KaKa

At the start of last season against Arseanl at Highbury we went with a 4-5-1 I recall and looked very sharp with Dyer on the right and Jenas, Emre and Parker as our 3 CM's.

 

Loathe Jenas as I do, he was very good at getting forward which allowed Parker and Emre to be a solid pairing in the middle and we were looking very good that day until the ridiculous sending off.

Souness was a tactical genius TBH ...

Owen doesn't have the presence to be a lone striker. He's struggled immensely in that role in the past.

 

He's added a stone of muscle don't ya know. 

 

He wouldn't be a lone striker though, is the point. It'd work as long as we gave our wingers very little defensive responsibility, like Barca do. Saviola has less presence than Owen, but as he wasn't marooned up front and isolated he was very effective for Barca there when played this year.

Precisely ...

Owen doesn't have the presence to be a lone striker. He's struggled immensely in that role in the past.

He's been hitting the weights though ... he can handle it.

Besides the 4-3-3 is effective irregardless of the type of striker as long as you have midfielders who can maintain posession and pass the ball well.

Shepherd’s backing is enough to make Roeder fear for his future

Matt Dickinson

The back page of the local newspaper in Newcastle proclaimed “Roeder told his job is safe” yesterday, which must have had the manager scurrying to check his contract. Being told that you are secure by Freddy Shepherd, the chairman, is about as reassuring as hearing from an estate agent that the cracks are only superficial or from a second-hand car dealer that the mileage is to be believed.

Shepherd is, after all, the man who said in July 2004 that “you simply do not sack Sir Bobby Robson”. A month later, he had done precisely that. Examples of the chairman pointing one way and walking in another are not in short supply.

Even the most experienced Newcastle watchers stopped second-guessing Shepherd when he set about replacing Robson. The names of Steve McClaren, Steve Bruce and Sam Allardyce were all prominent, and with good reason. Somehow he contrived to end up with Graeme Souness, of whom Blackburn Rovers could not wait to be rid.

All good reasons for Roeder to regard yesterday’s back-page headline with the disdain that he has unwisely adopted for stories linking Sven-Göran Eriksson and Allardyce with his position. He has even talked in the past few days about making plans for next season, but the experiences of several of his most recent predecessors should inform him that a Newcastle manager is never more vulnerable than after he has blown a transfer budget. Ruud Gullit, Kenny Dalglish and Robson all left shortly after their own summers of rebuilding.

Shepherd’s guidance to the local paper appears to point to a repeat scenario even if the word on football’s grapevine is that he is examining all his options. He should be. Not even Roeder’s friends back him to turn Newcastle into a Champions League club, which should be their aspiration.

It was a job that he fell into, just as, for all those who will wish a decent guy well, there are few who expect great things at Bolton Wanderers of the newly, and hastily, appointed Sammy Lee.

And here the two stories interweave because, now that he has walked away from the Reebok Stadium, Allardyce must surely be causing Shepherd to consider another approach for his services.

The man to lead them back into the top four, where they finished under Robson? You could not say so with certainty, but Big Sam would surely improve Newcastle’s present mid-table mediocrity.

For what it is worth, which is very little, Shepherd is denying any interest, but he would not be doing his job if he was not casting around for a new manager and he was given an extra spur in the past 24 hours. Newcastle might not even be the most talked-about club in the North East next season now that Sunderland have marched into the top division under Roy Keane.

Sunderland are a club who, through the enlightened leadership of Niall Quinn, the chairman, are re-engaging with their supporters rather than mocking them for buying overpriced replica shirts, as Shepherd so notoriously did on a debauched night with the News of the World’s fake sheikh. They are a club, too, who realise that the most important man in the organisation is the manager. They are capable of embarrassing their local rivals on and off the pitch.

Surely!!!

Yet another reason to make this happen Freddy 

Don't screw it up. If we keep Roeder he will only go and sign Anton Ferdinand or Curtis Davies who are just not experienced enough to step into OUR (clueless and diabolical) defence!

Get Sam and Ben Haim NOW!!!

If we're going to do it, we've got to do it now or else City will.

That's what makes the situation so beautiful ...

FREDDY MUST ACT NOW! NO DILLY DALLYING!

The only problem is of course that we will might to pay compensation as it will now look very suspicious if we hire him too soon.

I read in one of the papers this morning that Shepherd would like to bring him in, but that other senior officials at the club are against it because of the bung enquiry particularly.

The Times also re-iterated that we have been speaking to Erikkson and he is definitely an option.

I think we will be making a change, especially after tonight.

The question is who will we be bringing in???

