Shak

23,111 posts, they can't all have been empirically inspired?! Most of them are about Milner, actually.

Can't say I agree with this. I think that with a couple of good, first-team quality signings we'd have plenty of cause for optimism for the coming season. Obviously our preperation for the August schedule isn't very good, but realistically anything more than 3 points from those 3 games would be fantastic, so it's not as important as most years. I think we're set for keepers and in defence, assuming Collocini comes in and maybe a squad player who can play left-back. The key is what system we're playing IMO, if it's the 4-3-3 we finished last year with then one more signing would do me. In midfield we've Butt and Guthrie to fight it out for the holding role, with Barton, Milner, N'Zogbia, Geremi and Spiderman vying for the spots flanking them in the midfield three. Then up top we've Viduka, Owen, Martins and Duff (I hope to see him used as back-up to Martins, in a sort of wide striker role with a target man ala Viduka to play off). If we can sell Smith and get in someone to challenge Viduka for his spot as target man then it's not too bad by any means. Baptista, if available, would be perfect because he could play up front or fill in for Owen in the deep striker role should Owen be absent. If we're going for a 4-4-2 then we need a starting quality CM rather than a forward, and then also a 4th choice striker, but I hope that won't bethe case personally.

And you'll will never forget the name of *SHARP, AUDIBLE INTAKE OF BREATH*..... Ssssssmitttttthhhhh...

About 90% sports in the Olympics are professional these days. The Olympics is about being the best, and the best sportsmen are proffessional. Can't say I follow athletics at all, is that all professional at this point? I assume so. I've no problem with that being contested by Pros, because the Olympics is the pinnacle of their sports. Soccer, Basketball, Tennis it's just another event to them, much smaller than say a Grand Slam in tennis or a Championship in basketball or soccer. I think it somewhat devalues the Olympics. While some guys are breaking their arse for 4 years to win a medal, others just take a couple of weeks off from their multi-million pound day jobs to show up and fart about for a couple of weeks on a thrown together team and then they win a medal themselves.

Could see him being used as Martins' back-up if we play a 4-3-3 like the end of last season. Playing just off a striker, encouraged to push out wide. Think that's his best spot these days as he's not got the ability to just go by people all day like he did when he was a really top winger.

Don't agree with professional sports like Tennis, Basketball or Soccer being in the Olympics the way they are. Should be amateurs only, would be a life defining moment for guys winning the Olympics, as it should be. As it stands its just another piece of silverware for a lot of them before they head back to their teams or tours or whatnot.

Tough to read that, can only hope that his last months are good to him.

Could be something in this one, be a great signing if we can pull it off.

Yeah he's a handy enough player to have around at this point, as his versatility will be handy with our small squad. Still don't think he's got it in him to ever be a top player, but useful to have around as he'll give a decent effort in several positions. I'd still sell him for upwards of 7m or so, but doesn't seem Liverpool are interested anymore.

He Christophe's less skillful brother? Aye, second cousin to Stephen Spence as well interestingly enough.

I sent a lengthy text message rant to several of my mates a couple of days ago, absolutely ripping into Smith. Few of them have text today, they're all pulling for me.

Has a player ever been booed simply for being absolutely shite before, with no off the field factors coming into play?

what about owen & martins, theres a decent chance of that Smith will probably be playing though. Or we'll have a flat 4-4-2 with Owen and Oba up front and Guthrie and Butt in CM, which I can't see working at all. Just sign a big center-forward to play Viduka's role and we're set IMO, I'd even play Shola there to avoid going back to a 4-4-2.

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.