magorific

Cheap shots as always...

In this case I do, yeah. We're talking about a Championship side that couldn't even make the playoff final. They were largely awful today, too. Usual WUM drivel, please. The last time I was accused of this (by you, iirc) was in January when I said our transfer window had been f***ing inadequate. I apologise. The "WUM" part was probably out of line. As I said, I'll bow to your superior knowledge of a team that scored (iirc) 12-13 goals in 3 straight games during the business end of last season and missed automatic promotion on goal difference. I'll bow to your unique insight into the play-off process the rest of us mere mortals refer to as a "lottery". I'll bow to you. Period.

I see Ronaldo has turned his usual WUM drivel up to turboshit re Brighton. Best mate is a Brighton fan and I remember him very much enjoying the run of big wins they had in April when the pressure was seriously on to keep pace with the top two. But never mind. Miserable Ronnie knows better.

Nobody who was there today could think Shelvey is the worst of our problems. Anita, Dummett and Hayden were atrocious. Vurn is an emergency right-back for me - nothing more. Utter madness from Rafa to leave Ritchie on the bench, and we desperately miss Mitro's physicality and general attitude.

So, just to clarify, TCD thinks Paul Dummett had a better season than Chancel Mbemba..

WUM?

My point - if you're bothered amid your trademark foaming - isn't as much to do with Shearer (although he at least had sporadic good games beyond his "one tournament") as it is with Rooney having bombed miserably at four successive tournaments.

Rooney had literally two good games in that "stand-out" tournament, and we reached the first knock-out round. Comparing that with Euro 96 is utter f***ing nonsense.

"Good player" isn't a function that contributes to team success. You need tangibles. We needed a goalscorer this season. Mitrovic is not that player. We still struggle fro goals. We needed a CM that can put his foot in the ball. Wijnaldum - is not that player but his goals have been key for the little points we have for sure. We still struggle to for quality at CM. Thauvin - dud. We needed a defender to dominate attackers of the opposition physically and in the air. Mbemba, talented lad but isn't that player. We still struggle with physical strikers - especially in the air. Darlwo and the other lad aren't ready for first team PL football yet. SDJ can't get in the tea,. Perez is a talent. But he doesn't score enough goals. If he doesn't beat goalkeepers with a quick shot, he rarely scores. He's better playing fully up top than #10 imo. Jack Colback. ^^^^ does not make for a good team We didn't need Mbemba? That's utter bollocks. We needed him AND the dominant, physical defender you mention. Unless you were happy going into the season with Colo in the side...

No, basically. His hesitation prompted Coloccini to take a reckless gamble. Any decent keeper would have made sure his defender knew he had the situation sorted.

It's fair to say he liked a drink.

Gouffran playing central, Wijnaldum on the left.

Soccerbase have him p[laying a part in 40 games, never missed any prolonged spells either. Not that it matters cos we wont be signing him just for that reason. Missed 10 games on the spin between Feb and April.

Can't find any mention of him at all in the lists of Elche's youth (or reserve team) squads.

Anyone who saw the truly sensational dribble he produced against Southampton at home last season - sadly not shown on any highlights - knows that Anita has serious ability on the ball. Doesn't disguise his general struggle with the physicality of the Premier League, however.

Pace. We are f***ing desperate for pace. (That's pace with a football brain attached. Not Squidward pace).

We are already deep into the realms of the preposterous, though, Dave. My instinct says "f**k it, let's see what he does if we go down". But another voice says he will do absolutely nothing, at least not for the three years we'd receive parachute payments.

With the best will in the world, there were way more than 31k there. I reckon around 40k.

It's utter horseshit that the Blackburn side was poorer than Boro's. Boro had two centre-backs well into their 30s (Southgate was about 35), Doriva - one of the slowest midfielders I've seen in the top flight - and Joseph-Desire Job up front. Yes, they had Juninho, but he was a shadow of the player he was in his first spell. Blackburn were no great shakes, but if you think Juninho and the massively under-performing Gaizka Mendieta were significantly better than Okocha and Djorkaeff, or that Boro had anyone on a par with Damien Duff at that time (if you look back, he was absolutely flying then), then you're a bigger idiot than I assumed. And if league form/position is a barometer, virtually the same Blackburn squad finished sixth the season after winning the League Cup.

