jonno_2004

This is how I see it - god help us if it's 4-4-2

Good job you're not the manager then..

If you're going to play Gestede you need someone who at least is going to cross the ball, Bacuna will do that more than Grealish. I agree though it is not the most obvious choice.

Going for a bit of physicality with Rudy, fair enough. Will be interesting to see who lines up where - McCormack behind Gestede and Ayew/Bacuna coming in from wide (I would hope).

Quality stuff, that's one more piece of fan interaction than Lerner ever managed That tie though... how's he managed to get it in that state!

I don't think I've watched a game involving Rob Green on Sky where he hasn't thrown one in his own net.

Is it too much to ask that we just avoid some sort of defensive implosion and show a bit of attacking intent? At this stage I would genuinely be happy with that.

'Back to the dark ages' - Mark Lawrenson you utter, utter cretin.

Given it's the first game of the season and they have a much more settled team I think they'll have too much for us on this occasion unfortunately and hope we still retain a bit of perspective after the game. I'd put a fair bit of money on the line-up being: Gollini Hutton - Elphick - Baker - Cissokho Bacuna - Gardner - Westwood - Grealish Ayew Gestede

Seems to be a disproportionate amount of Newcastle fans actively tweeting him now. He'll be in for some should we lose today - they won't forget that Friday tweet in a hurry.

Yep - he gives Newcastle another option such is the depth of the squad (defense excluded ) and that is one of the main reasons they are favourites.

Imagine he'll definitely be starting today, I saw McCormack made a comment about him being on free-kicks too. Think he's looked a bit Sanchez-esque in possession at times in a couple of pre-season games but this must surely be his biggest game in his time at the club to date. Come on Gary!

Negotiating for 5 players doesn't mean we would get them all - it's prudent to have more than one iron in the fire!

Yeah it's correct - if you look at the original Tweet to him he's referring to the overall figure.

A lot can happen between now and a months time. If we get to that stage having cleared out some more of the deadwood and added a few key additions i.e. Jedinak I would say not much more could have been asked of Xia this Summer - it will be firmly over to RDM to get us going.

Interesting comment from that article: The problem with Ravel has and it seems always be is attitude and application. This stems from his background. He was born and bred on the same council estate in Wythenshawe that i live in now. Ravel's family are known rogues and he was brought up around a rogues gallery of friends and relatives. His mates back then have gone on to be criminals. He is supremely gifted as a footballer but he just cannot get it together mentally. It was a hard upbringing for him- stories of fights, being caught in friends cars with drugs in, persecuting his ex girlfriend, court dates missed etc. I knew that if Fergie couldnt get the best out of him then no one would and thus ut has come to pass. He was given so many chances at United, then at West Ham and he just simply cannot keep it together to realise the chances he was given. He has spurned them all. Regarding the earlier point vs Grealish, I would like to think whatever a persons transgressions may have been in the past, if they make a conscious decision to approach life and career differently they should be offered the same opportunity to do so.

Can you enlighten us on that bit?

Interesting article in the BM about Grealish and growing up, how he feels he's learned from his mistakes (time will tell on that front). Feel similarly with Morrison - if you caught him at just the right time, that turning point when he realises it's very much time to grow up and make something of his career, it could be very special indeed. The problem being is that it's such a gamble, especially with someone as volatile as him.

I look forward to popping over the river and making the most of that lovely neutral stand this season. Shame to see their performances in recent times.

Oh Tony.. Bloody love it. (even if we get smashed on Sunday)

Well done Fulham. Only 135 points left to play for

They certainly don't look great at the back - a problem Ciaran Clark ain't gonna solve. Imagine the meltdown if we were in a similar position.

Would have been galling had it been the £20bn conglomerate - as it stands it has no tangible effect on us - we are in different divisions and appears on the face of it to be business as usual for them. On the plus side a bit of healthy competition for Tony may just light a hotter fire underneath him.

Would definitely say that lineup separates the sheep from the goats

As galling as it would be to see us smacked again on live TV in our first game in the Championship, I'd rather that than a win and the subsequent false sense of security in a strange way. The season won't be defined by this one game, but may well be by the aftermath and signings we make.