TRon

Yes. Instead of hitting left foot/right foot screamers into the net, jumping to flash the ball with his head for goal, racing clear with blistering pace, chesting the ball down to hit the ball first time on the half-volley,... he should have laid the ball safely back to Carr to swing a high cross towards the goal...

Why?? He can't pass, control a ball or shoot with finesse. He has pace but doesn't use it wisely, never makes top quality strikers runs in the box and his only real asset is smacking the ball as hard as he can and hoping. Arsene Wenger I salute you.

Thought this might happen tbh. Henry was under-appreciated before he went to Arsenal. And he hadn't scored 17 goals in his first season in English football then either.

For £6m you could probably buy a world class left back, why would anyone apart from West Ham spend that on either Shorey or Baines?

Depends on whether they have a thick-headed fat (but well meaning) moron running the football club I suppose.

That would be a catastrophe imo. Can still remember Geremi getting slated by Boro fans for months for not getting back and helping his full back, in the same way our fans did to Robert. They must be right picky b*stards then considering they still voted him Fans' Player of the Year. Never said they didn't think he was a good player, but he got plenty criticism over that and going missing during the winter months. He scored the winner against us too, that automatically gets you player of the year down there. 'boro fans levelled the same accusations against Viduka last winter then changed their tune once he started scoring quality goals in big matches. As for not helping out the fullbacks, I don't get the impression the ball will dwelled on in the middle of the park much under Allardyce, which makes the likes of Parker and Butt spectators for much of the game. SA might have a totally different concept of what a CM responsibilities are.

No one seems to have given it much consideration but Geremi might b ear-marked for a defensive midfield role. That would explain the parallel interest in Habib Beye. Butt might have had a good season last year, but he is pretty much restricted to his defensive duties. Allardyce might be looking at someone to play more of a Gary Speed role in that position covering box to box.

We already have plenty of trophy signings tbh.

Don't think Milner is THAT slow tbh. He has a trick and a good right foot. That's one more attribute than Beckham, although Beckham's right foot is obviously a bit better. as an out and out winger to supply crosses Milner is a decent prospect and gives us an option (like Dyer) we can use to good effect when the need arises.

Great observations. Personally I like Milner as a player, though agree he is limited in some respects. Your very significant points about Dyer are well made. Will probably be countered by "Dyer is a horrible cunt" replies in response though.

Someone made a good point earlier, Gary Neville lacks pace but has been one of the best right backs in Europe for a long time now. Which goes to show that pace is great, but it's only a part of the sum. Personally I have always liked defenders who can defend first and foremost. Probably this is Beye's strength and that's why he's on SA's shopping list. A good a reason as any I'd say.

A significant point this, especially away from home on the counter. I can remember picking up many a point on enemy territory due to the Bellamy/Dyer pace factor during that season we finished 3rd under Robson. No one was waving their stats in the air back then come to think of it.

This is another interesting one. Along with Rozenhaal and Ben Haim, Beye was one of the first defenders linked to us since Allardyce's appointment and unlike the Smith/Bent fiasco stirred up by the Mirror, this definitely looks like our next possible signing. Slightly worried that he might lack pace but you can only assume SA has seen other qualities which over-ride that. Bear in mind that Solano also lacks pace but his positional sense meant he was never found out when he played RB. Also good to hear that he's useful in the air. I am sick of fielding tiddler full-backs who keep conceding headed goals at the far post.

good post and i agree with it, even the bit about him being worth more to us than his transfer fee. the only problem is that his wages are inflated way beyond his worth to us. he's like an attacking utility player who can play in any position in midfield or attack, from right to left, a player without a fixed position but who can fill in or be an impact sub. like you say, most managers would want him around, but at a cost of £80,000? The cost of £80,000 is there, signed and sealed, there is nothing anyone can do about it. To sell him is difficult when he is on those wages so the job of a manager will be to use his assets rather than moan about his shortcomings.

Ok, let's take 'me and you' out of it. Any player who can find somwehere better to ply his trade in these exciting times is welcome to leave. Emre, Owen, Martins, Duff, N'Zogbia etc.

