Season starts; expectations;the team

A new season is starting. Or rather we have started it already having taken part in the Intertoto Cup and getting knocked out. Despite that, imo, it was good match practice as the competitiveness for a place in the UEFA Cup precededs meaningless friendlies. First game up in the league, we take on Arsenal. It will be a test of how GS has shaped up his team for this season by the display the team puts on at Highbury. Afterall he asked for a season to prove himself, and now he is in the season which he has to prove himself having gotten rid of some players and bringing others of his choice to SJP.

My expectations for this season are quite simple. Given the way the team has disappointed the fans in the past, defensive errors, players in fighting, media circus, Fat Fred talking his mouth off, etc, let's just put all this crap to a stop and let the players feet do the talking instead. Play to a standard that the fans love, conduct yourself on and off the pitch at a level worthy of the appluase from the Toon Army and as for Fat Fred, cut down on the dividends from the PLC you are getting and pump them back to the club for once!!

Looking at the team, seems like GS is going to play a 4-3-3/4-5-1 like style.

-----------------------------[keeper]
---------------------------Given/Harper

[leftback] ----------------[centre-backs] ---------------[rightbacks]
Carr/Taylor -----------Boumsong/Bramble ----------Babayaro/Coco
Rampage -----------------Moore/Taylor---------------- Elliot


[leftmid]------------------ [centremid] -------------------[rightmid]
Emre -------------------Parker/Dyer/Bowyer ---------Milner/Dyer
Jenas --------------------Jenas/Faye/Viana -----------Clark/Jenas
N'Zgobia/Viana---------------- Bowyer

[leftforward]---------------- [forward] ----------------[rightforward]
N'Zgobia/Ameobi ------------Shearer/Ameobi -------Milner/Ameobi
Chopra -----------------------Chopra-------------------- Bowyer


Any combinations of the above is probably how NUFC is going to turn up if GS plays 4-3-3.

I have my doubts about such a formation. Firstly, it kinda leaves us with too little cover at the back when opponents counterattack and this being NUFC, we always seems to lose the ball in the centre of the park for the opponents during key moments of the game and the next moment, the ball is in the net and Given is left looking frustrated. Will we see that even more often with a 4-3-3?

Also, opponents can strifle our attack if they play deeper at the back. However, one thing different from the past is that we actually have 2 class midfielders in Emre and Parker who can make things happen. I am sorry, KD and JJ, but we simply didnt have that with the 2 of u in the last season. I should leave my opinions on KD's headless chicken runs for another time. Based on just the Deportivo home game, I have to say that Emre and Parker are really class. I cant wait to see Dyer and Jenas regain their form and create havoc with them..

Having said all that, the best players/team are nothing if they are injuried. We seems to be lacking in depth even more this season than the past 2 years. And we all know why we failed 1) to win the UEFA Cup 2) falter as the season, the past 2 years. I dread to see history repeat itself. We need a top notch striker, another leftback at the very least. Somehow, the crystal ball in my head keeps seeing the image of Babayaro and Coco on the treatment table and Elliot left looking helplessly at leftback.....