Minhosa

I was a bit disappointed with Barton today. I was expecting big things given his time to improve fitness this week. I still think he'll be a big player for us. There is a general feeling (which I'm in agreement with) that we'll need a playmaker (be it Riquelme or whoever) soon. It'll be interesting to see how he'll fit with Barton/Emre/Butt going forward. You would think that Sam would play a holding midfielder and a playmaker - neither of which fit Bartons natural tendency to move up and down the pitch throughout the game. He's a box to box player - I'm not too sure how that'll fit in should we sign a playmaker? Food for thought I suppose?

What attributes do you think he has to make him become a top player? He's strong, can read the game well for his age, rarely gets skinned (See Petrov for an exception this season though) and can challenge. I think his timing of the challenge can sometimes let him down as can his rashness but he's only a young lad and hasn't really played alongside a good experienced centre half for any length of time. I find your constant sniping of our squad a bit boring. You love a fucking whinge don't you? He isn't strong though, nor can he read the game very well because if he could he wouldn't get caught out as much as he does with his positioning. I don't snipe at our squad, I can just recognise an average player when I see one and the players you named are just that, except Owen of course but he isn't the same player after his knee injury, that is obvious to anyone who's seen him. Anyway lets keep it on topic. We'll never agree on this nor most things it seems. I disagree with the positioning comment when he plays at centre half. I think it's a fair comment in regard to his spell at right back but not in his natural position. He has been caught out in the past but not excessively given his relative age and experience. Remember Carragher as a kid? You talk of average players like you expect us to have world class players in every position. We're an average club at this moment in time so thats not going to happen AND, just think, if we did happen to sign a plethora of world class players what would you find to whinge about? I'm also a fan of Milner and one of the few Smith fans on here too, albeit when he's played in his natural position so we're unlikely to agree on much going forward. Carragher is a player who suddenly came from nothing to being a top class centre back around the age of 26, I don't think anyone could have seen that happening and it gives hope for anyone out there that they have a chance of turning into a top class player, I don't think it's a good example of Taylor becoming a top class player though, more a "there's still hope" opinion. I don't expect us to have World class players, at the same time I won't be fawning over average players either who are not good enough to get us where I want us to be, hard graft will only get us so far. Nobody is asking you to fawn over the players but it might be nice if you didn't appear to relish an opportunity to slag them off. I want us to win the league as much as you do - there's not many players in our current squad that would make it into Man Utd's or Chelsea's that doesn't mean I pull them apart all of the time. Don't get me wrong I've really disliked players wearing our colours before (Robert for one, as you well know) but I think you're being harsh on some decent players who we will need as the club moves forwards.

What attributes do you think he has to make him become a top player? He's strong, can read the game well for his age, rarely gets skinned (See Petrov for an exception this season though) and can challenge. I think his timing of the challenge can sometimes let him down as can his rashness but he's only a young lad and hasn't really played alongside a good experienced centre half for any length of time. I find your constant sniping of our squad a bit boring. You love a fucking whinge don't you? He isn't strong though, nor can he read the game very well because if he could he wouldn't get caught out as much as he does with his positioning. I don't snipe at our squad, I can just recognise an average player when I see one and the players you named are just that, except Owen of course but he isn't the same player after his knee injury, that is obvious to anyone who's seen him. Anyway lets keep it on topic. We'll never agree on this nor most things it seems. I disagree with the positioning comment when he plays at centre half. I think it's a fair comment in regard to his spell at right back but not in his natural position. He has been caught out in the past but not excessively given his relative age and experience. Remember Carragher as a kid? You talk of average players like you expect us to have world class players in every position. We're an average club at this moment in time so thats not going to happen AND, just think, if we did happen to sign a plethora of world class players what would you find to whinge about? I'm also a fan of Milner and one of the few Smith fans on here too, albeit when he's played in his natural position so we're unlikely to agree on much going forward.

What attributes do you think he has to make him become a top player? He's strong, can read the game well for his age, rarely gets skinned (See Petrov for an exception this season though) and can challenge. I think his timing of the challenge can sometimes let him down as can his rashness but he's only a young lad and hasn't really played alongside a good experienced centre half for any length of time. I find your constant sniping of our squad a bit boring. You love a fucking whinge don't you?

I think he'll still turn into a top player. Baggio - Are there any members of the current squad you actually rate? You slate Milner, Owen, Smith, Taylor.............fucking give it a rest man.

How much did we pay for Beresford?

Given has got to be up there out of the current squad. Sibbers done well for a small fee. I always thought Scott Sellars was great value too. A lovely little player. Good football brain.

