STM

Theres going to be pressure, sure. No more than any of other defenders and lets be honest, this guy just needs to be half decent and he will a hit with the fans. Someone who works their socks off and doesn't make blunders will be enough to ease the pressure. If he can't do the simple things which even Zoggy's almost managed to do out of position then he deserves all the pressure in the world. From what i've heard, i don't think he will disapoint TBH.

This except i would swap Viduka with Owen, so that when we play long balls we can angle them towards Viduka for Owen to play off down the middle.

I'd be tempted with: Harper Taylor Cacapa Rozehnal Enrique Butt Geremi Smith Milner Owen Viduka My reasoning is that we can play angled long balls to Viduka in order to exploit their full backs. It also allows Owen to start the game, which he is ready for. If the game becomes stale we don't need to make subs to change the system, just reshuffle.

Bobs obviously taking the piss........... i hope.

Yes, i've changed my mind. We should stick with the 433 for Boro until the game has calmed down. Once we have a foothold in the game we can change the side to suit the flair players.

Harper Taylor Cacapa Rozehnal Enrique Butt Emre Milner N'Zogbia Smith Owen Lets av a bloody go at the smogs.

Good addition if it goes through. It wil also give us a clear run to the end of the transfer window, to tie up one last deal. Hopefully Belletti.

Two seperate issues. Owen- Happy enough because he DESPERATELY needs games to get his match sharpness back, especially when he thrives on sharpness. As people say if he gets injured, he probably would have done for us anyway. Smith- Will be interesting to see what he can do alongside one of our other players in attack. Doesn't so much need the fitness but confidence infront of goal. Isn't really injury prone so i would expect to see him get injured or two tired for Boro. More importantly i hope Taylor doesn't get injured, that would be a major blow. Great experiance fo the lad though.

£3m or even £4m wouldn't be silly money for Faye, given the prices gone for various other nationwide signings over the summer. If we're complaining about a £2m asking price then it's a bit odd. Disagree mate, 4m is too much for Faye. Obviously i think haggling over a little difference is ridiculas but if we value him at 2 and them at 4 i say we stick to our guns. I wouldn't pay more than we did for Rozehnal put it that way. Well no... you said initially that we shouldn't cave in and pay silly money. They value him at £2m (not four), which isn't silly money. All i was doing with the £4m thing, was just trying to prove that the £2m price-tag is a very pleasing one... I didn't realise they valued him at 2m, i just assumed that is papers guesssing. Which TBF is more likely. For 2m i would sign him but i still believe in getting the best price possible for what is effectively a squad player in my eyes.

Based on what? Let me guess - based on you choosing to believe THAT story in the press. Based on this I think: http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/thanksandfurtherclarification.html "To further clarify the situation - the Club wishes to make it clear and unequivocal that no individual was or has been offered the position of manager/coach at this Club whilst that position has been held by Martin Jol. It is wholly inaccurate and inappropriate to suggest otherwise" yes, and where is the proof anyone was?? Suppose the proof will be when Spurs sue Ramos for his comemnts of receiving a 'dizzying' offer from them, when they stress they wouldn't and haven't offered the managers job to anyone whilst Jol is still there. Does that mean Allardyce is a crook then because he didn't sue the BBC? Probably...... but he's our crook.

Based on what? Let me guess - based on you choosing to believe THAT story in the press. Based on this I think: http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/thanksandfurtherclarification.html "To further clarify the situation - the Club wishes to make it clear and unequivocal that no individual was or has been offered the position of manager/coach at this Club whilst that position has been held by Martin Jol. It is wholly inaccurate and inappropriate to suggest otherwise" yes, and where is the proof anyone was?? Well who do you believe Spurs or Ramos? Ramos is hardly going to make stuff like that up if he wants to stay at Seville. Where as i believe Spurs offered him the job and where knocked back and then chose to deny it.

£3m or even £4m wouldn't be silly money for Faye, given the prices gone for various other nationwide signings over the summer. If we're complaining about a £2m asking price then it's a bit odd. Disagree mate, 4m is too much for Faye. Obviously i think haggling over a little difference is ridiculas but if we value him at 2 and them at 4 i say we stick to our guns. I wouldn't pay more than we did for Rozehnal put it that way.

Which is even more reason why we shouldn't just give in and pay silly money.

So now Spurs are liars. Kingdawson and Martin Jol mysteriously disapeared?

Do we need him, no. But that doesn't mean to say we could have him as back up to Butt etc. He is a good player and definatley a Sam type.

Away: Given Taylor Rozehnal Cacapa Enrique Geremi Smith Barton Milner Viduka N'Zogbia Home: Given Belletti Taylor Rozehnal Enrique Barton Emre Milner N'Zogbia Martins Owen

I think Barca would far prefer to sell him to us though and Deco might fancy our league. Don't see it happening personally.

I'd have your 442 but feel as though Owen would be included.

I believe a good 3 man midfield consists of three types of player: 1. Defensive midfielder (protection of the back four and a good tackler) 2. Box to Box midfielder (with a good engine and the abilty to pass) 3. Attacking midfielder (plain and simply, assists and goals) Successfull 3 man midfields down the years: Chelsea- Makelele, Thiago, Lampard, Milan- Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf If we are going to choose our players it should be by this blueprint, even if not perfect, it isn't far off.

Have you even seen them play? Both still need to adapt, even if we get Belletti. Honestly? I've seen Belletti on telly a couple of times and thats about it. However, sadly most of us still have to rely upon reputation and the opinion of those who have seen them play. So far Allardyces signings have been great and i'd hazard a guess to say they these two would not disapoint. Fingers crossed Allardyce has done his research and know the ins and outs.

Thanks Janitor!

I noticed against Blue Star that he was very good technically. He looks quite short but i bet he can put his weight about. Interesting selection choice for Boro.

Aye, he's a funny one. I far rather have a pint with him than Dyer, despite the obvious risks.

Depends what he is pleading guilty for and TBH skirge none of us no the facts about what happened. They could be charging him for GBH when if fact Barton and his lawyers can prove it was just ABH. Which is a different kettle of fish all together. His people must think they have a good chance of getting off.

Agreed, but we were mostly solid during games last season and the season before. It was the occasional lapses in concentration that hurt us, and the free header or quick breaks through the middle on Saturday were no different in that respect. The quote from the article is a bit neejerk insofar as lady luck was on our side a few times. Our midfield protected the back four better (I wonder what the fan reaction would have been to Roeder playing three defensive midfielders mind), but the back four itself looked a bit shaky and if Villa would have scored from one of our concentration lapses nobody would have said progress had been made defensively or we currently have strong foundations at the back. Still, a clean sheet is a clean sheet and a point is a point. I just wanted to point out that I don't think the "we would have lost this match last season" necessarily holds true as Aston Villa clearly didn't have their shooting boots on.. Solid in previous seasons? We looked shakey as fuck.