Shak

Just turned it on to see it was 4-0 with 5 minutes to go... How the fuck did that happen?

Then Allardyce should have bought players to fit his system in the summer. Best points return we've had in the opening two games of the Premiership season since 97/98 (ten f****** years ago) and people are still making comments like this I'd say it's probably too early to say, but it certainly hasn't been the disaster it's being made out to be so far... and did we not switch to 4-4-2 against Villa when Owen came on? Yeah, and we looked even less likely to score than when we were playing 4-3-3. As you say, we definitely need to give the team time before we start criticising. Is there anyone here who would have been upset with 4 points from our first two games if it was offered a couple of weeks ago? Agree that the midfielders were the main problem, a combination of Butt, Geremi and Smith just doesn't have the necessary quality going forward to take a game to our opponents, which is what we needed against Villa. The Bolton game worked well for us as we got a goal pretty much out of nowhere to go one up, meaning we didn't have to force the issue at all. The same trio looked very good in that circumstance as they're three solid players from a defensive point of view. We need Emre or Barton in there, in my opinion. I'd even move Milner to the middle until they return now that Owen and N'Zogbia are options in attack again. Still think 4-3-3 is the way we'll play more often than not, and I'll wait a while longer before writing it off as boring, negative football.

Anelka could also play up front on his own if necessary, which I think will become an issue at some point with Viduka and Shola our only target man type strikers.

Sign Anelka and move Milner to playing primarily midfield, everybody wins then. Anelka and Martins down the flanks would be nice.

Someone really needs to blast a free-kick into their own net when they're 2-0 up going into injury time or something, it'd be a priceless moment.

Rather have Luque than Diouf. bmccormick said it above, HE'S NEVER GONNA COME GOOD. Some people need to let go methinks, move on with your lives.

Posted about 36 hours ago on the forum.

Don't think we need him by any means, even though I do rate him. If we're after a DM I'd want it to be someone young that will improve and eventually succeed Butt in the squad and hopefully becoime a key player for us. Diop isn't likely to be any more than a decent squad player at any point. Having said that, I'd not be at all upset with signing him.

Heartbroken. If it went through I was hoping to start a 'The Iceman Bummeth?' thread, full of random and senseless speculation that they were only buying us to rape our resources.

Possibly, can't say I know what you mean. Sweeper who has license to come forward and act as a deep lying playmaker. That'd be fine, not sure we've got one on the books though. Could leave us exposed at the back a bit though?

Better than on the right, yeah. But as I said his lack of pace is really a problem, especially when playing 4-3-3. In that system the striker will be a target man type ala Viduka who'll play with his back to goal. Then you'll need two fast guys either side to stretch teams. In a 4-4-2 I'm happy to have Milner on the wing, but in a 4-3-3 I think we'll struggle with him there consistently.

Possibly, can't say I know what you mean.

Not particularly innovative idea for a thread, I suppose, but interested to see people's thoughts on it. What do people think will end up being our first choice 11 if/when everyone gets fit? I'll allow people to include Belletti, only because I want to force people to choose between Butt and Geremi in midfield. Anyway, my guess is ------------------ Given Belletti -- Taylor -- Rozenhal -- Enrique ---- Barton -- Geremi -- Emre Martins ----------------------- N'Zogbia ---------------- Viduka Controversial to leave out Owen, obviously, but I just don't see how he'll fit into our system at all. He'll be a quality impact sub and will start games against the weaker teams but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him start a lot of games on the bench, even when fully fit. As I said in another thread, while Milner's individual performances are probably the best in our team soi far, his lack of pace is really, really detrimental to our team play. I'd personally like to see Milner used more in the middle and have us buy a pacier option (Anelka) to replace him as competition for the wide spots. In all honesty, though, I haven't the slightest clue what Allardyce has in mind. I'm sure there'll be slight changes depending on the differing opposition, but you have to feel that there's gonna be a core team we'll look to.

Always sad to hear. RIP

To be fair, if they can't take some light WUM'ing on an internet forum then I worry about their ability to handle themselves in general as their movement becomes bigger.

I reckon Hieldsy is probably content enough with it.

Sorry :-[

Never saw pace in center midfield as being at all important tbh, unless the team desperately lacks it in other areas. More a case of timing your runs well from that part of the field.

Whoosh!! (Or at least I bloody hope so )

I'm not sure if Allardyce will rate Emre. I don't rate him too much personally. I agree with what you say about needing to run past Viduka ie ahead of the ball and past Viduka, especially when he drops deep to accept a pass into him. I think this need is urgent enough for the owners to find the money and go for getting back into europe quickly. They will get their money back later, or with the later sale of Emre to recoup part of the fee, if the manager selects the right player. I would consider playing zoggy in this position. It might not give him the space to run at players like he does when he plays wide, but he does have the pace and has said somewhere that he would like to play inside. I think that Geremi will go to right back when Barton returns. Always thought Barton had been earmarked for this role myself. He doesn't have pace, but I don't think that's needed in such a role. Lampard and Gerrard do this for their clubs, and neither are about pace. You need to be a powerful runner moreso, and I think Barton has to be aiming to get to that Gerrard/Lampard level of play.

Milner could flourish through the middle where his lack of pace is irrelevant, I've said that for a while now. N'Zogbia would be better suited to the wing as he can stretch the play with his pace. Smith would be suited to Boro, the signing of Faye would make his even more ridiculous. As have I. Kind of a tricky situation we find ourselves in regarding Milner. As an individual, his performances the first two games have been very good. But it does somewhat upset the balance of the team as his lack of pace is a problem. You need pace out wide, especially in a 4-3-3 where you'll typically have a target man type in the center. I'd be very excited to see N'Zogbia and Martins either side of Viduka tbh.

Where has it been suggested this is the case? In NE5's post, the part you've highlighted. also in Allardyces comments, again, quoted by Baggio. Smith for Dyer. [not forgetting Barton for Parker]. Unless someone knows more than Sam does I've highlighted a different part, which is the policy we have adopted for the last 15 years. We've also signed Geremi without getting rid of anyone, not to mention an almost entirely new defense without raising any cash from sales there. As I said in my previous post, if Allardyce rates Emre then I'm not sure another CM is essential, though I'd be pleased if we got one nonetheless. I'd rather we buy a striker/winger personally.

A lot will depend on Allardyce's views on Emre tbh. It's obvious he thinks highly of Barton, and if he has high hopes for Emre then it's arguable that we're stocked well in midfield already. What we really lacked on Saturday was someone like Barton to get forward and make the most of Viduka's play with his back to goal and a playmaker ala Emre to provide quality balls in to Viduka's feet. Time will tell, but there's certainly a case for getting in a top playmaker as there are obvious concerns over how much Emre will contribute. Personally, I'd give thought to playing Milner through the middle until Barton is back. Now that Owen is back and N'Zogbia should be able to move out of the LB spot we have another two options for the wide roles. Milner would get beyond the front man and would be a goal threat from the middle, which we sorely lacked on Saturday.

Where has it been suggested this is the case? In NE5's post, the part you've highlighted.

His best contribution came in his interview in the match programme. All standard enough Q&A's, until the last one. ------------------- Jeff: What do you plan to do when your football-playing career is over? Geremi: I haven't thought too much about that yet. I've been doing football all my life so it might be easier for me to stay in the game. But there is one thing I would really like to become - and that is a detective! Honestly, I mean that. I like making investigations, and getting to the bottom of a mystery. For example, if something was stolen at the training ground, I would like to be the one who solved the case by questioning people and working out exactly how and where it could have been taken.