sicsfingeredmong

At Bolton, with a few notable exceptions during his tenureship being the likes of Okocha and Diouf, he fielded a team of grafters and the football on display at The Reebok Stadium reflected the team make-up. Amidst his physically dominating team approach and a long-ball tactics there was always one or two players - ie. the two already named earlier - who in an instant could steal 1 or 3 points on any given match-day. However on paper the team currently at his disposal far outweighs the Bolton side he built in the way of 'ball-playing ability'. Sam's current & predominant tactic - ie. long balls out of defense to the outside channels/the wide 433 forwards - flies in the face of the collective ability of what is imo a true ball-playing defensive guard, and collectively Beye-Cacapa-Rozenhal-Enrique could be the best unit we've seen in this sense in many seasons. At the moment the tactics employed compared to the players on offer is akin to putting a square peg in a round hole. The moves Allardyce has made off the pitch, both in the transfer market & the football back-room are leaps & strides ahead of his recent incumbents and for that he deserves time and the benefit of the doubt but unless he attempts or at the very least is prepared to alter our on-field footballing culture/style of play, which since season 01/02 has slipped back something more suited to the old Division 1 days, his reign will be remembered as being a period of underachievement on the field.

He was prepared, for a good period at least by his own admission, to leach an extraordinary amount of quid per week out of the club while turning down offers to return home to as he described it a 'beautiful country', back to a league which is technically superior but is played at a slower pace with a reduced emphasis on the 'physical game' in comparison to the EPL. A style of play which is more suited. These opportunites to return home virtually amounted to a series of 'Get Out of Jail' cards and he knocked them back - for the sake of quid. To knock back such opportunities, when in the prime of his playing career, mirrors that of the half-arsed attitude/lack of drive that was put on display on the few occasions he was given under Roeder's tenureship. An atypical merc.

This poll, and combine that with the amount of names being mentioned, is indicitive as to why we're still miles away from the top 4 - i'd say we're an outside bet for the top 6, at best. Overall a team is only as strong as it's second tier players, despite having 'big-name' players on it's books. In our case there's too big a difference between both tiers within the first team's frame, and that's too much dead weight to carry - ie. when those 2nd tier players play a prominent role or frequently start in the Prem, as we've long found out with Ameobi etc - for any team with European aspirations.

Couldn't agree more, with the original post that is..................... however he'll pop up with an unlikely double against Sunderland, and with many all will be forgiven again.

The 'best keeper in the world' accolade has to go somebody who: 1. Obviously has the shot blocking skills, and the reflexes to go with it, in the locker. 2. The ability to command his defensive line/to provide an authoritive presence in the backline. Whether that postionally directing his line as a leader, or taking crosses. 3. Has the technique on the ball, normally befitting of an outfielder who is strong in this area, which makes him an important distribution outlet when his outlying defenders are being pressed heavily by an aggressively defending attacking midfield. Given falls short when it comes to points 2 & 3. IMO Keane's understandable position of patriotism is coming to the foreground on this one. In recent years - ie. post-Schmeical - Buffon, and now Cech, have been the most 'balanced keepers' when it comes to excelling in these three areas.

Well why don't you start another pointless thread on this very issue, a poll for example - i'm sure i'll be able to handle the associated craic. Or perhaps, in a bid to appease yourself and others, i'll commence posting like a seven fingered mong from now on......... beginning now i'll do this for the remainder of the season. You well and truly set yourself up on this one, especially for those who were dismayed at the manner in which Clueless was ripping up our/your club with his self-protectant based decision making, while you were posting WUM-like threadstarters along the lines of "Bellamy..... he's history, get over it".

