TRon

Who said you can't disagree? Feel free to disagree, just pointing out that successive managers from Robson through to Allardyce now, have seen fit to put Shola in their squad. That doesn't make them right or you wrong, just a professional manager's opinion will have more weight than Johnny down the pub. But Johnny's entitled to his opinion just like anyone else. especially when the managers were wrong. says Johnny down the pub...

Really good write up of the match regardless of whether he's having a dig at Oliver.

Who said you can't disagree? Feel free to disagree, just pointing out that successive managers from Robson through to Allardyce now, have seen fit to put Shola in their squad. That doesn't make them right or you wrong, just a professional manager's opinion will have more weight than Johnny down the pub. But Johnny's entitled to his opinion just like anyone else.

He's not retracting any of his statements, just saying he wants to draw a line under it all. Personally I think they got what was coming. When the Bolton poster, trotter88, was on here talking about how boring the football was under Big Sam I thought it smacked of arrogance and ingratitude. Said at the time that Little Sammy'sd attempts to change a winning formula would see Bolton struggle, and it's what they deserve IMO.

You need to share your expertise with successive Newcastle managers as obviously you know so much more than the pros.

Aye he's considered immense, that's why Big Sam signed two new strikers. Or not. The Shola defending brigade can't seem to accept that our management have finally realised he's hump and actually done something about it! The Shola defending brigade have never claimed he was a first choice striker though. And what has our management done except agree and pushed him down the peckiong order. No one's chasing him out of town with a pitchfork are they? Not unless you and Northern Monkey are planning a visit to Shola's house sometime after dark...

He's an opportunistic little shit

I think we'll get a draw from this one. We'd probably get more but the fact that the players will still be getting used to Sam's ideas makes me think there will be mistakes. Not having Enrique to come in as a specialist left back could be a problem. Other than that I think we'll do well. 1-1 for me.

I don't really care about their family situation, they signed good contracts happily enough, and unless it's in our interests they should be giving 100% or they shouldn't be picking up their wages. If there's any truth that we might get £8m for the pair of them, then it's good business for us, and best all round.

Us too if they're not replaced by better player(s). At those prices I'm happy enough, it's good business. I'm pretty sure we'll cope.

£8m for Dyer and Solano breaks down as £6m for Dyer £2m for Solano West Ham well and truly busted by Big Mike if true

Couldn't have said it better. Our chairman made a poor business decision but Magnusson is still a baldy foreign twat.

Did he say that West Ham expected to sign Dyer on a free and that we should pay for the phone calls and taxi charges?

So Smith Owen and Martins are all fighting for the other position then, with Shola direct cover for Viduka? Are you suggesting that Allardyce has a screw loose? I think what he meant that he would provide another big man option up front.

West Ham are not offering money according to Oliver, so it amounts to shit-stirring and nothing more. If anything the price will go up another million every time Oliver runs a story so fuck you West Ham. Again.

Well we can all speculate what Sam isd thinking, but I know what he actually said. Yes Shola would be sold if we got a decent bid for him, I'm sure that's true, but unless it was worthwhile money I think he'd be kept as cover for Viduka like I said.

It means fuck all unless West Ham come up with some serious money - which is precisely why it amounts to nothing more than shit-stirring as that isn't going to happen.

Shola is cover for Mark Viduka, not just a 5th choice striker. I believe Allardyce has made that clear. That's why he won't be sold IMO, unless we buy again which is not going to happen.

Looks like Oliver is the Voice of West Ham now. Lord Haw Haw has been reborn.

You say I'm being silly, but you would seriously consider Cole, a player released from his contract by Fulham (!) despite all that crap you spouted about signing the best. Tell me then, which player would you sign to be our 5th choice striker? Apart from Cole that is. I don't think we need a 5th choice striker. If for some reason the other 4 can't play, then give a young lad like Carroll a go. Somebody who might actually get good. Shola is past that point, you can give him chance after chance, he's not going to get better. So now you are back-tracking from your original assertion that the top clubs release the likes of Fowler and sign better players, with your "play Carroll" plea? If you are going to make a point, at least think it through and try and stick with it. Fowler wasn't 5th choice though? My point remains valid. We have signed Viduka and Smith so that answers your carping about top clubs signing better players. We clearly have done, pushing Shola right down the pecking order. So your only remaining gripe is that Shola is still here, even if he isn't likely to feature much. As has been pointed out, Carroll is far better off getting experience on loan so you haven't really come up with any realistic alternatives apart from burned out coke-heads. Who probably wouldn't come to be 5th choice either. Now what?

You say I'm being silly, but you would seriously consider Cole, a player released from his contract by Fulham (!) despite all that crap you spouted about signing the best. Tell me then, which player would you sign to be our 5th choice striker? Apart from Cole that is. I don't think we need a 5th choice striker. If for some reason the other 4 can't play, then give a young lad like Carroll a go. Somebody who might actually get good. Shola is past that point, you can give him chance after chance, he's not going to get better. So now you are back-tracking from your original assertion that the top clubs release the likes of Fowler and sign better players, with your "play Carroll" plea? If you are going to make a point, at least think it through and try and stick with it.

You say I'm being silly, but you would seriously consider Cole, a player released from his contract by Fulham (!) despite all that crap you spouted about signing the best. Tell me then, which player would you sign to be our 5th choice striker? Apart from Cole that is.

Fowler's a poor example to make your point. There's no doubting his talent, but he was probably let go for other reasons than football. Lifestyle off the pitch; fitness possibly; sniffing coke again...who knows? Maybe he's just past it? Bollocks. Even if he is past it, his current ability is better than Shola's. Bollocks. Let's sign Andy Cole then. Can't see him being happy to be back up. However, if he was, he's better than Shola. Is there anyone who isn't better than Shola? Pete Doherty perhaps? There's another cokehead whose past his prime...should we make a bid?

We'd be better off recalling Krul if it's possible. He's probably better than most of the replacements available anyway.

Fowler's a poor example to make your point. There's no doubting his talent, but he was probably let go for other reasons than football. Lifestyle off the pitch; fitness possibly; sniffing coke again...who knows? Maybe he's just past it? Bollocks. Even if he is past it, his current ability is better than Shola's. Bollocks. Let's sign Andy Cole then.