Yorkie

I like Martins, absolutely no question about it - and i think that he has the potential to develop into a marvellous player. To compare him to Peter Crouch is difficult in my opinion, because they're different sort of players. The sad thing for Martins this season, and along with his age and inexperience in this league, i think one of the main reasons for why we haven't seen the best of him this term - is because he's been played as the centre-forward. Crouch is a centre-forward. He works inside the box. He makes the runs to the near and far post. He's the one that charges into the box looking for the header. He's the one who plays on the shoulder of defenders, bustling them out of the way. He's the one that, with his back to goal, he should be turning and shooting on target. That is a centre-forward. Martins isn't. And he's been relied on because we haven't had another centre-forward in the squad, because Shola's been out. Sibierski plays behind Martins and so does Dyer, so it's been unfortunate. That's why i feel it is difficult to compare Martins to Crouch - because they're different players. But Martins has been forced into an 'un-natural' position, so Crouch is going to win it hands down. What's been unfortunate for Oba, is that he hasn't had the coaching staff or mentor to teach him how to play that role. His main flaw being his positioning. Roeder was a centre-back for crying out loud, he's not going to teach him how to be sublime in the box, getting away from defenders. Martins needed a Shearer to tell him what's what, if that's the position that he was going to be forced to play this season. We need Owen back - a world class striker for inside the penalty area. Then the roles will change and Martins will benefit. Martins is good at making the play, working outside the box, bringing other players into it using the wings. He's not the one who should be make the charging runs in and around the penalty area - and that has been his major flaw this season, undoubtedly - which is where i agree wholeheartedly with Gemmill. I just don't think it's all his fault, if you see what i mean. But i do feel it is a shame that we're picking on one of the our very few bright sparks of, lets face it, a pretty grim season. As for Crouch, he's a player that i've always liked - even when people have continually slated him on here. Funny how people change their tune when he bags a hat-trick. I reckon that he'd have the potential to do brilliantly well here, but knowing Roeder, he'd revert to the pitiful long ball when really - Crouch is very good with the ball at his feet. Just look at his third goal yesterday. Anyhow - Forza Oba.

Yup, and a whole chunk of that problem should be rectified once we have one of the world's most natural finishers back in the team next season.

Pretty much sums it up for me aswell. Only until the Man City game really, i wanted him to stay. But the recent run of results and pitiful performances from the manager have got me thinking otherwise. We're not going to go anywhere with him in charge. A few weeks ago i said he had the strengths and i thought he would get better, especially with his own squad, but i just don't think he's up to it. Like i say - we'll go nowhere with this man in charge. Give the money to someone competent to spend.

Cock and bull tbh. Most will stay because he won't be able to bring much else in.

Think i'm starting to realise. Here we go: Roeder out.

Really was a nonsense performance from the boss. Unbelievably stupid.

Hull 4-0 up against Southend with 37-year-old Dean Windass getting a hattrick. My mate's there... gettin!

2-0... super duper Matt Oakley.

Woop!

Absoltuely no contest - Onyewu. Melan's post was a very good one - it was spot on. We've watched Bramble, for the past five years here 'develop' into nothing, and not fulfilled any potential that we may have had. He's not going to get any better - he's the same player now as what he was in 2002. Shit. If he was going to improve, and turn in to this player that so many people claim is sublime, then he would have done it by now. He's going to be 26 next season, he's hardly a whippersnapper. Gooch on the other hand, has a similar potential to Bramble, and he's a bit younger. He's come from other shores, and he hasn't been especially bad. He's been a bit ropey but then he's played with a different backline in every game, and he's never played in the Premiership beforehand. No-brainer for me, but i know that Roeder will keep Bramble on. It's inevitable.

I was there at that game, Valerenga. He was awful.

Even if Carr were to go, which won't happen, we'd have cover in the area anyway with Taylor and Ramage - albeit fairly shoddy. But Nobby is very accomplished in that position, and although he's getting on a bit now, he doesn't get that many injuries. I'd be happy to see him installed as the first choice right-back, so that we can focus the cash on more pressing defensive needs. It's the other wing that needs serious investment. If i were to bring in a right-back though, my first pick would be Glen Johnson, although i can imagine he'd have quite a few suitors after a good season with Portsmouth. Justin Hoyte from Arsenal will be available, i think. Don't know an awful lot about him but he's fairly highly rated. A lot of developing to do aswell so might be a decent investment.

Aye, forgot to mention.

Cos Bellamy was ace on the wing. He loved it there n'all IIRC.

Lampard has been utter dross for England, for absolutely ages now. Gerrard and Lampard have shown on lots and lots and lots and lots of occassions now, that they cannot be accommodated together. One of them is dropped, and the better one blossoms. --- The game itself was pretty shit in all honesty, and i am certainly not feeling any more optimistic about the England national team, just because of that second half performance. The first half was apalling, and the second half was decent. It was alright. But we should have been 3-0 up against Andorra inside 30 minutes, never mind 92 minutes. It still simply wasn't good enough for me. I wouldn't say that he got the line-up wrong, wouldn't say that at all, but it was still pretty negative. Pass after pass after pass, and we weren't really going anywhere. We penetrated a bit more in the second half but it was largely the same. This was Andorra for crying out loud. Aye - they had ten men behind the ball at all times, but we're England and tonight - we accommodated three (arguably) world class players. The rest out there tonight, week in week out, are regarded as good-to-great. We had far more skill and quality than this team of part-timers, and we should be beating these teams by significant margins. But anyhow - a win is a win, and one might hope that this should get us back on track. There's a long wait for the next fixtures, but regardless, the players will be feeling a lot better. We've got Estonia next, who are shite - and then the two home games. Both of which are absolutely crucial - Israel and Russia. Both of them are decent sides, but if we are far superior to both of them, realistically - we should be beating them. For where we want to be - that needs to be nine points. Though i don't anticipate that - i anticipate more McClaren mediocrity. The FA wants hanging for his appointment. Absolutely no idea how they expected him to improve our situation - when he was a pivotal figure in Sven's very ordinary reign. And what's more - how is Steve McClaren, former York/Hull/middle-of-the-road player, going to eclipse the achievements of someone who won the Serie A, the Cup Winners Cup and twice the Coppa Italia? Crazy appointment. And it's showing.

They've every right to be balistic and i'm glad they are. If it doesn't improve, hopefully we'll get more of it. It's stuff like that will get rid of McClaren. Rather we just played well like.

Loving the fact that the fans are going mental tbh. So they should. Utter, utter, utter shite.

Richards coming in aswell. God knows why he chose to play fucking Phil Neville over Richards. Who are Chelsea gonna pay £20m for? Phil Neville or Micah Richards? Not a huge fan of Downing, but might aswell play him there because Lennon was totally ineffective down the left, and was so in one of Spurs' recent games.

Only injuries can force McClaren into picking the right team. Sounds familiar.

Difference being, we wouldn't be buying him.

Bramble was like £4.5m.

Well he's probably leaving, Man Utd aren't bothered whether he stays or goes. Just depends whether or not he wants to stay in the Premiership. I bet a £5m bid for Heinze could go a long way...

Domi. I liked him.

Which is why I can't be arsed going all the way over to watch them anymore. That and the shocking treatment of spectators at Kingston Park. What's that all about?