STM

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.

Hate both sides and want them both to rot and burn. I think Everton could turn them over BUT Spurs will be out to prove a point after the mackems. 1-1 Berbatov and Johnson

We've got more chance of signing Gary Neville tbh. We always say this but i'm talking stupid money here. 20m ish

This Faye stuff could be the real reason for Allardyce and Mort staying down in the north west.

I knew it. Bloody idiots trying to tell me other wise.

IF we are going to splash the cash, i mentioned Micah Richards the other day. We might have some unsettling to do though.

After this we should go for our entitled uber signing. Just to cap off a splendid summer.

Spot on. Yep, we need to get off some of our players backs. Owen looks a miserable little bugger at the best of times.

This. A healthy bench it would be too.

No way should Owen start, for various reasons. Stick him on the bench and give him 20 mins of football if we are winning.

It's what we need though. Hopefully Taylor, Cacapa and Rozy will be enough to make up our four centre halves.

That picture of Owen was just as the crowd thought his shot was going in the net........ but it didn't.

No, he's his brother. And bit harsh to say Troisi might not be physical enough, he's only 19 remember. True, he's got years to grow but he won't make it if he doesn't. Hopefully he will because him and Lua Lua look very good on the ball.

I didn't know what to make of Owen. He didn't look like he was particularly interested but thats quite like his style anyway. He often just drifts and waits for his moments to score. He's no Bellamy or Smith, so after that we had to read his body language and that would be mere pointless speculation. I wouldn't make much of it.

which lua lua was playing? Does Kazenga have a younger brother like? Am i right in thinking he's Lomanas brother? Either way he was my reference.

I love late night action. Would be a very nice signing and a good squad player.

I really think its a confidence thing, he was captain BTW. Out of Owen and Ameobi, the latter looked more like the 15m pound player. However when Owen got in on goal he still looked like he knows where it is. Very very unlucky not to score.

My first reserve game so here goes: Forster 7: Had bugger all to do but was comfortable enough. Huntington 7: Got forward often, very little threat from opposition. Cacapa 7: Grew as game went on, good passing. Ramage 6.5: Looks at his level, poor communication between him and Cacapa lead to sloppy moments. Edgar 9: Not a foot wrong all game, looks as if he has grown a foot too. MOM Troisi 7: Good footwork but i'm not convinced he has enough physique to make it. Patterson 7: Looks good at this level but THIS is his level Dyer 7: Threating when on the ball but went missing all too often (mixed reception). Lua Lua 7.5: Alot like his brother, caused them threat with his skill and hard work. Owen 7: Didn't look particularly sharp but had two cleared off the line. Ameobi 8: Looked a different player, confident and composed. Would like to see more of it at the higest level. Hard to work out performances because the opposition tried to stifle the game. Not a great standard, particularly the ref, we should have had two penalties.