KaKa

come on, Solano has done well for us there but you can't possibly think he's as effective as Geremi They're both right wingers who can do a job further back. Just because Geremi's played there for Chelsea doesn't make him any better. i know, but Geremi has the attributes to play back there. Solano has the intelligence and very little else I agree Geremi is infinitely faster, stronger and more athletic. Also a better tackler.

True! Not very clear what Allardyce is planning. Maybe a 5-3-2/3-5-2 with (from the left) Taylor, Rozehnal and Beye as central defenders and Geremi as a right wing back? The future will tell us. This is exactly what I suspect too.

Dunga has killed Brazil! How bad do they look?

Geremi is far more of a right-back than Nobby. Infinitely faster, stronger and more athletic. Also a better tackler. Geremi is very comfortable at right-back and isn't that out of place at all.

Still not sure how we didn't get relegated last season. God loves us.

Wow! Awesome. Are we losing any of our current strikers though?

I think Sam likes his DM's bigger than Chelsea's Diarra though.

Linked with Bolton today. Whatever happened to this kid? Wasn't he one of the next big things at some point? Anyone still familiar with him. How has he been doing?

We have never, repeat NEVER, played 3-5-2! Big Sam plays with ONE up front in a 4-5-1 formation.

I think if we lose Martins and end up with Owen, Eidur, Viduka and Ameobi then he would be well worth bringing in. This is because if Owen is injured it would be good to have another striker who offers us the type of pace we would lack, which Ritgers would do. Would probably be bad news for Ameobi but so be it. We could then alternate between Owen and Rigters for samller faster strikers and Gudjohnsen and Viduka for a striker with more presence.

He WILL build a squad around his desired formation. Remember we had Jay Jay Ockocha and Youri Djorkaeff in the same team and they were expected to fit into the 3-5-1 formation! Think you meant 3-5-2 which you played at one point and which i think Sam might return to at Newcastle as has been rumoured to be the case.

Anelka is also a 'predatory finisher' who plays on the shoulder of the last defender. When we bought him, everyone expected Big Sam to switch to 4-4-2 with Davies and Anelka up front, but instead we got Davies on the right and Diouff playing on the left of a front three. Anelka played a lone striker role and was expected to hold the ball up as Kevin Davies had done before. Big Sam has always played 4-5-1/4-3-3 at every single club he's been at from Blackpool to Notts County and then Bolton. If he was prepared to play Anelka as a lone striker then you can bet he will do the same with Owen! It was a source of constant frustration to most BWFC supporters that Big Sam refused to adopt a more flexible approach! Anelka is half decent at holding the ball up though. Owen just isn't physicaaly capable. Allardyce also was familiar with the 3-5-2 at the clubs he has coached in and I think there is a chance he will adopt this system. Ohmelads I think we have quite a few players that would suit that system and so I think it would benefit the whole team and not just Owen.

trotter58 nice to have you on here. The formation thing is interesting. I think Sam loves to have his 3 central midfielders, and because Owen doesn't really work in the 4-5-1/4-3-3 I think there is a strong possibility that we play the 3-5-2. I remember him playing this formation at Bolton at times. How did it pan out for you guys? Do you recall this at all?

Very promising stuff and a pretty exciting read ...

See I kind of agree with you in a way. I'm not sure he is so good that all the top clubs will be clamouring for him as he turns 30, but I do think he would improve our team a lot. I think he is a really good player, but certainly not one of the best in the world. He isn't on the level of the Kaka's etc.

Too cheeky?

So Barcelona want Lampard but they will not go for him until they sell Deco who it appears is available at Barca. There hasn't really been any speculation regarding teams going after Deco. Do you think it would be worth a go? Do you think we would have a chance? Finally, do you think this is something we are looking into while at Barcelona?

You? Harsh. I'm a lovely guy really. Just a tad exictable. No more Motta I promise ... well until he signs.

I guess you are aware that if Motta does sign for NU, and turns out to be the biggest flop in the history of the club, this thread will be brought back up? You will have to take the blame, or at least you will be slated (either for a lack in football knowledge or for being vain, i.e. for wanting to be right). Still, I agree that Motta would be an almost infinitely better signing that Edmilson. Look ... he will be fairly cheap both transfer fee wise and wages wise. He is no doubt a talented individual who is still young, so of course I would be happier bringing him in. How he will do is difficult to say, but I like his chances with Sam at the helm. If it doesn't quite work out it doesn't look as if it will cost us a great deal anyway. What's not to like if we get this guy?

It's a very strong possibility though. Weren't you guys interestred in Alan Smith as well? Bent, Keane, Defoe & Smith next season?

Imagine if they got both Berbatov and Owen ... yikes.

I will laugh so hard ... oh my God! Tottenham fans, and believe me I know quite a few, have been so arrogant about the whole thing throughout too. The signs have been pointing this way though ... Gave Robbie Keane a new contract, but not Berbatov. Then pay what has to be considered a large amount of money to Charlton for Bent to sit on the bench? Unlikely ... I actually don't really want this to happen because I like to see really good players stick with teams outside the top 4. However Spurs probably deserve this if it happens.

Motta's comming to Newcastle I tell thee! Only 25 years young and injury free! Did I mention he was left-footed also? Can never have too many of those. Nice balance in midfield with Barton, which will hopefully be rounded off with the addition of Alou Diarra. We can make this thing work if you believe with me people! Please believe!

Had one knee injury a while ago that he has long since recovered from. Any other injuries have been niggles. He is a talented player with potential as he is only 25 this year. On a free or a minimal fee which is what he will be on by all accounts he is well worth it. He will be a younger version of Campo for us.

Is this thread real? Or a figment of my imagination? I want those 2 minutes of my life back NOW!!! If Oba wants to go to Arsenal he will never sign a new deal with us. If he does it will be because he has decided to stay with us. I for one hope we don't start offering him a ridiculous contract i.e. £90,000 a week or something stupid like that just to make sure he stays with us rather than join Arsenal. If he wants to go then let him, as long as we move quickly for another striker we will be fine.