Allardyce gone if we suffer defeat on Wednesday

[Keefaz]

It seems to me that Beye is a better player at CB, if that means having to put up with Carr at RB for the good of the team, then so be it. If possible, I'd like to see Carr Beye Faye Enrique for 10 games.

[TRon]

It seems to me that Beye is a better player at CB, if that means having to put up with Carr at RB for the good of the team, then so be it. If possible, I'd like to see Carr Beye Faye Enrique for 10 games.

 

or how about playing Beye and Enrique at full back once the specialist CB's are available again?

[Keefaz]

It seems to me that Beye is a better player at CB, if that means having to put up with Carr at RB for the good of the team, then so be it. If possible, I'd like to see Carr Beye Faye Enrique for 10 games.

 

or how about playing Beye and Enrique at full back once the specialist CB's are available again?

 

Cos none of them have looked as good as Beye, tbh.

[Parky]

It seems to me that Beye is a better player at CB, if that means having to put up with Carr at RB for the good of the team, then so be it. If possible, I'd like to see Carr Beye Faye Enrique for 10 games.

 

Mate that's almost a semi-Allardyce you're suggesting there...

[Yorkie]

It seems to me that Beye is a better player at CB, if that means having to put up with Carr at RB for the good of the team, then so be it. If possible, I'd like to see Carr Beye Faye Enrique for 10 games.

 

Is it really worth experimenting again? Carr will cock-up at a rate as alarming as Bramble - he really isn't worth having in the team, and we'll jsut be chucking him out again. Beye's done well, but we need to keep the same starting personnel now. The strategy that has been most effective has been the 4-3-3/4-5-1 (and i know, i've harped about 4-4-2, but this really seems the best way forward at the moment) so it's time to stick with that. I'd stick with N'Zogbia at left-back too.

[Keefaz]

Basically, I'd do anything to avoid playing Rozehnal.

[brummie]

I can understand the discontent after recent performances, but if you did lose on Wednesday, and SA was sacked the next day, what do you think would happen (think would happen, not want to happen) after? And in what kind of time frame?

 

That's what I can't get to grips with here - sacking a manager at this point of the season means the rest of the season is a cast-iron, guaranteed write off. He might be struggling now, but give him the rest of the season to make progress - if the alternative is still a written off season, I don't see what is to gain. At least that way he gets a reasonable chance, too.

[Yorkie]

That's true, Brummie.

 

The season's probably not going to go anywhere anyway - it's transitional and it's a completely different manager (new team aswell) getting to grips. It'll be the same thing with any other new boss.

 

I'll stand by what i've said before. All this is, is Allardyce trying things out and finding out what's best. If he tries every permutation, just to find the right one, it'll be worth a poor first season. If he's still tinkering in twelve months time (without things don't go disasterously wrong before then), then i'll be really worried.

[Wullie]

It seems to me that Beye is a better player at CB, if that means having to put up with Carr at RB for the good of the team, then so be it. If possible, I'd like to see Carr Beye Faye Enrique for 10 games.

 

or how about playing Beye and Enrique at full back once the specialist CB's are available again?

 

Cos none of them have looked as good as Beye, tbh.

 

Bollocks imo. Cacapa, Pompey aside, has looked imperious. Beye's made cock-ups too (winner for Reading, even Blackburn's second he was somewhat culpable for), we need unity and some sense of a back four, rather than just whoever is available slung in. None of our new defenders have done themselves justice so far - and it is absolutely not because they are shite, any of them.

 

The way some people have totally written off Cacapa (and I'm not talking about you Keefaz, I know you're a level headed soul) is mind-boggling to me. Apart from the fact he wasn't even fit, good defenders make mistakes - did you see Carragher today giving Anelka an open goal? Hyypia too makes mistakes, and the pair of them are incredibly one paced. They know each other's game inside out though and that's what's made them one of the best defences in Europe over the past few years. This bloke's won five consecutive French titles as captain in a side which has also been excellent in Europe during that time - one bad ten minute spell and suddenly he's not good enough for NUFC or the Premiership. Sometimes I wonder just who the fuck we think we are.

[Yorkie]

Aye i'm all for Caçapa/Faye back in the side.

 

They, for two or three games atleast, looked like the best CB pairing we've had in yonks.

[Mick]

 

Bollocks imo. Cacapa, Pompey aside, has looked imperious. Beye's made cock-ups too (winner for Reading, even Blackburn's second he was somewhat culpable for), we need unity and some sense of a back four, rather than just whoever is available slung in. None of our new defenders have done themselves justice so far - and it is absolutely not because they are s****, any of them.

 

The way some people have totally written off Cacapa (and I'm not talking about you Keefaz, I know you're a level headed soul) is mind-boggling to me. Apart from the fact he wasn't even fit, good defenders make mistakes - did you see Carragher today giving Anelka an open goal? Hyypia too makes mistakes, and the pair of them are incredibly one paced. They know each other's game inside out though and that's what's made them one of the best defences in Europe over the past few years.

 

I agree that Cacapa has been written off too early by some, I think he could do a good job as a last defender because he reads the game well, I'd have as much faith in him playing against Arsenal as I would any other.  I'd play the two best fullbacks we've got Enrique and Beye and have possibly Taylor next to Cacapa if Faye isn't fit as Rozenhal has looked suspect more often than any of our centre backs yet he seems to have had an easy ride by most.

