Yorkie

I'll be fucking livid if Nobby goes now like.

Assuming we don't get six first teamers injured in training and/or against Barnsley, and get several penalties wrongly awarded against us, i'd probably agree. We really, really should beat Wigan.

8th-11th team really. It's got it's own category you know. Don't know why but mid-table's always signified 'top of bottom half' for me. Mehh. Anyhow, eight from twelve's an excellent return, i don't care what people say. We haven't started like that in years - we always start the season shit, whoever we play - so i'd be dead chuffed with that.

^^ Should run in parallel with Dave's post in a Sticky, tbh.

Precisely. I can appreciate people's disappointment after this result, especially given that we were infront twice, but you have to wonder what people are expecting (in general). If someone had offered me 5 points from out first 9, i would have accepted it - Allardyce isn't going to make miracles instantly; as you say - we're yet to click. I'm certainly still in a state of 'more than happy' on the whole. Stupid thing is, we'll beat Barnsley comfortably and then no doubt beat Wigan, and people will be tipping us for fourth again.

Lot on your mind, Dave?

Jesus God in heaven. --- Certainly a disappointing result to have to come away with, but Boro are a decent side on their own patch and have got some good quality going forward. I'm just happy to see us have a decent start to the season - still unbeaten, scoring lots of goals and Allardyce is constantly learning this and that. He'll definitely learn from today; combine it with what he learnt at Villa and he'll probably opt for a 4-4-2 more regularly now (given only what i've heard from today's game). No need to panic for crying out loud. We lost this fixture last year. Worse than Roeder.

Roz continues to impress me, and Cacapa looked composed when he came on. Taylor should make way on the evidence of today. Didn't watch the game, but Taylor should be at right-back now anyway, i reckon. Taylor, Rozehnal, Cacapa and Enrique for Barnsley.

4-4-2 it is, then...?

It's not a bloody derby. It's even more than that to them, though.

*Prays*

He's only two millions and he's from BOlton and he's got the same name as Amdy -i'm content with Ramage tbh. We not looking too promising in the second half, then?

Any subs, then? Or is it Milner and Geremi on the wings?

We playing long ball again? Just got in. Howay.

Long term - no question, N'Zogbia's a left-winger; fully agree.

Meh, this might just be easy optimism from me, but this... “We have an opportunity to build on the performance at Bolton and if we do that we’ll cause Middlesbrough a few problems. “It’s often down to taking your chances, like Blackburn showed on the opening day at Boro, and we have the players to do that. “We need to have that cutting edge on Sunday, like we did at Bolton, and if you have that you can turn a game in your favour very quickly. “We’ve got goals all over our team and a lot of attacking quality. It is my job to use that talent for what is best for Newcastle United and we’ll have to see who we use at Boro.” .co.uk ... sounds to me like: "attacking, passing football worked really well against a shite defense at Bolton - it'll work again." Fingers crossed. Hope he sticks with the same formula, personally.

Me too. I hope he gets the start. Much, much rather he waited for Barnsley. Pointless risk starting him against Boro - there's no need. Be better for the lad himself n'all.

Barnsley unless injury to N'Zogbia. And there's no reason to drop Zoggy either; he's doing a decent job. Needs to figure out what the hell to do with it once he's in the final third, like, but he's done a good job so far. He'll handle Tuncay.

Welcome to Sam Allardyce's methods. Nolan, Campo and Speed was hardly a midfield trio brimming with creativity, and he took them pretty high. And there's a fucking lot more quality from a tenacious/innovative point of view in a midfield squad of Geremi/Faye/Smith/Barton/Emre than what he had at Wanderers.

A small outlay? 2M might well be insignificant in today's market but at the moment we still have not acquired a specialist right back. Is money the problem? Could we have saved 2M and use it elsewhere? There is more than enough physical presence in midfield (Smith, Geremi, Barton, Butt). By all account it won't be a bad signing, and I wouldn't complain. But by all accounts I think the time, energy and money spent on Faye should be spent on obtaining a new right back. Don't then. The right-back thing's getting daft. He knows he could do with one, but he can't find an appropriate one and is satisfied with what he's got, so he'll spend what money he's got left on improving the squad in other areas. I'm sick of us signing shite stop-gap wing-backs, it's utterly pointless. Finally, thank God, Allardyce has changed the trend and signed a proper, long-term left back* for significant money - something that no one's done since Keegan. *That's the plan, anyway, which is more than every other manager had.

I'm not sure he will be cover, he might well be taking Butt's place over the course of the season. It seems he started out as a DM but Sam converted him to centre back and he mostly played there last season. But given Cacapa's pedigree (Lyon captain, Brazil caps) I think it'll be him (if he can stay fit) and Taylor with Rozehnal providing competition and therefore Faye seems to be a midfield signing with the added bonus of covering the defence. Cover's the wrong word really. It's just bolstering and enhancing the squad, isn't it. (Personally, i'd have him straight in the team at centre-back, we need creativity in midfield, not another defensive midfielder).

Comparing him to Titus man. He isn't an average player. Ask any Bolton supporter that. He's a rock in their team, versatile, fairly experienced and a proper professional. And a clear indicator of the major improvement of the defensive squad. He was a number 1 player in a consistently top 6 side last season, and we're bringing him in for a bargain price, effectively to be cover. Give over whinging ffs.

If only we still had a centre-back squad of Taylor, Bramble, Moore and Ramage - eh? Ah, those were the days.

I couldn't really understand it either. Can someone put a poll into this thread - like we've done for Bolton and for Villa? Like, with every member of the squad in it; pick your team, type-thing.

Everyone did tbf.