cubaricho

Looks as though Keegan told Guthrie to play with a bit more flair because he surely never played like this at Bolton, back heels, dummying, flair moves. If I remember correctly he was soley a workman in the midfield with very little creativity.

Would also like to mention that the ref is doing a great job at laying off the whistle. There has been more than a few tackles that would have gotten called in a Prem match but he's really letting the match just go which is refreshing.

Great tracking back by Enrique.

For us lonely, sad fookers. Do you care to expand on that at all? Always making himself available, always looking to run at people, making some creative passes - overall looking quality.

Beye is so obviously class. I can't tell if it's the team he's playing with or if he's just that class, but it's so obvious watching matches that he's the real deal - wish we would've found him sooner.

Cacapa is looking pretty assured there at the back. Would it be in our interest to put Bassong back there with him since they both speak French along with Beye? Really well taken and set up nicely by Milner.

It's a preseason thing.

Would be a class signing if we pulled it off, especially since the mackems were in for him a season or two ago.

Smith must be absolutely gutted on the bench. No goals in two matches with him up front and then he gets subbed and in the span of 8 minutes or so we score two.

Great touch by Milner to take the ball in his stride and feed Guthrie to be fair.

Yep, we've certainly improved since he left. I for one am much happier with the current state of play now that we don't have to worry about Bellamy's name appearing in the press. Do I sense some sarcasm here? We certainly don't have to worry about any of our current players ending up in the paper...

would take it in a heartbeat.

http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/sport/3570330.Hammers_win_eight_goal_thriller_with_Town__but_Bellamy_limps_out/ If they could get Bellamy and Ashton fit for the whole season and playing next to each other they could really be deadly.

I know we're not allowed to post links to football videos but a quick search on youtube for "diaby sneijder" and the first video that comes up is plenty fine. It's easily one of the worst tackles I've seen, even though I don't think it was intentional. I think he is just really bad at tackling and it was a total lapse in judgement.

I am still surprised more was not made of Diaby's tackle - what a horrendous challenge. Clearly went over the top, clearly wrapped his legs around his, and clearly tried to flip him over. Sneijder is lucky to get away with just the possible ACL injury and not anything worse. http://www.tiscali.co.uk/media/images/galleries/sport/football/foc/large/20080803_18_gyi0055420775.jpg

Definitely don't mind that starting eleven at all, but I'd use Harper instead of Given to be honest. He has not set a foot wrong since coming in to take over from Given.

Would love to see Faye and Coloccini as first choice CBs with Bassong as the first replacement for both CBs and Enrique at LB.

Bassong looks so much better than Taylor it's amazing. I hope he gets some faith from KK this season.

I expect the kids to get a run out the second half.

Is the stream shit or the setanta signal shit?

I'd probably go with this, only having Duff where Milner is, Milner where Zoggy is, and Zoggy where Duff is. Duff will be more useful cutting inside from the RM spot than Milner would be and Zogs is decent cutting inside from the LW position. Milner should be ok playing next to Guthrie in CM with more of a forward thinking mind than Guthrie would.

What a horrible place for a tattoo.

They got that quote from the comments on an article posted on the front page - are they fucking serious? That kind of shit passes as proper journalism in England?

Going to bed now, hopefully when I wake up later something will have transpired. Fingers crossed we get him and don't get held ransom over it.

There's no way. I picture him bitchslapping people when fighting - 1) He French 2) He's a whiny girl.