OTF

Wow! Simply Amazing. Fitting that Carroll got his hat-trick. He was clearly Man-of-the-Match, which for once is actually saying something because there was plenty of excellent contributors in the side. A classic match for us, lets hope the lads use it and go on a bit of a run. We have some winnable matches coming up as well. If carroll keeps up with that form he'll honestly have a fantastic season and will forge a spot for himself in the England side. It may sound foolish to say that, but he was just that good. From the aerial dominance, to the intelligent runs and passes, and of course the clinical finishing. All you can ask for. Other noteable mentions, Jose Enrique had a blinder, defended resolutely and linked up in attack well with Jonas, really showing the initiative in getting forward to add a spark to our attack. If he plays with the same intent and commitment throughout the season our attack will be all the better for it. Kevin Nolan was at his best, not just slotting in nicely and picking up goals, but he actually made some good passes - most notably when he spotted space for Routledge to run into. Perch was dramatically improved from his nervous first outing last week. In the middle Coloccini and Williamson were excellent in the air and did well in general. Alan Smith also had a solid game. And have to give some credit to Shola Ameobi for the awkward assist for Nolan's second, and of the course the much-maligned Xisco who layed off a perfect ball into the path of Carroll to allow him to complete the almost fairy tale hat-trick!

...can't help but wonder if Ashley will put the cheque book away after this... <suppress the negativity>

<pinches self> Horrible from harper for their penalty - add some scuffed clearances and it was a very shaky start from him. Thanks Carew for that miss, because it could have been oh so different. Absolute screamer from Barton. I sat in disbelief for half a second. Second goal was one to remember. Fantastic run from Enrique, after good lead up work down the left, intelligent movement and passing/heading from Carroll and Nolan. The third, well that was icing on the first half cake. We had all the momentum at that point, so rare to see us make use of it on the scoreboard. Even Perch is looking half decent, linking up and defending when required. We look most vulnerable through the middle. I'm sure they're aware of our lack of pace there, so they'll probably have Ashley Young looking to beat the offside trap through the middle, right through the second half.

I bet Mike felt good about the manager complimenting his play, until that is, he heard Perch getting similar praise.

It's all down to how much is wanted by OM, and how much he's rated by us. It's all smoke and mirrors from our perspective, just hope it's sorted out soon. As Kitman notes 37 pages is indicitive of the frustrating drawn out nature of this potential bit of business. Certainly will creat some pre-match buzz and not harm ticket sales if it was sorted prior to the match on Sunday, but that's too much to ask of the clowns involved (both on our side and theirs) I'm afraid.

Not injecting new faces of any noteable quality is just the kind of ignorant move that Ashley has proven himself entirely capable of committing. A new player, of reasonable pedigree would have so many positive effetcs that it's almost impossible to reason not doing so: (i) First and foremost improve the quality of a squad that is lacking in several areas (ii) Improve general excitment amongst supporters resulting in increased attendances and merchandise sales (iii) Improve team morale, increase competition for positions and remove complacency Ultimately it would reduce the risk of another relegation.

But at the same time I would like us to give some of the fringe players a run and preserve. In particular give Vuckic a chance in the midfield but play him alongside Barton or Nolan to have a balance of experience. Shola can start up front. Our next game after this one is 28th of Augustand is a bloody important one away at Wolves. On one hand we don't want to pickup any injuries in the leadup to that, but on the other it would be good to play some of our more senior players into some form.

I can't for the life of me, excluding the small matter of money, see why James Milner would want to go to Man City? Going there in my opinion will slow his development and affect his role in the English side. He's certain to get many less minutes at Man City where they're stacked with midfielders. I don't like Villa but at least there he was guaranteed a starting role. Bad for the league as well when good players continue to go to the same teams where many sit and rot away while lesser teams drop in quality as a result.

It will be very interesting to see how he goes at Cardiff. I'm picking that he'll be injured for large periods.

Mods, can there be a sub-forum created where old timers can argue about things in the past?

