TRon

I hope this is true because he's a quality player IMO.

Sadly this is typical of the Anti-Dyer lobby. Foam-flecked hatred which makes you wonder whether they can't present reasonable arguments for their case.

The only realistic suggestions so far are Given and Viduka. None of the others are guaranteed starters including Taylor.

the doubt about Owens and Martins future is there in any case. That's precisely WHY we are looking at other options.

Can't say I'd be too disappointed at all. Depends on whether Allardyce is getting big money, I suppose. I suspect he won't as it happens, not this summer. So that trio would be fine by me. Even big money wouldn't necessarily improve our current strike force (replace Bellamy with Owen from that front 3). If we can keep them together not many defences will relish facing them IMO.

Sam Allardyce was the man I wanted here after Robson was forced out. The two subsequent appointments of Souness and Roeder were a disgrace and a damning indictment of Shepherd's judgement. This time though IMO he has got it right for the short term at least. Yes Allardyce plays direct and functional football, but it's not as basic as some teams who play this style. There's room for flair players in the right areas, i.e. attacking positions. Also Sam is very clear-mionded in what he wants from his teams and that is worth it's weight in gold itself. The forward thinking wrt sports science, staff expertise in various areas, all these point to a thinker and tactician the likes of which he haven't had here in recent memory. I have no doubt that he will get us into Europe pretty quickly and we will make significant progress next season. The real test will come when he is spending big money to compete at the highest level. When we get there we will look at it then.

and you are entitled to your opinion as a 'fan'. A manager has to weigh up the pro's and not just the cons though. Which is why no manager so far has shared your opinion I would guess.

He can definitely shoot, I was in the west stand when he volleyed the winner against Leeds at home 2-1 from about 20 yds. SBR was the manager and we went into that game with only Ameobi and Dyer up front against a high flying Leeds at the time. He can tackle as well, but he's no centre back I agree. If we are looking to play him as a centre back or defensive midfielder you might have a point. Is that where you would be looking to deploy him?

No, in fact it's complete sh1te, fuelled by hatred. The only valid point you make is wrt his fitness which I agreed with.

Derby just payed £3.5m for Earnshaw. Transfer fees have gone through the roof recently and wages will go in tandem. Dyer's injury record is the main concern, other than that we should have no problem getting our money back should we want to sell. I am pretty sure that Allardyce will want to keep him here unless we get a daft offer, because he is still a very dangerous player who attacks defences at speed.

Two clueless Welsh tw@ts united. Well done Wales.

The thinking is probably along the lines that 30 yrs old isn't really that old for a CB. I didn't particularly rate Speed when he was here, but Sam took him to Bolton in his 30's and for Bolton he was perfect. A box to box, high jumping midfielder at his best when the ball is in the air. You can only assume that Sam thinks he will be getting a class CB who he is prepared to wait a few months for, in the meantime the likes of Rozenhal, Taylor and Beye could do the job while Edmilson recovers. As for the 80k, wanting it isn't the same as getting it. I would think the package would have to be right for Newcastle if there is any future in this deal.

I'm pretty sure Ballack can sprint at a fair rate as well tbh.

There's no need to drag someone's dead family into a debate about commitment. That Babyaro is a bit of a waster is not really being disputed in any case.

Drogba; a pacy forward. This thread is all about having one forward with pace. Similar to Drogba's.

Sounds like Man U are trying to be cute and get Owen as a part swap deal. One recovering crock for another. Luckily there is no way the escape clause can be triggered without a solid £9m offer. Any swap deals with disputers over valuations are depending on our consent - which we won't give. So fuck of Fergie and fuck off Smith and take your manky swap offers with you please.

It's not Big Sam is it? hopefully both Carr and Baba will soon be persuaded to leave via the Yellow Prick Road

Don't know what to make of this one. it all depends how serious his injury is. If he's not available to play till January, I'll wait till then to get excited.

If we lose Martins AND Owen yes. I don't think SA is daft, that's why he sounds like he's busting a gut to keep them.

Is Dorothy the agent?

Gudjohnsen, Viduka, Alan Smith and Shola. You might be looking at our strike force for next season right there ... certainly goals in that quartet but we wouldn't really have a potential 20 goal a season guy anymore. Aaaah well. I could live with it. Let's hope it pans out if this is indeed the case! That would be a pretty slow forward line. If Owens and Martins leave we will need an Anelka type player as khyber is saying. Smith would be useless.

11 league goals in 34 games. Against the following opposition. West Ham (A) 1 Reading (H) 1 (pen) Blackburn (A) 2 (one without a goalkeeper in nets) Watford (H) 2 Spurs (H) 1 (even Parker scored against Spurs in this game ) Spurs (A) 1 (even Huntington & Butt scored against Spurs in this game ) Fulham (A) 1 Liverpool (H) 1 (gifted by comedy defending) Sheffield (A) 1 By no means irreplaceable. Especially if they replace Henry with Martins. Utter tosh. Perhaps some of the screamers he scored were because he had switched the ball with a 99p floater...and paid the keeper to dive the wrong way.

In this country he won't get a better club so I would think we are favourites. If he signed for any other British club it would be no big loss as it would show his motivation is lacking.

Big Sam is just...great.

Great how everyone could see Carr and Babayaro as expensive, workshy liabilites except Roeder last season. Yet here is Big Sam politely telling them to piss off as of yesterday. If they loiter about I wouldn't be surprised to see Allardyce round up a lynch mob with pitchforks tbh..