Gribz

No he's injured. He came off against france then Pearson came on. He hasnt played for Man U since that either.

Sorry chaps meant to put Fletcher instead of McFadden. Agree with Gav - No way can Caldwell play in midfield. Id rather have Dailly than Caldwell. I noticed Dailly got a recall, he must be getting a game at Southampton. Is Maloney playing regularly for Villa? If so id have him in the team.

Back to the internationals this weekend. The Ukraine game is huge and must be looked at as a cup final. The squad once again looks a bit thin in midfield with Fletcher, Hartley and Quashie all out through injury. I thought Pearson did well when he came on against France so may start this weekend. But if we can win this then we are set up nicely. Id take a dire 1-0 win in any way just to still be in with a chance. Tough team selection but id play: ________________Gordon_____________ Hutton____McManus____Weir____Naysmith Pearson____Brown____Ferguson____McCulloch ___________Miller____McFadden_________

Last year we seemed to struggle against the lower teams of the SPL, but this season a pattern already seems to be setting in against the teams from the top half. The first game or 2 was looked at as one-off's but taking this approach is dangerous simply because we can all see problems in our play. Take away our fantastic CL results, the hard work and good start to the SPL may have to be done again. We didnt show up at Tynecastle, had an off day at Motherwell and then lost against Hibs. Yet we had a few reminders last season about this kind of results. We have Celtic followed by Dundee Utd and that will be the first round of games complete. Over a season we can drop points but we cant drop points in around 40% of our games in each quarter. Now getting something from this first OF match of the season is vital, as we just dont want to have to play catch up again from October. If we are going to have squad rotation then why cant we also have formation and tactics rotation. Looking at our squad, I still think its the best in the country and easily the most depth but we need to play to our strengths. We have attack minded young talent that arent being given a chance. I really think the only problem we have is not setting the stall out right in these type games. I dont mind the 4-5-1 as long as it can be changed onto a 4-3-3 on attack or even a 4-2-4. Id still also like to see JCD strike up a partnership with Cousin but if they are out and Smith wants to play Boyd upfront in a 4-5-1 then why doesnt he give this a try: ______________McGregor____________ Hutton____Weir_______Cuellar____Papac ____Ferguson___Buffel____Hemdani____ ___Novo________Boyd_______Naismith You could swap Naismith with McCulloch or Gow but either one of these players and Novo will get back and form the 4-5-1 again, but that team is attack minded and surely too good for most SPL sides.

Yip, once again your talking good sense Adam is a strange one though. He scored double figures last season so may feel he is in with a shout but when he is dire he is really dire but can also have a decent game or 2. Burke is similar but I see him more effective coming off the bench. But for me Novo should be well in the team right now and id be playing Naismith also. Id also consider moving McCulloch upfront or to the bench for a game or 2. He started the season very well on the right but has gone off the boil a little but he still offers a threat and playing upfront maybe a good move for him. Plus he doesnt have electric pace to play wide in this 4-5-1. But team selection for the OF game will be very interesting.

If I was Martin Jol id go for the Ajax job. His treatment has been poor from the Spurs board if the rumours that they spoke to the Seville coach are true. I rate Jol as a manager but he has just had a slow start this season. I backed them to beat Liverpool on sunday and they came within inches. They are only 3 pts behind West Ham who people claim have had a good start but im asking questions over Curbishley losing 3 on the trot again after spending millions in the summer.

Yeah but more to the point he is a creative player which the team is crying out for. Personally id have 2, 3 or even 4 creative players in the team ahead of the more solid and safety players especially in the SPL and at Ibrox. I fear the likes of Gow or Buffel will come in and even be played out of position but wont manage to change things on there own then they wont get another look-in or the fans will be on there backs.

We should have learned about complicency by now though. We got a few reminders towards the end of last season when we had a few poor draws at home, and i said then these are the games we must get rid of for next season. Why does so many people use this headless chicken saying? Its like saying we either have a player who stands about and cant do anything unless the other ten players play to HIS game (Boyd) or we have Sebo who just runs about like an idiot. This is garbage, there is such thing as an in between. Walter should know first hand that having a good front 2 partnership works a treat as he had Hateley and McCoist for long enough. As others have said the likes of JCD, Cousin, Novo and Naismith would all be a better option we we play this crazy 1 man upfront at home. Yeah all 3 were poor but this was Fergusons 3rd poor match in a row and Thomsons 2nd in a row in the SPL. For Hemdani to come in and change it on his own isnt going to happen when the rest of the team arent at the races (or maybe they were). It players like Gow and Buffel who will give that spark when the team needs it.

Should have had a game long ago IMO.

This is a strange move and obviously influenced from money. He was No.1 at Ajax right? So why would he give that up to become a coach at Chelsea were there are doubts about the current manager. If Grant continues to struggle or doesnt play football like Arsenal then he will get punted and a big name will come in with his own staff.

Aye forgot about him - he is just a pleb with a shocking hair-do.

Dont mind Hughes at all but can see where Bruce being annoying comes in.

I cant believe if 2-2! The goons should have been up 10-0

Cant say i agree with that - Im totally looking at Walter about this. Why why why on earth did he pay big money for Whittaker and if he chased Naismith so much why not play him

I can only agree with you mate especially when it comes to the Thomson comment. Is he expecting him to jump out the moon and become a world beater soon?? If not then drop him!! Same for Ferguson, if he is not performing then FFS drop him!! Guys like Novo are itching for a game and will give 110%

In other words who is the biggest dick of a manager?? I used to think Neil Warnock was a grade-A Prick but Roy Keane surely has to win this award hands down.

Thats how good they're score was - I cant even remember it!! :fish:

Just listening to Traynors call in and they are debating the best result out of the 3 scottish teams: Who's result is the best? Lyon 0-3 RANGERS CELTIC 2-1 AC Milan Dnipro 0-0 ABERDEEN Aberdeens result shouldnt even be considered IMO but they went and did a job to qualify for the group stages. If you take one-off results then would be Rangers would be the best. If you look at it that celtic were playing the Euro champs then they have a case for having the best result. But Rangers result for me!

Sticking a pound on these teams today would return over 2.7million if they won 2,726,426.00 to be exact!! Sunderland Birmingham Bolton Tottenham Middlesboro Everton St Mirren Gretna

Ouch! Id have sympathy for you if you werent a bookie yourself mate :cheers:

I looked at the fixtures a few weeks ago and said West Ham would lose 3 on the trot against Newcastle, Arsenal and Villa. If we want to get to the next level we should be taking 4-6 points out of these games. Curbishley has spent silly money and has to be questioned here!!

Whittaker, Boyd and Adam are schoolboy players. Maybe its the drink talking but when these players are in the team shouldnt we actually expect shite results?? Steaming loyal :cheers:

Dont be going for a sly puff this week :cheers:

I havent seen it yet - but did he honestly go down that easy with intent???

Me also Dave, but I really want to see him get a chance behind the strikers in his preferred role. I actually think he could do a job when we play 1 or 2 strikers upfront. Hemdani and / or Thomson will compliment him.