KaKa

I have to say though, after seeing the actual video of the injury I feel bad for the guy. Especially as it was an absolutely sickening and unnecessary challenge. The defender was beaten and blatantly just kicked him in the back of the leg. I think he should be banned  for it.

I don't think this injury can be put down to him being injury prone either as it was such a horrible challenge that would have probably knackered a lot of people. I hate dirty challenges like those, they make my blood boil.

If Owen joins Man U, I would like us to bring in Baptista.

 

Alan Smith, Viduka and Martins upfront, with Geremi, Baptista and Barton in midfield.

 

Come on Sam, make it happen!

 

BAPTISTA TO THE TOON!!!

 

You heard it here first ...

 

If Owen joins Man U? What you on about?

Sorry guys, just bored ...

I would like Baptista though, You know what they say though ... the power of the tongue and all that.

Right I'm off to bed now. I'm reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally tired ....

If Owen joins Man U, I would like us to bring in Baptista.

Alan Smith, Viduka and Martins upfront, with Geremi, Baptista and Barton in midfield.

Come on Sam, make it happen!

BAPTISTA TO THE TOON!!!

You heard it here first ...

Well, well, well ...

Ever since those tumour boy chants I knew West Ham would be cursed I tell you! I hope they are bracing themselves because it will only get worse.

Faubert, Parker, Neil and Dyer already this season! Bellamy's hamstrings should be getting ready for a strain anytime soon too.

Shouldn't be sold. No way. However, he should not be in the first team either, as he just isn't that type of talent. He should spend the next couple of seasons on the bench learning behind Roz and Cacapa. He can then take over from Cacapa in a couple of seasons when he will still just be 23 and in a far better position to handle first team responsibilities.

Torres has all the tools, but there's something off about him. His finishing can be so great at times, but can also be poor at times too. He can look strong and direct at times, but then so soft at times too.

If we had got him when we bid for him under Souness, about two years ago, it would have been a disaster. He would have been awful in that team and under that management. Probably would have ended up as another Luque.

I have to say Liverpool have played some shocking football the majority of this game, especially when you consider they're playing Sunderland. Punt-tastic stuff. You'll never hear anyone bring it up though!

Taylor is highly rated and the Pog is dubious at LB, much better in the middle.

Fair enough. Can't say I've ever paid too much attention to Pog so I wouldn't know. I do know he has a tendency to break his nose every couple of months.

Is Huth still alive by the way? His injury record has been worse than Woodgates!

I've heard Middlesbrough have made a 10 mill bid for Riquelme.

 

I heard that too i hope not

 

Ditto. If they get him, when fully fit, they'll have a good side IMO.

 

Schwarzer

Young Woodgate Pogatetz Taylor

Tuncay Riquelme Boateng Downing

Mido Aliadiere

 

Top half team. Shame their back line is never fit.

You forgot Robert Huth. Pogatez would probably play at left-back with Huth and Woody in the centre.

Well ... maybe rant is a bit strong but some interesting comments none the less! 

 

One question that remains unanswered is how Sam Allardyce, the Newcastle manager, will fit Owen into his team if he persists with 4-3-3.

 

“I have never been asked to play other than one up front or one of two before, but I am sure the manager knows my strengths,” he said.

 

“That is in the 18-yard box, so I wouldn’t have thought he would put me anywhere that would stop me getting in the box and scoring goals. It normally takes me two or three games before I start firing again after injury. Maybe that is the case again.

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2317558.ece

 

So ... doesn't look like Owen is even being open minded about this at all. It's either play him up top as a striker or forget about it. Interesting that he mentions being played as a lone striker though, anyone think Sam might try the 4-3-3 with Owen as the middle/main striker? It would mean no long balls and much more intricate passing, which would be good, but could we pull this off? I wouldn't mind seeing us try it.

 

Alternatively, if we played the 4-3-3 with Owen as the main striker and Alan Smith as one of the wide forwards, we could probably rely on Smith to provide us with a physical presence from that position when we need it. This would mean going diagonal to Smith, should we need to play the long ball.

 

What do people think about these latest developments?

 

 

 

OMG! You're a genius. Die. Please.

Another pointless individual, with no opinion, trying to be quirky, controversial and "different".

Don't be mad because you lack the intelligence, ability or capacity to say anything worthwhile that goes further than a one line put down.

I would love to rip into you, but out of respect for Dave (those damn private messages!) I'll hold back.

You've been warned though ... ask Verlame about me. I could feast on punks like you all day.

He's absolutely right. His strength is up front in a 4-4-2, and he is right to assume Allardyce knows this.

 

See that's the interesting thing though, he doesn't mention the 4-4-2 and neither does he solely mention playing alongside another striker. He just talks about being played as an out and out striker even if it means being a lone striker.

