steve_69

I'm really disappointed we haven't signed anyone in this window. Even our good players are being made to look shit by the general lack of quality in the squad. I don't think it's asking too much of the club to go all-out in recruiting a left back and an attacking midfielder. I don't even care if we have to pay slightly over the odds for them. Last night we had our best attacking player at left back (AGAIN!), a past-it defensive midfielder and a centre back in the middle of the park, a never-has-been right back, and an anti-striker up top with Owen. Top teams can carry one, maybe two weak links but we're carrying 3-4 every game. I don't think we'll get dragged into the mire but a bit of fucking urgency from the club wouldn't go amiss.

I think it's been firmly established that neither are good enough but unfortunately, until the summer, these are the tools with which we have to work. Would you rather we played Owen up front on his own?

Despite being gash Ameobi has scored goals for us in the Premiership and Europe. All Smith has done since he's been here is prove what a very average player he is. He doesn't look like scoring at all. Stick Ameobi in with Owen and put Smith in the reserves

Didn't get to watch the game but it sounded like Smith had another shocker. He has done nothing since he signed for us. Stick him in the reserves

Watching the Birmingham game and that Zarate looks class. If he did turn us down as he said, we've missed out on a very skillful attcking midfielder

How have we got to a situation where we only have one recognised left back in the senior squad and no attacking central midfielders? It's only now that i realise how much damage that useless cunt Allardyce has done

I'd prefer a Brazilian attacking midfielder tbh

Our central midfield area is completely devoid of creativity. The fact that Barnes is a young, highly-rated, pacey attacking midfielder is what has got people excited. I personally wasn't that arsed about Woodgate coming back or Chimbonda & Van Buyten signing, because I think the defensive players we have are good enough. Signing Barnes would address the most pressing issue we have regarding playing staff which would therefore give us a better chance of winning games. If we don't sign him we'll be relying on Emre, Lua Lua, Barton and an out-of-position left winger to provide our central midfield creativity for the remainder of the season.

He's 19 FFS! He hasn't set the Premiership alight in his first season, playing for the shittest team in the league, and people start making out he's rubbish.

He was looking good at the beginning of last season before his injury/surgery.

According to the media it wasn't just £2m. It was £2m up front rising to £6m (I think). That's not an unreasonable offer but Derby no doubt want more money up front.

He doesn't hit a single shot cleanly in that Ameobi - Legend one. He must've scored some better goals than that

Presumably Keegan would've voiced these opinions during his negotiations with Ashley and Mort, and been reassured that they would have no influence over first team affairs.

....................Given Carr.....Taylor....Cacapa.....Enrique Milner....Butt......Duff.......N'Zogbia .............Owen....Ameobi Yes, I would rather see Ameobi on the pitch than Smith.

Sorry to spell it out in black and white (excuse the pun) but you'd think some of the people on this board are retarded the way they go on.

Vetere and the other scouts will identify young players for the academy and potential players for the first team. The latter group will be presented to Keegan who will say whether or not he wants them. If he says yes then Wise and Jimenez will set about recruiting the player. (presumably) How do you think Keegan found out about players like Asprilla, Ginola, Barton, Albert, Gillespie etc? It's called a scouting network.

As expected! Once again the media have been made to look like the shit-peddling, know-nothing pricks they really are. Anyone who believed the crap they were spouting - shame on you!

I love the fact that the club are giving nothing away about their dealings. So far they've managed to make almost every newspaper and sports related TV channel look like amateurish guess merchants. They're all fumbling around for some crumb of information and because they're being given fuck all to work with, desperation has set in so they just write the usual shite about us being a club in turmoil. Don't let them worry you. They know nothing and they don't like it so they make something up.

They'll still find a way to put a negative spin on it even if he did. Fuck em all!

Also why is Keegan the best qualified person to decide who should take up an executive management role at board level?

If it doesn't directly affect his role I don't see why he should've been told. Presumably Ashley and Mort told Keegan of their plans to put in place a tiered management structure, but that none of the new staff would have any influence over or input into first team affairs unless Keegan wanted them to. He wouldn't have rejoined the club if he wasn't happy with the proposed new structure. Is Keegan really the best qualified man to decide who takes up an executive management role at board level?

The benefit of this system is that if the manager is not performing he can be removed without having to restructure the entire system, we just have to replace one cog. Keegan can focus solely on first team affairs with no distractions. We have a proper scouting network identifying players, a specialist in place to close the deals when the manager confirms he wants a player, and an up-and-coming manager overseeing academy developments. As far as i can see he's more likely to succeed with this structure in place because he only has one job to concentrate on.

I'd go with this (injuries allowing): ...............................Given Beye...........Taylor............Cacapa.............Enrique Duff............Faye..............Emre...............N'Zogbia ..................Martins.........Owen Viduka, Smith and Butt are just too slow.

From what he's been saying so far Keegan sees Emre as our attacking midfielder which means at some point soon he'll have to make a tough decision about which of our 3 wingers to drop.

Regarding Carricj, someone said he's a geordie and he's always said he want to come here. No he hasn't! In fact he's said completely the opposite on more than one occasion.