Shak

Got to disagree. It's like calling Gerrard a DM. Sure he gets back and helps out in defense, but any center midfielder has to do that too, not just the holding player. A DM has to play a disciplined game. Can't make many runs forward as his primary job is to protect the defense, not get forward. If he makes too many runs forward he'll inevitably leave us vulnerable to the counter attack. In attack his main job is to always provide an option to go backwards if the attack breaks down. Barton is no DM, or would be wasted there at least. Gerrard is far more attacking than Barton. I wouldn't say so. I've always seen Barton as a very similar player to Gerrard, in terms of style rather than ability, of course.

Got to disagree. It's like calling Gerrard a DM. Sure he gets back and helps out in defense, but any center midfielder has to do that too, not just the holding player. A DM has to play a disciplined game. Can't make many runs forward as his primary job is to protect the defense, not get forward. If he makes too many runs forward he'll inevitably leave us vulnerable to the counter attack. In attack his main job is to always provide an option to go backwards if the attack breaks down. Barton is no DM, or would be wasted there at least.

What a terrible team...

-------------------- Given Geremi --- Taylor --- Rozenhal -- Babayaro Milner--------Butt ----- Barton ---- N'Zogbia -------------- Owen ---- Viduka Obviously Baba hasn't a chance in hell of starting come the new season. This is probably the best balanced team we can manage from our current squad, but this will no doubt change dramatically in the coming weeks.

No defensive midfielder? Barton? No defensive midfielder?

Really don't expect it to happen, but wouldn't rule it out. N'Zogbia could end up as a wing-back in it, potentially. I would hope not though. Drenthe would be a good signing for this system I would think. 4-3-3 FTW, though.

I think I just threw up in my mouth and swallowed it when I read that, cheers.

Boils my piss that they play the ACN in February. Obviously playing it in the summer is gonna be tricky with the weather, but still. Perhaps they could play deep in the middle of the night, 2AM kick-offs. Hand out free pills and play techno music during the games to keep the crowd awake, would add some spice to the tournament at least.

In the scenario listed it would have to be a striker/att midfielder, as we would be set in defence already. An attack minded player influences things a whole lot more. I'll be very disappointed if we don't at least look to try and get Tevez. I'm sure one of the massive clubs will be in for him so I know we almost certainly won't be able to get him, but you never know. He'll be one of the world's best players in a couple of years, he'd be the touch of class that could make the challenging for the league within three years talk more than just a fantasy.

We need another midfielder tbh, someone to compete with Butt for the DM position.

Stop posting pictures of wrestlers, it's quite pointless.

I'm very wary of Shorey, could be a one-season wonder very easily. Bridge is pretty much a sure thing as he's proven, and Baines I reckon is quality too. After that, all our focus goes on Tevez...

Said as if we ever had a cat in hell's chance of signing the guy. Said as if we don't potentially have a massive transfer kitty coming to us, and can offer really top wages as well as the chance to play in one of the elite leagues in the world, which Germany isn't.

Good player. But Owen is better and if we sell Owen then we'll be looking to go 4-3-3 I'm sure, and I can't see Klose fitting into that.

Petit striker. Aye, he's very slightly built alright, isn't he?

Dave's probably just off his head on some sort of drugs again, you know what he's like.

But... but He's so fast!! He must be able to play there.

I know. When Jon is pointing out your mistakes you know youre in trouble, people. b******! Abuse, ban the womanising tosser!!

I know. When Jon is pointing out your mistakes you know youre in trouble, people.

Blatantly just stole my team and made some tweaks tbh.

If we're doing formations~! -----------------------Given Dyer/Nobby -- Taylor -- Rozenhal/New CB -- New LB ------------------New DM (Diarra?) ---------- Barton ------------- Emre Milner ---------------------------------------Martins --------------------- Viduka Owen will be sold hopefully. We need another CB, a LB and a DM at the minimum. May possibly be looking at a RB but I think he'll try Dyer there, if that fails then we can revert to either Nobby or even Carr and be OK for a while. If there's a bit of money left to splash out maybe look at buying some competition for Viduka at CF, or maybe a winger/striker instead of Milner? Milner would get plenty of games as he can play either side or even in the middle. We'd also have N'Zogbia so midfield should be covered.

This has potential to ruin my upcoming holiday, I could easily spend 4 days in a tent shitting myself that we're about to sign Alan Smith.

VVVVRRROOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!!

I'd have him back for free, be a better squad player than Ramage I suppose. As long as he was 5th choice CB, and 3rd choice for both full-back positions. As long as he has no chance of ever playing for us in a worthwhile match I'm all for it, basically.

Have Barton take him out when we play City next season as well, something like that Parker tackle on Joe Cole couple of seasons ago. Spin motherfucker, spin.