Forget the maKems it's history. Hopefully we will learn something from the game to prepare us better for the Liverpool game next Sunday.

How do we handle them ? Who's in who's out and what formation would be best?

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

Answers

Presuming that there are no injuries and that Goma recovers. I would have him Marking Heskey, with Hughes on Owen. I'd play Barton in a back three freeing up an extra midfield place. Griffin would be my left wing back, Solano my right. Acuna and Lee would be at the centre of midfield with the final place going to either Bassedas / Dyer or Speed. Upfront Cordone alongside Shearer with Ameobi coming on as sub to keep the presure on them in the last 30 minutes.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

As Brian Clough once said......it all looks so easy on paper.....

shame we play on grass.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

Would it be outrageous to suggest leaving Lee and Speed out for once? I thought Bassedas and Acuna had a really decent game yesterday and they were doing pretty well winning back possession and coming back to help out the defence. Give a chance to show what they can really do. Light weight midfield or not, it time to ring in some changes as we don't seem to be doing anything to set the world on fire at the moment.

Heck! Let's go with 4-3-1-2 with Griffin, Goma, Hughes, Domi at the back, Middle-Solano, Acuna, Bassedas, with Dyer behind Shearerand Cordone. If nothing else, we can showcase our Little South America in North East England.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

Not against Liverpool no.........it' not an unreasonable idea for the Worthy Cup match against Brum the following wednesday and if it workd it could be adopted for the match at Villa, but you can't leave the midfield so light in a match like the Liverpool one.......that Owen hat-trick a season or so back STILL hurts, we have got to go for them at full strength

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

They have gone 1 up against Spurs...F*wler.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

And Spurs are now winning...2-1, I think. Before the webcast mics were shut off at halftime, the announcers could clearly be heard saying "What's with Liverpool's defence?!". Not sure if it's good or bad for us if they lose to Spurs. On the other hand maybe yesterday's loss will have our players go all out to prove something. Too bad the game was moved to Sunday. That fixture is usually shown over here,but won't be now.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

With two successive away defeats behind them, Liverpool will be a shoe-in to lie down against us and amke it three in a row! This is a massive game, and we must get something out of it. To do this we better be prepared to compete a little more effectively than we did yesterday

Simple question - Rob Lee was the best player on the field yesterday, so why on earth would we leave him out against Liverpool?

Gary Speed is not playing as well as he did last season. I believe the reason is that he is being asked to play further forward to provide some additional support for AS that is not coming from either the second striker, or the supposed creative m/f player playing 'in the hole'. This is not playing to GS's strengths and IMO weakens our m/f.

I just don't know what the answer is because right now all support striker options look hopeless. If Gallacher was fit I'd play him alongside AS. If he still isn't fit, it might even be worth throwing the dice and trying Ameobi - he couldn't do any worse. On second thoughts, not against Liverpool.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

No mention of LuaLua? Thought he showed some nice touches yesterday espec spreading the ball out to the right wing though i dont think Al appreciated him getting in the way of a Solano cross ;-) Where was Solano yesterday when those 2 crosses came in from the left wing, losing us the game? He showed yesterday just how exceptional his crossing is and i think weve missed his play on the edge of the box since he moved to wing back.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

There are certainly a lot of options now, but finding the right balance is the problem. I realy believe that we were a much better side than the makems (until they scored)and we have the players to beat Liverpool.

Over the last few games though I would certainly play Griffin ahead of Domi and give Speed a rest. Also would not play Dyer and Solano in the same side.

Definetes to start for me would be, Given, Hughes, Goma, Griffin, Barton, Lee, Solano, Acuna and Shearer, plus another two. How about you?

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

Agree with all that Rik. Dont think Domis heart is in it and wud like to see Barton and Griffin back. Worth trying a midfield without Speed for a while. Hes played nearly every game for a couple of seasons and wed see just how useful he is, either way.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

Given Griffin Hughes Goma Domi Solano Lee Acuna Bassedas Shearer Cordone

4-4-2, with a tight four in the middle, therefore not giving any space to the Liverpool midfield. Bassedas can start on the left and just be in that position, which would be a novelty in the current Newcastle side. Domi overlapping is his natural game not forcing the attack. Bassedas looks clever enough to bring Domi in at the right time.

