Dr Gloom

In a rather round about way. 39961[/snapback] Indeed! But it does amuse me when people who categorically state they are glad to be rid of Bellamy/Robert and don't care one bit about them anymore are always to be found either starting threads about them or posting the most in threads about them! If you don't care about them, don't post about them. 39965[/snapback] it's a shame that there's no middle ground between the two boards. this one has far better quality debate but the other one moves faster. the old board was at its peak just before it merged with howaythetoon imo. i miss the old banter with the likes of blaydon, nytoon and some of the other old posters that we don't see much of these days, and of course the 3-5-2 debates with papa lazaru....although i'm guessing they could be ressurected. so just for old times sake....does anyone reckon viana is a defensive midfielder?

he's a classy modern midfielder. tidy in possesion, eye for a pass and a good engine. he can play deep and put his foot in or box to box ahead of a holdihg player. a great buy from souness.

tbh i think far too many people keep saying tbh

i've got to admit, it's the first thing i thought when i read the piece too. if owen has a class season and world cup and liverpool or another big club offer what we paid for him, it will be hard to stop him leaving if he wanted out. but who knows. if we can turn our season around and claim a top 4 spot, maybe he'll stay. i'm just going to enjoy the fact we've got england's number 1 striker, even if it is only for one season

it was a pre-season knockabout though. hard to judge him on that alone.

i'm up for gatecrashing it

i'd still like to see us sign boa morte. he would give us width and compeition for the left wing position, allowing luque to join owen up front after shearer retires...

he's got potential but i see him playing inside in the future. at the moment his lack of pace and poor crossing is too poor for a wide man.

i don't think even souness can start owen on the right wing

a bit like us trying for ronaldo. never going to happen

it's typical that we sign three players that can transform our starting eleven when half the side is out injured. with milner, jenas, viana, ambrose etc gone and bowyer, dyer and emre all injured we're going to have to put a midfield together out of faye, parker, n'zogbia, luque and clarke. fuck knows who'll play right wing...

i think milner lacks the pace to cut it as a top class winger.

i think year long loans usually mean that the player will stay at the club even if he picks up an injury. he's basically theirs for a year...no strings attached.

that picture of nobby says it all. he cleary never wanted to leave in the first place

i've read all the newspaper comment relating to the owen story and can't believe how much of it is so negative. there was always going to be some sour grapes among the southern press - we're not the most fashionable club in the world - but i didn't expect this much...

Spanish lad that I work with (who knows his football) reckons Luque operates best on the left but can work as a striker if asked to. 26363[/snapback] I don't want to dispute this. From what I have seen of him (though not very much) he didn't look like an out and out winger. And he is better when going forward then when he has a burden of defensive work to do. 26372[/snapback] aye. he looks a canny player, but is he really the 'hard working wide man' souness was after? strikes me more of an attacking winger/forward from what i've seen.

i agree in theory but i'm guessing dyer will be expecting to start when fit after just signing an £80k a week contract

you're probably right gemmil. i'm just feeling mindlessly optimistic after a thoroughly depressing summer has turned on its head in 24 hours.

Haway Dan, we've improved the first 11 a lot over the summer, but to say it's as good as anyone's in the Premiership isn't right. We've always been able to beat anyone on our day, but I can't agree that our first 11 is as good as Chelsea's. Not at all. 26327[/snapback] man for man, maybe not in the defence. and obviously we haven't got anywhere near their strength in depth. i still expect us to challenge for a top 4 place with that starting eleven. souness can ask for no more from his chairman. it's time for him to prove his doubters wrong with results. we should go to places like stamford bridge now confident that we can give them as good a game as anyone in the premierhsip.

My god, what rubbish, our full backs are appalling for starters. Not to mention the inept manager. Talk about going over the top. 26295[/snapback] i said challenging for the title. i don't expect us to win it - remember that we were up there a couple of years ago until the final few weeks of the season with a far poorer backline. i agree with you on the manager - he still has it all to prove - but i think our starting eleven is now as good as anyone's in the premiership. we should be able to beat anyone now on our day with a fully fit first choice eleven, including chelsea. i think the reason we won't win anything is because of the lack of depth in our sqaud, not the quality of the first team.

we have to go back to 4-4-2 if shearer is playing. surely we can't sign owen then shunt him to the right of a 4-3-3. 4-4-2 will also allow nobby to get a few crosses on shearer's heed

could almost bring a tear to your eye

souness asked for five 'top men' and two squad players and the fat controller has delivered. i'm speechless to be honest. there are no excuses for souness now. i can't imagine that he's ever been backed so well by his chairman at any other club. he has to get us back in to the top 5. obviously it will take a while for the new team to gel, but if you look at our first team on paper we should be challenging for the title.

you've got to take your hat off to fat fred. he's signed england's first choice striker and brought back one of our favourite adopted sons in the space of 24 hours. his dividend is safe for the near future.

one greedy bastard. there's only one greedy bastard