So beating Oldham, Boro, City (then in second tier), Arsenal, Sheff Wed and a Spurs side containing Ben Thatcher and Chris Perry better than taking Boro (via victories over Stuttgart, Roma and Basel) to the UEFA Cup final? Yes, winning is better than finishing 2nd. That's before you even take into account which teams listed there were taking the respective tournaments more seriously. Kuffour, Mexes, Chivu, De Rossi, Perrotta, Dacourt all started for Roma against them. But hey ho. Sorry, are you saying losing 4-0 to Sevilla in the Uefa Cup is a better achievement than wining the (admittedly s***) League Cup with Blackburn? I'm f***ing bored with this s***, anyway. Anyone legitimately wanting Steve 'Derby are doing well in the Championship and he did well at Boro' McClaren over the suggested/approached realistic European options is a mong. End. Wasn't the argument though. I think the 2 League Cup wins are comparable as achievements, although I don't know the 2 respective squads off by heart admittedly. So beating Oldham, Boro, City (then in second tier), Arsenal, Sheff Wed and a Spurs side containing Ben Thatcher and Chris Perry better than taking Boro (via victories over Stuttgart, Roma and Basel) to the UEFA Cup final? Yes, winning is better than finishing 2nd. That's before you even take into account which teams listed there were taking the respective tournaments more seriously. Kuffour, Mexes, Chivu, De Rossi, Perrotta, Dacourt all started for Roma against them. But hey ho. Sorry, are you saying losing 4-0 to Sevilla in the Uefa Cup is a better achievement than wining the (admittedly s***) League Cup with Blackburn? I'm f***ing bored with this s***, anyway. Anyone legitimately wanting Steve 'Derby are doing well in the Championship and he did well at Boro' McClaren over the suggested/approached realistic European options is a mong. End. I'm not suggesting McClaren should be top of our list, but dismissing him getting Boro to two cup finals (one of which he won) is petty, as would be not acknowledging his achievement in becoming the only manager other than Van Gaal to win the Dutch league with a team outside their traditional big three in 30 years (and in a season when Suarez scored 35 league goals for Ajax). But never mind, cos you're bored. Newsflash: so are we...

So beating Oldham, Boro, City (then in second tier), Arsenal, Sheff Wed and a Spurs side containing Ben Thatcher and Chris Perry better than taking Boro (via victories over Stuttgart, Roma and Basel) to the UEFA Cup final? Yes, winning is better than finishing 2nd. That's before you even take into account which teams listed there were taking the respective tournaments more seriously. Kuffour, Mexes, Chivu, De Rossi, Perrotta, Dacourt all started for Roma against them. But hey ho.

So beating Oldham, Boro, City (then in second tier), Arsenal, Sheff Wed and a Spurs side containing Ben Thatcher and Chris Perry better than taking Boro (via victories over Stuttgart, Roma and Basel) to the UEFA Cup final? Yes, winning is better than finishing 2nd. That's before you even take into account which teams listed there were taking the respective tournaments more seriously. Cool logic, bro.

So beating Oldham, Boro, City (then in second tier), Arsenal, Sheff Wed and a Spurs side containing Ben Thatcher and Chris Perry better than taking Boro (via victories over Stuttgart, Roma and Basel) to the UEFA Cup final?

You're a floating something...

60 grand a week 3rd choice...can see that happening. I'd personally get rid of the lot; colo, willo, Taylor, we'd get next to nowt, but it would free up a lot of wages and squad space. Can see us watching qprs season like a hawk and go for austin & caulker should they go down. honestly don't get what people see in Caulker Had a fantastic passing rate at swansea. Part of two s*** defences two seasons in a row 60 grand a week 3rd choice...can see that happening. I'd personally get rid of the lot; colo, willo, Taylor, we'd get next to nowt, but it would free up a lot of wages and squad space. Can see us watching qprs season like a hawk and go for austin & caulker should they go down. honestly don't get what people see in Caulker Had a fantastic passing rate at swansea. Speaking of which, it's a shame we didn't go in properly for Ashley Williams back when he might have looked twice at us.