NJS

Okay I went too far with the Nugent thing - I admit it but I stand by the general point - a few welcome spectacular goals aside I think he's overrated and not a top notch striker - fair enough?

The impact of catapulting a team to 13th? Not his fault we were generally shite and I do hope he does well again but you're talking as if he made something of us. Unless you count saving us from a relegation battle as an achievement.

Yeah - same level of player. errr...who's gonna be the first to bite?? The fact that a player can be hailed as a multi-million pound superstar when he can't even control a football is a criminal enditment of the state of English football. Footballers who are about 17 league levels above what the average fan has ever played should be able to control a ball with either foot, pass to a teammate 5 yards away and hit the target from anywhere in the box with the vast majority of their attempts. Martins fails to do these things alarmingly often. This doesn't apply just to Martins - it certainly applies to Shola and in recent years to a few other so called leading lights we've employed but I'm pig sick of adulation being poured on nothing more than half-decent footballers. If you want to know what a good striker should be like its pretty simple - we have one - Owen.

Yeah - same level of player.

Like the one Martins went on the day after the UEFA cup exit? Yes I do think £10m was a joke - Inter took the piss for their equivalent of Shola - bit of promise as a sub or in the odd start but nowhere near good enough to be a regular. So who would pay big money for him? So how much do you think he is worth? Given the prices people like Bent, Richardson, Chopra, Dyer etc went for? As much as Pompey or Wigan would pay for him - I'd guess £5-6m

Like the one Martins went on the day after the UEFA cup exit? Yes I do think £10m was a joke - Inter took the piss for their equivalent of Shola - bit of promise as a sub or in the odd start but nowhere near good enough to be a regular. So who would pay big money for him?

European pub teams account for 7 or 8 I think. His touch, passing, awareness and "footballing brain" are absolutely terrible. Having said that he has an unpredictable rawness which gets a few which is great but its nothing to build on. Talk of anything anywhere near or above what we paid for him is laughable.

Wheres the £5m to some mugs like Pompey if we're lucky?

I think I can beat that - my Mam's first game was the 13-0 Vs Newport in 1946 - one week after my Dad married her

Ollie Burton's testimonial match Vs Sunderland - May 1973 2-1 (Tudor 2)

I think the way the opposition play is the key - Villa and Wigan both basically came for a point but West Ham were a lot more open which suited us. That makes Derby more galling of course.

It will also expose Mido's lie that he only told them to shush - Vs all round according to other reports.

A bit like Bergkamp to a degree - seen as a good player and a "gentleman" but in reality a nasty, diving, cheating, dirty shitbag (as well). I remember him for the Hughes clothesline as well as the Lee tackle.

The story will be bullshit but I'd call it the very definition of naive if people think that Martins wouldn't leave in second if Man U wanted him.

Last week showed that we now have a hard working team who will do well away from home and won't be the pushover/joke of recent years. This week showed that we still do not have enough creativity and flair to be sure of doing so well at home. Hopefully that may make Allardyce target some flair before the window closes.

Yeah I know the timing was poor which does make the argument a bit different - tbh I was kind of hoping he didn't get any offers and we might have got him on a Bernard type cheapy. I'm not going to top myself over it - just an opinion.

I think we did get a fee for Viana but the loss was horrendouus - Marcelino I think was a "deal" to get rid - possibly not the full whack. I'm playing the advocate a bit here - I probably do hope Luque "comes good" - I just don't see it happening. I think some of the comments about Bramble are over harsh thats all - Taylor has his local card to get away with equally horrendous errors sometimes on the basis of "potential" or needing to play along side a brain - I think the same could be said about Bramble - he was at his best along side Woodgate and I honestly think if we could sign a "brain" then it would have been two for the price of one.

Marcelino and Viana - letting them go was a pisser but correct in the long run - same for Luque imo.

But What's he supposed to do with Luque then? Buy out his contract and wave adios - we're not going to get any money for him or any value as a footballer via his wages so why waste the effort of the medical and coaching staff?

Because giving Luque a chance is a complete waste of time and effort whereas Bramble did on occasion have something.

No more ludicrous than persevering with Luque.

Their view on Bramble, which I share was that there was no sense of "clean slate" from Allardyce - the decision was taken (ie no change to release) pretty quickly by Sam. They also followed up with some jibes about Bramble which were also fair enough reflecting his Jekyll and Hyde nature. I certainly think he deserved more of a fresh chance than Luque. The problem with Dyer is the number of times we've heard the same crap - and all at a ludicrous wage.

If by success he means a "proper" challenge to the top 4 then fair enough. If he means 5 years to get to 5th or 6th with an occasional good chance of a cup if we're lucky then he can sod off. Gradual progress is one thing and of course I want that but it has to be tempered with some "instant" excitement. If he doesn't understand that then he hasn't understood the job yet.

Typical Chron shit stirring - why don't they stick to what they know like describing drug dealing scum as "perfect family men".

May 1996: They go to Man U and roll over and die for a nice 5-0. The next week a scouse bastard scores against us (again) and they celebrate like they've just won the European cup again. I hope the scabby bastards go bust.