Parky

The ManU midfield and the Chelsea strikers are the hardest things to guess this year. *Just wasted 20 points re-organising my side.

No, because it will now be a union of clubs, the first of its kind. It'll give football clubs a better chance of being a part of discussions about changes that can be made to the game because there'll be one and only one voice representing them all. It's not representing them all though is it? What gives Manchester Utd any more right to demand how the game is run than Hartlepool Utd? They're both professional clubs operating in the same league system, they should be on a level playing field. But, eventually, it will give clubs such as Hartlepool a say in things. Do you not think that it is better that the membership has been increased? And not all 77 teams will be 'rich'. I can think of maybe about 7 teams in Premiership who are rich, maybe one or two in the Serie A, 3 or 4 in La Liga and then 2 (maybe) in the Bundesliga. That's about 20 or so teams who you could say are rich. The other 50 or so will be smaller teams. This is a good thing. At least it's a step in the right direction. And if we're a part of this, I'm happy. These money grabbing parasites don't care about smaller clubs. They want all clubs in who pose a possible threat so it would make it easier to break away from the rest and destroy football, all for their greedy gains. I'd disband it yesterday. It's proctectionism by any other name.

Problem is you whine about a lot of things so it probably just got lost in the shuffle. How the fuck can YOU say that Snifter? Behave.

No, because it will now be a union of clubs, the first of its kind. It'll give football clubs a better chance of being a part of discussions about changes that can be made to the game because there'll be one and only one voice representing them all. It's not representing them all though is it? What gives Manchester Utd any more right to demand how the game is run than Hartlepool Utd? They're both professional clubs operating in the same league system, they should be on a level playing field. Agree totally. Another attempt by the 'bigger' clubs to bargain for MORE MONEY and control. They don't give a fuck about the good of the game in general...

This is what I've been whining about for a year and a half now.

I don't think Viduka has the legs or the fitness record to be scoring loads of goals for us this season. And in a team struggling to supply the bullets he's a luxury we can't afford. He'll do a job as a bit-part player but we've been carrying him a lot this season in all honesty. When we don't have the ball it feels like we're down to 10 men, he does next to nothing to chase from the front and we see our midfield getting overrun. He doesn't have a reputation as a lazy forward for nothing, he's been like this throughout his career. Arsenal couldn't do that, Smith was never going to let Toure stroll up to the half way line and start attacks. They tried to play it out of their own half but we didn't let them and they resorted to punting it long or making mistakes trying to play it out. Yes, Arsenal, punting it long. Compare that to Viduka and Martins who were both lazy against Liverpool and as a result Liverpool were always on the front foot, their defenders bringing it up to halfway and creating big problems outnumbering our midfield. They didn't make mistakes at the back because they had all the time in the world. We've got to look at the team and not just the individuals. Smith will always chase defenders and when defenders don't have time they make mistakes or they launch it long, often giving possession straight back to us. Arsenal tried to play it out yesterday but we were onto them every time, no defender had time to take two touches of the ball and when they weren't making mistakes they were launching it long where Taylor and Rozehnal picked it up. This was the basis of our dominance for long periods in the second half. Smith's running around in midfield makes him look like a headless chicken, but put him up front and that weakness becomes a strength, espescially for a team like ourselves trying to fight their way out of a problem. When you're lacking quality you need fight and in recent weeks we've had neither. Smith has shown Viduka up for his laziness IMO. Thats a good post....but... How did Viduka score double figures last season for a struggling shower of smogshite? was that team more creative than our current crop? Good question. I can't deny Viduka has more class on the ball than Smith and he scores more goals, but he basically does nothing else for the team. And he's not such a great goalscorer that it'll hide his weaknesses. He'll get probably 1 in 3 if he plays every game of the season (which he won't because of injuries), but the team will have nothing up front when he disappears for large periods of a game or even for entire games. As time ticks on he's only going to get slower and less effective. I'm not suggesting Smith should be one of the first names on the teamsheet by any means, but recognising a contribution he'll make which could help us get back to playing on the front foot and forcing opposition defences into mistakes. It also keeps him out of midfield which has to be a positive I'd start Smith personally and let fatuka come on later.

Bit scattergun mate.

Or our 'keepers have had their achilles heel firmly exposed. As someone else aid yesterday we suffer more than our fair share of 'unstoppable' free kicks/long range shots. Given's postioning is at fault more often than not these days. He comes out too far cause he's a dwarf.

I don't think Viduka has the legs or the fitness record to be scoring loads of goals for us this season. And in a team struggling to supply the bullets he's a luxury we can't afford. He'll do a job as a bit-part player but we've been carrying him a lot this season in all honesty. When we don't have the ball it feels like we're down to 10 men, he does next to nothing to chase from the front and we see our midfield getting overrun. He doesn't have a reputation as a lazy forward for nothing, he's been like this throughout his career. Arsenal couldn't do that, Smith was never going to let Toure stroll up to the half way line and start attacks. They tried to play it out of their own half but we didn't let them and they resorted to punting it long or making mistakes trying to play it out. Yes, Arsenal, punting it long. Compare that to Viduka and Martins who were both lazy against Liverpool and as a result Liverpool were always on the front foot, their defenders bringing it up to halfway and creating big problems outnumbering our midfield. They didn't make mistakes at the back because they had all the time in the world. We've got to look at the team and not just the individuals. Smith will always chase defenders and when defenders don't have time they make mistakes or they launch it long, often giving possession straight back to us. Arsenal tried to play it out yesterday but we were onto them every time, no defender had time to take two touches of the ball and when they weren't making mistakes they were launching it long where Taylor and Rozehnal picked it up. This was the basis of our dominance for long periods in the second half. Smith's running around in midfield makes him look like a headless chicken, but put him up front and that weakness becomes a strength, espescially for a team like ourselves trying to fight their way out of a problem. When you're lacking quality you need fight and in recent weeks we've had neither. Smith has shown Viduka up for his laziness IMO.

