TRon

The one glaring weakness in our squad right now is right wing. It could be argued we need a creative CM but with Barton and Emre at least we have options there. On the right, the only choice is Milner or possibly Geremi. Whatever you think of those two, it would be nice to have an option of real pace on the right wing, similar to the options we have on the left once Duff is fit. It won't be easy in January but a quality right winger should be our next buy in the transfer window.

I think it's a case of over-reacting when he's good and over-reacting when he's bad. He is and always has been a superb shot-stopper and excellent at coming off his line. His one weakness for me is that he doesn't command his 6 yard box on high crosses but it doesn't cost us that many goals so it's not a bad trade off in the over all package. Krul looks like he will be the complete package in a couple of years though.

Everton are doing ok this season so a win shouldn't be sniffed at. Good solid performance IMO, ok we haven't quite clicked yet, but we won and worked hard as a team. Smith looked good up front, but he's not going to get many goals so he will need to be played alongside Owens or Martins. Emre's cameo was just what we've been missing this season. Took the ball down and used it intelligently. He'll need to do that from the off when he starts a game though, that's his real test. Good three points and Barton back for Spurs. I'll take that.

How many good teams can you name off the top of your head that don't have pace?

Don't know why people can't get their heads round the idea that it's not Owen v Martins at Newcastle. They are both here and doing a good job when available. Owen is world calss but he's not fit for large parts of the season, and while Martins isn't as clinical, he opens teams up with his pace and running. Oh, and he does score a few goals as well despite all his 'faults'.

From what I've seen of Beye, he looks the part, and once he's adapted fully to English football I think he'll become a very good right back.

Now all we need is Sam to push a barely fit Owen onto the bench while Martins is fit and firing. Competition works both ways usually.

Oddly enough, Viduka is totally unsuited to playing Sam's 4-3-3 formation as he doesn't have the pace or high-jumping heading ability to make that work. Viduka has great feet and is a super finisher which makes him a decent 4-4-2 option with pace on both wings and alongside a quick front man. At least we have started altering our play accordingly from the big hoof up the pitch in recognition this isn't going to work with these players. The next step is to get the midfield to fit the system, whatever that is. Looks like a work in progress.

It wouldn't be a massive step up into the England team, it's not like there are loads of outstanding candidates. A bit like the goalkeeping situation where Harper could probably do a better shift than the current #1 and #2. As far as the EPL goes though, he isn't quick enough to get behind defences, and if that's lacking you need Beckham-standard crossing ability, which he hasn't got. Something else Milner is lacking for a forward player is goals. He doesn't score any.

Absolutely correct, if he was getting over a bad blister I'd start him never mind put him on the bench. But he's just come back from surgery, after constantly breaking down so how can it be to our benefit to accomondate Mikey's rush to prove his fitness for England?

I said he should be considered for a spot on the bench for the reserves in our next reserve team fixture

because Owen hasn't really lost his cardio fitness due to the injury, while barton hasn't had any competitive football this season. No one's really concerned about Owen's cardio-fitness though are they? He's never gone down in a heap due to being short of breath as far as I recall. At this stage for Newcastle, Owen should possibly be considered for a position on the bench. For the reserves in our next reserve team fixture.

He's just joined in training today barely a week after surgery. If Barton's not fit to join the squad after playing a reserve game and having a much longer recovery period, I don't see how a perennial crock like Owen can suddenly be declared fit for consideration in two days time.

I saw the footage and no doubt the Milan keeper made a meal of it and milked it for what it's worth, the cheating fucking bastard. But then I recall seeing our own Stevie Taylor in recent times handling the ball twice on the line to stop certain goals, then pretending he was shot in the gut to avoid detection. It didn't work mind, but he didn't get so much as a ticking off from the ref who still gave the pen in acknowledgement of the offence on at least one occasion.

Good to hear Allardyce himself saying it, although from the sound of it Emre isn't going to be starting just yet. I think after Saturday, Sam will be more cautious than ever and will be more concerned about getting the defence right.

I wonder if it will make any difference?

Damien Duff will be a fantastic asset if we can get him fit and playing regularly. Same as Michael Owen. Big Sam prides himself on his fitness regime so I'm assuming he's quite positive that he can get Duff into condition given some patience and time. This is assuming he isn't crocked beyond redemption, which at his age, he fucking well shouldn't be.

On reflection, the first instinct is usually the right one, and I never really thought Emre was Sam's type of player, so I doubt very much that he'll start against Everton. If Enrique starts at LB then Zog, Viduka and Martins will probably be the front 3. To start Emre, Allardyce would have to drop two from Smith, Butt, Geremi and Milner, and I just can't see him doing that away to Everton. It's not in his nature.

I never really noticed Milner's lack of pace before, but City were obviously not worried he would get behind them and let him feint and step-over to his heart's content on Saturday. By the time he had finished setting himself, there were 11 men behind the ball. He's never going to be a top player, but I suppose Allardyce could still make use of him if we commit wholeheartedly to route one football. He would be canny supply to a big centre forward with willing runners ready to feed off the knockdowns.

Or defending. The high back line of the back four was as much to blame for the defeat as the lack of adventure of the midfield and forward line up I would agree. Criminal to play such a high line against Elano the first goal highlighted that. I was referring to the defensive capabilities of the midfield 3. They didn't get anywhere near Elano all day...Butt was a complete non-entity apart from a couple of fouls...didn't even manage to give anyone a proper kicking in the time honoured tradition of his former club. That peanut looking thing on the left was obviously scared of a booking, I thought he was supposed to be agressive...fuck knows what else he has going for him. Did he go to ground once? The non performance of them 2 especially were far more to blame than N'Zogbia's header as Sam seems to have claimed in hindu times post.... As for the high line, well I don't think its suicide playing that high against Elano. Suicide playing that high against anyone. You're asking for trouble playing like that considering the only one of them 4 who looked like he had any pace can't read the game...eg noticing when a pudding bowl headed winger is running past him into 30 yards of space... You're spot on, but that's what you get when you have a left winger playing at left back. Zog's strength is going forward not backward. As for Butt and Smith, it's been done to death here. Even if they win the ball, there won't be anyone they can pass to except each other. Or the opposition.

He's not wrong tbh. Once we got the lead we should have dropped back and hit them on the break. They ended up doing it to us instead. What I would say is that the way the team was set up, it was difficult to play that way as the midfield couldn't hold the ball. It wasn't just the tactics, it was the personnel wasn't suited to those tactics.

In a 3 man midifeld do you really need Geremi Roz and Smith? To my mind, if you've got two of Geremi/Butt/Smith in there, that's enough defensive cover. You can afford to have an Emre in the middle, with Zog, Milner and Viduka as the front three.

Considering all the upheavals at boardroom level I thought our transfer activity was exceptional under the circumstances. While I don't agree with some of the starting line ups we've seen, I thought Allardyce attacked the transfer window with focus and determination. Best summer's work I've seen in a long time.

The 'Sack Big Sam' title was tongue in cheek if you read the intial post. If we can take away the hysteria of assuming people want the manager sacked after 7 games, we might actually be able to discuss the football on it's merits.

It's not even a case of thinking he's so good. Just an alternative to having Smith, Geremi and Butt all running on the spot in the centre circle.