Stephen Pence..................... wtf. I didn't read the autobiograpical account of the said author's assist. Admittedly my memory is flawed - ie. i'm often pretty vague when it comes to some specific assists and the associated player names - but i don't recall any player going by that name during the Keegan Years. Ozzie, didn't you once recall the drought period, for which we've been on the receiving end, experienced at Anfield? Having said that it might be time for you to buy another "History of Newcastle United" book, however it might be wise to purchase one with team sheets etc this time round. It's just a small detail and this goes back to my second point, but it's ironic that our last win over there coincided with Liverpool's managerial reign pertaining to that of a particular incompetant s***head, the same s***head you unconditionally backed while he was tearing our club to pieces little more than a decade later.

Surely at Liverpool he'd instantly be offered more than £25,000 a week? as they look after their players, I would say that is correct For a local product, who granted wants to play for the club he supports, living on reputation alone - ie. previous hype - at the moment what sort of contract offer/wage package should suffice? He's worth more than 25k a week, but no way should we give him anything close to a 50k package. Taylor's advisers have looked at the respective departures of Dyer and Parker and have thought about it simplistically, and imo have arrived at the conclusion that there's some serious money to be had.

Agreed. He reads the play better, and as a ball-playing centrehalf he looks more composed than Taylor.

A once-overhypped local prospect who emerged from an academy which has really produced sweet bugger all over the last few years. Appearing to be the only shining light when placed along the recent substandard product produced by the academy - ie. Ameobi and Ramage notably.... a standard not benefitting of a club which should be challenging the top 4 - it's understandable that the local support held him aloft on a pedestal too early. Taylor's advisors are probably preying on this ie. he's irreplacable and deserving of a big contract. However he is far from the finished product and he's still making simple mistakes. Granted he missed a season thanks to Clueless' mismanagment and his progression was ultimately interrupted, but Taylor has had a full season under his belt now in his preferred position. That year of 'missed progression' is no longer a viable excuse this time round, or this year. At the moment Taylor is being outshone by the new arrivals - ie. Rosenhal & Cacapa - and he faces strong competition from a natural fullback - ie. Beye - on the right hand side of the defense. At the moment he is a 'squad player' and he is deserving of contract offer which matches that role. Granted he'd worth more than 25k a week, however if his advisers are demanding a package deal which would normally go to blue-chipper, a package which is at odds with Allardyce's valuation of him within the squad dynamic, then Taylor can bugger off..................... for 5m in January we should snap their/Liverpool's hands off imo.

Hasn't actually been that good, though, has he. Seesm to have as much pace as an injured Viana. A far away improvement over Parker though and what's better it's in a midfield unit which is still finding it's feet, and that's what counts as we were constantly overrun in the engine-room where Parker's play was an omnipresent & always negative deciding factor. Sure he's not the dominant factor in the current midfield set-up, but he's been a rock solid performer in the midfield phalanx of three, and his ball-use is far more efficient & intelligent than Parker's was. Unlike Parker, and this is the major difference that couples with their respective technique on the ball and ball useage, Geremi sees the passing lanes open up when the opposition midfield & defensive become fragmented following a turnover. But then again not giving Geremi credit is the sort of response i'd expect from you NM, given that you spent a considerable period defending Parker's sub-par performances - ie. 'he's supposed to be/he's straight out suited to the DM role' sort of stuff - prior to the the final run-in last season, rather than just accepting that he wasn't up to the balanced 'defensive/attacking role' bestowed upon him by Roeder, a role which is central to an efficiently functioning midfield unit of four especially when there's already one defensive minded midfielder in the line-up ie. Butt. I'm not looking to score points on you, however by the time you effectively jumped off Parker's bandwagon our season had already been flushed down the loo.

