Offshore

The only way I can see Owen even considering a new contract here is if the club is sold, and since that doesn't look likely to happen in the near future then i'd say its more 80% chance him leaving than staying. Can't expect (or blame, really) a top player to commit to another contract with the club in turmoil, owner trying to sell, no permanent manager and a very strong threat of being relegated. It's been said many times that all he really worries about is playing for England. He out of Fab's squad and it doesn't look likely he'll get it back while here. In a perfect world, he should have been approached before the last season finished about a new contract and if he'd not signed then he should have been sold in the summer. He'd have had a year left on his contract so would have had 'some' resale value, as it is now he could either see out the rest of the season and walk for nothing or we try to sell him in Jan for anything thats offered.

Yes, in the same way Shearer would get initial respect from the players at Newcastle.

One of the few actual sensible things to come from the club recently. We've at least ensured our interim manager can't walk out on us for a permanent job elsewhere. We've in enough of a hole as it is, having to find another interim manager and start again would probably see us finished. As a minimum we've got managerial continuity until the club is sold/end of season.

Is JFK living on a different planet to the rest of us? Planet La La Land I think. While it is a bit far-fetched, thinking about it maybe its not such a daft idea after all. Purhaps they actually have a plan to try and sort out the crap situation we are in (on and off the pitch). Shearer would be able to get used to his job before taking over completely. If, and its a big if, this was the plan then i'd think we'd see a mirror of the Spurs/Rednapp situation where Shearer agreed to come in only if the club structure themselves to him, bin the DOF and let him do it 100% his way. Lot of ifs though. On a side note - think Shearer's best hope of getting the job is with Ashley, a new owner will (or should) already have their own staff ready to go from takeover, and i'd expect them to have an experienced manager lined up.

0-0 Might actually throw a bit of cash away on this.

They did to us what we did to Villa, they did there homework. They doubled up on Jonas so making him ineffective. Better team (not better players, well not all of them anyway) won. A bit of drive and pace in midfield would make a hell of a difference to us, someone else mentioned this but Fulham had ages to get back and form up before we got near their box.

I agree, DM, LB and CB. If we could improve those we'd be much stronger. Gonna have to disagree with both of you. When we have everyone available we've got a canny side, not top 4, but certainly top half. Its once we get our usual 2/3/4 first-teamers out that it shows our lack squad depth/quality. For example, we lose our LB and RB, and we're having to use either a midfielder (Geremi or Zog) or throw a centre-half out there. Its no coincidence we've got points and climbed the table with our only key players coming back, and we were bottom without them.

Bill Oddie (above blondie)

Bloke can't win. No extra cash in Jan, he's a cunt and couldn't give a shit about the club. Cash in Jan, he's a cunt who's not going to sell. Urgo....he's a cunt (or not)

''I asked for mittens, not martins!!''

I will openly admit to not really liking the lad, and if we had anyone better i'd have him out the team, but needs must in regards to the team at present. By all means press, have a go at him for his many misdemeanours, but this is just taking the piss.

I doubt for one minute that Villa spent hours on tuesday night going over the incident, surely all they had to do was ask Agbonlahor what happened, if he said he was racially abused by Barton it would have been reported there and then. Lip-reading experts being employed - someones got a vivid imagination.

He's doing exactly what we need our wingers to do at this time. We've still got a weak centre midfield so if the wingers don't track back as well as attack then we'll get shafted in the middle of the park. Guthrie, who I think is a canny player isn't (yet) someone who I think can take charge of the middle of the pitch. Barton is still feeling his way and is improving. Butt is Butt, the mind is sharp but the body is weak. So any pairing of these will, when we get into the better teams get over-run so we have to back them up with the wingers. Zog, who I like, isn't that disciplined, he's a better attacker than Duff, but for the sake of our overall team we're better sticking with Duff until we get a more stronger midfield two or Zog learns.

