Taylor Swift

A draw would be good for us. The more points both of these teams now will be good. There'll come a point in time when we hit a bad run after this honeymoon phase. Sam's teams' always seem to generally play well throughout the season except for one really really shit patch. It's happened in what? 3 or 4 consecutive seasons now? Last year it was from January onwards, and by then the end was near for him. The season before that was the last 8 or so games where we went on our run and they stuttered and eventually gave away 7th place. We need teams around us to drop some points now while we need maximum points from the easy-ish games eg. Boro away.

He's a dirty bastard who's done a lot wrong in his time but many of the accusations levied against him atm are unjust, unfair and part of the ongoing attempt by the military to discredit him in the attempt that the people will somehow feel better that they're still being run by a military government. Both sides act only to preserve their own interests. Fuck them all. For Thaksin's 'version' on things, this is his website. www.truethaksin.com Most of the things the human rights groups have accused him of have been accused against him for quite a few years already, yet unfortunately no one seemed to give a crap back then.

The media needs to fucking calm down It's gonna raise the expectations of so many people and then the players will get booed at home when we're only 1-0 up against Derby or some shite like that. We cannot make the players feel unconfident when they play at home ffs.

Agreed. You and him (unfortunately) will be fine.

Yes, we could.

I thought it deserved a new thread because I was hoping to discuss a new topic, namely thanking him for the memories. I think it's pretty conclusive that he's going to leave, which is why I did not post the article in this thread. Edit - Those quotes were just meant to accompany the thread. The main point of the new thread was to thank him for the memories. Anyway, thanks Nobby.

I knew it'd be moved Personally thought it deserved a new thread.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=452901&cc=4716

For £2 million he would be a steal. A good (and obviously underated) player. He's a center-half. Lacks the pace to play RB so he'd be coming here to be a sub for Rozy and Taylor, which is why I thought Cacapa was signed for? We need a RB first and foremost. Then maybe a cover for LB (if Cacapa isn't).

No thanks (to Faye). We surely can do better.

He may play 4-4-2 this game because we don't need to stifle the game like we planned to do at Bolton. More creativity will be needed as we're going to be the team expected to be on the offensive. Edit - James' team is spot on. Would be the starting eleven I'd prefer to see. Maybe Smith and Butt will switch places, and Smith comes on if we need another attacking option.

Dave, on queue as ever, pounces on another prey.

Barton? I see your point, but I think where the difference is is that Diouf's a cunt on the pitch; diving, cheating and spitting. A large proportion of football fans don't care too much about what they don't see on a saturday afternoon(/ saturday morning/evening/sunday morning/friday afternoon etc.) so long as it doesn't hinder the team's progress. Diouf doesn't seem to be a cunt off the field though, so maybe that evens it up? In the end though, what does matter is that they have to contribute on the field, and both of them (Barton and Diouf) do. Wouldn't mind Diouf here at all.

If we actually lose

Stay home then

I'm afraid we're already expecting too much of a team after only one game. Especially a team adapting to new formations and at the same time having a few new players as well. A draw would be alright, 4 points from our first couple of games would have pleased me before the start of the season. Will be a tight game and I expect Villa to create more than they did against Liverpool but I'm hoping the crowd will be the difference here. 2-1 to us.

His dad's been making sweet noises in WestH direction last I heard. Yes, I remember seeing those quotes as well but that was at a time when Barca hadn't said anything publicly and Gudjohnsen was still using the 'I'm gonna fight for my place' line. Things have changed.

Gudjohnsen maybe? The Barca Sports Director was just quote saying Gudjohnsen would be better off leaving as he wouldn't be getting many games with the promotion of Dos Santos and Bojan. Thoughts?

the optimism in the forum atm!!

Great minds and all Just saw the quotes on another footie site about him being unsettled and 'happy to be here for the time being'. Could be something Sam will seriously consider if he's not too expensive (say £5m?). Mind you, Parky needs to give us an update on what's going on with Diego.

Very well-written match report I must say. Brings a smile to my face to read things like this and this

Though he may not be a 'playmaker', how about a cut-price move for Diouf? Would be cover our perpetually injured strikers though he'll be missing in Jan because of the ANC.

51 pts. Not a bad start. There's still a long long way to go folks.

It's the first game of the season man Based on our first day, don't think Brazil at their best could beat us

Where's Saha? And Solsjkaer as well?