TRon

I think I'd like to see Martins come off the bench again. So that leaves Viduka, Owen and Lovenkrands as the possible starters if I was picking the team. That's what should have happened against fulham and I think it cost us. Martins for the last 30 mins can be really destructive, and I also have a feeling that Lovenkrands and Viduka would work well as a pair.

Could've been about as good as Ruel Fox. Never had the ability to become as good as the other two in this thread. Zog had a work rate that could have made him invaluable as a player, something both the other two lacked. I say "had" because he's definitely lost it in direct proportion to the swelling of his head. Without the effort he hasn't got anywhere near the ability of the Robert or Ginola.

I find it staggering that Llambias insisted that Bassong was a Wise signing when from that report it's clear Keegan was the driving force behind the deal.

Whenever we get a free kick outside the penalty area I get a pang of loss. We used to have Robert on one side and Solano on the other. Fuck me you don't realise what you had until it's gone.

Whenever we've put out a side any formation other than 4-4-2 our players have looked all at sea even though on paper we should have had the players to use the formation. Some of them just need the slightest excuse not to perform I suspect. Or maybe they are just thick.

Robert. His end product was different class to the other two although he got slaughtered by the pundits for being a lazy bugger. We wouldn't be on the verge of relegation if he was playing in this team though.

One more game and we won't have to put up with this bollocks ever again.

I didn't pay much attention to the forward line, I was looking more at the idea of having two proper full backs for a change, but you are right. Away from home that forward line up looks far too slow. Lovenkrands for Owen maybe?

He's out of contract at the end of the season (I think) so we'll lose out on a fee as well as the player if we do that.

That's probably the best balanced team we could pick, whether the two centre backs will be up to it is a doubt but there's nothing we can do about that now except keep our fingers crossed they have a good day.

I don't see anyone in our current team with the football brain of Solano.

I'm not convinced enough of these players care to be motivated. If Villa's players are supposedly on the beach, many of ours are probably eyeing potential moves if the worst happens. We'll see.

I sometimes wonder why we need players like Martins at all considering all they have is misguided pace, poor touch and stupid brains? Why don't we pack the team with players with so much nous and experience like Geremi, Owen, Nolan, Viduka, Butt and Cacapa? Not to mention Smith who might be available on Sunday? This is what I mean by Martins' fanboys. No-one is denying that he's good player but, surprise surprise, he does have some faults. Isn't that sarcasm? Why make a big deal of it if you are going to use it yourself? I wasn't criticizing you for using sarcasm. I was saying you were being sarcastic as you obviously (I assume) don't want the team filled with the likes of Nolan. You were getting wound up because people were highlighting Martins' obvious faults. I was making the point that we have other areas which are of much bigger concern IMO, that doesn't make me a "fanboy". Obviously I would prefer Ronaldo or Drogba.

I sometimes wonder why we need players like Martins at all considering all they have is misguided pace, poor touch and stupid brains? Why don't we pack the team with players with so much nous and experience like Geremi, Owen, Nolan, Viduka, Butt and Cacapa? Not to mention Smith who might be available on Sunday? This is what I mean by Martins' fanboys. No-one is denying that he's good player but, surprise surprise, he does have some faults. Isn't that sarcasm? Why make a big deal of it if you are going to use it yourself?

Super. Great stuff.

I sometimes wonder why we need players like Martins at all considering all they have is misguided pace, poor touch and stupid brains? Why don't we pack the team with players with so much nous and experience like Geremi, Owen, Nolan, Viduka, Butt and Cacapa? Not to mention Smith who might be available on Sunday? This is what I mean by Martins' fanboys. No-one is denying that he's good player but, surprise surprise, he does have some faults. I just acknowledged his faults, so how does that make me a fanboy? Well it looked a lot like sarcasm to me... From me or you?

I sometimes wonder why we need players like Martins at all considering all they have is misguided pace, poor touch and stupid brains? Why don't we pack the team with players with so much nous and experience like Geremi, Owen, Nolan, Viduka, Butt and Cacapa? Not to mention Smith who might be available on Sunday? This is what I mean by Martins' fanboys. No-one is denying that he's good player but, surprise surprise, he does have some faults. I just acknowledged his faults, so how does that make me a fanboy?

The plan last week was to avoid football at all cost. Avoid the build up (failed) avoid the tension (failed) and avoid watching the game at all costs (failed). I am starting to feel like a member of the Newcastle squad.

I sometimes wonder why we need players like Martins at all considering all they have is misguided pace, poor touch and stupid brains? Why don't we pack the team with players with so much nous and experience like Geremi, Owen, Nolan, Viduka, Butt and Cacapa? Not to mention Smith who might be available on Sunday?

There's renewed speculation about Bassong today who is definitely one of the players we would like to keep I would think. If we go down, will we fight to keep him like Birmingham did with Larsson or will we take the highest bid because he's got a year left on his contract? For me the answer will tell us a lot about our ambitions next season.

There isn't really tht much in the article we didn't know about tbh. I don't think other clubs will be in for him unless we give him away at a stupid price, he still has a few flaws in his game for all his promise. No doubt he'd prefer to leave if we go down if a decent club comes in, but it won't necessarily pan out like that. He's still under contract for another season at least surely?

Yep....Ashley's penny pinching has potential to be the X Factor. Don't take anything for granted is my motto. Incidentally it's fantastic how different news outlets are spinning the same interviews to suggest Shearer is staying/leaving without having the slightest clue either way.

I think he has done more for this club than almost 90% of our current players and his work rate alone is something that our current crop lacks. Sure he was part of the bling brigade and crashed a few cars but he actually gave a shit when he was on the field. 100% correct. If the current first team midfielders ran even half as much or demanded the ball as tirelessly as Dyer did would we be complaining about the lack of movement in the midfield?

When was the last time anyone saw him do this when both players started from the same position He's playing hampered by a groin injury according to the club. Do you really expect him to explode from the blocks if that is the case?

Great point. He had an almost telepathic understanding with Solano but this was usually over-looked by the haters because Dyer wasn't liked for non-football reasons.