macca888

Basically explains hios career at the club. He has always been second choice behind the likes of Shearer, Bellamy, Martins, Viduka, Owen and such but when called upon, he has usually come up with the goods. Injury has not been kind to him either and I feel the hip injury a few years ago was more dibilitating then anyone fully understood, possibly due to the fact that the lad played on when not fully fit whilst the club was in a crisis. When I look at the players who people on here would possibly prefer to Shola who are playing for midtable PL clubs at present, I dont actually think they are better than him. I am talking about the likes of Beattie and Sidibe at Stoke, Roberts at Blackburn, Yakubu at Everton, Heskey at Villa, Benitez at Birmingham, Klasnic at Bolton etc etc. This is why I feel we are better off keeping him rather than spending ridiculous amounts of money on strikers who are no better than him. As for Boyd, I just dont rate the guy and feel he will be a total flop in the PL due to his lack of movement, pace and application. Some fair comments but some things you may want to consider. firstly, regarding Boyd. He was the central player in the side that laid chances on a plate for him against opposition that wouldnt get a snif in Legue 1, never mind the PL or the CCC. His record against top teams in the SPL, Europe and in Internationals is abysmal. He is not going to get the same service in the PL as he gets in Scotland and he will be playing against much more superior defenders than he has played against in his career before. He is not particular good in the air, not very mobile and lacks vision. I remember James McFadden came down from Scotland with a very good rep but failed as a forward although he had the ability to convert to a more winger/midfield role. Boyd has no such ability to change. If he is starved of service, which he will be, he will fail because he does not have the ability to create his own openings and needs chances put on a plate for him. That is why, in my opinion, Boyd, even on a free, is not worth spending the 30K a week is demanding. Shola has been unlucky. Yes, most fans berate him, mostly because of his style, but over his career, due to injuries, playing second fiddle, played out of position (on the left wing by Souness), and attempts to farm the lad off to the likes of Stoke and Ipswich, he has never really had a consistent run in the senior side other than the period under Roeder wshen he was brilliant. As Brazilian Bob said before, at the start of last season, Shola looked as fit as he has ever been and started off like a bomb. Broken feet are shocking injuries to rcover from as we have already experienced with Own and Barton but he has come back and scored goals, something like 11 in 21 games, several of which were substitute appearances. If he can get back to that level of fitness in the next pre season, Shola will be more of an asset than a liability to our squad, which is already undermanned for a tough season ahead. In my opinion, we need to keep Shola and stay well away from Boyd, who, in my opinion, is looking for a big pay day, something we are now fortunately trying to avoid.

Basically explains hios career at the club. He has always been second choice behind the likes of Shearer, Bellamy, Martins, Viduka, Owen and such but when called upon, he has usually come up with the goods. Injury has not been kind to him either and I feel the hip injury a few years ago was more dibilitating then anyone fully understood, possibly due to the fact that the lad played on when not fully fit whilst the club was in a crisis. When I look at the players who people on here would possibly prefer to Shola who are playing for midtable PL clubs at present, I dont actually think they are better than him. I am talking about the likes of Beattie and Sidibe at Stoke, Roberts at Blackburn, Yakubu at Everton, Heskey at Villa, Benitez at Birmingham, Klasnic at Bolton etc etc. This is why I feel we are better off keeping him rather than spending ridiculous amounts of money on strikers who are no better than him. As for Boyd, I just dont rate the guy and feel he will be a total flop in the PL due to his lack of movement, pace and application.

I would rather have his experience at the club at present than not, when you consider the options available and the lack of funds to purchase someone better.

At his age, not a chance. He is lazy, lacks pace and has little concept of movement. You might want to cast your mind back to a couple of other so called highly rated strikers from the dutch league, a league infinitely more competitive than the SPL. These guys were also heavy scorers in their leagues and highly rated, reasonably skillful and excellent finishers but they failed dismally when they `came to the PL. One was Kezman at Chelsea and the other was that Alphonso bloke at Middlesbrough. Boyd reminds me somewhat of both of them and I just do not see him cutting the mustard in the PL.

Madras In order for him to move on, we need to replace him and to replace him, we need to spend significant money. He has the premiership experience already and like him or loath him, his record of goals in the PL is there to be seen, unlike someone like Boyd or Beckford who are both heading towards their l;ate 20s having played at lower level leagues. I would certainly keep him because he has the ability.

Coming home at Christmas from Oz for a few weeks and looking forward to catching a couple of games (subject to surviving a threat from that well known old soldier of fortune, Ronaldo, in beating my brains out...........LOL). I was last back at a game in late March 2003 (1-1 with Villa and Nobby's pearler of a free kick) and I remember we sitting in the up area, centrally, opposite the dugouts. Fantastic seats but the tickets then were 32 pounds each. My 5 year old daughter is already a fan of the club and watches games with me here on TV. Black and white mad, she is. Anyway, I am looking forward to getting tickets for the wife, the daughter and me.

