Optimistic Nut

Not even on the Real Madrid bench tonight. Expect him on Tyne or Merseyside by Wednesday.

He's an £8m defender. You have the Terry's, Ferdinand's, etc. who'd cost £20m+, then Boumsong is probably in the next group down...but he could easily still make it into that top group.

Luque was about 5 yards offside.

Parker Babayaro Taylor

Can't understand Luke Young's selection. Surely it's worth sticking in someone like Dawson or even Taylor who are likely to push for the squad for the next decade?

He was ok, but gifted them 2 goals? So how does that work then? 20706[/snapback] For 92 minutes 57 seconds he was fine. 3 seconds he switched off. But even then, I feel Taylor could have won the first header, and if he had made contact with the cross for the second it could have easily been an own goal.

I thought he was okay...but he missed two simple clearances which cost us.

My only gripe with Souness today was that even at 1-0 late on, he still had Ameobi on the right. Surely it would have been better to have stuck him right up front with Shearer, Luque on the left & Jenas on the right? I was very impressed with Babayaro by the way. He's getting a run of games under his belt now, and is performing pretty well.

It would have been good if Luque had smashed that last minute effort in with his right, and opened his career here with a "Gazza".

Given 6 - Not a lot he could have done with either goal. Carr 6 - Decent, but lucky not to see red. Babayaro 7 - Getting better & better. Taylor 7 - Solid, but could have done better for first goal. Boumsong 5 - 92 and a half minutes, solid...but two schoolboy errors. Dyer 5 - Obviously not match fit (Ameobi 6 - Not bad) Emre 6 - Did okay until he went off. (Jenas 6 - Unspectacular as ever) Luque 6 - Some nice touches, obviously not match fit. Bowyer 6 - Worked hard, but offered little. (Faye 5 - Offered very little defensively or going forward) Parker 8 - Head and shoulders above everyone in midfield. Shearer 6 - Best performance of the season.

Hearts, Kilmarnock or Hibs??? Seriously though, looks an interesting league this season. Inverness could move upto 4th tomorrow as well.

They don't won't Owen either, Wenger doesn't by the finished article. 20259[/snapback] Barcelona, Real Madrid & Valencia did though.

You mean you'd have him behind Babayaro?

Pah! 1am over there is like 9pm over here.

Like s*ite would I!

------------------------------------Owen--Kuyt---------------------------------- ----------------------------------------Luque------------------------------------ -------------------------Emre-------------------------Dyer--------------------- ----------------------------------------Parker------------------------------------ Imagine that f**king front 6!

Craig, do you know the name of the paper/magazine he got this from? From my time there I'd say there are 40% excellent ones, and 60% are crap.

If Souness can't get a team with Given, Boumsong, Emre, Dyer, Parker, Bowyer, Luque & Shearer to at LEAST 6th place, he wants shot. That's why I'd give him the season. We WON'T go down no matter what people say. If he does shite come May, get rid of him then for a new manager who would have the basis of a top side and who'd have the summer to bring in his own to add to that for the 2006-7 season.

Top post Snakehips.

He's keeping out a certain other Dutch striker whose name starts with 'K' and ends with 't'.

"I'm sure if I concentrate really hard, all those fans will slowly fade away".

Shit, I left the oven on.

From tonight's Chronicle.

Yeah, Robson asked him to come as his Assistant in 1999 and would take over full-time in 2000, but Mourinho said he knew what Robson was like and knew he wouldn't have moved upstairs.

We could have had Mourinho in 1999 as Assistant with him taking over in 2001 after he'd learnt the English game...but Robson wouldn't do it.