Already these players are responding, just the same way his previous teams did. Keegan takes all the pressure and just gives the players the belief and confidence to play the right way. Think back to some of the things he was saying when we were struggling. "if you are afraid of making a difficult pass, you'll never make a good pass" Big Sam was scared to make a simple pass and it showed in his team - and that was when we weren't in a relegation battle. Imagine how much courage it takes to ask your team to play good football when you are in danger of going down. Keegan is an inspiraional leader with clarity of vision and the ability to command fierce loyalty from his players. If he's given the backing and support required he'll deliver.

Blackburn are a small town club whereas Newcastle, whatever anyone might argue, has always in the higher glamour bracket since Keegan's last era. It might be too early in the recovery period, but anyone who remembers the last time around will want to be part of it if it looks like taking off again.

I think Bentley is using the European thing as a get out of jail card from Blackburn. To describe it as a sideways step to come here is ludicrous....have you ever been to Blackburn? This is a massive club about to take off I think, and some of the southern journalists know it as well. If Ashley provides the funds, I think we'll be in for Bentley and plenty of players will buy into Keegan's vision.

The KK bandwagon is about to start rolling. Woodgate missed out and paid for his rash decision on Sunday when he was taken apart. If we look like a team on the up again players like Bentley will be tripping over their feet to get here imo.

Only if we were to mould him into a DM position. Not good enough on the front foot for me but he has a great engine. Barton is better. I never thought I'd say that but there you are.

really? apart from pennant when have they ever signed a player like bentley? they are more into foreign markets and good youth tbh, they dont seem too keen on signing brittish talents in their early 20's. they dont need him either. I think they might make an exception for Bentley. Usuall British talent is wildly over-rated and over-priced but Bentley does look a class player. Not the quickest, but his delivery and general football intelligence is something else. A right-sided Scott Sellars - Keegan would love him. #

We'll just have to settle for SWP then. Bugger.

He's ours if Liverpool stay out of it.

I just hope he keeps his head down and takes this chance. I don't think I could take any more bad headlines.

SWP seems like just the sort of signing KK would make, ticks all the right boxes. In the same way I feared Smith would end up here when he bcame available, I just have a feeling SWP will come here although I'd be a lot happier about it. He'd be perfect in the role Owen is playing at the moment.

I don't think anyone will be making daft offers when he's in the last year of his contract. Even though he's playing well right now, I would ideally look to get a really top playmaker in that position for next season, because I'm never too confident Owen will stay injury-free. Against that, at least he looks enthusiastic about being here now, and if Keegan really wants him then his judgement should be backed.

Jokes aside, he's looked far better in the 4-3-3 than he has all season in other various formations. His defensive work might not catch the eye, but he has done it well, not to mention he looks due a goal soon. Fair play to him, he's making a go of it.

If we catch them great, if not no big deal as long as we beat them, which I think we will.

All the pressure on Reading now, they will be nervous. 3-1 win for us.