 

This is why I started talking about him being the out and out striker in the 4-3-3. I'm just interested to know if people think this might work. Taking into account the other players we have.

 

Dont think it would work, because we dont have the players to afford him as the lone forward. If we were Barcelona, and Owen were to be playing the same role as Eto'o for example, hed probably excel because the rest of the team is great at keeping possession, building up play, and creating chances, whilst Owen could concentrate on making his runs and getting on the end of chances.

 

This team under Allardyce's system, however, will most likely need that lone striker to be doing the much of the possession and build up work. We'll be playing it up to the lone striker first, and then things go from there.

Some great points here. What if we played Alan Smith as one of the wide forwards, from where he could occassionally provide a physical presence upfront, and we had Geremi, Barton and Emre in midfield? That might have a better chance of working.

I swear Sam played the 4-3-3 with Anelka up top and Kevin Davies out wide at times last season, and in these instances when they played it long it went diagonally to Davies. Maybe Alan Smith could be used in a similar fashion.

He's absolutely right. His strength is up front in a 4-4-2, and he is right to assume Allardyce knows this.

See that's the interesting thing though, he doesn't mention the 4-4-2 and neither does he solely mention playing alongside another striker. He just talks about being played as an out and out striker even if it means being a lone striker.

This is why I started talking about him being the out and out striker in the 4-3-3. I'm just interested to know if people think this might work. Taking into account the other players we have.

Bit of a tongue in cheek headline, just go with it okay boss?

Well ... maybe rant is a bit strong but some interesting comments none the less! 

One question that remains unanswered is how Sam Allardyce, the Newcastle manager, will fit Owen into his team if he persists with 4-3-3.

 

“I have never been asked to play other than one up front or one of two before, but I am sure the manager knows my strengths,” he said.

 

“That is in the 18-yard box, so I wouldn’t have thought he would put me anywhere that would stop me getting in the box and scoring goals. It normally takes me two or three games before I start firing again after injury. Maybe that is the case again.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2317558.ece

So ... doesn't look like Owen is even being open minded about this at all. It's either play him up top as a striker or forget about it. Interesting that he mentions being played as a lone striker though, anyone think Sam might try the 4-3-3 with Owen as the middle/main striker? It would mean no long balls and much more intricate passing, which would be good, but could we pull this off? I wouldn't mind seeing us try it.

Alternatively, if we played the 4-3-3 with Owen as the main striker and Alan Smith as one of the wide forwards, we could probably rely on Smith to provide us with a physical presence from that position when we need it. This would mean going diagonal to Smith, should we need to play the long ball.

What do people think about these latest developments?

Would anyone have Ferreira? Not sure how much he would he cost though ...

read somewhere that cacapa used to play in midfield and was apparently pretty tasty  - anyone shed any light on this?

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/328080058_9d4a23081a.jpg?v=0

very argie.. like it

We're sigining Riquelme don't ya know!

Ooooops!

David Healy with two more goals. His international record is ridiculous for a side like Norn Iron.

 

Another quality player I'm glad we'll get to see in the Prem this year. Got robbed of a second league last weekend.

Third I think.

To Outkast's "Hey Ya!", how about simply, "Tayyyyyylaaaa".

Love it 

If they get Alves and Beletti then we should go for Ferreira.

I know he does struggle at times for Chelsea but he is far better than Carr.

All Sam is doing is sticking to the facts of the situation, he knows if there is a bid of £13mill that we cannot say we are not selling him, so he has said what has been needed to be said and no more.

He has already said in other interviews that he wants him to stay and the club are holding talks with Martins people over a new deal, even Oba has came out and confirmed tlaks are on going.

I agree with you. The new contract offer makes no sense if he wants rid.

 

Then again the claim of contract talks taking place might have been a falsehood intended to hurry up potential bidders.

 

 

 

 

 

In all reality who is going to pay £13m for Obafemi Mitty? Even Yak who I consider as good if not better has gone for £12 according to latest reports.

The thing is though, we paid £10 million for him so we can't really accept anything less than £12 million at the least. When you consider he came in and proved he could score goals in the premiership and is only 22 in Nigerian years.

All Sam is doing is sticking to the facts of the situation, he knows if there is a bid of £13mill that we cannot say we are not selling him, so he has said what has been needed to be said and no more.

He has already said in other interviews that he wants him to stay and the club are holding talks with Martins people over a new deal, even Oba has came out and confirmed tlaks are on going.

I agree with you. The new contract offer makes no sense if he wants rid.

Then again the claim of contract talks taking place might have been a falsehood intended to hurry up potential bidders.

I just hope we don't sell him for anything less than the release clause. Those quotes just don't fill me with confidence. then again I might just be reading too much into them.

Just don't want to lose the little fella.