STM

Your right about Emre but Barton is very much a creative player. He may not "run at" defences but he has quick pinpoint passing and an abilty to assist and score goals. It's about drive going forward in midfield. Barton takes no time getting from defence to attack in one quick move.

If your trying tell me that Emre isn't good technically then your off your head. Apart from Nobby noone in a our squad has the abilty on the ball that Emre does. Can't argue on the consistancy side though, spot on. However, i think Allardyce's set up would suit him better and he would have extra fitness and motivation.

We will stick with and see what it comes up with. Haha.

Gan on.

Where would you fit him in to our system? Would you stick with 433 or go back to 442? Personally, i think our team would improve massively with Barton in because the back four wouldn't lose any protection but would have a more creativity going forward but who would you drop? I'd be thinking something like this: Given Belletti* Rozehnal Taylor Enrique Geremi Smith Barton Martins Viduka Milner Or 442 (at home) Given Belletti Rozehnal Taylor Enrique Geremi Barton Milner N'Zogbia Viduka Owen On paper, very impressive. Especially without the inclusion of Duff, Emre and Butt. Your thoughts?

Absolutely, not only that but they are extremely hard workers and leaders too. Hopefully, when Barton returns the midfield will keep that bite but will also have a little extra going forward.

Just have the feeling this one will happen. The reason being that on the last week of the window noone wants to lose out on players and i think we will force it through. I will take a guess that both Faye and Belleti will be through the door with perhaps Solano out (with no replacement).

At least when we defend we do so as a unit. All the players look focused on where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to be doing. Rozehnal and Taylor look a very neat partnership. With a couple of solid full backs (Belleti and Enrique) we are look to have a better back four than i have ever seen at newcastle.

Baggio: "Anyone with a clue about football............" I don't know whether you meant it but that is what pricks say. You might aswell just say "I know more about football than you". FFS

For me Smith was our best player on the park yesterday. Not only did he make some fantastic challenges, he also passed the ball about well and tried to put some drive into the team. Parker is nowhere near as good.

This. The ones who are over critical are the same ones who think they are "super fans" because its better to be negative. Those who think we are the best team in the league and can't do wrong are just as stupid.

People forget that Man Utd have two points less than us in two far easier games. They've also conceded a goal more than us and scored one less. Personally, i took alot of positives but i was disapointed we didn't win.

They must have had him mistaken with smith.

Despite the fact that we under-performed, i thought we looked far more organised in every department. When we attacked we did so as a unit and when we defended we did the same. A far cry from the days under the last two bosses where the players ran around like headless chickens. Allardyce has made defending well a priority and it seems to be working. However, it seems he may have to look closer at what our offensive strategies are. I think 433 is far more suited to away games but fear had we played 442 we would have lost today.

Have West Ham got rid of him already? ITK i tell thee. We pulled out again at the last minute!

So its: Harper Carr Taylor Rozenhal Zoggy Butt Geremi Smith Martins Viduka Milner Foster,Cacapa,Ramage,Ameobi and Owen Possibly Nobby in there.

I don't know how long you have watched Dyer for but the guy is a waste of space. Is he quick? YES. Is he an England international? YES. On his day is he a threat to most teams? YES. However, i have never once seen a consistant Kieron Dyer. He only ever performs when he feels like it, that isn't me basing it on opinion but from what i have seen. When he came back from injury last season he was fanstastic for two games (Man City and Arsenal). He then did NOTHING until Roeder was sacked. When he realised we had a new manager watching, he scores against Watford, IMO because he made a consious decsion to put that little bit more effort in. The guy is injury prone and not the greatest technically, for 6-8m pound i'm very very happy to get rid of him. He will peform well for West Ham for half a season perhaps and then he will drift back into the wilderness.

What i'm saying is that, should Terry or Ferdinand suffer long term injuries, England will need someone to step up to the plate. Looking at all the candidates (excluding carragher), Lescott for me has most at attributes to do that. Add to the fact that Ferdinand is vastly over-rated (not poor, just over-rated).

Don't think he will, while he is a good player, he's not England standard What exactly is england standard? Milner was our most productive player last season and can play on both flanks. He is only going to improve with the players around him.

and Bentley.

I don't think Van Persie will get 25 but he will have his best season so far and be arsenals top goalscorer.

I wanted to include a keeper and without going for an obvious choice such as Cech, Given and even the likes of Carson i was struggling. If he keeps playing the way is, it might not do his reputation any harm. Eventually he will move back into the squad because of his age but one for the future perhaps.

This thread not specific to youngsters, just players who you expect to impress throughout the season. Here's a few of mine: GK:Kasper Schmeichel- Looking to follow in his fathers footsteps this season should be interesting to what he is capable of. If genetics are anything to go by this lad may well take his chance at city. DF:Jolean Lescott- By no means someone who has gone un-noticed but i believe he could be capable of pushing the likes of Terry and Ferdinand at international level if they fail to perform or get injured. DF:Nedum Onuaha- Thought this lad look equally as impressive as Stevie Taylor at the U21's in the summer. Could be capable of making a name for himself along side Michah Ricahards and Co. DF:David Rozehnal- Had to add him TBH. Already looks a very comfortable centre half and hopefully will be part of a famous back four that stop necastle reputation of having a somewhat comical defence. DF:Leighton Baines- Has the chance to step it up a gear at an unargueably bigger club. If he regains his fitness and Everton do well (which i believe they will), he is sure to stand out. MF:Micheal Johnson- Ok,Ok i must admit i only saw the highlights of his performance against Derby but sometimes that is enough to impress. If he gets his chance the former Man City youth captain could be hot prospect. MF:Hameur Bouazza- Could be called a forward but he impressed at Watford and i'm glad to see him stay in the premiership. Fulham aren't a great club but i believe this was a good buy for them. MF:Geremi- Don't need to convinced you lot, great buy. MF:Shaun Wright-Phillips- It's about bloody time he was given regular football at Chelsea because he is playing in london he will get all the plaudits should he do what he did for Man City. FW:Roque Santa Cruz- Scored 2 in 2. Has always been a good player and i expect he will hit double figures quite easily this year. FW:Benjani- Early signs are that he may found his scoring touch. It took Droba a while to settle (not that i'm comparing), hopefully for portsmouth he will do the same.

Mickey most go into ladbrokes alot because my dad always says that too. "I saw micky quin go into ladbrokes in hexham". The first time i went out in newcastle i saw kluivert in ikon. See loads of the players kicking about in their cars on match day and others around the ground. Solano,Ameobi and Emre in particular. Saw Andy O'Brien in northumberland street just before he left.

I don't believe we will finish fourth but i believe we will there and there abouts. Even though i never like to judge us on one game, i think sometimes everyone can sense when something good is happening. At the moment even our biggest pessimists are finding us hard to critisise and it's no suprise fergi thinks we might.