I swear I feel like crying because once again we are in a position where it looks like we will have to get rid of our manager at such a crucial time, right before the window.

Why? Every bloody time.

How anyone would take Allardyce over Coppell is beyond me ...

Just my personal preference though I guess.

shola has a better 1st touch than martins imho...

 

My auld man has a better touch than Martins and he's 69.

Makes sense ... cuz Martins is 80.

Roeder is gone ...

I just felt it.

All the build up and excitement ...

What a let down. This club is awful.

Not watching anymore of our games this season.

This is unbelievably embarrassing ...

Roeder needs to let the front three know how they ought to line up!

There doesn't seem to be much order up front ...

Bramble is mental ...

Roeder should have put on Onyewu as DM and left N'Zogbia off!

N'Zogbia is shocking ...

According to the journalist who was in the Sky Sports studio this morning.

 

Apparently he was told he would have to raise money in order to bring in any new players and was essentially told that he would have to sell Anelka.

 

Allardyce was eager for financial backing this summer as he believed there would be money made availabe to him because of the new TV deal. He believed with a bit of money he could push Bolton even further and challenge for the champions league.

 

What do you guys think?

 

Hearing this I believe that he would definitely take the Newcastle job, because if there is one thing we do right it is provide money for managers. I bet Allardyce regrets not taking the Newcastle job when he was offered it! Big mistake by Sam.

 

Will be interesting to see what happens. I am happy for Roeder to stay in charge for now and as long as we get players in very early I think we will do well next season and if we end up being mediocre then we can make a managerial change then. It's a shame the bif Sam situation didn't arise next summer as it might have been perfect for us.

 

For now I think we should sit tight and continue with the summer plans we have put in place. Besides if we start very badly we can always do what we always do and bring Sam in a month into the new season! 

 

I'm not surprised tbh.  There have been persistent noises about SA having taken Bolton as far as he could.  Bolton have been reluctant to spend a lot more because better and more expensive payers won't convert into more bums on seats, more sponsorship or a better position in the league.  Allardyce will go to Citeh if Ranson's consortium is successful from what journos are saying, if not, who knows?

 

The fact that, with Bolton's agreement, Spurs have had talks with Anelka ( >) says quite a bit really.

 

Anelka to replace Berbatov?

 

:lol:

 

No, re-hash of the 4 strikers.  Berbs, Keane plus 2 from Anelka, Cisse, Bent and a few other names doing the rounds.  Citeh still want Mido ( ) and Villa are still the most active in showing interest in Defoe.  Who we finally wind up with God knows, but Comolli signed Anelka for the scum and is keen to do so again.  Jol isn't keen on the idea at all!

 

Wouldn't Anelka just be another Mido?

 

Pissed off all the time because he isn't in the first team?

 

Ridiculous move by Spurs if it happens ...

 

Not the plan as far I can gather.

 

Comolli ideally wants 4 intelligent strikers, not to be all the same style and not to include 2 little ones.  Anelka would certainly qualify under that criteria, Comolli thinks Spurs would be more efficient with a first choice pairing of 2 taller mobile strikers such as Berbatov and Anelka.  Jol is not yet convinced although he does accept that Anelka/Bergkamp, Bergkamp/Henry etc worked at Arsenal and Comolli played a big part in that by doing a lot of the donkey work in signing Anelka and Henry.

Wow so no Robbie Keane?

Keane has been great and his natural chemistry with Berbatov is something that probably shouldn't be tampered with.

According to the journalist who was in the Sky Sports studio this morning.

 

Apparently he was told he would have to raise money in order to bring in any new players and was essentially told that he would have to sell Anelka.

 

Allardyce was eager for financial backing this summer as he believed there would be money made availabe to him because of the new TV deal. He believed with a bit of money he could push Bolton even further and challenge for the champions league.

 

What do you guys think?

 

Hearing this I believe that he would definitely take the Newcastle job, because if there is one thing we do right it is provide money for managers. I bet Allardyce regrets not taking the Newcastle job when he was offered it! Big mistake by Sam.

 

Will be interesting to see what happens. I am happy for Roeder to stay in charge for now and as long as we get players in very early I think we will do well next season and if we end up being mediocre then we can make a managerial change then. It's a shame the bif Sam situation didn't arise next summer as it might have been perfect for us.

 

For now I think we should sit tight and continue with the summer plans we have put in place. Besides if we start very badly we can always do what we always do and bring Sam in a month into the new season! 

