Tiresias

Oddly enough can see Obertan drawing a lot of fouls out of the Wigan defence. Though still prefer Marveaux there and HBA central

We do obviously need a big shake up about how we develop youth, not sure fast tracking players to big clubs is a great idea, unless the big clubs set up B teams to play in lower leagues a la Barcalona B etc

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/oct/19/football-league-academies I think this is a pretty terrible idea, if anything I'd go the other way and make it harder for premier league teams to snatch up players. It's not that I don't want us pilfering great talent, but I think what already happens, and will happen is that more youth talent is bought up at a young age to premier league, where they languish in the reserves and never break through. Some will obviously get loaned out, but I think it's healthier for players to play in first teams for a longer stretch before moving up to next level. Wouldn't want premiership teams just buying players just because it's cheap. Hmmmm.

oddly enough wouldn't mind keeping Raylor for utility cover, he's in the end been alright at left back. Get a new leftback, Santon move over to right, Raylor in as cover, I'll be happy

the horror

Their defence is a right mess at the moment, lets keep our high defensive line and really test their backline as much as possible, should comfortably be able to score. Al-Habsi is alright but one of those keepers that looks good from defense letting lots of shots go at him, which he can then save.

Wouldn't mind seeing vucknic start, sounded very good in reserves game

Sounds like no plans on sticking Marveaux or Guti on the right, shame

Oh absolutely could be great, and go for him

Think he said in an interview he wants to manage in England and wouldn't mind trying a team outside big 4 or something. He'd probably be a candidate for Arsenal should Arsene go, I dunno, they may want to go with youth and vigour though, (still think Villas Boas probably more suibted for Arsenal than Chelsea, whom I suspect will chew him up and spit him out).

Not trying to rain on anyones parade, but doesn't look like he'll be a worldbeater if he's not set a league on fire by 25. Not saying bad purchase, hopefully prove canny, and I'll trust the scouting considering Cabaye etc, probably be a good purchase, but would he replace Ba or Best right now? We'll see.

Ancelotti is clearly holding out for totenham once Redknapp goes to England job, if he really does want to manage in england again. If he wanted to manage a smaller club someone would have sacked their manager and given him the job already. I'd hate Ancelotti to manage sunderland since I find him oddly lovelable, like a huggable uncle with a crazy eyebrow

Bruce will probably spend a while out of management, then go to some lower league team, do alright with them and eventually get a premier league job again, and everyone will be going about him being given unfair treatment at sunderland. Though I guess that's pretty much Pardew's career path too actually, only he's turned out to be pretty competant

Don't worry, Ba'll be injured by then

Has he really looked good as a CB there? Wasn't convinced the few times I've seen him there, but haven't seen enough.

we dont play like this, at all ? Did Jonas not cross for a striker on Sunday......who scored. I think he meant balls from outwide high into the box, rather than a short ball to a player from already inside the box. in the 4-2-3-1 with HBA playing behind lone striker, there's obviously less ability to get heads to long balls, but with both wingers essentially trying to get into the box rather than to the corner having HBA behind striker makes sense as that creates space if a centreback tracks forwards... While 2 strikers is working thouch understand not changing it, but do think we should rotate systems. I think Barfa behind Ba would terrorise the Wigan defence this weekend, doubt they'd know what to do.

Probably just visiting old victims he's played against, top bloke. He's obviously just having his robotics oiled

Much improved from our seemingly fairly inept summer striker policy of finding people then not quite agreeing deals then panicing. Get it sorted early, so no panics over last minute price hikes.

For squad depth really need a new new centre back imo. a long term injury to Colo or even Saylor would be a disaster, Willimanson being pretty much the sole backup, (unless you could Perch but does anyone? I wonder if Tiote would be told to slot in back). I'd honestly put it highter priority than a new striker right now. All the targets said I'm not sure about (Ridgewell? nah) A fullback who can play CB would be nice.

If we're breaking even supposedly surely we are capable of resisting big bids. The main worry surely is that he has his head turned by promises of Champions League footy...please please no

Is Sessegnol basically just Kevin Nolan without the goals or am I missing something?

We don't have two wingers getting crosses in though, we have Guti's whose going to try and pass to the feet of players from edge of box, and Obertain whose...not going to do anything. Barfa sitting between defense and midfield will pull a defender further up the pitch and expose the box more, leaving room for Ba. Not that I disagree entirely, there are games where you want to pack the box, and have two strikers there, but a lot of defences are pretty canny against crosses, players operating between the lines is arguably harder to deal with. Think he'll be alright on wing but doubt he's going to lob in many crosses really.

I was torn between Cabaye and Tiote as I feel with a new player in midfield need to partner with someone experienced. I went with Tiote because Cabaye seems to run himself half to death every game and wonder if a midweek fixture could tire him out from the Weekend. Tiote is going to provide the defensive solidity to prevent an upset, I'd prefer him, rather than worrying so much about getting a suspension so much not playing him when we need him.

I wouldn't mind Krul Santon Colo Saylor Raylor Abeid Tiote Barfa Marveaux Best Shola Rests some of the players who are doing a lot of running, and rests Ba just because he's notoriously injury prone. Shola has earned some gametime after that goal...I know I know...

If he was english Liverpool would have paid £1000000000000000000000000000000000000 for him