AyeDubbleYoo

1. A Premier League Match 5. A Conference Match 6. A FA Cup Match 9. A League Cup Match 17. An English Derby 18. An International 25. A Champions League Match 27. A UEFA Cup Match 30. A Friendly 36. A saved penalty 37. Been a ball boy - but it was for rugby! Not many for me!

Was the uncertainty over the takeover and the debt not a factor in the amount Sam was allowed to spend?

Man City have improved but I'd say their squad is still pretty thin... it wouldn't take many injuries to put a stop to them.

I thought Smith performed his role quite well at the weekend, although whether a player in that position was needed is a different question. He certainly did win a lot of high balls and provided additional protection to the defense. It was a big mistake to sign him, but while he's here that seems to be the best use for him.

I have to admit even though I try to have a long-term view I still get angry deep down with this negative attitude that Sam has brought to the team. At the moment it seems as though any belief that Sam will get it right long-term is more to do with hope than based on anything we've seen on the pitch. I really thought he would be able to adapt his style to suit the better players we have vs Bolton, but right now I don't see any evidence of that. It's like he's trying to bring us down to the level of a bunch of cloggers because that's the only style he knows.

This is exactly it, we should be going out to beat these teams. We have the players to attack and scare opponents, if they weren't hobbled by the manager's negative mindset. I'll give Sam time, but I'm not happy at all with his attitude to away games.

Seems like we have a lot of players who aren't mobile enough to cope with premiership pace. A good result considering the team selection and performance, but we need to Zog in an attacking role. And Viduka and Owen are both good players, but without Oba on we lack penetration and don't scare teams. Barton had a nightmare, Smith did a good job breaking things up, I think that is all he is capable of now.

Hmm, the PFA boss sticking up for the players? Surprising...

I reckon Harper must understand and have accepted his position by now. If he was really bothered about being dropped he would have moved on years ago.

Capped at what though? And will we cap the salaries of city bankers and CEOs as well? Where do we stop? The free market reigns I'm afraid...

Leazes Terrace is one of the cities most beautiful streets, and there's no way they would be allowed to move them to expand SJP. I wouldn't be in favour of that at all, we need to remember the club's links and roots in the city - we wouldn't serve those by trying to demolish one of the town's best assets. And I really can't see Mike Ashley telling his thugs to set fire to a street full of inhabited flats!

I think you have to understand scepticism about these things though. There are so many people with supposed rumours etc all the time that are rarely true. Also I could have told you Allardyce wants Crouch playing for him ages ago. Doesn't exactly take a genius to put together the pieces of Sam liking big target men and having raved about Crouch as one of England's most effective players. He broke the news of the Smith transfer before it had become widespread knowledge. This guy does get the occassional Manchester United tidbit. If only he'd been wrong about that one.

Will give the kids a big boost as well.

I really hoped that Sam would surprise us by not committing the obvious and predictable mistake of approaching away games so negatively and getting beat by average sides. Sadly though, we could see this coming a mile away and he hasn't been able to avoid it. I just hope that this defeat will give him a wake-up call that he can put out the same team away, against most teams, and come away with more results than we are doing. It feels a bit like a rabbit in the headlights, we could see this coming against Reading but coudln't get out of the way of it. I'm very surprised that Sam can't see he is taking the wrong approach. He had better realise soon or he won't last long.

We have plastic keyboards here in England, they are much better. Mine is carved from solid ivory. With gold lettering.

I think it might be because everyone has the impression he's as useful as a chocolate fireguard.

Did I mention Lawro is a tool? How can have any idea what Newcastle fans are thinking is beyond me.

Lawro is a tool.

http://www.qwghlm.co.uk/toys/dailymail/

I'm not sure if they really believe it is a relegation scrap... that could be the thing that saves them or the thing that sends them down. I hear what you're saying. Personally, I don't think they're in a false position and there's a lot of work to be done. If Ledley King doesn't come back, they'll need to bring in a top class defender in January, and that might not be easy. I think you're right though - they think they're a great team in disguise and that could be fatal. People are quoting other managers who have been new to the Premiership, but Spurs are in a much more tricky situation. Mourinho took over a club who'd finished second in the league and he was given £100 million to spend. Benitez took over a top four club and hasn't really pushed them much further forward. Wenger did extremely well, but he inherited a superb defence that was the bedrock of his later success. All three were able to take over a club in the close season, with time to prepare and make their mark. Ramos will really have to hit the ground running. Spurs really need a fire-fighter, not a visionary. I think you're right, it might just be that they can't bring themselves to accept that they are scrapping and prefer to keep going with attractive attacking philosophy. Which if it works might save them, but at the moment looks like they will be too much of a soft touch still.

Good point I suppose, though not many managers move Premier League clubs and do better either. Sam will hopefully turn out to be the best of the bunch.

It's true, most of the best managers we have had in the league hadn't managed in the Prem before they took their current jobs. Fergy, Jose, Wenger etc.

Yep, the thing about Joey is he's so open with what he says. Sometimes it comes out intelligent, sometimes it's nonsense. That's the fun!

Shtop! Tottenham are not ready to be succeshful

I'm not sure if they really believe it is a relegation scrap... that could be the thing that saves them or the thing that sends them down.