Howaythetoon

We apparently lined up 4-4-2 against Pool, with one big man and small man either half in Carroll and Martins and then Ameobi and Owen respectively. Will Sam go with that or will he revert back to his favoured 4-3-3 formation once Viduka returns? Or does anyone think he's undecided yet or has another formation up his sleeve like 3-5-2 which has been talked about on N.O? Which formation would you like to see him go with and why? I'd go with 4-3-3 myself as I believe it to be a the best of both worlds type of formation, as it benefits both the defense and attack (4-5-1 off the ball, 2 or more forwards up front at all times, with wide players either side, when on the ball). However I don't think we have the players for it. Especially up front. Only three players I could see working in a forward 3 are Viduka, Carroll and Ameobi - all centre-forwards. Couldn't see either of Martins or Owen getting much joy in a forward three though, not playing wide of a central targetman anyway. To make 4-3-3 work you also need a solid and very compact midfield, see Liverpool and Chelsea. Zoggy can play more of an attacking wide forward than a traditional winger but the others. And that would also mean one of our big name strikers will makeway? We also lack a playmaker in there and a real solid defensive midfielder. Unless we make some good signings in these positions I can't see Sam playing 4-3-3 which for him would be a break from tradition and really see him in unchartered waters. Aside from transfers, I think this is the most interesting area and one I'm looking forward to see pan out.

Not a patch on Fabregas IMO, who lets not forget is only 18. His footballing brain is quicker than Iniesta's for one, which is no doubt a byproduct of playing in the quicker Premiership, but one that separates him from a lot of similar players. Not to mention he's tougher and quicker, again a byproduct of playing in the Prem. I think he's a cracking little player myself and don't get why he's become one of the "overrated" players. If he were English, he'd get far more credit and then would perhaps deserve such a label but there aren't many better at his age in that role, if any. If anything Inesta is overrated, I mean most people probably only started recognising him after he scored against England. Admittedly he has looked good for Barcelona for a while, but he's not an automatic starter whereas I think Fabregas would be. Xavi is better than both though. I like him a lot. Shame he seems to miss a few games with injury.

Don't know about the actual footy but there is too much hype about footy on the box, which is more off putting than the actual games.

Couple of snazzy T-Shirts from primark for 4 quid a piece, canny.

Not even an original, Bumblebee was a Beetle. Have TF on disc, isn't the greatest copy like, but very tempted to watch it or wait for it to come out. Will resist the urge for now.

It really isn't a big deal, daft bint. I just wish people were more honest. "Yes I smoked joints and I enjoyed them, but no longer partake in such activity" - they'd get far more respect. Instead just sounds false as fook. Time they legalised it anyway, if only to spite the drug dealers.

If I could still think like a bloke, aye.

That's a very good point and kind of clashes with my own "give it to Taylor" views. Interesting, never looked at it like that and as you said, that could prove a problem, as it did for Parker. I'm sure the manager will spot that though, or you'd hope, and rectify things. As for Barton, I don't think new signings unless they are massively experienced and respected, should be made captain, not so soon. But that's just me.

The new Newcastle? Or is it the old Newcastle...

Dyer is the kind of player that looks good, but isn't really a good player. A typical modern day Premiership player in many respects. He doesn't use his pace to good effect, doesn't deliver an end product and positionally he's a bit of a misfit. He hasn't developed at all from the promising youngster we signed and while various managers, fitness issues and being played all over the shop haven't helped, neither has his attitude. At 27 or 28 now, he's past his best, and his best was never really good enough. Too many variables have to happen or be put in place for him to be an asset and really, he's not worth all the effort. That said, I'm more than interested to see what Big Sam can do with him.

Sell, sell, sell.

The SMB you to be a canny board in its day with toon toon, Paully, etc, but I reckon that's gone downhill too. Aye, as the SMB has got bigger it's picked up a ton of retard posters who dilute the quality content. Used to be class when Laputian was in his pomp. As to why this place isn't as popular, part of it is because it hasn't been "marketed" in the way N-O has. HTT set out to make that place big and popular, and he did a pretty GREAT job. I think this place is definitely cliquey (I don't think that that's necessarily a fault, it's just a function of the fact that a lot of us actually do know one another in real life too), and that can't be easy for new users. I can't see me being on here very much at all during the day in my new job. FYP

http://www.newcastle-online.com/why-big-sa...on-alan-oliver/ Will post up any TH reaction See the FS quotes thread? Might do the same but for Oliver and make a page on N.O for it.

Brilliant

or am I being wooshed? Wors is highly moderated, but censored?

If he's saying he doesn't read message boards = he does

Oh, goes further than that. Someone once made a post on N.O with "Anal Oliver" in it's title and after it got to a few pages, we get an e-mail from the Chronicle asking us to pull it, we didn't but we edited it. (Mind there were one or two potentially damaging comments in the thread, something about bets and beer...) Ever since that day they've been on at us over their articles, images, more Oliver bashing and even requested that we remove the Doh'liver article and the mock photo of Oliver that accompanied it. (We removed the photo) Then there was their poll results over MON/Hitzfeld and dropping N.O's link from their site, only to put it back on after I made a fuss about it, but when they did put it back on, well below where it used to be, i.e. underneath the official site and Nufc.com's. I've also had a few frank exhanges with Paul New the editor who to be fair, seemed sick of having to reply to what I imagine were a lot of e-mails about Oliver, and he also promised to add fans' comments to the paper whenever big news happened from the likes of N.O which he did, including Toontastic. Although that has now all stopped it seems, they have their own highly censored forum. Looking back we were too soft, especially over the removal of that mock photo and other stuff, now though I'd tell them to fuck off if they tried any of that crap. BTW whatever happened to Doh'liver? I have my suspicions as to who it was but could be anyone really, sure that person resides on here though, if so you should come out of the woodwork mate and post more, class

The fifty faced twat If anyone can bother to find his critical quotes of Big Sam's tactics from that match which he did do as I remember them, I'll post them up on the N.O mainsite under the title "Oliver - Two Faced" or something. Edit: BTW we have a kind of running war thing with Thompson House regarding Oliver, so they will see this and their reaction would be interesting.

Oh, don't care about cats, best place for them is in a dog's mouth or under the wheel of a lorry. O/J Catmag PS Don't like them mind, pissy bastards.

They actually sent me an e-mail asking to speak to the website owner and to see if this is all legit. Not wanting N.O to become a link farm I told them to fuck off. Regarding the question in hand there are 1 million and 1 ways to make money online, subscribe to my 1 million and 1 ways to make money online newsletter for ONLY $2.99 for lifetime access and become an internet millionaire. Subscribe today and I will even send you a free ebook of your choice. Get a friend to sign up and I'll give you a refund. PM me for more details TODAY. Don't get left behind.

Because some people can't just quit on a whim to start a campaign trying to get a certain manager installed at your football club. Funny the first time...

Big T dies...

As a dog owner it repulses me to the pit of my stomach, hate all that.

As a dog owner it repulses me to the pit of my stomach, hate all that.

Now for more.