Exactly what I was thinking. About time too.

I'm fully expecting a big performance from Joey Barton in this one. Just his type of match.

I agree he needs time but thats a poor defeat today tbh. Really disappointing. I'd like to see Allardyce offer an apology to the fans and let us (and the players) know, in no uncertain terms, that the performance and result today are not acceptable.

I'd take him. He's only 26, doesn't get many injuries but my main concerns would be around; a) his constant fouling of his marker. You don't have to hold onto the fucking centre back when you're nearly 7 bastard foot. b) If he has a poor game as the spearhead of a 4-3-3 the other two alongside him will have very little to feed off therefore really limiting our attacking play. The thing with Viduka is that even if he's not having a good game his upper body strength will allow him to hold off his marker and he'll bring others into the game. I don't see Crouch doing that - certainly not as consistently anyway. But, that said, his hold up play and fouling of CB's can be coached out of him I would hope so I'd take the gamble - dependent on price.

Thats a fair point. You'd have to think we'd play 4-3-3 both home and away with Viduka coming off the bench. IMO.

I'd rather get rid of Owen and bring in Anelka. I thought they looked very good together at 'Pool. If he was coming at another fwds expense I'd be inclined to call time on Shola's NUFC career. If we signed Anelka we'd have two big strong players in Duke & Anelka and two little fellas to play off them. Plus we'd have the 'what the fucks he gonna do next' factor with Martins too. Shola's not a great finisher, not a great header of the ball for a big lad and his hold up play is inconsistent.

Brummie, Been meaning to ask you for a while.............what do you make of Bouma? I thought he looked shaky first month but since then he looks a solid, if unspectacular defender.

I stand by that. HATED Robert.

What do you want me to do Dave? If people make stupid statements like that in a topic then surely they should expect to have holes shot through it? Nothing stupid about saying paying big money for a player in that league is dodgy. We could just as easily spend £6m on an unknown right back from the Romanian first division because thats the standard of football up there. Magoo's got the hump cos he can't defend the shocking standard of football played in his homeland. Boo hoo hoo.

Tell me the last time there was a decent export from that 2 bit league to the Premiership? Larsson was a good player, granted, but taking anyone from a poor league to a good one for a big fee is a risk. I don't think you like someone criticising the homeland Magoo. Shame my points are true though.

I agree. 5-6mil would have been fucking stupid money for Henrik Larsson. I'm glad we didn't squander that kind of money on him. Do you actually use your brain before you post? How about judging a player based on his ability as a footballer rather than the league he plays in...? Honestly, never underestimate the sheer fucking stupidity of football supporters. Fuck off you condescending prick. That league is absolute dog shit and paying £6m for anyone who hasn't proved themselves out of it would be madness. See Boumsong, See Barry Ferguson, McFadden - the list goes on.

Good post - I don't know where the Geremi from August has gone but I hope we can find him.

I wouldn't pay that kind of money for somebody in the Scottish league to be honest.

Thats a great sign of Big Sams man-management skills given that he's dropped Oba on more than one occasion this season. Very promising. Just hope England don't come calling when the inevitable happens to Mclaren.

Horray! How much did you win?

I'm actually quite happy with the squad right now. The defence looks the best it has for years, in terms of both quality and amount of cover. We've got lots of options up front and, when Barton/Emre are fully fit I like the options across the middle. Plus we've got Duff to come back in and Owen to get fully fit (crosses fingers!). I'd be inclined to sign a couple of young, highly rated full backs and bladder the two lazy crocks that are currently being paid for doing shite all and costing us a fortune by taking up Physio time. Carr and Babayaro.

Good post Doc. Not jumping on the defensive here, or responding just cos he plays for us but I reckon Smith, at £6m, is a useful asset. Granted, he's not the best forward in the world and we could do without him in midfield at the minute but for the price we paid, given he's an England Squad regular, not too old, very professional by all accounts doesn't represent bad business imo. By that I mean, if we sold him in Jan we'd not lose much on him and moreover he could become a really useful asset, given his ability to play anywhere across the front 6 from mid to fwd and not let you down. I know he's taken some stick on here, and some of it rightly so, but as an asset I don't think it'd be fair to label him a flop and I still don't think Big Sams settled on a system yet - he may have bought him with a new formation in mind? In some respects people might liken his buy to that of Duff last year (i.e: a good player becomes available so lets buy him and worry about fucking off the Zog/others later, lets just make sure nobody else gets him) but I think we'll see more from him in the future. Anyhoo, Keiron Richardson - anyone?

I laughed out loud!