Big TRon

Viduka and Owen will get the chance to show they are a better bet with Martins off to the ANC. Long ball football might work with those two.

Habib Beye and Faye look like useful signings to be fair. The thing is though, even if Allardyce signed classy players like Elano, how would he incorporate them into his footballing philosophy? I've heard all the talk about City being transformed by two quality signings, but it's like watching a totally different team to the one built by Pearce. There's far more to it and pretending otherwise isn't going to help our cause.

At least he moves. Looks much better up front, although I agree he's wasteful.

in - no one. Like Mort, I'm not sure Sam will be here next season so I would wait till the summer before handing over major funds. out - ditto.

sums it up quite nicely that.

do you think he would have put them to as good use as Sven? Watching them pass the ball out of defence, they looked like they were a team who have been encouraged to pass and move. Allardyce is a direct football man so how would he have got the best out of Elano and Petrov? By booting it upfield in their general direction?

That's what I posted on NO, and it pretty much hits the spot having watched last night's game.

It wasn't bad but I thought we were out-classed in the end. City's passing was far classier under pressure, something we could learn from but won't as it's not Allardyce's way.