Shak

Nowt wrong with Shola as competition tbh. If you expect more than that, then you're asking for too much. Suppose, I'm happy enough with Shola as back-up tbh. Maybe bring in Torres and sell Viduka back to The Smogs for £5m.

Furthermore, if we do sell Owen I'll be hoping we get someone in to compete with Viduka for the spot as center-forward. Much depends on the money situation, I suppose. If Sam isn't gonna have big funds to work with I suppose we can get by with Shola as Viduka's back-up (I like to believe that as I typed that a beeper went off in Northen Monkey's pocket, causing him to leap up instantly and dart to his computer which is already displaying this post) while we spend our funds on new full-backs, a CB and the aforementioned Diarra type player. However, if Sam has significant funds to go out and get a really top class player, a center-forward would be high on my list then. No point unless it's gonna be a significant upgrade on The Duke though. Torres would be absolutely unbelievably ideal.

...And because when you do make a post, you'll get some job knockey picking one line out of it and taking about three hours of your life because you simply cannot face being proven wrong after such effort in the first place Drives me mad that like. You write a great long post and one line gets picked out. Anyhow, top post that initial one, Rich. It's the best way to wind someone up, like On a different score, I've seen you mention the 4-3-3 formation and I've now seen Shak allude to it, while when I was away I read papers claiming we'd play 4-4-2, 3-5-2 (which really excited me and made Papa Lazaru weep, I'm sure), 4-5-1 as well. Then there was Allardyce saying he wants "two players for every position" in regards to the forwards, which made me think that we'd be playing two up top. Has this debate been done elsewhere while I've been away? Because if it has I'd happily take it to the appropriate thread as it's something I fancy discussing. It's undoutable to me that a midfield three of Butt, Emre and Barton would be exciting (whereas Diarra, Emre and Barton would be jizz-worthy), but where do Martins, Owen, Viduka and Milner fit in to that? Four players, who if they stay should by rights be starters. Then there's a massive earner like Dyer to take into account who will seemingly be out in the cold. It's interesting to note the proposed formation when we're talking defensive midfielders though, because there's a huge difference between playing the Makelele role and playing the Roy Keane role - although there are, of course, players capable of doing both. Is it all just speculation at the minute 4-3-3 wise? I just can't fathom how he'll work it with Owen and Martins here. Much depends on whether Owen stays, I reckon. If he stays then your typical 4-3-3 formation isn't going to work, as Owen won't be a target man and is wasted out wide. If he stays we'll likely see some sort of 4-4-2, with Owen playing off Viduka. Don't know where that'll leave the midfield, and it's why I personally am hoping Owen leaves. For, while he's our best player individually, I'd prefer us to build a more balanced team. Of our other players, I think Martins would be very useful as a wide-man in a 4-3-3, so no problem there. Milner could play either side of the attack, or even as the most offensive minded of our 3 CM's, so he'd be great to have. N'Zogbia, if he stays, could play down the left or through the middle (though I'd prefer to see him out wide). Dyer and Duff are both suited to it too. Only Owen doesn't really have much future in that system and, as I believe it's only a matter of time before he leaves anyway, we should get rid now. I even wrote a big article on the main page about it and all.

Indeed, we've also slept together. I'd not be mortified if we had Butt in there at the start of the season, because he's quite solid and we know we can depend on getting a solid performance out of him more often than not. But he's never really been top class, and his best days are behind him at that, so I would hope we're looking at bringing in someone better. It would complete our midfield and I'd be very surprised at Allardyce going into the season with 3 relatively short fellas in CM, so hopefully it will transpire. Barton's not afraid to get stuck in by any mean either, can't imagine we'd get bullied in the middle of the park nearly as much anymore with those 3. Barton and Emre, like two annoying little fuckers going around putting themselves about and winding people up, with a big fuck-off powerhouse alongside them to back them up when they punch above their weight, lovely.

Good post Rich, fully agree. A big, powerhouse like Diarra in center midfield is something I fully expect we'll be after this summer. I'd say it's a cert we'll be playing 3 in center midfield come the start of the season, and a Diarra - Emre - Barton combination is something I think could give us the balance we've been lacking for years. Emre has been very inconsistent in his time here, don't think anyone can argue that. His real problem is that he doesn't really fit into a regular 4-4-2 formation, or 2 man CM midfield combination of any kind. As a holding player, he's too prone to switching off at times, which you can't have from your DM. While he's willing to get himself about and is a fiery little fella by all accounts, he doesn't really win the ball a lot or protect the defense outstandingly. So he's not cut out for the holding roll. In his first season here, he played primarily alongside Parker, with Parker in the holding roll. While he is very technically sound on the ball, he didn't get into advanced positions on a regular enough basis to cause worry for the opposition defenses. You need one of your midfielders to get beyond the strikers on a regular enough basis and score goals from the middle of the park, and Emre doesn't and I don't think he ever will. So while he doesn't seem to fit in there, he's a great fit for a 3-man midfield. With an imposing DM to protect the back 4, and Barton a box-to-box to player who will get into dangerous positions and hopefully contribute goals from the middle, Emre will be the link man, or deep lying playmaker. His job will be to be the main distributor of play from the middle, constantly available to recieve the ball and find a team-mate, which is crucial in retaining possesion. Pirlo does it for Milan, Xavi for Barcelona, and Carrick will be likely be able to step into that role for Man U now that thye have a more natural ball-winner in Hargreaves. Think Emre has the qualities to do it, even though some will say (and rightfully) that he has been very wasteful with possesion at times for us. With a more suitable role in the team, combined with a center forward like Viduka who he can play the ball into feet to, full-backs who he's comfortable exchanging possesion with knowing they're not likely to panic at any moment and hoof the ball aimlessly forward, a solid holding midfielder behind him, and runners from deep like Barton, Milner, possibly N'Zogbia or whoever else we end up with in midfield with, I think we'll see Emre flourish next year.