I have been off work for a few days recently with the flu so I decided to have a look at my NUFC season DVDs going back to 2002. Some of these included interviews with Shola and he even admits that his style would appear to be languid and disinterested at times but the quality of many of the goals he scored for the club whilst not being first choice forward the majority of the time were extroadinary. What is also noticeable is his ability on the floor, mostly facing play. I would say that even he would admit that he needs to work on his general back to goal ability but what struck me most is that the constant criticism of the lad is totally out of order. T He is still at the club, displaying his loyalty whilst rebels like Martins and Owen have been and gone. Shola is no world beater, but he will be a decent alternative up front next season and already has a proven record of scoring goals at the top level which is something Boyd has not done. It might also be interesting to note that Shola also has a proven record of scoring goals in europe, something Boyd has failed to do consistently as well. It is also interesting to note that Shola has consistently scored goals in the PL against quality opposition such as Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Villa, Everton and Spurs. I am probably one of the few on here who rates the lad and even looking at his injury problems last season, his goals record per game was better than any other striker in the CCC. If we were to sign Boyd, then IMO, it would be as an alternative to Best and not Carroll, Shola or Lovenkrands. One final point about Shola. I have just checked wiki and his career record shows 63 goals in 279 appearances which is something like just over 1 in 4. I would estimate that out those appearances , close to 100 would have been only substittute appearances, possibly most of them lasting no more than 20 minutes at a time so this would make his stats look a bit more impressive.

I have been off work for a few days recently with the flu so I decided to have a look at my NUFC season DVDs going back to 2002. Some of these included interviews with Shola and he even admits that his style would appear to be languid and disinterested at times but the quality of many of the goals he scored for the club whilst not being first choice forward the majority of the time were extroadinary. What is also noticeable is his ability on the floor, mostly facing play. I would say that even he would admit that he needs to work on his general back to goal ability but what struck me most is that the constant criticism of the lad is totally out of order. T He is still at the club, displaying his loyalty whilst rebels like Martins and Owen have been and gone. Shola is no world beater, but he will be a decent alternative up front next season and already has a proven record of scoring goals at the top level which is something Boyd has not done. It might also be interesting to note that Shola also has a proven record of scoring goals in europe, something Boyd has failed to do consistently as well. It is also interesting to note that Shola has consistently scored goals in the PL against quality opposition such as Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Villa, Everton and Spurs. I am probably one of the few on here who rates the lad and even looking at his injury problems last season, his goals record per game was better than any other striker in the CCC. If we were to sign Boyd, then IMO, it would be as an alternative to Best and not Carroll, Shola or Lovenkrands.

So, if Boyd is so good, why isnt he being pursued by the top teams in the PL (excluding the top 4)? It is not a case of just disagreeing with you. IN MY OPINION, Boyd is unproven at top level, as his stats show when playing against reasonable quality opposition. I get to watch him play most weekends on TV over here over the past few years and he has consistently failed to deliver against better opposition. Oh yes, he has the capabil;ity of scoring hat tricks against the likes of Hamil;ton Academicals, St. Mirren or Inverness Caley Thistle who are less highly rated than some of the english league one teams and you portray Beckford to be of little quality. So, judging by your assessment, Beckford would be no better than Boyd and you wouldnt have him at NUFC? For the estimated 30K a week Boyd is demanding, I would want a whole lot better than him.

If you say so - in my mind he'd be fourth choice behind Carroll, Lovenkrands and Ameobi. I guess we'll see, if it comes to pass Agreed. Boyd is second rate and not fit enough to lace Shola's boots. I have watched Boyd regularly and whilst his scoring record is good in a piss poor league, 90% of his goals are scored against bottom half teams. Check his record of goals against Celtic, Hearts, Hibs and Dundee Utd. Also, when it comes to playing in Europe, his record is virtually non existent. He doesnt even play for Scotland either. Besy striker at NUFC if he signs?????? Dont make me laugh. Give me Shola and Bigger Lad every time.

Geremi

1966 World Cup winning team

Got a feeling that Cardiff might just sneak it. However, with their financial problems, it might well be a very short stay in the PL if they do go up.