Geremi: gives us drive & workrate and quality/efficient ball-use through the centre of the park. Simply put, as a player & captain/leader he's the antithesis to the pile of s**** that was Scott Parker. A comparable player to Appiah imo, and always a top performer when he was at Middlesborough where he was utilised out wide with the license to drift inside. Chelsea didn't make the most out of the above mentioned attributes, and it's good to see Allardyce being the current exception. Rosenhal and Cacapa: Obviously Cacapa has the pedrigree in his locker - ie. a true ball-playing centrehalf & captain of a dominating domestic team - but Rosenhal has been the surprise. Rosenhal's balance, both on the ball in possession & when defending his opponent body-on-body at close quarters, belies his lanky frame. It looks like a promising pairing, but it's still in it's infancy and they're yet to face a top-line strikeforce. However the proven dangermen - ie. Drogba, Rooney, Petrov, Anelka etc - and the league's top new arrivals will be the barometer to which they will be judged, but it's a welcome addition seeing us shut down mid-low table sides, something we haven't been able to do previously with our previous pairings ie. Taylor/Bramble, Bramble/O'brien & any pairing featuring Ramage.

I don't think Taylor needs bringing down to earth at all, he just needs to do his job properly which he didn't do against boro. If Rosenhal, Capaca or Faye get beaten so easily by the striker they are marking they will come under the same scrutiny. If that had been Rosenhal getting shoved aside by Mido we'd have no doubt been questioning whether he was strong enough to play in the Premier! And Oliver would be been the first writer to officially bring it out into the public domain. In the case of Taylor, or a Ramage for example, it would follow his tried and tested 'he's a local lad who always gives it his best" line or there would simply be no specific & detailed reference to the goal. If he/Taylor does eventually go, because i do feel that he will become something of a forgotten man as the season rolls on, i don't think he'll go to Liverpool or a club of similar standing.............. clubs like Fulham & Pompey will be the likely destinations imo.

And was Souness more competant?.....................

Our obvious lack of width at the moment is a problem, but the key to obtaining width in a 433 comes from having two book-end athletic, ballplaying fullbacks on either flank - especially with a big target man in the middle in the form of Viduka. On paper Enrique and Beye should deliver this element, something that has and would've been amiss with the likes of Carr, Ramage, Taylor etc filling either fullback position. Zoggy is suited to one of the outside central positions imo. As a winger he always showed the propensity to drift inside and shoot from distance, and this strength - ie his shooting - will be highlighted more often in the current system. But he still needs a 'wide allie', in the type of fullback i'm talking about to keep his opposite number and the accompanying defending fullback well and truly busy.

Yes, imo he's the weak link in our central defensive ranks. The year of missed progression, thanks to Clueless' mishandling of his shoulder injury, was at the time - ie. last season - relevant factor behind his stagnation but's it's now become a distant excuse imo. With the new arrivals, in the form of Cacapa/Faye etc, he'll become the forgotten man if he doesn't eradicate the mistakes. Big Sam doesn't take defensive fools lightly, as evidenced with Bramble's departure, and i think he'll be offloaded in January. Crossroads period for him imo.

Carr and Ramage's respective injuries = it will force the board/Ashley to upgrade the biggest 'problem position in the squad', ability wise that is. Without being hampered by Dyer's wage package, and with the accompanying transfer cash pocketed away, Ashley's level of ambition will be judged by the level of player Allardyce is able to draft in ie. a proven defender of international ability or a very promising up & comer - ie. Sporting Lisbon's RB which several EPL clubs have already enquired - or will Allardyce have to scour through his Black Book containing a deep list of cheap journeymen. This week is a Litmus Test for Ashley and Mort imo.

One local hack will be livid as far as not landing that exclusive............... look for a counterbalance article soon ie. "poor attitude" "my understanding is & the word from London is that he wants out" etc etc..

And that prediction would've have been more favourable if either one of his two 'media mates' - ie. Souness or Shearer - were at the helm, even with a stripped down squad containing little depth, something we saw not that long ago........ the sort of team Souness presides over after he removes the so-called club cancers without adequetly replacing them, the sort of regime our former captain publically endorsed, the squad Shearer would've inherited in Roeder's place had he not cherry picked his eventual acsension into the manager's hotseat.