This. What the hell has Owen actually done wrong? He's not said he hates the club, he's not said he wants away, he hasn't refused to play, when he's played for us, he's scored goals. It's actually quite ironic because people who say 'don't believe everything you read in the paper' have been influenced by what the papers have said about what Owen wants, he's never actually said himself 'I want to go', it's been the papers saying he wants to go. thank the f****** lord someone agrees with me. ive been saying this for ages but it seems everyone wants to think the worst of him. It's not hindsight, at the time I expressed reservations about signing a player who was literally begging one of the top clubs to take him instead. Nothing much has changed really. I rate Owen as the best when it comes to the art of goal-scoring but I don't want a player who would rather be somwhere else. Didn't then and still don't now. which of the current staff wouldn't move to one of the top 4 if the move came along ? Exactly, if other players had a clause letting them go to a top 4 club for less than their value, they'd be off in a shot. sod the clause.....what would happen if man utd came in for emre or n'zogbia for example...would they say "no thanks,i really want to see out the contract i agreed" or would they do all they could to move ? Did Emre or N'zogbia arrive to a Messiah's welcome? Did those two come here begging for other clubs to sign them instead of us? whats that got to do with anything...do you think if the manc or arse had wanted either they'd be here ? Not if you were manager of Newcastle, no.

I wasn't talking to you though in which case don't use them. God job I didn't then huh? in which case don't use them. God job I didn't then huh? I wasn't talking to you though

This. What the hell has Owen actually done wrong? He's not said he hates the club, he's not said he wants away, he hasn't refused to play, when he's played for us, he's scored goals. It's actually quite ironic because people who say 'don't believe everything you read in the paper' have been influenced by what the papers have said about what Owen wants, he's never actually said himself 'I want to go', it's been the papers saying he wants to go. thank the f****** lord someone agrees with me. ive been saying this for ages but it seems everyone wants to think the worst of him. It's not hindsight, at the time I expressed reservations about signing a player who was literally begging one of the top clubs to take him instead. Nothing much has changed really. I rate Owen as the best when it comes to the art of goal-scoring but I don't want a player who would rather be somwhere else. Didn't then and still don't now. which of the current staff wouldn't move to one of the top 4 if the move came along ? Exactly, if other players had a clause letting them go to a top 4 club for less than their value, they'd be off in a shot. sod the clause.....what would happen if man utd came in for emre or n'zogbia for example...would they say "no thanks,i really want to see out the contract i agreed" or would they do all they could to move ? Did Emre or N'zogbia arrive to a Messiah's welcome? Did those two come here begging for other clubs to sign them instead of us?

in which case don't use them.

I was talking about a manager's point of view. Ability to tackle 4%, head 10%, cross 12%, fart 15% means only so much unless you are looking for a one man team.

This. What the hell has Owen actually done wrong? He's not said he hates the club, he's not said he wants away, he hasn't refused to play, when he's played for us, he's scored goals. It's actually quite ironic because people who say 'don't believe everything you read in the paper' have been influenced by what the papers have said about what Owen wants, he's never actually said himself 'I want to go', it's been the papers saying he wants to go. thank the f****** lord someone agrees with me. ive been saying this for ages but it seems everyone wants to think the worst of him. It's not hindsight, at the time I expressed reservations about signing a player who was literally begging one of the top clubs to take him instead. Nothing much has changed really. I rate Owen as the best when it comes to the art of goal-scoring but I don't want a player who would rather be somwhere else. Didn't then and still don't now.

Dyer isn't a wide player because his crossing is not good enough, regardless of Milner's ability or otherwise. The reason so many top managers keep picking him for their sides is because he has speed, can run at players with the ball, and has an eye for the goal. If nothing else he will be a massive threat on the counter-attack. That makes him a useful squad player, problem is, he will have to accept that if he wants to play at the top level, otherwise consider signing for a less ambitious club who can guarantee him a role as a forward.

Aye, the idea of Zoggy as a centre-mid sickened me from the off, and it still does. One of the many, many factors of Roeder's actual downfall itself, was the treatment of N'Zogbia; and i don't think there's any other individual factor that makes me so angry, other than that one. This'll sound a bit out there, and i'll probably get slated, but we had a young guy there who had the potential to be better than Ginola and Robert put together, imo. He was just that good in 05/06. Then to convert him into centre-mid? Gar. Pisses me off just thinking about it. Really hope Sam tries to sort him out. I'd have hope for Sam sorting him out, or at least getting through to him that his best position is on the wing. Agree with you about Roeder's handling of N'Zogbia, complete disgrace. Better than Ginola and Robert put together is pushing it though. N'Zogbia has their ability plus a fighter's instinct, priceless in a left sided midfielder. I completely agree that he is one of our biggest assets totally mis-managed. I am pretty certain that Allardyce will have seen it as well.

I am not sure Emre is an Allardyce sort of midfielder, and I half expected him to be shown the door. He's got the ability to play an Okocha type role but for me it depends on whether he is committed enough. If he is, which it sounds like now, then he can still do a great job for us IMO.

Luque was singled out by Roeder for his lack of enthusiasm under his regime. By the end of his time as manager most of the other players could be accused of it as well, which says more about Roeder than it does about Luque.