Shak

If we had Owen, Viduka and Martins available I'd fully fancy us to get something from the game. But we don't.

I disagree with that, or at least the severity of it. We have a few decent players. The problem is as has been pointed out that once those few decent players are out of the way we desperately lack quality and strength in depth. I think that with two good signings (a center-forward and a good, attack-minded midfielder) we'd have a pretty exciting team, personally.

Can't see that being too effective. Guthrie doesn't seem to be enough inclined to get forward to link midfield and attack. Owen would have to drop deep, and I can't see Martins leading the line that effectively in that scenario.

I remember his comments about Given "being selfish" about playing every game for his country talk first, think later, he's always been like that. cocksucker At least he hung around for the World Cup that time eh Roy? You cunt.

The positive is that we'd be very unlikely to get anything at Old Trafford or The Emirates no matter what time of year it is or how fit and ready or squad was, so being in disarray going into those games isn't such a big deal really, even if a likely thumping would be hard to take again. If we can beat Bolton and get a couple of quality signings in before the end of the window I'll be happy, as we'll then have a couple of weeks to get our arse in gear before the September line-up.

No I felt filthy just writing that. Looks like it's gonna be the case though if we don't bring in another striker. Unless we revert to a straight 4-4-2, which I can't see working at all with our current set of players. -------- Jonas ---- Guthrie ----- N'Zogbia --------------------- Owen ---------- Smith -------------- Martins Will work better than Jonas ------ Butt ------- Guthrie --------- N'Zogbia ------------ Owen -------- Martins

Looking for positives as best I can here... Any chance that Smith or Ameobi might do better if they had Martins alongside them and Owen playing just off in the system we finished last season with? If Smith has a strength as a striker it's playing with his back to goal, trying to bring his teammatescoming from deep into the game. He'll never get the goals but with Martins and Owen in the team we hardly need him to be prolific, just to contribute a bit in build up play and give us some physical presence up top.

Was hoping the post would just say 'Alan Smith' tbh.

Fair point, the three of them do compliment each other very well. An alternative to Viduka is essential, as we know he can't manage a full season. If Owen is out then I'm not sure we've anyone else capable of playing that role, maybe if we bring in someone capable of playing both the wide CM position and Owen's role in case Owen gets injured? Someone like Arda perhaps? Or we could revert to a 4-4-2 in Owen's absence. Duff could actually be a potential back-up for Martins. Energetic player who can drift wide from the forward role? Or maybe it'd suit N'Zogbia. Either way, I just think the system is so much better than reverting to a 4-4-2.

I said Butthrie, ie whoever proves the better option for the DM slot between Butt and Guthrie. Butt's defensively perfect for the role, whereas Guthrie would appear to be the better passer of the ball. A hybrid of some sort would be ideal, but I'd be confident one of them could do the job anyway.

Attack, attack, attack attack attack. Reckon that team would overwhelm enough of the poorer teams in the league to comfortably finish in the top half. I'll be very disappointed if we're going with a flat 4-4-2 next year. Just doesn't make sense to do so, as I can't see Martins and Owen working as a tandem and none of our CM are particularly fantastic in the traditioanl AM role.

If we just buy another striker, a target man type, and play the 4-3-3 we finished last season with then I think we're fairly sorted and a lot of our problems in midfield go away. Butthrie to play the holding role, preferrably Guthrie as the role as we saw it requires a good passer of the ball to sit deep, take the ball in and spread it around well. Butt did look good in the role at the end of the season though, so I'd be content with him there too. Jonas, N'Zogbia and Milner all look fairly suited to playing either side of that holding man. All have good engines and could provide a lot more attacking threat and give us a bit of width, a lot more than Barton and in particular Geremi did in similiar roles last year anyway. More energetic, mobile players in the wide CM roles will in turn help Owen as he'll have a lot more movement going on around him, allowing him to find more space deep. They'd also likely provide better service for Owen to get on the end of getting forward. But, without a new striker (or a miraculously fully fit Viduka) it'll all be for nowt as we're relying on donkeys like Smith and Shola to lead the line. Get that striker in though and that system starts to look very good. Say we signed Baptista, for example -------- Jonas -- Butthrie -- N'Zogbia ------------------- Owen -------- Baptista ----------- Martins Pretty nice front six if you ask me, a lot better than any 4-4-2 we could likely come up with.

I've managed to get genuinely pretty annoyed in the last couple of minutes by just thinking about Smith and how much he may feature next season.

Not funny when you think how much he earns a week nevermind how much he cost to sign. If I was him i'd be embarressed to open my own wage packet That's it though, he probably thinks he's earned every penny.

It's actually funny watching him at this point, he's just that bad. Not gonna be the case once the actual season starts and the games actually matter. Another striker is desperately neccesary before the season gets going. You have to wonder if Smith is aware of how poor he is. Can fully imagine he's charging around the place, delighted with himself "leading the line" and thinking he's fucking Berbatov or something trying to play his neat little flicks. More important, does Keegan think he can rely on this waster in any way, shape or form to contribute for us next season. If so, we're fucked.

Good decision on my part to go play pitch and putt then?

He'll be in goals by the Valencia game. Definitely has the engine for it, fair play to the lad.

We should push Milner up top, see if he's any better there.

He'd implode. I've witnessed an anti-Duff rant in person, he kind of spits when he talks about him. Should see me when I have to watch the twat try and play football. I'll bet there's a couple of new, poor unsuspecting fuckers sat beside you at the dawn of every season.

He'd implode. I've witnessed an anti-Duff rant in person, he kind of spits when he talks about him.

I'd love a Duff renaissance, Wullie's attempts to deal with it would be wonderful.

Yis are all mad, NE5 in particular.

It'll be a good battle between Taylor and Faye to see who partners Sideshow Fab. Faye is the better defender right now, but he's hardly anything special so Taylor will have every chance as well, given that he's still young and a local lad. Fairly funny that everyone has turned so much against Taylor, you'd swear the guy was the biggest disaster ever and he absolutely hated the club the way some people are going on. Fairly sure he'll never be the really top class CB I had hopes for him becoming when he first came on the scene, but there's still no reason he can't become a good, solid defender in time. Players can improve, you know.

All looking very promising. Like the bit about Skjelbred or whatever his name is, seems to indicate we're definitely looking to bring in another centre midfielder of some sort anyway. Part about "bigger targets" is encouraging too if true.

Duff has looked alright since coming on, bizzarely enough.