Tiresias

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/oct/06/northern-ireland-try-shane-ferguson Eeep doesn't speak that highly of the player to be honest, hope the club isn't helping hide him or something...bizarre.

The more I think about it the more I prefer a midfield triangle with HBA (if he's not there there used to be a lot of talk of Marveax being able to play in centre so he could sit in and Obertan be on right) and 1 striker, and hope to outnumber Modric and Parker/Sandro in midfield. Guti, we do run risk down flanks but Bale's runs and if VdV is playing on the right (which he looks likely to) we could get a lot of love getting in behind him as he's terrible at tracking back.

Well now I feel bad if that's the case, good on Barton for that

Yeah it's beginning to feel like the Barton - Nolan ocracy was really rather demoralizing for the players not in that 'commiitee' and Barton's attitude (if the rumours were true) to Cabaye when he came in was disgraceful. Looking back now, I was as pessimistic about losing Barton as anyone, pretty glad that element has been removed. Not to say that players have to be happy to play well, appreciate that Nolan would just bollock anyone not putting in a shift on pitch, but for a bunch of new young players, maybe best now that everyone is happier now...or maybe they're not and next season we'll discover the faultlines lol.

did he pay no part of the reserves game? Liked the look of this guy

was the murder mystery who killed Houghton? it was

hmmm think you misunderstood 'second-guessing' a bit there, not saying it's not informed but it's still rather up to the player You make a fair point that an angry 17 year old making a decision out of spite for rejection is a poor one, but it is theirs to make. The fault here lies entirely with France putting players in this position and failing to 'sell' playing for france to them, if they get their act together more players will play for them.

I think they have a very similar problem to us at the moment, they rather want to play Adebayor and Defoe up front (and Redknapp is loath to not use 4-4-2 I think) and so has accodated VdV on the right wing to allow those two upfront, dunno once Lennon is back I guess it'll be a case of Lennon or Defoe, I'd suspect that formation and Lennon will be prefered. I'd still fancy them to score right now, our best chance is to try and hold possesion up the pitch, Cabaye and Tiote vs Parker and Modric is an interesting one, if HBA is sitting in the midfield too I'd fancy us on this front. They do pose a big risk down the flanks too. Totenham sometimes look a bit listless, sometimes great entertainers. I can see any result from this, and think Redknapp can be a bit tactically naive (which worked for them in Champions league till they came up against a team with some nous against fast attacking but poor defensively opponents). Hopefully our slightly more guileful squad at the moment will keep them undercontrol and out pass them. Edit: Yeah on their day their squad is better than ours, though I don't really rate their defense that high.

Delighted if true, him and Guti's attitudes are spot on and should be the role-models for the younger players.

We are absolutely a million miles from Germany and Spain at the moment, Holland look good despite their atrocity at trying to ruin the world cup final, and Italy and France are getting their act together since the world cup in a way we completely haven't. We desperately needed to gel in a new team together in preparation for the Euros. I don't buy this need to gradually shift, nice enough but when clearly players are dragging the attitude down, the team will never work well with each other. Obviously the intent now is to build the team around Wilshere, and I think this is a decent enough plan. With Phil Jones, Sturridge, Oxlaide Chamberlin, Welbeck, Rooney still young, Cleverly etc, there is the talent about, but nowhere near enough and we are short in areas. Downing and Young do appear to be stepping up for England a bit of late though so that's good. The main problem we have now is that we just can't compete with the possession game currently dominating, or the speedy attacking of Germany at world cup. I don't think we have the players to play a possession game (and indeed at international level it is noticably more defensive and boring, Spain at world cup were not really entertainers, they retained the ball so well they didn't conceed, but by being barcalona without Messi, lacked a cutting edge. I think the idea has been for a aggressive but counter attacking minded team, but our defense isn't good enough, we can't afford to invite pressure onto ourselves as we haven't the solidity at the back. Another problem is keeping possession at a basic level further up the pitch, Lampard adds ample scoring ability but absolutely no ability to retain the ball. Wilshere is sorely missed, and without him we look like Arsenal without Wilshere, unconvincing and sorely missing someone like Fabergas anyway. England doesn't generate playmakers, Wilshere is the closest we have, and maybe Cleverly will be able to do this, but now the most valuable commodity in footy we are very short of. We need some longtermist thinking now, not Capello who now is just running down his contract, we need someone to build this young team, and admit probably not going to be great for another 4 years together.

When it comes to players deciding where their loyalty lies for which country they play for, I don't really think it's anyone's business apart from the player's, and second guessing why is pretty silly.

I know this can be a recipe for a disaster but wouldn't mind Pardew just putting gutirrez marveaux and Ben Arfa on the pitch and saying, go where you like

Still doing pretty well, can't really argue with the start we've had, that said he got the subs wrong against Wolves, and need to see how he incorporates HBA into the side

Meh Barton played well for us last season, I don't see any need to rewrite him out of the club's history since we've hit the ground running without him. He's a right mad one off pitch though, entertaining, but glad he's out the dressing room really.

It's a 4-2-3-1 really, or 4-3-3 could stretch too.

Yeah it's a bit harsh on Best, and tbh think he just about deserves to be there as much as Ba, but on present evidence Ba keeps finding net... If Pardew desperately wants to stick to two upfront for now can't see much wrong with krul Raylor Saylor Colo Santon Ben Arfa Cabaye Tiote Guti Best Ba Mirroring Totenham's current set up with VDV sitting on right but operating basically freely. My problem with this of course is that Bale would be a threat up against Raylor if HBA isn't really managing things defensively.

Starting him is a risk but one has to at some point, and against a team where if we lose it's not a disaster is a good one to take it in. I also think Modric and parker is probably the best midfield we've played against so far so him sitting in front of our usual 2 would be tactically sound.

might be worth it actually

Well ok some did of course, but generally think he's become central to the team much quicker than could have been asked of him

Totenham have of late been playing VdV out wide, a decision i'm not sure about and running marveaux against him might give us a lot of success. Even though i have previously today said this might not work moving guti to the right to help deal with Bale could help as well. I'd then play Krul Simp Saylor Colo Santon Cabaye Tiote Guti HBA Marveax Ba Pretty much our strongest side, which I would like to see against the top sides. I also prefer this to a 4-4-2 since i think this should allow us to hold possession in the center. Never been especially convinced over Spur's defence so Ba should be able to get a goal. Do rate Adebayor (he always starts well), think we'll struggle to keep a clean sheet. Simpson is the weak link in the side there.

To be fair on all the pessimists, I don't think anyone expected Cabaye to settle so fast and look so comfortable

All this Jonas on the right stuff neglects he hasn't played there for aaaages has he? Not saying he couldn't make quixk transistion, some players do but it could be a problem. I'd certainly want him over there to shield simpson once santon is established on the left.

was the £35 million spent after all, bribing all the refs? lol

we should arguably improve with subs so looking good.

another bench with fingers crossed the central defence doesn't get injured