Why are people talking about Ericsson?!?!?! You think we could get anywhere near the wages needed to match what he's on at the moment? Bloody hell!

I really hope not, I wouldn't want him anywhere near the club. My choices: 1) Kenny Dalglish 2) Iain Dowie 3) Nigel Worthington 4) Mark Hughes 5) Peter Taylor They're the realistic ones I guess...from the betting I wouldn't mind: 11/2 Hughes 6/1 Paul Jewell, Gerard Houllier 7/1 Strachan 9/1 Mike Newell 12/1 Kenny Dalglish, David O'Leary, Dean Saunders, Alan Shearer 14/1 George Graham, David Moyes, Tony Parkes 20/1 Glenn Hoddle, Terry Venables 25/1 Bryan Robson, Sir Clive Woodward 33/1 Colin Hendry, Sir Bobby Robson 40/1 Sam Allardyce. Jewell and Houllier at 6/1 is scaring me a bit at the moment...

Amen.

No-one seems to know either way...I've got SSN on waiting for them to say something more but it's not happening.

We should have signed someone better but we'll have to wait and see how he does, he impressed at the start of his Perugia career but faded away after that...his pace will be a welcome replacement for the lethargic Yorke though. Crystal Palace were one of the other clubs interested in him today, however they've signed Nicola Ventola from Inter Milan instead. Saying no to Gustavo Lopez and not taking a chance on a £200k Ricardo Fuller suddenly looks a lot more serious...

So we've managed to miss out on £400,000? Fantastic business there Souey.

Yep, Southampton were great after Sturrock's sacking weren't they? If Houllier takes over then our chances of beating them will increase...it does make the Shearer transfer a little less likely though...

Rovers 3 - 0 Newcastle Shearer (3)

Get rid of Yorke before Jansen, he showed glimpses last season and deserves one last chance before we decide to get rid. If we're going to carry one player up front in a few games I'd rather it was Matty instead of Yorke...at least he has a chance of regaining what he used to have (admittedly, it's a small chance) unlike the smiling git. Please don't go. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edit: This story is also in News Of The World today, it has the same quotes as above plus this extra one: Make of that what you will...if Souey truly believes that then he would be stupid not to give him chance to regain his confidence...we have nothing to lose playing him infront of Yorke for a while.

Tonight's team selection was quite good...but anyone, and I literally mean anyone, in the Premiership and probably Division One would have picked better starting line-ups than the ones we played for the first few games. I like the way Nigel Worthington has Norwich playing, they have played Man Utd and Newcastle in the last two games and they played good football with attacking wide men...not necessarily wingers, but attacking nonetheless. They drew with Newcastle tonight and were unlucky not to get a point from Man Utd as well. Peter Taylor is another that I would be happy with, he has a very good record apart from one dodgy season with Leicester, he likes his teams to have good balance though and he gets them playing a good style of football. He took Hull up from Division Three last season and would surely jump at the chance to come back to the Premiership. Iain Dowie would also be another very good choice, I like what he's doing at Palace and I'm always very impressed with the way he talks about the game, he could be the right sort of man for us. If the weird team selections and negative tactics continue though I would take anyone instead of Souey...

I'm assuming it's going to be like... Friedel Neill Short Johnasson Gray Emerton Tugay Matteo Gresko Stead Dickov If it is then that's easily the best line-up we've put out this season, or pre-season come to think of it. Looks nicely balanced and we should have decent width...I'm a bit more optimistic now. Arsenal to only score 5.

Right: Emerton | Thompson | Reid Left: De Pedro | Pedersen Centre: Ferguson | Tugay | Coridon | Flitcroft | Douglas If you take Flitty, Douglas and Reid out of that for being rubbish (haven't included defenders or reserve team) then it looks about right I'd say.