[Troll]

Beye  Cacapa Faye Enrique

 

We should stick with that back four and give them time to gel and learn to play with each other.  Cacapa and Faye looked like the best CB partnership we've had this season and the other two are our best real full backs.  We need to stick with them and stop changing everything every match.

[Keefaz]

I have nothing against Cacapa and, if fit, I'd have him in place of Rozehnal who will get destroyed by Arsenal, imo.

[Yorkie]

I have nothing against Cacapa and, if fit, I'd have him in place of Rozehnal who will get destroyed by Arsenal, imo.

 

Yeah, i really fear that. He's not nearly imposing enough. Far too lightweight and prone to making 'little' errors. They're big errors against your Arsenal's, though.

[Wullie]

Beye  Cacapa Faye Enrique

 

We should stick with that back four and give them time to gel and learn to play with each other.  Cacapa and Faye looked like the best CB partnership we've had this season and the other two are our best real full backs.  We need to stick with them and stop changing everything every match.

 

 

I can forgive changing things for injuries, I don't expect Big Faye to play with a hamstring strain, but I can't forgive this fucking about with the full backs.

[Kitman]

According to Physioroom.com, Carr is injured yet again.  Hamstring. 

[Yorkie]

Beye  Cacapa Faye Enrique

 

We should stick with that back four and give them time to gel and learn to play with each other.  Cacapa and Faye looked like the best CB partnership we've had this season and the other two are our best real full backs.  We need to stick with them and stop changing everything every match.

 

Agree with that. But if it's a 4-3-3, then i don't think N'Zogbia fits in the front six, so would have to go in at left-back. He needs to be in the team regardless...

 

The other three defenders shouldn't be changing, imo.

[Yorkie]

According to Physioroom.com, Carr is injured yet again.  Hamstring.  

 

Dang nabbit.

[Keefaz]

How come it's all defenders out injured? It's really fucking us up with an ever-changing back four.

[Wullie]

Beye  Cacapa Faye Enrique

 

We should stick with that back four and give them time to gel and learn to play with each other.  Cacapa and Faye looked like the best CB partnership we've had this season and the other two are our best real full backs.  We need to stick with them and stop changing everything every match.

 

Agree with that. But if it's a 4-3-3, then i don't think N'Zogbia fits in the front six, so would have to go in at left-back. He needs to be in the team regardless...

 

The other three defenders shouldn't be changing, imo.

 

Why is Milner a better bet for the left side of the front three than N'Zogbia? Genuine question.

[Yorkie]

It's a good question.

 

The whole Milner thing gets blown out of proportion. He's been below-par this season but i think he's starting to improve, i thought he was decent against Blackburn.

 

I think that he will assist the middle man more - bringing it inside and playing it, and i think he's got more of a brain when it comes to playing more central, as another striker, type-thing. There was a point when we were 2-1 down, where he wormed his way into the box and had a point blank shot blocked right infront of goal. OK, you could say that he should have scored (it was a difficult opportunity to be fair to him), but i don't think N'Zogbia would have got into that position. He's more of a 'striker' than Zoggy, i reckon - which is something you need to be capable of being in that position.

 

Also, he can cut inside onto his right boot which is always helpful.

 

Plus - tinhat - i think he's more 'careful' when taking his man on.

 

That's my answer anyhow. I think in this formation, N'Zogbia will be more effective coming from deep. He's shown that earlier in the season and there was once or twice in the first half where he had good chances to get balls into the box from a further-back position, but just waited too long.

 

Just my opinion, obviously. Don't shout me down.

[Mick]

It's a good question.

 

The whole Milner thing gets blown out of proportion. He's been below-par this season but i think he's starting to improve, i thought he was decent against Blackburn.

 

I think that he will assist the middle man more - bringing it inside and playing it, and i think he's got more of a brain when it comes to playing more central, as another striker, type-thing. There was a point when we were 2-1 down, where he wormed his way into the box and had a point blank shot blocked right infront of goal. OK, you could say that he should have scored (it was a difficult opportunity to be fair to him), but i don't think N'Zogbia would have got into that position. He's more of a 'striker' than Zoggy, i reckon - which is something you need to be capable of being in that position.

 

Also, he can cut inside onto his right boot which is always helpful.

 

Plus - tinhat - i think he's more 'careful' when taking his man on.

 

That's my answer anyhow. I think in this formation, N'Zogbia will be more effective coming from deep. He's shown that earlier in the season and there was once or twice in the first half where he had good chances to get balls into the box from a further-back position, but just waited too long.

 

Just my opinion, obviously. Don't shout me down.

 

I don't want to knock Milner but he's got nothing that N'Zogbia hasn't got except that he's possibly more two footed.

[Yorkie]

I wouldn't knock the idea - i just think the left hand side, as a whole, would be more effective with them both on it.

[Guest Biggav316]

i blagged corporate tickets for the blackburn game through one of my friends relatives and was drinking in the directors lounge after the match.

Ashley came into the bar with chris mort after the game and me and my 3 pals spent half an hour talking to them. The upshot is that allardyce has to prove himself still but they are going to give him time to do it.

had a great chat with them and the banter was good.

[Dave]

i blagged corporate tickets for the blackburn game through one of my friends relatives and was drinking in the directors lounge after the match.

Ashley came into the bar with chris mort after the game and me and my 3 pals spent half an hour talking to them. The upshot is that allardyce has to prove himself still but they are going to give him time to do it.

had a great chat with them and the banter was good.

 

Thank fuck for that.