Bates will sell to anyone if the money is right as would most clubs, see Bolton selling us Faye for example. One of the morning papers reckon Arsenal are after him too. Bates will sell to anyone if the money is right as would most clubs, see Bolton selling us Faye for example. One of the morning papers reckon Arsenal are after him too. Oh aye, there's always a price you can't turn down (Milner!!). Can only see us having to go much higher than anyone else to even get a look in though due to the bad rep Wise has got at Leeds. Thats if we follow this up again like. Was probably a quick 1st offer to get in before everyone else. Think I read somewhere that Arsenal were going to buy him and leave him at Leeds on loan, or that if he was sold Leeds wanted to keep him on loan....one of those two(?).

The last person Leeds will do a deal with is Wise (even if he wasn't involved in this one).

Didn't you hear Setanta? He has 'pace' and 'crosses a great ball'. Must be a different James Milner to the one that we had. ....and Shola reminds them of 'Fash the Bash'.....really crap commentators, nearly as bad as early CH5!!

That's my worry with this 'in the new year' comment. We'll need players in January, even if they're just to bulk out the squad. It was 2-3 weeks after the end of the transfer window that the City deal was finally concluded. Therefore, the buyers may be in a similar position in January where they could approve signings although I guess you would want a new manager first. Aye, City had a good manager already in place, with his own plans. We've got an interim manager that's currently doing alright. Do they keep him on? Do they let him mould the squad? It's a mess for anyone wanting to come in. By the sounds of it, these serious bidders are doing 'all' their homework/due dilligence etc first. One of the things i'd imagine (hope) them having ready is a plan to take over at running pace; key personnel selected which would include the manager they want. I can only see JK staying on if the manager they really want is tied till the end of the season. I've said it before, I quite like him, I hope JK does well enough with us to get a full-time job at another club - so far he's doing better than initially hoped.

Pretty sure Owen had a grin in on as he passed Shola when he replaced him. Double win bonus if he actually gets on the pitch.

Mountain being made out of a molehill.

Can't make up my mind...........Butt or Guthrie alongside Barton. Otherwise, same again.

Owen, even though he was only on for a couple of minutes, I liked his awareness when he was slightly offside and we were attacking (Jonas?), he bent a run around and tbh if the ball to him was better he'd have been in. Shola and Martins would have stayed offside. Bench again on Sunday, but good to have him available.

This. But we can revel it all the same, more of the same this sunday, although i'd be tempted to put Guthrie in against Fulham. Butt did (for him) excellent last night, but his job was tailored to us playing against a speedy and attacking team. He and Barton didn't get as much forward in the first half as the second as we had to try and cover their attacks - which we did in the main. Fulham, we should go at them, they are a nice and tidy team, but nothing to get defensive about.

I agree we don't need to be over attack we just need to pressure them high up when they have the ball. Only Barry and A.Young are what i would class as good passing players, the rest will be prone to errors if they are hurried. We need to be offensive without being irresponsible. Unfortunately this sort of thinking is far beyond JFK. The idea of fighting fire with fire by using our quick players is a good one although I said yesterday I'd prefer Zog in for Duff in this one. I just have a horrible feeling Duff is going to fail to show up tonight, Zog's got a bit more fight in him if the going gets tough. Which it will. The Zog's been playing with his head down and running about playing his own game for his last few appearances. While Duff is no great shake i've more confidence in him than Zog (the recent version) to play more for the team, track back and joining the dots. Tonight is going to be one of those games where we'll have to cover their wingers otherwise its going to be a long night. I think we'll do that with Duff and Jonas, trying to isolate Carew (if selected). If one of them becomes too knackered then put the Zog on, but i'd start (for this game) with Duff.

I'd put Coloccini in the 'trusted' camp. I think this is his type of game, playing against nippier, ball-playing attackers is what he'll be used to. If he plays Taylor, he'll get the job of trying to block Carew. You'd think that's how it would pan out wouldn't you? Except somehow Colo always seems to be the one attacking the headers while Taylor is usually running backwards towards the goal line. Ah, I did say he'd get the job, not get the job done!! Besides Carew's not exactly a sprinter, so even Taylor should be able to stay within touching distance of him.

I'd put Coloccini in the 'trusted' camp. I think this is his type of game, playing against nippier, ball-playing attackers is what he'll be used to. If he plays Taylor, he'll get the job of trying to block Carew.