 

I'm not surprised tbh.  There have been persistent noises about SA having taken Bolton as far as he could.  Bolton have been reluctant to spend a lot more because better and more expensive payers won't convert into more bums on seats, more sponsorship or a better position in the league.  Allardyce will go to Citeh if Ranson's consortium is successful from what journos are saying, if not, who knows?

 

The fact that, with Bolton's agreement, Spurs have had talks with Anelka ( >) says quite a bit really.

 

Anelka to replace Berbatov?

 

Juve have offerred ?14.6m Euro for Anelka which Bolton were considering 2 weeks ago, that was the start of the end for SA. I can understand his frustration. IMO they are 2 big players short of challenging for top 4.

Anelka would be a huge asset to any PL club. :parky:

 

Isn't that what Bolton payed for him though?

 

So they aren't even looking to make a profit on Anelka?

 

Gartside is an idiot ...

 

That is £10m pounds a £2m profit.

£2 million?

Gartside is still an idiot ...

According to the journalist who was in the Sky Sports studio this morning.

 

Apparently he was told he would have to raise money in order to bring in any new players and was essentially told that he would have to sell Anelka.

 

Allardyce was eager for financial backing this summer as he believed there would be money made availabe to him because of the new TV deal. He believed with a bit of money he could push Bolton even further and challenge for the champions league.

 

What do you guys think?

 

Hearing this I believe that he would definitely take the Newcastle job, because if there is one thing we do right it is provide money for managers. I bet Allardyce regrets not taking the Newcastle job when he was offered it! Big mistake by Sam.

 

Will be interesting to see what happens. I am happy for Roeder to stay in charge for now and as long as we get players in very early I think we will do well next season and if we end up being mediocre then we can make a managerial change then. It's a shame the bif Sam situation didn't arise next summer as it might have been perfect for us.

 

For now I think we should sit tight and continue with the summer plans we have put in place. Besides if we start very badly we can always do what we always do and bring Sam in a month into the new season! 

 

I'm not surprised tbh.  There have been persistent noises about SA having taken Bolton as far as he could.  Bolton have been reluctant to spend a lot more because better and more expensive payers won't convert into more bums on seats, more sponsorship or a better position in the league.  Allardyce will go to Citeh if Ranson's consortium is successful from what journos are saying, if not, who knows?

 

The fact that, with Bolton's agreement, Spurs have had talks with Anelka ( >) says quite a bit really.

 

Anelka to replace Berbatov?

 

:lol:

 

No, re-hash of the 4 strikers.  Berbs, Keane plus 2 from Anelka, Cisse, Bent and a few other names doing the rounds.  Citeh still want Mido ( ) and Villa are still the most active in showing interest in Defoe.  Who we finally wind up with God knows, but Comolli signed Anelka for the scum and is keen to do so again.  Jol isn't keen on the idea at all!

Wouldn't Anelka just be another Mido?

Pissed off all the time because he isn't in the first team?

Ridiculous move by Spurs if it happens ...

According to the journalist who was in the Sky Sports studio this morning.

 

Apparently he was told he would have to raise money in order to bring in any new players and was essentially told that he would have to sell Anelka.

 

Allardyce was eager for financial backing this summer as he believed there would be money made availabe to him because of the new TV deal. He believed with a bit of money he could push Bolton even further and challenge for the champions league.

 

What do you guys think?

 

Hearing this I believe that he would definitely take the Newcastle job, because if there is one thing we do right it is provide money for managers. I bet Allardyce regrets not taking the Newcastle job when he was offered it! Big mistake by Sam.

 

Will be interesting to see what happens. I am happy for Roeder to stay in charge for now and as long as we get players in very early I think we will do well next season and if we end up being mediocre then we can make a managerial change then. It's a shame the bif Sam situation didn't arise next summer as it might have been perfect for us.

 

For now I think we should sit tight and continue with the summer plans we have put in place. Besides if we start very badly we can always do what we always do and bring Sam in a month into the new season! 

 

I'm not surprised tbh.  There have been persistent noises about SA having taken Bolton as far as he could.  Bolton have been reluctant to spend a lot more because better and more expensive payers won't convert into more bums on seats, more sponsorship or a better position in the league.  Allardyce will go to Citeh if Ranson's consortium is successful from what journos are saying, if not, who knows?

 

The fact that, with Bolton's agreement, Spurs have had talks with Anelka ( >) says quite a bit really.

 

Anelka to replace Berbatov?

 

Juve have offerred 14.6m Euro for Anelka which Bolton were considering 2 weeks ago, that was the start of the end for SA. I can understand his frustration. IMO they are 2 big players short of challenging for top 4.