I also know a lot more about our players and what they're capable of, but I'm not judging them anyway just suggesting that it's pretty rubbish that with a relatively short injury list our starting backline featured two epl debutantes, we didn't have a real winger on the bench instead playing a striker who the manager has admitted on several occassions was surplus to requirements (presumably before realising that he'd have to play him). In central midfield our starting players were weak and we had no replacements on the bench spare a kid with no experience.

Too early to judge them properly. They'll be there or thereabouts depending on their own injuries and form and that of Chelsea. Us on the other hand, we clearly need to add to and improve our team.

Their reserves would be in with a good shot of turning us over.

If Carroll had a decent consistent strike partner they'd soon learn where to be to pick up the myriad of flick-ons and headed passes that Carroll makes seemingly regardless of opponent. As it is though every other game we'll have Nolan playing in a made up position that facilitates his lazy game under the illusion that we're suring up a midfield that only requires suring because at least one of the players there is inadequate. In the meantime we're sacraficing any chance of someone building a good onfield partnership with Carroll. Sounds overly critical but it's the truth - and yet I still have some hope for the season!

Yep, Barton wasn't great but wasn't horrible, made to look better by playing alongside Smith and Nolan. Like an ugly bird who doesn't look as bad standing next to a fat and ugly one.

Tactically I didn't think we were good at all to be honest, Nolan and Smith were virtual pedestrians out there for much of the match. Clearly Hughton is going to be employing the same tactics from the Championship, which is naive. Nolan's value last season was virtually in his goals alone, goals that won't come anywhere near as easy in the top league (take a look at his scoring record for the last couple of seasons in the EPL). At least we did try to attack, but manure were happy to give up the wide channel knowing we had no option through the middle and a couple of widemen who would struggle to deliver a paper.

Agree we still would have lost if Carroll scored, but it would have been a more interesting match and I don't think they had it in them to get more than 3 or 4, as they're not properly in sync yet.

Where was Lovenkrands? The first goal was all down to Jonas if you ask me. Turned it over far too easily when he should have been protecting it. Can't really blame Enrique for that IMO.

If Perch keeps playing like he is then he'll probably be dropped before Simpson is back, otherwise yes I would say that Hughton would see Simpson as our first choice 'specialist' right-back.

Nolan and Smith Both too slow and cumbersome to be playing. Nolan would work if you're getting a lot of set pieces and he's sniffing around, or if he's played in behind two forwards looking to pickup scraps with not much of a defensive onus, otherwise he's rather useless IMO. Smith is pretty much just useless, not quick enough to break up opposing teams play, doesn't read the game well, makes brash challenges, adds absolutely nothing to our attack and often turns the ball over. Guthrie is no World beater but he at least add a dimension to our attack going forward, can score the odd goal, decent at set pieces and is an ok long passer. Generally values posession. I can tell already that Hughton persisting with Nolan and Smith is going to be a bugbear for me this season. It was that kind of attitude with players like Butt that helped to seal our relegation fate in 08/09.

Xisco "An exciting sounding name"

In his defense there was a LOT of space down our right for them to exploit. He was pulled in too narrow a lot of the time though, contributing to that. Needs to close the space on the right out better but needs more communication from our central defenders. Despite him not having a great game he still effectively shut down Valencia. PL definitely not too much of a step for him, but there's only so much a left back can do. I don't think you can blame the CBs for is ineptness. I think he is a league out of his depth. Possibly 2. I hope i'm wrong. Enrique looked a shadow of the player last year. We were playing one of the best teams in the world so I wont cast judgment too much. I agree Perch looks out of his depth, but was just saying that he wasn't helped by having such a large area to cover, or the fact that yeah, we were playing Manure. Hardly think Enrique looked a shadow of last year, didn't look the world beater but that's to be expected with the dramatic gulf between the leagues. More than held his own, with the exception of his silly attempt to play the ball out from the back instead of clearing it or sending it down the line. Basically he's the least of my worries.

Clearly

Yeah, looked solid. A pretty slow set of central defenders though... will probably be dropped when Campbell's fit anyway, even if he continues to play well which is quite unfortunate for him.