Get rid of Barton as Griffin is too good to be a substitute and Barton is not up to the defensive task, shouts a lot and gives it all but in the end he hasn't got it in his locker as so many pundits say.

Lee and Acuna wouldn't lose the midfield too much and Solano is only effective playing on the right wing, we've missed his presence around the area and so has Shearer.

Cordone up front with Shearer and make him play up front in the box close to Shearer. Far too often he has been going far too wide and leaving Shearer isolated. With a presence on the left of midfield there should be no need for him to move wide. Give the defence something to think about instead of outjumping Shearer.

All in all the thing we have been lacking is balance and in the abscence of the player we need Bassedas would have to give the width on the left or tuck in as Domi pisses past!

Balance, Balance, Balance. Can't see why Robson keeps playing with a side that can only cause real danger down the right. Teams facing us know this as well and must laugh when they get the team sheet.

Balance, Balance, Balance. Spreads teams and makes them vulnerable to midfielders taking shots from just outside the area, mmmmmmmmm do we have anyone that can do that??

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2000

Sorry clarky I have to take acception to your comments about Lee.

I do not think he was Best on Ground. While he has performed well at CB he is not a god CB. I would bring Goma back in.

I would also leave Acuna and Bassedas in MF.

Lee has a future at NUFC coming off the bench and teaching the youngsters. He gets caught in possession too many times and of late is giving the ball away too much

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2000

You all seem to forget that Liverpool play football. It's only talentless but committed cloggers that we can't play against. I should imagine we should match Liverpool's own overpaid ponces quite well.

-- Anonymous, November 22, 2000

Sounds rather optimistic for you, Dougal. You feeling OK?

-- Anonymous, November 22, 2000

Excuse me - I am about the only person on here who has been optimistic ALL season. Apart from worrying about our finances, I have barely predicted anything other than a Toon win.

-- Anonymous, November 22, 2000

... all depends what you mean by "optimistic". You've presented us with some unusual optimistic remarke this season.

-- Anonymous, November 22, 2000

B Knight is refereeing again (we had him at the Dell). In his 13 games this season he has booked 42 and sent off 6....expect he'll send Shearer off and we can start thinking up Plan B.

-- Anonymous, November 22, 2000

Wonderful - presumably a referee who will poistively reward our fair play and reluctance to go in for a tackle.

-- Anonymous, November 22, 2000

I worried about Mr. Knight before the Saints game:

The ref for the Saints game tops the ratings for cards per game by some margin!!!: B. Knight 9 S. Dunn 6 D. Gallagher 4 G. Barber 4 R. Harris 4 M. Riley 5 A. D'Urso 2 P. Durkin 2 A. Wiley 1 S. Lodge 1 D.Elleray 0 M. Reed 0 G. Poll 0 U. Rennie 0 S. Bennett 0 S. Jones 0 N. Barry 0 J. Winter 0 M. Halsey 0 A. Wilkie 0 P. Alcock 0 AND .... has the least fouls per card: M. Halsey 31 A. Wiley 30 S. Lodge 25 P. Durkin 17.67 G. Barber 12.17 D. Elleray 10.83 P. Jones 6.97 D. Gallagher 9.3 A. D'Urso 8 R. Harris 8 S. Bennett 7.67 M. Riley 7.2 N. Barry 6.8 J. Winter 6.4 G. Poll 6.25 S. Dunn 5.17 P. Taylor 4.75 R. Styles 4.29 B. Knight 4.22 Obviously a bit of a control freak .... What bets on us finishing with less than 11 men??

Lo and behold he didn't book anyone and had a canny game. We still lost though ..... :-((

-- Anonymous, November 22, 2000

Interestinly looking back at those stats.. he handed out 27 cards in 3 games so that's only 15 in his 10 subsequent games. Maybe the FA had a word in his ear.

-- Anonymous, November 22, 2000