KaKa

Get rid of both and get in Viduka and Anelka. Play the 4-3-3 alternating between Anelka and Viduka as our lone striker, and sometimes play both together in a 4-4-2. Maybe buy one more youngish striker with pace and height as an alternative to Anelka should he be injured, while using Ameobi as an alternative to Viduka.

The beauty about all fo this is that I feel comfortable that Sam will have other targets as he does have such a good knowledge of players from all over the world. So I don't think it will be a huge problem if we don't get him. Can anyone think of any other players from the continent we might go after as an alternative to Parker and Barton? Any players who have that drive and determination in midfield, who are legitimate box-to-box players. I'm not sure there are too many players like this outside of England. I can only think of Appiah and maybe Yaya Toure at the moment, but these players would cost more than what we sell Parker for, so it wouldn't be a good business move. Any ideas of top box-to-box midfielders for around £7 million?

Or on the other hand, he's committing the cardinal sin of management - playing people out of position. I'm an Allardyce fan, very much looking forward to the future under him, but bloody hell, don't go on like he's superhuman. Look ... I'm sure Sam didn't just make this decision on a whim, but due to some analysis he has done on Kieron Dyer. Therefore, I see no harm in him trying this, especially if Dyer is enthusiastic about it. There is no way anyone can be certain it won't work. Sam has all of pre-season and some friendlies to give it a test run anyway. You talk about Dyer being played out of position, the thing is though, he has no position! So how can you be played out of what you aren't in? You dig?

Lack of aggression? Hmmm ... hard to say, but he definitely didn't look like he lacked pace in Saturday's game! Definitely looked very elegant and fluid too. He's a good athlete thats for sure. He also did play some nice passes forward from the back.

The miracle worker. I see you've been reading my posts. For sure.

O ye of little faith ... how dare thee doubt the Allah'dyce. Leave him be. This is the kind of thing I have been looking forward to. A manager who might actually have ideas that are even more far reaching than the fans ideas. How anyone can whing about this without waiting to see how it works, should it even happen is beyond me. I know you are all just dying for Glenn's ingenious pick the most senior players irregardless of anything, tactical nous. Yikes.

From tomorrow's Times ... £12 million on Bellamy ... Wow. Words fail me.

Tell you what Sam has some gynormous ones ... first Barton and then Dyer at right-back?! You have to at least admire the guy for doing it his way, and that is exctly what he is doing. I'm intrigued by this because I am sure that the idea of Dyer at right-back has come about due to something they have noticed by tracking him or analysing his game through one of his special methods. Sounds like Dyer is up for it too and if he has indeed been sold on it then it must have been a prettu impressive argument put forth for this change. This is all very different for us as it's been a while since we had someone thinking out of the box, but it's what we have been demanding and I must say it is really going to make next season interesting at the very least.

I sense a 3-5-2 from Big Sam with Dyer as a right wing back and Taylor as one of a back three.

Ujpest Doza is our first official ITK! Take a bow son ... someone give that man a badge. He also said Taylor had been promised a first team place so that must be true too.

No worries city you'll get Deschamp or even Houllier. There are a lot of decent managers available, and as long as the takeover goes through you'll be fine. If not though ... I suspect you'll be after propa players and wide playing non-wingers and you'll definitely be needing a whole lot of lady luck's favour.

I watched him against Wales and although he wasn't tested a lot he did look very athletic and he had pace too, which was nice too see especially as he is pretty tall. He got caught one on one with Bellamy out wide at one point, but did an excellent job of facing up to him and bending his knees and getting nice and low, and he was able to stay in front of him and Bellars had to settle for wacking it off his legs for a corner. He certainly looks like he has the physical tools which is good. I know someone will say Boumsong looked like he did too, but he looked faster and more athletic than Jean-Alain.

Hell of a difference though in the abilities of Roy Keane and Joey Barton. That sooooooooooo wasn't/isn't the point dude ... So what your essentially saying is that it is alright to have a horrific character as long as your as good as Keane was?

