HawK

Why u lot so surprised, I called it

So proud

Judging by the mood of the board you all should be thanking me

Oo I like them scale jpegs, always catch myself looking at Star Trek ships vs other Sci Fi things.

Carroll had scored a few goals in the Premiership before getting his real chance in the Championship and with his size especially he was built for the PL. Armstrong is obviously much smaller but when he's came on for us has looked overawed and scared to pick up the ball for me, let alone take someone on. AC on the other hand dived straight in, going up against big defenders and really putting himself about. Buffon was even coming out singing his praises. Also despite being the same age Aarons' appears totally unfazed and is happy to take someone on and put himself about in the game and has shown real talent when playing in the league. I can't see why you'd regard him as the most exciting kid to come out of the academy in recent years when he's done absolutely nothing in the 2-15 minutes he's been given to try and make a mark on the game and performed no better than Adam Campbell did for us when he was getting the run-out's here and there. I'm not saying he's going to fail and be released or owt, but at this moment in time he looks nowhere being a decent PL player and only time will tell what happens with him - It's a total 50-50 how he'll turn out at the moment IMO. I'm not saying he's got the best chance of making it, but I think it's very easy for kids to look good with pace and be fearless, a la Aarons, Kazenga, Ranger to an extent. 2 of those could never cut it at PL level and the other I would want to see more of. Carroll was just doing what big lumps do and he did it from a young age, but I don't think he's intelligent enough to even have fear of the opposition. I'll take your point on Buffon's kind words, but when asked a direct question on an interview what else was he going to say? I watched Carroll when he went to Liverpool, and it was difficult to watch the amount of times he just had no clue how to find space in front of the opponent's back 4. When they lost the ball due to his lack of movement and awareness he even did a little spinny jump sometimes with hands going out like a helicopter like 'wtf do I do?' and would trot back to the half way line. I just think that Armstrong is 2 steps ahead of those around him, especially at Coventry's level. In the games where he did 'nothing', I saw him making some very smart runs, finding space, always looking for the ball. The fact that no-one passed it to him is a different story. Combined with Pardew's words of wisdom in his ear before he went out each time I'm sure he was properly primed to make an impact The awareness, confidence and audacity to finish both those goals in the way he did against Milwall shows a great deal about the lad's character and ability. I think this kid has got more about him than Aarons but these are 2 great prospects the like of which we haven't seen come through our ranks in a very long time. I really hope they both come good.

This lad is the most exciting kid to come through the academy that I can remember. Carroll didn't look good until that first season in the Championship, but this lad looks sublime at only 18. And I'm relieved we don't have Pardew here to see Aarons and Armstrong through their continued progression into a PL matchday squad at this stage of their development, hopefully no lasting damage done.

Fair play to McClaren if he doesn't rate him at PL level, rather than let him waste his career in the reserves.

Taylor had a few games there early in his career, considering Mbemba had never played RB before he joined us, I'd have thought SMC would have put Taylor there on Saturday instead. Not true. Pedantic much?

Taylor had a few games there early in his career, considering Mbemba had never played RB before he joined us, I'd have thought SMC would have put Taylor there on Saturday instead.

Played up top alone for Anderlecht all season, big strong lad, knows how to do it.

Has to come on imo

Didn't even have to make a sub to adjust for the red as Anita was already on the pitch. GENIUS

Cause he was a much better right back when he arrived tbh.

Is it safe to say that Nice is the forum's official French team?

We've actually got a few decent quality number 10s now, Ayoze, Siem, Cabella etc.

I can see Taylor going to a team like West Brom and being touted for England after one or two of his trademark out-of-his-skin performances, then getting injured for the season again.

Yup, a pity. Would have gone for a couple if it wasn't for that. Makes the Ben Arfa 10 stand out more Wouldn't mind being able to put a word under the number 10: 'Hope' as well tbh.

Such a poor opinion. Indeed, can't think of a shallower more vacuous club than Newcastle tbh.

Selling Tim Krul Maybe? Thought your signature said "Peppe is a c***" at first, and I was like: I dislike Minhosa's signature innately.

Was he f***. He was always involved in play deeper back. Howay man, false number 9? Its bullshuttler Watch like 90% of his goals man. Les lived in the box. Not sure how this ended up with Les Ferdinand, but I remember he scored a goal with his arse from closer to the half way line than the opposing goal vs Dmitri Kharine. Man's a legend.

Says? Some Belgian newspaper. La Derniere Heure. Read that as deriere or however you spell it, and thought what an odd name for a newspaper. Now I'm wondering if somewhere there is a bum hour, that would be awesome.

Need to change the thread title a la Steven Taylor, would be handier to say 'Currently uninjured' or something, as that is a rarer occurrence than not.

It's so unfashionable to want to hope

McClaren - "Wij, gonna put you up against Iron this morning. Get a feel for the type of defender you'll face in the Premier League". Wij - "Ok boss, but I don't think there's another defender in the league like 'Iron'". McClaren - "I know, but don't tell him that".