Robert? ...... and all three at varying stages have given the Chronicle's resident pisshead the silent treatment in the press, although the former two have given him a wide birth - ie. no interviews/exclusives - form the get go. It's clear imo as to what are reasons behind Oliver's agenda against certain players.

Ashley's expense cutting measures, amidst this club audit, are coming into full effect.

Shepherd previously made his intentions known about eventually taking the club back into private ownership. It's a matter of opinion but i think that's what his aim was, hence his gradual share buying upwards to the 30% mark. Given the 'cloak & dagger' nature of how the whole Ashley buy-out occured - ie. the Halls selling up - and in conjuction with Shepherd's own ambitions, re- private ownership, he has every reason to be aggrieved. IMO Shepherd's timetable,as far as hitting the 30% share and garnering the finance for the accompanying take-over, was probably at odds with the Halls' financial situation and their need to sell-up quickly. But nonetheless Shepherd should've been offered the 'first right of refusal' or at least a window of opportunity to make things happen sooner. Poor form directed towards a long-time allie by the Halls, an allie who has been the public mouthpiece and the frontman to what has been a series of poor decisions in the boardroom where the Halls being the club's major shareholder were still the main power player. As the frontman he's been a convenient public flogging horse for the Halls, and violin playing aside he deserved better at the end imo.

.................. and one bloke who understands the machinations of the transfer market ie. timing is everything, especially being prompt. Qualities, going by the first month of the transfer market, which up until this point neither Mort or Ashley have displayed. A DOF appointment, or another approach made to somebody like Keegan should've been accomplished much sooner - ie. after Dein supposedly knocked as back for the chairman's role - as Allardyce needed front-office support in the early period of the transfer market while Mort & Ashley were too busy reviewing/auditing the club's books. *reason why Dein was mentioned because imo his playing of the transfer market game is second to one amongst club chairma-en and along with Wenger's unquestioned ability to spot raw talent frequently Dein has been a positive influence behind Wenger's reign. Dein's wheeling & dealing in the transfer market, in a front-office capacity, accompassses a large portion of the DOF's role ie. making things happen once the manager identifies his targets & team building plans.

Take your own advice. In the last couple of years before selling up, Shepherd increased his shareholding by around 4 percent -- revealing your conclusion that it would take him a couple of years to buy 2 percent to be, yes, baseless s****. And even then you miss the point, which is that even had he acquired that 2 percent, he still wouldn't have had the finance to buy out the rest. And those share purchases were based around the dividends received, as Shepherd himself has previously stated and the Fat Controller has also made his intentions known re- his desire to take the club back into private ownership. So the question goes out to you Ozzie, and you're good at dodging questions a notable example being the "give a sensible & logical footballing reason as to why Souness substitued Bellamy in Charlton game" querie you never got around to responding to a couple of years back.... as raised in several threads. Were the Halls, given their financial plight - ie. Cameron Hall's downturn in fortune after the Hall siblings took control of the company back in 99 - and i suppose that's just a heap of overblown fart gas as well, prepared to wait for Shepherd to finally hit the 30% mark, whether or not Shepherd was prepared to appropriate his upcoming dividend accordingly, or beyond? By the way you can't predict to the pound what dividends he'll receive/appropriate to himself, and therefore you can't put an exact timeframe on his approach to the 30% mark. This financial year, and most likely next year as well given that our ommisssion from Europe this season will have a flow-on effect to the following financial year, there will be a downturn in revenue and it would be foolish to appropriate dividends that were comparible to those being payed out during our recent European football years. My approximate prediction an entirely reasonable. As for Shepherd securing finance for a takeover. If a supposedly useless chairman can secure finance to purchase a fragile commodity - that being a footballer ie. Owen - then it's entirely propable that he can sort out a similar deal as arranged by Glazier - ie. managed debt against the club - in order to purchase bricks & mortor. ie the club.

Randy Lerner said similar things during his takeover of Villa............... given Villa's lack of progress the jury is still out in relation to Ashley and his team, in a big way. At least in my view.