Parky

I made a big deal of his purchase and am still sure he will prove the signature purchase (so far) of the summer. More influential today than Geremi.

Is that a non-contributive [post? I want to talk about Smith not the match.

One shocking one where he was away and just ambled towards it, allowing Faye to come in and win the ball. Had he had his arse in gear for that we could have scored as they looked exposed at the back. Saw that.

Did absolutely everything that he was asked - dropping deep when we didn't have the ball, taking up excellent def postions and then taking postitive space when we did have the ball. Couple of crunching trademark tackles and not afraid of spreading play when asked to. Looked like he could have played another 45min he looked that strong. Butt-Germemi-Smith compressing play as needed with Milner dropping back to make the 4. Martins might have got two goals but our mf domination and control of the first 45 min was down to the dynamism of Smith and the awareness of Geremi. MOM-Smudger.

Another 2 or 3 examples today where he just refuses to go into top gear to run after a ball.

Both Martins and Smith are the key to this atm. Zoggy almost playing a free role when we have the ball. Love it. Challenge for 4th...

Really looking forward to it. THis will be an utter classic. Sam must know the opposition inside out, but releasing this 'trust' thing to the media is a clever move as it will gee up our lot.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2146503,00.html Sam Allardyce admits he will have more trust in Bolton's players than his own Newcastle team when he returns to the Reebok Stadium this afternoon. Newcastle's manager, who only left Bolton in May, yesterday explained: "It's a unique situation to play your first game of the season and think, as I will, that both teams are yours. I'll be watching two teams playing each other that are mine. I think I'll just about remember I'm the away manager." Mind games?

Something in the wind about Diego.

Nothing wrong with your mate tbh. How's it going Kingdawson ... I see Tottenham have been knocked back in an approach for Matt Taylor. Not long before you're in for Kewell I tell you. Are you excited?

With every day that passes they become relegation candidates.

Put yer team up then.

There was another one maybe Barry the year before was down as a defender. Think it was him.

Eh? If he scores or assists (taking corners and freekicks this is likely) he'll score more points than he should, as he's down as a defender. If we keep clean sheets then even better. Players out of position always do well. I clearly haven't bothered to read the thread. *Scuttles off to change team*

We're very unlikely to keep any clean sheets till the def beds down a bit.

Even if they were both injured at the same time, Martins and Smith would start, surely? Well you know what I mean...He isn't miles from the first team as some are making out as part of their argument.

I nearly fell for the old Geremi bollocks.

Not bad. Back line looks a bit suspect..Is this the weekend to have Torres? I think not. Better a Chelsea forward.

I can see Fatuka missing quite a few games ditto Owen so all this bollocks about 100th choice striker is nothing to hide behind.

Silly players.

You say I'm being silly, but you would seriously consider Cole, a player released from his contract by Fulham (!) despite all that crap you spouted about signing the best. Tell me then, which player would you sign to be our 5th choice striker? Apart from Cole that is. I don't think we need a 5th choice striker. If for some reason the other 4 can't play, then give a young lad like Carroll a go. Somebody who might actually get good. Shola is past that point, you can give him chance after chance, he's not going to get better. Carroll has never delivered at the highest level, Shola has. And Shola is incapable of delivering to the necessary standard consistantly. Shola doesn't have the potential to do this, whereas a younger player might. Or Robbie Fowler? My point about Fowler was that he was content as back up and Liverpool got rid. I merely compared his situation to Shola's. I didn't say we should sign Fowler dipshit. You were arguing that Carroll or Fowler would be better. You said that a a younger player might deliver consistently. I then posed the logical extension of your argument 'or even Robbie Fowler' seeing as you were arguing he was better. I argued that Liverpool had, imo, released a better player because they believe that your back up players should be good enough to be first team players. My point about Carroll being, that as we already now have 4 good strikers in Viduka, Smith, Owen, and Martins, we don't particularly need a 5th choice, so why hold on to a below par Ameobi? In the unlikely event of needing that 5th striker, Carroll can have a chance to prove himself, rather than allowing a player who won't ever make the grade play. I would much rather Carroll fulfilled this role too.

Pretty well known that he'd agreed in principle to join us and that, come January, he's there if we want him. Yup that is where we are atm. I really don't understand why we are taking such a risk...His wages alone will be high.

Everywhere. There's even talk of us lining up a specialist (the Owen bloke)...

That's all well and good but why are we seeking out someone with a fucked knee?

Over thirty out for 4-6 months we knee surgery, I'm not even sure how much he's featured for Barca over the last couple of years. Risky written all over it.