SoccerHQ

Well I want Jol tbh but now Ajax are in the champions league and have a group with Real Madrid and AC Milan, can anyone really see him walking away from that? My second choice is Moyes, again can anyone really see walking away now even though Everton have had a poor start. Anyone else isn't a significant upgrade imo. Jol and Moyes could well both be available next summer so I'd rather wait than get someone substandard in now thanks.

He won't play when Modric is fit imo.

Agreed but they were also happening last season under a very experienced manager. End of the day, whoever the manager is, what's certain in football in a season is you'll win some games well, lose some games poorly and draw some games. And a 6-0 defeat at Newcastle and a 1-0 win over Everton actually gets you more points than a 2-2 against Everton and 1-1 away to Wolves as happened last season. Surely it's better if we stopped drawing even if it means the odd thumping here and there?

What if he only gets a contract to the end of the season?

Hleb took a while to get going at Arsenal, it was only in his last season that he really played to his best potential, unbelievable at VP when they won 2-1. He certainly won't have the same sort of quality around him either. best business by Stoke today getting in Pennant and Gudjohnson although I can't quite work out how a technically brilliant player like him is going to fit into the Pulis style of play.

I'll be there! Probably in the stoke bit though like last year.

I'm surprised people still are putting Ireland in a 4-4-2 centrally. To me it's obvious it will be shortly... NRC........Petrov.... Albrighton/Downing.....Ireland......Young... Gabby Home and away.

I'd say there's more chance of Jol being manager of us in 6 months-years time than Moyes. I'm happy for Mac to continue for the short term until someone decent resigns from their present job and becomes available. I certainly don't see the point in dumping Mac and then appointing a Curbishley or Southgate.

Dunney and Carlos but like others very marginal. Collins still has a bit of a tendency to dive in unneccesarily up the pitch at times. It's a nice problem to have as despite the debacle last week and at Chelsea all three have greatly contributed to our improved defensive performance over the last year so should be commended on that. I'd go as far to say that either Carlos or Collins are probably one of the best reserve CBs in the league to bring in. Actually interested to see what people think we should line up with at Stoke? I wouldn't be adversed to picking a back 5, Collins, Dunney and Carlos to head throw ins away all night and I'd play Warnock and Young as wing backs as the pitch is so bloody small up there the game will probably by pass our wide players like last year. So I'd get Downing and Young to tuck into the centre a bit more.

Yes agree with this. A 4-4-2 with him and Petrov as the central two is limited but if we're playing 4-2-3-1 he should always be the one sitting with Petrov, not Ireland. Might aswell play him anyway as he's in the last year of his contract, probably won't sign an extension (unless the new manager's Pardew!) so I don't see the point of him just sitting on the bench.

Nah, scrap Altidore and get Donovan instead and then sack him.

Ah thought Rodwell started at Blackburn. Thought he would be starting considering he had a good pre season.

1-1. Carew to equalise after Barton puts them in the league. Important not to think this will be a walk in the park as they'll be right up for it like when Stoke turned us over two seasons ago in their first home league game. Same 11 as last week with NRC coming in for Milner.

You sure???? :shock: We have NRC and Petrov as the midfield two and Ireland to play beyond them. And the alternatives if we get a few injuries there. Sidwell, Salifou and Osbourne. Say no more. I don't see Ireland playing alongside Petrov in a 4-4-2 as that would waste his attacking game, Kevin Mac alluded to that in his interview today so we will need NRC in alongside Stan in the short term.

Is Luke Young staying in a hotel then? On Fonz, let's hope he dosen't go into Luke Moore sulk syndrome. I rate him higher than Weimann who although looks a good goal poacher, his all round game needs a lot of work so would loan him out. In any case, the Fonz will probably start tommorrow.

Yep, you think Everton will actually start off the season decently for a change and make a statement of intent to the league and they lose meekly to Blackburn who are in fairness decent at home. Main worry is they didn't seem to create much especially as they haven't got many of their midfielders or strikers injured for a change. Do Everton play better when their backs are to the wall and they have a long list of injuries as they didn't seem to cope well with the expectation on saturday.

Pleased he had a good game, very much a confidence player as other have said. Scored one on saturday and could've easily had another two. Wouldn't surprise me if he took a few penalties aswell, he did for Boro didn't he and was decent at them.

I think the only area where we are really short is central midfield. Delph won't be back until xmas so considering we're going to be playing every 3-4 days for the next 3 months it's a big ask to expect Milner/Ireland, Petrov and NRC to stay fit for the two spots. I really am not considering Sidwell as an alternative as a) he's shite and I still expect him to be sold. Upfront, yes a new striker would be nice but if we're going to only play one upfront which I actually want us to then we have enough options, Gabby, Carew, the Fonz, Weimann and Heskey. Defence is o.k aswell, certainly enough CBs, Luke Young staying now I take it and he can also cover LB with Beye and Carlos as the other RBs options.

Isn't Baker quite local. Even if he still is in the bad books...

They were but there's plenty of teams who'll finish below them in the league this season. Overall ony one game but refreshing to see more variety in our football and not too much long ball either. Well done all.

I think the lad is class, not just from his very composed debut against Fulham last season but always looks a class act in the reserves aswell. Rate him the most highly of our current young hopefuls tbh, rate him more than Cahill who I was a big fan of aswell. Most important thing with any young centre half is they play alongside an experience premier league centre back and few better around than Dunney. My stance has always been don't sell Luke Young and play him at RB and then have Dunney and Carlos as first choice with Clark and Collins brilliant back up in case of injuries and suspensions. Sell Davies for 5m. With the events of the last week we have that now.

Ajax fan, do you reckon the dynamics will change if you get knocked out of the champions league qualifiers in a few weeks? I reckon Jol will look at it then and think he can't be arsed with a dutch league season of finishing 2nd to PSV. :winkold:

Steve Bruce loves heskey, managed him at SHA and Wigan and says he's the best of his type in the country. Whatever the hell that is! They've got Bent, Wellbeck and Campbell who are all speedy strikers but Jones going means they haven't got a targetman up there.

Well if we play 3 behind Gabby, then one of Albrighton, Downing, Ireland (fingers crossed) and Young will miss out unless we play Ireland as part of the central two but that would be a huge waste. No chance on Young not starting so between Downing and Albrighton.

I'm still quite confident we'll get Jol tbh. I think Randy will pay whatever the compensation figure is and in any case Ajax could well be knocked out of the champions league qualifiers in the next few weeks which might change the dynamics.