With Martins gone in Jan...Smith/Owen or Fatuka will have to be worked at...More importantly I'd like to see a couple of midfielders come in the Jan window with creative and pace components.

There was an internet driven theory that SA was stubborn apparently. lol

I take it you didnt enjoy last night then? I agree with your second point, my fear is that last night means the players and the manager think its all sorted when it clearly isnt and there is a lot of work to be done to get it right. Northern Monkey "Less shit than recently" Henry Winter "colossal performance, relentless endeavour, outstanding" To be fair Winter is a bit one-eyed with us, he loves it when we do well and he does rightly criticise the defence. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/12/06/sfgnew106.xml mackems.gif

Allardyce's too. He's eventually twigged Smith's a forward. Let the backtracking commence.

I'll be checking for edits. You can't denail your colours! I'm safe Keef.

Typical of the knee-jerking that goes on on here tbh. Aye.

Any change here after tonight?

mackems.gif

It's like a scales falling from thousands of eyes.

Will be spoilt for choice who's errant anti-Smith rants to dig up first. lol

Some on here will have to start looking for the 'take it all back' pills.

We played well I had a feeling we would. Let's take it from here.

Smith- Hardworking, experianced, versitile and highley rated by ALOT of managers. Emre- Gifted player constantly played in wrong positions. Milner- As you say gives 100% and has one of the best cross conversion records in the prem. N'Zogbia- Class, played in defence. Butt- Highley experianced and disciplined. Massive pedigree, was one of our best players last year. Geremi- Rarely loses the ball, wins tackles, gets quite a few assists and is a leader. Barton- I rate him very highly, give him time and he will prove me correct (hopefully). Duff- Quality player, fitness has let him down. My point is that positive and negative slants can be put on anything in football. It all depends what type of person you are. For me with the quality we have we should be looking for top 8, if we dont make it, it won't be down to talent. I appreciate your sentiments. But our midfield is the weakest in the top teams. Lennon Routledge Malbranque Taarabt Zokora Jenas Huddlestone Tainio Boateng Ghaly As far as im concerned there is very little difference between ours and spurs, apart from depth. Yet they were touted for 4th, how does that work? Even if you believe Spurs midfield to better than ours which you are entitled to, there isn't a huge gulf. Yet the expectations were so different. I believe there to be barely anything between ours and the other teams that have been mentioned. The differences as i've mentioned is down to consitancy, teamwork and motivation. Spurs weren't in my calculations when I started the thread hence the title dear. Pardon me. I thought it ment into assumption of who we'd expect in the top 10. It works even better for my arguement though because spurs have a better midfield than half of the teams in the top 10 anyway. Results say otherwise.

Smith- Hardworking, experianced, versitile and highley rated by ALOT of managers. Emre- Gifted player constantly played in wrong positions. Milner- As you say gives 100% and has one of the best cross conversion records in the prem. N'Zogbia- Class, played in defence. Butt- Highley experianced and disciplined. Massive pedigree, was one of our best players last year. Geremi- Rarely loses the ball, wins tackles, gets quite a few assists and is a leader. Barton- I rate him very highly, give him time and he will prove me correct (hopefully). Duff- Quality player, fitness has let him down. My point is that positive and negative slants can be put on anything in football. It all depends what type of person you are. For me with the quality we have we should be looking for top 8, if we dont make it, it won't be down to talent. I appreciate your sentiments. But our midfield is the weakest in the top teams. Lennon Routledge Malbranque Taarabt Zokora Jenas Huddlestone Tainio Boateng Ghaly As far as im concerned there is very little difference between ours and spurs, apart from depth. Yet they were touted for 4th, how does that work? Even if you believe Spurs midfield to better than ours which you are entitled to, there isn't a huge gulf. Yet the expectations were so different. I believe there to be barely anything between ours and the other teams that have been mentioned. The differences as i've mentioned is down to consitancy, teamwork and motivation. Spurs weren't in my calculations when I started the thread hence the title dear.

Smith- Hardworking, experianced, versitile and highley rated by ALOT of managers. Emre- Gifted player constantly played in wrong positions. Milner- As you say gives 100% and has one of the best cross conversion records in the prem. N'Zogbia- Class, played in defence. Butt- Highley experianced and disciplined. Massive pedigree, was one of our best players last year. Geremi- Rarely loses the ball, wins tackles, gets quite a few assists and is a leader. Barton- I rate him very highly, give him time and he will prove me correct (hopefully). Duff- Quality player, fitness has let him down. My point is that positive and negative slants can be put on anything in football. It all depends what type of person you are. For me with the quality we have we should be looking for top 8, if we dont make it, it won't be down to talent. I appreciate your sentiments. But our midfield is the weakest in the top teams.