I've always though Barton was most similar to Roy Keane in temperament than any of the other idiots he has been compared to like Bowyer. Keane is seen as some kind of legend though ... go figure. Not surprised to here that Sunderland was one of the other teams most interested in getting him. No doubt Keane sees a bit of himself in the lad.

I'm sensing a bit of bitterness here. I know quite a few Tottenham fans wanted him at the Lane next season, especially after Parker told you lot where to go. Aaaaah well at least you'll have Harry Kewell soon enough.

What is the correlation though? Sad day for the beautiful game? Are you for real? This is an astoundingly stupid post. He isn't the first player that we have signed who has some issues is he. Who signed Bowyer and Robert then? I'd rather have him than those two idiots. At least Joey is a 100% committed on the field.

eh? *Aaaah I got ya ... my bad!

This cannot be good for the transfer market. If he goes for anything near£13 million then how much is Bent worth? Eggy is losing it man!

West Ham set to join high rollers with £13m offer for Johnson EXCLUSIVE By NEIL ASHTON Last updated at 22:55pm on 3rd June 2007 West Ham will enter the summer spending frenzy with a £13million offer for Andrew Johnson and the promise of £90,000-a-week wages. The deal, which would more than double Johnson’s earnings at Everton, would be worth £4.7m a year. The England striker is aware of the interest and although West Ham expect Everton to rebuff their opening bid, the London club are prepared to go as high as £18m, which could prove too good to turn down. West Ham are already set to complete a £7m deal for Newcastle midfielder Scott Parker, who has agreed a £72,000-a-week contract. Now Hammers chief Alan Curbishley, backed b y Icelandic billionaire Thor Bjorgolfsson, wants Johnson as the club target Champions League football within the next three seasons. Johnson, who scored 11 Premiership goals for Everton last season, would become the highest paid player in Hammers history if their bid is successful. Goodison Park manager David Moyes, who is planning for a UEFA Cup campaign next season, is forced to work with a limited budget and is struggling to raise the £6m required to buy Phil Jagielka from relegated Sheffield United. Curbishley, resigned to losing Carlos Tevez, will make Lucas Neill captain next season with skipper Nigel Reo-Coker set for Aston Villa after his outburst last week. There is also no future at the club for Paul Konchesky, Matt Etherington and Hayden Mullins. The Parker transfer, which is subject to a medical, clears the way for Newcastle to tie up a £5.5m move for Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton. In a tribute to St James’ Park boss Sam Allardyce, Barton said last night: "He’s a good manager, he showed that at Bolton. At Newcastle the sky’s the limit. If the club decide to do business it’s up to me to speak to them."

Barton gets the chance of fresh start at Newcastle Oliver Kay Sam Allardyce did not shy away from recruiting players with questionable reputations during his time in charge of Bolton Wanderers and evidently he will not be afraid to do the same at Newcastle United, having lined up Joey Barton as his first signing since taking charge at St James’ Park three weeks ago. A formal bid to Manchester City is expected today, with the likelihood that the controversial midfield player will jump at the opportunity to fill the void left by Scott Parker’s £8.5 million transfer to West Ham United. West Ham registered an interest in Barton over the weekend as a fall-back option in case the Parker deal did not go through, but the Newcastle player is understood to have agreed personal terms last night, with a medical examination scheduled today. Newcastle are expected to make City a formal offer in the region of £5 million for Barton today, but no obstacles are foreseen, with the midfield player eager to move to Tyneside after an unhappy and controversial end to his career at the City of Manchester Stadium Barton won his first England cap as a substitute in the friendly match against Spain in February, but his excellent form for much of the season was overshadowed by problems off the pitch. He was arrested in March on suspicion of criminal assault and criminal damage after an alleged argument with a taxi driver in Liverpool, while his City career was effectively ended by a training-ground incident on May 1, when he was alleged to have assaulted Ousmane Dabo, one of his teammates, during a practice match. City instantly suspended Barton, 24, for the remainder of the season and unofficially made him available for transfer, while Dabo requested that Greater Manchester Police press charges against him. Having also clashed off the pitch with Richard Dunne, the City captain, and Jamie Tandy, a former reserve-team player, Barton is widely viewed as a player with “baggage”, but Allardyce is clearly more concerned with his ability and attitude on the pitch, which include an insatiable desire for self-improvement. Since his suspension by City, which extended to being banned from the training ground, Barton is said to have put himself through a punishing fitness regime as he prepares to make the most of any second opportunity afforded to him elsewhere. Everton were the early favourites to sign Barton, having attempted to buy him in January, while there was also interest from Celtic and Sunderland. Barton is eager to use any transfer to relaunch a career that is in danger of being overshadowed by negative publicity. “It is disappointing that people have a certain opinion of me,” he said in an interview on Saturday, “but I meet countless people who, in all aspects of my life, will testify: ‘You’re not the person you’re made out to be’. “At certain times I don’t do myself any favours with incidents, but to make out I’m some kind of yob, some kind of psychopath for want of a better word, is so far from the truth it’s unreal.” Parker has had two successful seasons with Newcastle, the second as captain, but he was attracted by the idea of returning to his native London and becoming the first of what Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager, hopes will be several eye-catching summer signings. Curbishley, who previously managed Parker at Charlton Athletic, also has a strong interest in Tim Cahill and Andrew Johnson, the Everton pair.

