Rich

Cousin, innit?

I'm not entirely convinced that the manager has that much say over the style of football/way the game pans out once the players cross the white line. It's not like it's just Allardyce who has overseen second halves like that after decent enough openings here recently. The players aren't good enough for one, the conditions were terrible, everything else was against us. I don't believe for a second that he's told our lot to go "more direct" at half-time. If anything, it was plainly obvious that if we played some football then we might win it.

He's a fucking legend, tbh. Looks more like a rugby prop than a footballer. Marvellous. His appearance has really cheered me up.

When he's bad, he's really fucking bad. Loves yellow cards as well.

Bye Bye Emre.

First XI James Richards Dunne King Baines Bentley Elano Barry M. Petrov Berbatov Owen Second XI Friedel Chimbonda Distin Lescott Bale Lennon Arteta Cahill A. Young Anelka R. Keane Could keep going as well, very hard to just pick eleven: the likes of Agbonlahor, Laursen, Carson, Campbell, N'Zogbia and others are unlucky to miss out.

Why would Beye have gone to the ACN without Faye leaving as well? That can't be right.

We hardly lost a game in his last full season, we drew too many games which needed addressing and we would have been back in the top 3 if he'd been given the chance and pulled it off. As for him losing the dressing room, what exactly happened? Bellamy got into trouble when in Wales on international duty, Dyer crashed his car on the way to training and was rumoured to burn money and had a sex film out. Robert wrote stupid articles on his website and always backed down when Robson questioned him, he always came back and said he'd been misquoted which suggests that he had some respect for Robson. We also had players accused of rape but nothing came of it. You also can't underestimate the Thursday-Sunday (sometimes Saturday) nature of our big UEFA Cup Campaign that season, as well, from what I remember we only won something like 2 out of 11 league games which directly followed a European game (2 in 13 it would be including the Partizan fixtures). There has to be more to it than simply saying "we didn't perform to the same level we had done previously", there has to be some rhyme and reason for it. Partizan finished Robson and that squad/era, for me, more than anything else. Much like Spurs and Jol missing out on CL qualification on the last day after "lasagne-gate", they never recovered from it and the fans weren't the same afterwards either.

I could say that about the vast majority of the squad, in fairness, but it's never going to happen and I can't help but feel we've got unrealistic expectations of the types of players who should be currently playing for us. Well, precisely. Do you think we can get better than Martins, Owen and Viduka? Probably not, in all honesty. Agree with you there Boss, and that's my main worry. I don't like much of our squad, I don't particularly rate much of our squad, but I'm not sure we could do much better than a lot of them at the current point in time. It's the Viduka slagging after the Man City game that has woken me up to this more than anything, because I thought he was at the heart of most of the "good" we did in open play, especially in the first half, something which showed up even more on Football First. Yet because he isn't a "complete" striker with pace or a Bellamy-esque workrate, he's getting slagged to high heaven, even though he tracked back more than Shearer ever did on Wednesday night.

I do still think he could prosper elsewhere (but who wouldn't look better playing for Arsenal, really?), which as you say (albeit sarcastically), could be as good a reason as any to cash in. If he's never going to be favoured here, or do the business here, then what's the point in hanging on hoping it all works itself out? In fairness to the lad, he's never hid, he's been constantly available for selection, he looks like he wants to play for the shirt. He has a lot of admirable qualities about him, but you can't deny that he's probably the most frustrating player we've had on our books, which a lot of people just simply will not look past. He's not innocent in the whole thing though, let's not pretend that he is, because for a professional footballer who is earning a mint, he doesn't half lack some of the necessary technical basics to ever really be a top-class striker. Like HTT has argued elsewhere, this could be more mental than anything, because there has been the odd game where he's done a lot of what he usually does badly very well (holding the ball up, playing good passes, chasing down markers.)