Anyway, getting away from the uusual waffle of certain posters ion here, has anyone checked out Nicky Maynard from Bristol City. Before anyone jumps down my throat, yes, I realise he is unproven in the PL but given the chance, I think he could be a success, possibly in the similar mould as Andy Cole a few years ago. I watched him closely last night against Blackpool and apart from scoring an absolute cracker, I was impressed with his overall contribution in a very ordinary BC side. His weakest point seems to be his reluctanceto use his left foot when well positioned but his overall movement, control and link up play was first class. I would offer BC a couple of million plus Leon Best. I also looked closely at Charlie Adam as well and other than a couple of decent crosses, he was largely ineffective and slower than a carthorse. We should keep well away from him. He also has a very bad disciplinary record, something like 15 yellow cards this season.

No. Wasn't good enough when he was here, why should he be good enough now? Agree - headless chicken who has been WELL sussed in the Bundesliga ; wouldn't touch him with a barge-pole. 6 goals in 6 starts, sounds like defenders have had a right laugh with him. Please, do your research instead of just posting the nonsense that lingers inside your head all of the time. Pot calling the kettle black, numpty. If he is so good, why has he only started 6 games? Think before you enter discussions, sonny.

Just off topic for a minute but check out the goal Nicky Maynard scored against Blackpool today. Absolute cracker and it puts him top scorer in the CCC, I think

I guess we had better be nice to him in future and lay off the Ashley Out chants at games

Fair comments from Merlin, TBH. However, I think the fact that we have alimited budget and we are really looking at players with PL experience or potential would probably show that Hughton isnt too concerned about targeting players from the WC. As far as I can see, the only players leaving the club this summer will be Butt, Pancrate and possibly Hall and Steven taylor. Out of that lot, Taylor is obviously the major miss and what we get for him would be quite substantial (around 8 million plus) which would go into our kitty. I think Hughton should look at the likes of Maynard of Bristol City. I feel he could have the potential to make a similar impact to Andy Cole. I like the look of the german lad at Celtic, Hinkel who wouild certainly walk straight in as first choice right back. On the Maynard thing, we could offer Best in part exchange. I think it is highly possible that the likes of Vuckic, Kadar, Krul and Ranger may play more prominent parts in the squad if they are not all loaned out and of course, Forster is still an asset who should have another year at Norwich. I also think the next couple of youngsters coming through could be Inman and Fergison.. Hopefully, these kids will progress, either as part of the squad or being loaned out to a high placed CCC team.

Absolutely right...leave well alone here and I dont see Bullard any better than Barton and Guthrie who are both several years younger.

Those people on here who are fail to rate Colo on last seasons performance need a reality check. Who DID play well last season????????? In my opinion, the main reason the team failed last season wasnt down to the ineptitude of the defence but the pathetic midfield performances by a plethera of players and the failure of our forwards to take some of the easier chances on offer, particularly Martins and Owen. The fact the club was in utter turmoil didnt help with 4 different managers with differing views on how the team should be set up didnt help either. Factor in his first season in a new team, new league, new country and a different type of football to what he was used to, isnt it any wonder he didnt impress? If we can keep the same attitude of players next season, that has been maintained this season, I dont see Colo being a problem. Likewise Taylor and Enrigue. My main concern will be how Williamson will adapt to PL football. Hopefully he will turn out like another Roger Johnson. Anyway, we have the basis of a good squad, more than capable of surviving in the PL and with three or four astute signings , I dont see any reason why we cannot achieve midtable safety.

Yes, true and I also fogot Danny Guthrie as well so it looks about the 20 million mark being right.

Oher players sold in the Ashley era not mentioned above include N'Zogbia, Faye, Beye for a further estimated cost of 10 million quid. If you look at who we sold in the last couple of years in Martins, Duff, Beye, Bassong, Edgar, Emre, Faye, Milner, Given, N,Zogbia, Dyer, Parker, Luque, Boumsong,etc, you wouldnt be wrong in thinking that you wouildnt get much change out of 80 million here. Apart from the initial spend of adding the lokes of Enrigue, Smith, Barton, Faye, Beye, plus the signing of Xisco, Nolan, Raylor and the lads last January, I estimate he made a profit of 40 million on transfers. Mind, I could have missed out a couple of players., ins and outs.

That's what he's said so he seems confident enough he will get the backing he needs. Well, I think he will take a punt on signing Hall on the cheap especially as I think Saylor will go in the summer. I would take a punt on Wheater from Boro as a replacement. It wasnt long ago he was in the England squad. We need another RB and a quality replacement for Butt. The lad Hinkel from Celtic is a good RB and someone like O'Hara as has already been discussed. As a forward option, I like the look of Maynard of BC. Sign up Gamst Pederson on a free as well. A couple of younger loan players in the Van Aanholt mould, someone like Cork of Chelsea as well will do for me.

Thats OK, Idiot. Most people will know what I mean. By the way, did you get my phone message? Lookng forward to christmas, are you?

On that performance, you will only be a midtable team next season. Thought Birmingham should have won by at least 2 goals.