Poor Souey ... he was so misunderstood. Could have been a legend. Don't forget he wanted Sol Campbell too! Souey was so ahead of the game. What a forward thinking manager. If only Shepherd would have backed him.

Read an ITK (a mate of 2 pools) on another forum saying that Taylor had been told he was first choice centre back next season and Dyer had been told he was playing Right Back (which he has done beofre for Ipswich, England and NUFC). Taylor starting and Dyer at right back ... 3-5-2 maybe? That way Sam can have his three man midfield, which he seems to prefer, as well a second striker to partner one of our dwarves. Do you think Dyer would be open to playing right-back though? I wonder what Sam sees in him to believe he would excel in this roll. Dyer is still the man with no position after all these years ... I wonder if he was receptive to the idea.

Look ... there is no point trying to justify this signing or making excuses for it by saying things like this is the best type of player we can attract. Barton has been signed because Allardyce rates him highly and it is as simple as that. Now from a personal point of view I have always admired him as a football player. He is from the same mould as Scott parker as far as his committment and drive, but he is a much better shooter and is also a more confident and better passer of the ball. On the field he also appears to have a good rapport with his teammates and doesn't seem to get down on them at all. I personally have high hopes for him because I genuinely feel that he doesn't intentionally go out of his way to be destructive and that as he continues to work on his anger management he will get better. He has already come quite a long way, and is very honest about his 'condition' and recognises that it is something he has to continue to work on. Oh yeah ... and on a totally unrelated point. I always wondered where the rest of the teammates as well as the manager were when he was throttling Dabo? Why wasn't the situation diffused as it was beginning to escalate?

Robben staying as Ben Haim heads for Chelsea Jamie Jackson Sunday June 3, 2007 The Observer Two weeks after appearing ready to leave Stamford Bridge, Arjen Robben is set to stay at Chelsea after the club persuaded him to resist Bayern Munich's efforts to entice him to Germany. The Dutch winger, who cost £12million in the summer of 2004, is said by a Stamford Bridge insider to be 'more than happy' in west London, despite a sometimes fractious relationship with Jose Mourinho. A Chelsea player will have something to celebrate tomorrow, when Michael Essien is given the BBC's African footballer of the year award in Accra, Ghana. And he may have a new team-mate in the next week, to add to Steve Sidwell and Claudio Pizarro, if Tal Ben Haim can be persuaded to join the club. Chelsea will have to fight off Liverpool and Newcastle, the latter now managed by the Israel central defender's former boss at Bolton, Sam Allardyce. The 25-year-old would have moved to Stamford Bridge in January if Bolton had not demanded £3m for a player who is now a free agent. http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2094119,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=5

Bendtner is at Arsenal with a brand new 5 year deal. Forssell is a perma crock. Andy Cole will be leaving. McSheffrey will be on the left wing. Campbell is more of a mascot for them.