If you take the time to read most of the sensible arguments about Martins, you'll see that the judgements are more based on his glaring weaknesses as a footballer (which haven't improved one iota since he joined) than his recent form. His only answer is to score goals, of course, which he hasn't been doing recently. I do understand what your general point is, but it doesn't necessarily apply in this case because a lot of people have been saying the same about him since last season. Like I've just posted though, if this forum had their way then I'm not sure we'd have a manager, an owner, a chairman, any staff, a single player in the first team, reserves or academy, a tea lady, a box office, etc. Nobody is good enough. If Martins did go, then this place could become very Bellamy-esque, unless Allardyce bought a quality replacement.

and the decent replacement would be....? Please, no one say Anelka. You might as well say Ronaldhino. I wasn't thinking of a player in that kind of price bracket. I just don't rate Martins that highly. I'd like us to sign a busy, quick player in the Beardsley / Bellamy mould who can make things happen for us. I like the look of Arshavin, as an example. If City were to offer us £8 million plus Vassell, I'd take it. He's not the most skilful, but his technique is better than Martins, he's quick and he puts in a lot of hard, intelligent work for his team. He's underrated and he'd be a good option to have in our position, even if he wouldn't be a long-term first team regular. Isn't Arshavin a midfielder? Interesting idea though. I'd rather have Martins than Vassell myself. We already have Smith to do what Vassell does, i.e., work hard and get no goals. He's fairly versatile, can play out wide, as an attacking midfielder, off the striker or as the striker.

I could say that about the vast majority of the squad, in fairness, but it's never going to happen and I can't help but feel we've got unrealistic expectations of the types of players who should be currently playing for us.

Decent post, but we got Luque instead of Boa Morte, from what I recall.

Emre’s agent has told setantasports.com that he knows nothing of any reported interest from Monaco in his client, but has revealed that a number of clubs are monitoring the situation of the Newcastle United star. Reports in the French press claim that Monaco are weighing up a move for the Turkey international, with Galatasaray also believed to be keen to bring the midfielder back to the club where he started his career before a move to Inter in 2001. Emre has only started one game since the start of December for The Magpies and manager Sam Allardyce has shown a preference for Nicky Butt, Geremi and, when not otherwise engaged, Joey Barton so far this season. Whilst denying any knowledge of interest from Monaco, Ahmet Bulut did hint that there would be no shortage of clubs looking to sign his client should he come on the market. “I don’t know if it is true,” Bulut told setantasports.com. “There are a lot of clubs interested but they have to speak to Newcastle.” Having seen his client fail to carve out a regular place under Allardyce, Bulut further stated: “He is not happy because he is not playing.”

Aye. Take the money get Anelka. Simple. Next. Diouf is surely more likely. I'd be happy with either. Haven't we done this one before Rich? Can't remember! Brain is a bit fuzzy after last night. Anelka just seems a mite unrealistic to me, especially at this point in time (no matter how much I'd want him here), but if he leaves for Chelsea then I can't see Diouf being happy to stay at Bolton. But then, would we go in for a player of his reputation after the recent Barton stuff? Who knows? More to the point: who cares? EDIT: Just seen Bolton have dropped Anelka from their squad today altogether to pave the way for his move to Chelsea. Diouf is DEFINITELY more likely now, despite the reputation stuff.

Aye. Take the money get Anelka. Simple. Next. Diouf is surely more likely.

Well that's decent. I used to work in that Tesco for a bit and Luque couldn't speak a fucking jot of English for the entire first season he was here, or he just didn't bother...

This thread is brilliant. Seriously. We need Geremi in here.

So he didn't just say "Si" then, that's progress. Howay the Jose!

I liked him slagging Ibrahimovic off in a big rant, if that's what you mean.

It was intended to be Souness-esque, yes.

The thread title does apply some daft logic, if you believe that the majority of press rumours are made up or come from agents with agendas, which I do. Wouldn't read too much into t, Tronster.

Been thinking about this myself Jonny. Glad he's doing well personally, proper manager at a proper club.

Joint with the mighty Arsenal, of course.