Jimbo

Taylor at rightback ? Barton on the wing ? Smith in midfield ? Subbing Owen for Martins leaving a fucked Viduka on the pitch ? hhmm ok.

no. square pegs in round holes at the moment. i don't think he knows what his best side is yet. Agreed, and I find that disturbing. I can understand why he doesn't know his best starting 11 yet. He only took over the squad about 12 games ago and has also added 9 new faces to it. Most were complaining last season etc we never had a big enough squad so he has tried to fix that problem. Most on here change their prefered starting 11 week to week, its a bit ironic that Sam continually gets slated for the same thing. Confidence in his best team will come through games and what he sees on the park in competitive games. While he's consitantly playing players out of position its not surprising he doesn't know his best 11, as someone said following the Reading match "the game was lost as soon as the teamsheet was pinned to the wall", that sadly will be the reoccuring statement of our season, in my opinion.

hallelujah

I don't disagree mate, but judging by the MSN conversations I've had today with fans and by the patern of voting its justified, as mad as it is.

I honestly believe that Big Sam hasn't had chance to play his first 11 down to injuries and suspensions. as an aside, what would your first 11 be? I honestly hope he's got some great excuses for his team selection, because otherwise its piss poor My first choice XI would be: 4-4-2 Given Enrique Rozenahl Faye Beye N'Zogbia Emre Butt Milner Owen Martins Today I'd have played harper Enrique Rozenahl Faye Beye N'Zogbia Emre Barton Milner Smith Owen

There's a surprise. Perhaps I should be more like you and be ignorant to the current problems at the club. Can you expand on what I'm "ignorant" to please? Your comment suggests you think I moan about things and that I'm never impressed with anything the club has done, which in truth I'm not because we're a fucking shambles and have been for a few years now, by accusing me of never being happy suggests you're ignorant to the problems the club has. You must see that further upheaval in the managerial and coaching positions would simply prolong this shambles? surely? I agree, I haven't said we should sack him now though, just that I'm not impressed so far and that replacing him with Hughes would be a sideways step.. seen the league table lately ?

There's a surprise. Perhaps I should be more like you and be ignorant to the current problems at the club. Can you expand on what I'm "ignorant" to please? Your comment suggests you think I moan about things and that I'm never impressed with anything the club has done, which in truth I'm not because we're a fucking shambles and have been for a few years now, by accusing me of never being happy suggests you're ignorant to the problems the club has. You must see that further upheaval in the managerial and coaching positions would simply prolong this shambles? surely? I'd settle for a manager that can at least play his chosen XI in the correct positions, we don't seem to have that at the moment, and starts matches with the mind-set to win rather than play for a draw, that would be progress.

We played from the start like we were playing for a draw, not for the first time this season.

Barton got better as the match went on, but I'll forgive him for today as he's probably not match fit yet and was played out of position.

agreed but made a decisive goal-bound clearance.

I personally thought Smith had a good game today, unlike the rest of the midfield. I thought he did a decent job in the absence of Butt.

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For too long now I found myself looking at the starting XI before kick off thinking "WHY"?

no. square pegs in round holes at the moment. i don't think he knows what his best side is yet. Agreed, and I find that disturbing.

99% Can't have too many complaints with Milner's performance on the left today, but I'd still have had N'Zogbia there in my starting XI.

Your thoughts please.

Allardyce seems obsessed with fitting in Smith and Barton even if its at the detriment of the team.

I agree but considering the next few games I can see the pressure growing. This "best start for years" has been achieved with fixtures against 1 possibly 2 half decent teams at most (Pompey/Man C) I think on the whole, the matches we have won are matches we should have won, and the matches we have lost you can argue are matches we should have got something from, not overly impressed at all so far. I have to say I was slightly "fooled" by the competence of the pre-season - probably as a reaction to the difference to Roeder/Souness but now the original doubts I had about style are starting to bang on the doors in my mind. I think he needs a good transfer window to get anything worthwhile out of this season. I'm sure big money will be spent in January, which will either give Allardyce some breathing space or provide our ambitious owner an excuse to bring in his own man.

I agree but considering the next few games I can see the pressure growing. This "best start for years" has been achieved with fixtures against 1 possibly 2 half decent teams at most (Pompey/Man C) I think on the whole, the matches we have won are matches we should have won, and the matches we have lost you can argue are matches we should have got something from, not overly impressed at all so far.

I thought Faye was excellent, Rozenhal owes me new pair of pants after a few dodgy moments, why Martins was brought on for Owen and not Viduka I'll never know, I'm starting to find much of Allardyce's decision making somewhat questionable.

Hughes is the better manager in my opinion, but I'm not calling for Sam's head. yet.

Has Gordon had a save to make yet ?

This. Anyone got any songs similar to recommend?

what Alex said.