Shak

Yeah, sounds like it should be good on paper. Faye as the brick shithouse CB clattering people, with Rozenhal playing a more cerebral game and being the one who can bring the ball out of defense.

That duo aren't physical enough for the Premiership though, badly bullied against Derby and West Ham.

Didn't see the game today, so not really seen Faye for us. One of Rozenhal and Cacapa to partner one of Faye and Taylor I would imagine.

He's a front player, end of really. Why hameobi has played up front in Vidukas absence, with Smith in the squad, is an absolute mystery to me. Decisions like that would make me lost faith in Allardyce, and I wanted him for the job. Diabolical. Yeah, just he's handy in an emergency like. Suppose you could argue that we had nobody else to play in midfield recently, which is why Smith was used there. I'd have tried Milner through the middle myself.

He'll still be of some use to us in midfield at times in my opinion. Best position is upfront, but when we have someone in midfield like an Emre or Barton to try and create things going forward then Smith's game in midfield will be more worthwhile. Alongside Butt and Geremi, two holding players, there's no real use for him but with someone like Barton in there Smith could be useful. Barton -- Geremi -- Smith For away games would do alright if we're insistent on using the 4-3-3. Would prefer us to stick with 4-4-2 and use him as an option up front, though.

The Dida thing is hilarious. The guy runs on and gives him the lightest slap you'll ever see, Dida turns to sprint after him but realises he won't catch him so he crumbles down and acts like he's been shot, ultimately goes off on a stretcher with a bag of ice on his neck.

Still, this may do Spurs more harm than good in the long term.

Harewood kicking the ball out.

It's more amusing for the rest of us if they focus on Spurs though.

Be quality if one day one of them managed to argue his point succesfully to the point the other just said "... You know what, you're spot on. Can't believe I could be so wrong for so long. Cheers M8!! "

I like to think that one day they'll pass each other in the street, walk on a few yards before both stopping, turning and squinting at each other. Just knowing somehow who the other one is and then launching into an angry debate about Shepherd in the middle of the street.

So we should just ignor the games then and go about discussing the same things that have been discussed to death in the week?

Milner is a winger. ---------------- Given Beye -- Taylor -- Rozenhal -- Enrique Milner -- Barton -- Geremi -- N'Zogbia ----------- Viduka -- Martins Yes but he's not a very good winger and horribly disrupts the balance of the team when played wide in 4-3-3, which is the system our manager prefers.

And he'd be dead right, that quartet is too offensive and would get overrun in midfield. I'd love to see Emre and Barton together as part of a 3-man midfield though, alongside a DM.

More talented Central Midfielders and a striker to replace Amoebi would improve us greatly. He doesn't seem to want to give up this defensive platform of Butt/Geremi/ and often Smith roped in. More proof today that we are creating very little due to this. It's worrying alright, especially as N'Zogbia or Milner could have been used through the middle to be a bit more aggressive. I'm hoping when they're both back and fully fit he gives Emre and Barton a chance to play together in midfield, those two have much more potantial to create something from there, and their styles should mesh well.

If Emre didn't go so deep I may appreciate him a bit more. I don't have a problem with Dyer as a forward, I think just think is a poor midfielder. Again he goes to deep when he is played as a CM I like them a bit rough in the sack myself. To each his own though.

Really should have given Milner a game through the middle in the 4-3-3 by now, as with his pace limitations he can't play wide in that system with any positive effect. Through the middle he could be useful though and would give us some penetration from the middle and get some players with proper pace down the wings. ---------------- Given Beye -- Taylor -- Rozenhal -- Enrique ------ Milner -- Geremi -- Smith Martins ---------------------------- N'Zogbia ----------------- Viduka I'd like to see that against Everton next week.

He didn't have a sell before you buy type of budget, he didn't have a budget. He was allowed to buy any player that he felt he needed to strengthen the team/squad. Exactly, he chose to spend his budget on making us a workmanlike team rather than introducing any sort of creative spark. How do we know this exactly, that he had an unlimited budget? The chairman said he didn't have budget and would go for any player he wanted within reason. Sounds like good PR alright, I'm sure the reality was a little more complicated. The bit of I've bolded is quite relevant really. He's basically trying to rebuild the team entirely, you can't have everything straight away. You need to build the foundations solidly, then when you bring in your creative spark you're throwing them into a good, organised side rather than a team that's completely rebuilding. We're very poor to watch at the moment, I don't disagree with that at all, and we will need to introduce some real quality in CM. But I do believe the work we're doing at the moment will serve us well for years to come. The key for Allardyce will be having the balls to being in some flair once he has his foundations laid.

He didn't have a sell before you buy type of budget, he didn't have a budget. He was allowed to buy any player that he felt he needed to strengthen the team/squad. Exactly, he chose to spend his budget on making us a workmanlike team rather than introducing any sort of creative spark. How do we know this exactly, that he had an unlimited budget?

Considering we needed massive amounts of players in over the summer, it can be forgiven this summer. We've assembled a solid squad now, and next summer I would imagine we'll be looking to add two or three really quality players to it rather than going for another compleet overhaul. I'm sure we'll deal with that better and get all the necessary players in in time.

I agree, but another real test is will they allow him to buy them, a couple of these "trophy players" are needed I would say. The new owners are wonderful though, haven't you heard? I would hope people will be a lot more patient than they were under Souness and Roeder though, because tbh I see us being a fairly mediocre team at times this year. But at least I feel this guy has a plan for the long-term. It will be very interesting to se our team this time next year.

How grammatically shoddy. Exactly it though, hopefully things will improve once Barton gets back. But a playmaker to go alongside Barton and Butt/Geremi would have to be high on our list of priorities. Trying to ape the thread title you see........... Oh, I see. Not bad.

We need one top class playmaker, no doubt. The positive for me is that we're laying good foundations. This season the defence should develop into a unit and get an understanding of each other, attack minded players work more on instinct so they'll gel easier. By next summer I think we'll be one top class playmaker and one very good striker away from being able to be a very formidable team. The real test will be whether Allardyce gets the right players and is willing to sacrifice a bit of functionality for some real flair.

Enrique has to be starting at LB for the next game though, that's one big positive. Drop Butt/Smith/Geremi. Can easily play as 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 with that personnel as well.