Anelka would be a huge asset to any PL club. :parky:

Isn't that what Bolton payed for him though?

So they aren't even looking to make a profit on Anelka?

Gartside is an idiot ...

According to the journalist who was in the Sky Sports studio this morning.

 

Apparently he was told he would have to raise money in order to bring in any new players and was essentially told that he would have to sell Anelka.

 

Allardyce was eager for financial backing this summer as he believed there would be money made availabe to him because of the new TV deal. He believed with a bit of money he could push Bolton even further and challenge for the champions league.

 

What do you guys think?

 

Hearing this I believe that he would definitely take the Newcastle job, because if there is one thing we do right it is provide money for managers. I bet Allardyce regrets not taking the Newcastle job when he was offered it! Big mistake by Sam.

 

Will be interesting to see what happens. I am happy for Roeder to stay in charge for now and as long as we get players in very early I think we will do well next season and if we end up being mediocre then we can make a managerial change then. It's a shame the bif Sam situation didn't arise next summer as it might have been perfect for us.

 

For now I think we should sit tight and continue with the summer plans we have put in place. Besides if we start very badly we can always do what we always do and bring Sam in a month into the new season! 

 

I'm not surprised tbh.  There have been persistent noises about SA having taken Bolton as far as he could.  Bolton have been reluctant to spend a lot more because better and more expensive payers won't convert into more bums on seats, more sponsorship or a better position in the league.  Allardyce will go to Citeh if Ranson's consortium is successful from what journos are saying, if not, who knows?

 

The fact that, with Bolton's agreement, Spurs have had talks with Anelka ( >) says quite a bit really.

Anelka to replace Berbatov?

According to the journalist who was on Sky Sports this morning ...

 

Said that high level people at Chelsea were very confident that Berbatov would be a chelsea player next season.

 

If true Spurs really are becoming a bit of a joke club aren't they? Essentially a breeding ground for the top clubs!

They really do need to start paying the players who are deserving of better contracts.

 

What's the point of discovering and getting in good players if they all just leave anyway? You've got to hold onto some of them at least!

 

It's good news for us though ... 

 

The last I heard (very recently too) is that there is abolutely no prospect of Berbs going anywhere this summer, Spurs don't want it and, more importantly, Berbs doesn't want it too.  It shouldn't be forgotten that Man Utd made a late bid for him a couple of days before he signed for us.  Berbs said then that he had decided what to do, the decision was made and he wasn't going to change it.

 

More importantly, there is no pressure for Spurs to sell like there was with Carrick.  Carrick had 2 years remaining and had said he wouldn't sign another, Berbs is only 1 year into a 3 year contract with an option for a further 2 years in the same way they had with Keane.  So Spurs effectively have still got him under contract for another 4 years.  Unless Berbs has a serious change of heart and starts making all the wrong noises, I don't think he will go anywhere for at least 1 year, probably 2.  Depends very much also on how the club fares in that time but I'm not concerned about the speculation.

It would be nice if you kept a hold off him, however if Chelsea start throwing £25million - £30million around ... I'm not so sure Tottenham could resist!

If this is true, Berbatov will quickly go from the most loved to the most hated man at White Hart Lane. Personally, even though I don't care for the Spurs, I hope he stays it out there. I don't like how all the best players end up in the top 4 clubs.

True ...

That's why I have always had such respect for Arsenal because they don't just go round the premiership looking for smaller teams best players.

According to the journalist who was on Sky Sports this morning ...

 

Said that high level people at Chelsea were very confident that Berbatov would be a chelsea player next season.

 

If true Spurs really are becoming a bit of a joke club aren't they? Essentially a breeding ground for the top clubs!

They really do need to start paying the players who are deserving of better contracts.

 

What's the point of discovering and getting in good players if they all just leave anyway? You've got to hold onto some of them at least!

 

It's good news for us though ... 

 

Is that in the same way that Newcastle pays better contracts.  Spurs are sitting in the same area of the table as us and their wage bill I'm sure is a hell of a lot less.  More clubs should take that stance of having a limit to their wage instead of the continually soaring demands.  How many are really worth it, even the best in the world?

 

Besides if Chelsea want a player they'll get them through huge bids, which any club will succumb to it doesn't matter which club it is.

I agree completely about not overpaying.

However the top earner at Spurs is Keane on £40,000 a week. That is a bit too low for a club like Tottenham in my opinion.

Also, this has nothing to do with us as we have our own problems. The point is that if Tottenham pushed the boat out just a little bit more then they would probably be in the champions league by now! instead they are pretty mediocre despite how well they club is structured.