TRon

Ironic that the eternal prick Alan Oliver is now spouting how highly Mourinho and Wenger rate Martins considering all the negative press Oliver gave the lad himself. Is it any wonder we have achieved nowt with clueless nobs like this representing our region?

Good. That means he won't get sold then.

He must be $hit then. What would Wenger know about talent spotting?

If you are judging him as a patriot and salt ofr the earth Englishmen then yes, he's fantastic. As a coach or tactician he's about as clued up as Terry Mac.

Thank you. Finally someone living in the real world that realises getting rid of good strikers is a lot easier than replacing them.

Would explain the interest in Djiouff then. I think there's a very real chance an Italian club might pay £13m. He's young, he's fast, he scores goals with a rocket in either foot. Goalscorers at this level aren't easy to find.

Maybe a £300,000 sweetener would seal the deal?

Well judging by Gooch and Bramble's performances I would say it's about time we gave the skinny guys a chance wouldn't you? Yes, if he's quick, can read the game and is a good solid defender then he'll be a great buy. Just saying we'll need a big man alongside who can dominate the more physical centre forwards like Drogba for example.

Rozenhal looks quite skinny for a CB. Would imagine we'll need a more experienced bigger CB alongside as Taylor, good though he is, is still a bit raw.

The problem with him staying is, it's only to prove his fitness to other clubs. He will effectively be playing on trial for whichever big club he hankers for. I think this is why Sam wants a commitment, because while he is trying to make a new start, he'll want everyone busting a gut for the club 100%. We don't want him busting a gut for someone else ideally.

Strange that. The Journal is reporting he's still more likely to head for Dortmund.

I see Shearer has also backed Owen to be here to start the new season... because other clubs won't want to pay good money until he's proved his fitness. Allardyce on the other hand, seems to be making plans around having committed players and according to the Guardian today is hoping to persuade Martins his future is here and also considering a move for Djiouf.

Right...this isn't a moral issue, personally I am concerned whether Djiouf is good enough to play for a side trying to break into the top 4 in this league. He always strikes me as a player with more nuisance value than end product. Could be wrong though, I don't get to see much football other than Newcastle.

Allardyce is at a "Big Club" now, is there any real need to recreate Bolton up here? For a striker I'm not sure Djiouf scores many goals, and he doesn't look like a winger to me.

What do you think? That he's over-rated, and as likely to do f*** all as score loads of goals. So you accept that this free signing might score "loads of goals" Now give your reasons why this proven target man shouldn't have been snapped up on a free to be one of our strike options. his wages his injury record his age his availability re. internationals his questionable motives his attitude around the squad his fat pig resembling ugly c*** of a face . So what you would prefer is a non-international, on poor wages, with no injury record, a lovely demeanour and nice face? Ziggy from Big Brother seems to fit your profile. Is that who you had in mind? you're having a laugh now, 'he must be good, he's an AUSTRALIAN international' fucksake Yes we have established that Viduka is not a profile fit according to your conditions as laid out above. What about Big Bro's Ziggy then? Ticks every box that Viduka doesn't according to your own criteria. Is Ziggy the answer we must seriously ask ourselves?

Personally think it's the opposite, reckon Milner would be better off playing through the middle due to his lack of pace. Milner can't finish. Rules him out of the secondary striker role IMO.

What do you think? That he's over-rated, and as likely to do f*** all as score loads of goals. So you accept that this free signing might score "loads of goals" Now give your reasons why this proven target man shouldn't have been snapped up on a free to be one of our strike options. his wages his injury record his age his availability re. internationals his questionable motives his attitude around the squad his fat pig resembling ugly c*** of a face . So what you would prefer is a non-international, on poor wages, with no injury record, a lovely demeanour and nice face? Ziggy from Big Brother seems to fit your profile. Is that who you had in mind?

Just my opinion: Milner is far better than SWP out wide. SWP would be far more devastating in a Beardsley position off the main striker.

What do you think? That he's over-rated, and as likely to do f*** all as score loads of goals. So you accept that this free signing might score "loads of goals" Now give your reasons why this proven target man shouldn't have been snapped up on a free to be one of our strike options.

What do you think?

He's still a fantastic footballer IMO, but not on the wing. I'd play him off a main striker in a Beardsley role.

He needs to get the deep pan on then, big fish can't be cooked at the last minute.

Quality player who will score some big goals for us next season I think.

Yes Allardyce finished highly with a bunch of free transfers/cheap buys at Bolton but he'd had 8 years to build a culture and environment for that to happen. I have no doubt that he can do it again, but it's bloody stupid to expect players to be integrated and ready from the word go. I wouldn't be surprised at a top 6 finish mind, I just think it's daft to demand it immediately. Training regimes need to be worked on and implemented over a period of time. They don't come packed in a ready to assemble DIY kit which can be put together in a jiffy, shoved up a players arse and switched on at the flick of a button.

Owen would have been the obvious choice if his heart was in the club, so the fact that he isn't even in the reckoning says a lot about the mercenary tw@t. Barton is a shouter and driver in midfield which would place him as an ideal candidate for a Roy Keane captaincy role. Except stubbing a cigar out in someone's eye, mooning supporters, and dishing out GBH to your own team mates smacks of low brow thuggery not leadership. Stuart Pearce was quoted as saying City did the right thing by offloading Barton as he wouldn't be accepted back in the dressing room. Hardly a ringing endorsement for a potential captain is it?