How dare you suggest that I'm not in bed right now, how dare you. Apart from that shocking accusation, it was an excellent post and really just summed up everything about the game and our current situation in general. The only thing that remains to baffle me is why Souness has ditched a shape and mentality that made him the success he was prior to last season. We never qualified for Europe and won a trophy by playing people out of position and cramming as many defensive players as possible into a line-up...so why start now? I've been trying to refrain from posting today since I figured everything that needed to be said would have already have been done so...however, with regards to the Souness-out talk, I'd be fully prepared to give him months if he was playing a balanced team with people in their right positions. My main fear at this moment in time is that his pride and stubborness will make him continue with these strange tactical decisions. At this moment in time I have one foot in the Souness-out door...I'm prepared to wait until we have Neill, Thommo and De Pedro match fit before completely crossing the line...however, if the negative team selections continue with those 3 available then it will be time for him to go.

Surely a contradiction there? Matteo is a centre back, that's where he has to play. Not only will the defensive be stronger but the midfield will gain more balance too.

Question: Is Souness a Burnley fan?

He's completely abandoned the tactics that made us succesful for the last few years, he's completely lost the plot now in my opinion. He claims he likes to play good football yet the only thing in his mind now is to be as negative as possible. Has he not realised that we were better defensively when we had attacking players? We just invite pressure now because of this useless team selection, I bet other teams can't wait to play us now.

Still bitter from the time the Word Association topic was closed are we? Get over it. If I could be arsed I'd point out the irony of calling this 'dross' whilst you post in the WA topic...oh wait, I just have.

I'll get you for that...as soon as I've thought up a witty put down. I'll get back to you around Christmas. Git.

Got myself Eagles of Death Metal - Peace, Love Death Metal the other day and it's a very good album, don't be fooled by the name though because it's certainly not death metal. There's a pretty decent cover of Stuck In The Middle With You on there, worth a listen I'd say.

Fair enough, I'm just going by what followers of the SPL have said to me, none of them have had a good word to say about him. Not that it matters, he probably thought it wasn't worth the effort as they'd win anyway.

You kind of went on to answer your own question anyway, but he'll be behind Ashley Cole, Wayne Bridge and J'Lloyd Samuel in the pecking order for left back, I guess Phil Neville will also be ahead of him although I wouldn't do that myself. By all accounts he was useless in Scotland though and Sven is very relectuant to bring new faces into the squad if they are in their 30's...Gray for England is a none starter really.

I don't see why some people have singled out Emerton for criticism (well I do, but that's for later). Yes, on occasions his crossing was poor and he was sometimes but reluctant to take on his man, however...did Michael Gray do any of that? Did he take on his man down the outside? Did he whip in dangerous crosses every time? No of course he didn't, but he's not the easy target is he? (edit: not saying Gray is bad here, he wasn't, it's just he's the comparison) Emo supplied good width in a game where we desperately needed it and was solid in defence. He's obviously low on confidence but the quality is there and, on todays showing, he's worth persevering with because he's certainly no worse than anybody else. On the subject of being poor, how many fouls did Matteo commit today? As for that pass he attempted before their goal...someone should pin a note on his locker: "We don't play in red at home".

What a superb highlights package this is. First they play the full showing of their 'Game of the day'...unlike ITV's theory of it being the big 3 they actually show the best game, today it was Bolton against Charlton. Following that you get can choose any game and watch around an hours action from the game. The program is scheduled to run until gone 4 in the morning so I assume you could sit and watch every game if you so wish. It's also a very welcome addition when you've chosen the pub instead and feel like catching up with the action when you get home. Sky really are just so far ahead of the competition it's unreal, ITV bosses should look at this and hang their heads in shame.

He's the only left sided midfielder at the club, how do you not fit him in? The formation today was probably brought about because of the absence of any right sided midfielders when Emerton was put to right back more than accomodating De Pedro. If we play a normal formation then De Pedro is surely going to be one of the first names on the sheet because he's the only left sided midfielder at the club?

Second half team: Friedel Amoruso Short Matteo Emerton Gray Tugay Ferguson Yorke Stead Dickov