We've all known the club has needed a serious shake-up for years now, it's almost unbelievable how well things seem to be going right now at almost every level. Convinced there's gonna be a horrible twist at some point in all this, if only because I'm cynical.

Would have been far more interesting having Owen, Given, Emre, Taylor and Martins doing an actual strip tease, starting off in tuxedos and every day we get 10 seconds of them doing the final scene from The Full Monty. Then after the final day when they're all standing there butt-naked they just cut to a picture of the new jersey. FAR more mainstream attention.

On that list, Lennon yes, Bale & Huddlestone maybe, the rest, meh. To be fair, Dixon is reported to be very, very good.

Reckon he'll be more of a Gerrard type player. High energy, getting forward and scoring goals type player. Don't see him as an anchor in the CM or anything, like Keane was. Agree with Vic about the loyalty bonus. If that 300k has gone into his bank account and his bank account alone then he has been a right w****** about the whole thing tbh. Keane wasn't always an anchorman in midfield, he just ended his career there as he didn't have the pace to get up and down anymore. In his early days at the club he was an all action box to box man which is what I think Barton will be for us. His early days maybe, but his best years were spent as the glue that held the midfield together and allowed Scholes to get forward and do damage up front. Reckon Barton's game will be more comparable to Scholes', only with better tackling when called upon I would hope.

Reckon he'll be more of a Gerrard type player. High energy, getting forward and scoring goals type player. Don't see him as an anchor in the CM or anything, like Keane was. Agree with Vic about the loyalty bonus. If that 300k has gone into his bank account and his bank account alone then he has been a right wanker about the whole thing tbh.

How do you figure? It's not like they both go around constantly trying to kill and maim people and need 24 hour supervision like. Anyway, wouldn't be at all unhappy with Diouf to be honest. Bit of a twat from all accounts but the type of player you love when he's on your team rather than against you.

Think he'd work very well in the Lampard position in a 4-5-1/4-3-3. Got a good shot on him, can beat a man in tight space and has pretty good vision. Think that's where he'll end up personally, he'll be a cracking player there as pace will not be a weakness.

I wouldn't say Gilardino "has it all" by any means, he's a useful target man though.

He's hardly slow though is he? Not saying he's the paciest player around, far from it... but he's not slow. Hopefully Sam etc will help get a bit more pace out of him. He's pretty slow by a winger's standards tbh. I think tmonkey said it best earlier on, Milner will probably end up better on the left side as it allows him to cut infield more while he can still cross reasonably with his left peg. That's the best way of combating his lack of pace, as he has more options when the defender knows it's dangerous to show him inside.

Solano was pretty quick on his feet in his prime, quicker than Milner to be fair. Milner is probably just as quick as Beckham was, but then again Beckham's game never needed pace, whereas Milner's really could do with some. Interesting comments regarding Sam making him the backbone of his team, change to midfield in the Lampard-type role up coming perhaps?

He ain't played centre-mid much. He's a good player man. Not played center-mid much at Chelsea, no. But he did play football before he went there you know. And yeah, he's good but he's nowt more at RB than someone who can do a job there when needed. He's not a permanent solution there in my eyes.

I reckon Yorkie would have Geremi's babies. He'd be useful in center midfield but he's not at much as a right-back or right winger tbh.

Personally think it's the opposite, reckon Milner would be better off playing through the middle due to his lack of pace.

Better than Dyer or Duff on the left? So is my great gran, and she's been dead for 16 years. Not sure the point you're maing really, as I would have though improving the squad would be a positive. He's arguably better than Milner as well, to be fair. Milner's very good, but I think he'll always lack the pace to be a truly terrifying winger. The point i was making was that being better than Dyer or Duff on the left was no big deal, we already have players who are that. As for being better than Milner, i haven't seen anything to indicate THAT, but let me guess, you've seen him play 79 times this season, so know that to be the case. I never said the left, I said out wide, which can be the right as well. Seen plenty of Wright-Phillips yourself then or is that only relevant when I'm making judgements on a player, and not when you're doing so? "I haven't seen anything to indicate THAT". Like i said. Well that explains things fully thankfully.

You still need someone to sit and protect the Back 4 though, regardless of their position on the field. And I've been drinking too in all fairness so that's no excuse!

Better than Dyer or Duff on the left? So is my great gran, and she's been dead for 16 years. Not sure the point you're maing really, as I would have though improving the squad would be a positive. He's arguably better than Milner as well, to be fair. Milner's very good, but I think he'll always lack the pace to be a truly terrifying winger. The point i was making was that being better than Dyer or Duff on the left was no big deal, we already have players who are that. As for being better than Milner, i haven't seen anything to indicate THAT, but let me guess, you've seen him play 79 times this season, so know that to be the case. I never said the left, I said out wide, which can be the right as well. Seen plenty of Wright-Phillips yourself then or is that only relevant when I'm making judgements on a player, and not when you're doing so?

To be fair Mick, the team you've outlined does lack balance in midfield. Barton is not a ball-winner by any means, he's more of a Gerrard style box-to-box player who'll flourish with someone sitting behind him.

Better than Dyer or Duff on the left? So is my great gran, and she's been dead for 16 years. Not sure the point you're maing really, as I would have though improving the squad would be a positive. He's arguably better than Milner as well, to be fair. Milner's very good, but I think he'll always lack the pace to be a truly terrifying winger.

If we're aiming to play the 4-3-3 system then I'd be all for getting him in and selling Duff. Provided we've enough money after strengthening other positions. He's gotten lost at Chelsea really, people forget how good he was at Man City I think. He'd be a vast upgrade on Dyer and Duff out wide.

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