Yorkie

Aye, as i say. When he plays, he scores, and he'd work really well with the likes of Owen and Martins because he's got the strength and awareness. He's absolutely ideal for us imo.

I removed the things that meant the same thing, and balanced out the so called bad points. If you insist No point getting fussy about it, he's never going to sign for us since GR reckons its under 25's from now on. Aye, the GR that is giving 32-year old Sibierski a two-year contract. 18 league goals in his ENTIRE boro career. He's one shit hot mutherfuker tbh. Like i say, he'd only be cover here anyway. When he plays, he scores goals. It's as simple as that really.

Given Solano --- Bramble --- Onyewu --- Taylor* Milner --- Parker --- Butt --- Duff Martins --- Dyer Subs: Harper, Edgar, N'Zogbia, Sibierski, Carroll *If Babayaro is fit then put him at left-back, and put Taylor in alongside Bramble, dropping Gooch.

What happened to your "OMGGGGGG DYER AND MARTINS MUST PLAY UP FRONT TOGETHER" They should... providing Dyer isn't forced to drop back into midfield. I didn't realise Butt wasn't suspended, which is why i deleted the post. *Licks finger and puts it in the air*

I removed the things that meant the same thing, and balanced out the so called bad points.

We'd need Viduka for cover, it's hardly as if he'd be budging Martins or Owen off their first team places. And for cover, he'd be a bloody good player. Whenever he plays, he scores. His goalscoring record is very good to be quite honest. What's also encouraging, is that he still scores bundles of goals for average-to-shit teams. He's strong, excellent with his back to goal, can bring players in and most importantly - he's a presence in the box. He'd be great on a free, despite the high wages. I'd rather spend £0 + £40k wages on someone, than £8m + £40k wages, if you see my point. He's a good player and would do a very useful job for us, no doubt about it. He's injury 'prone' but he'd only be cover. He's slow but his footwork is impeccable and is excellent with his back to goal. In regards to Dyer, i agree with one of the first replies. We won't sell him so it's pointless talking about it tbh.

Had a great season last term aswell tbh. 16 goals... on top of the injury problems.

Couldn't agree more. Exactly what we need. Will be livid if we go spending significant money on a 'big-name' striker.

Butt's suspended.

Awesome news. We've missed him terrible. Milner --- Butt --- Emre -- N'Zogbia Martins --- Dyer Our best line-up in my opinion. Of course, Roeder won't play Zoggy over Duff and there's no way he'll drop Parker, but mehh. Still good news.

I assumed this was meant to be in here. Where did he put it?

I like the irony of your post, Northern Monkey, in spite of the fact that you didn't really mean it. Your post is sarcastic and exaggerated, yes, but it's this settling for mediocrity that Roeder seems to have the nack of doing in recent times. Which contributes to our... well... mediocrity. One of his main weaknesses that, actually.

But, as the Captain, is that not his job to ignite those things during certain periods? If he doesn't get either of those things buzzing throughout the team in certain parts of the game, then he can't be a very good Captain.

Aye, agreed tbh. Our throw-ins have been abysmal for years.

The stats make sense tbh. Decent player, decent squad player. Still unsure about what he actually gives to the team when he plays, though. We're undoubtedly better without him. And, it's not really a case of second season syndrome either... we've just found him out. However, i still like Scott Parker and i wish he'd improve. I crave for him to become an integral part of our team because i reckon he's got the potential to. I wish he would be the powerful, driving midfielder that he could be. If his passing was more accurate and direct, i think he'd do well - but he's far too negative a player. Thing is, i think he's great at rushing into the box, a la Bowyer, and sticking it in the net. But like i say - he's too negative. Which simply unbalances the side catastrophically when he plays like that with Emre - because Roeder seems intent on playing Emre defensively when he's with Parker, which makes him resort to long balls and picking up the pieces - which simply isn't him. And it doesn't work for the side when Parker plays with Butt either, because Butt's naturally a defensive player - therefore giving us zilch attacking prowess when those two are together. And if the wingers are off form, like yesterday, we ain't got a hope going forward. If Parker was more direct... he'd work with Butt - and it could be a decent partnership. However, our midfield should be about Emre anyway in my opinion - the naturally driving, powerful centre-mid with a good eye for goal (despite inconsistency), who works with Butt. Parker should be cover for Emre anyway tbh.

Emre's our best all-round midfielder in my opinion. Driving forward he is excellent, with pace and power, and although he's not the best tackler - he's generally got the good determination to win balls back. We're missing him terribly at the moment - i really hope he doesn't go. Parker and Butt signals zero creativity, i'm afraid - and it's not Butt's fault. It's not his job. You really do have to beg the question - what is Parker actually there for? Still, i don't think he's 'inept'.

I don't think i would tbf.

Exactly. He should have been rested the other day. Rendering his line-up for this evening pretty much spot on. Cos he forced himself into resting Milner today. AND BESIDES... i doubt the scoreline wouldn't have changed an awful lot if Milner was on the field, i'd say.

The selection was pretty much correct for today's game. He couldn't have done a huge amount differently tbh. The thing he did wrong was start Milner the other night. And you know this how??? We're you in the dressing rooms? It's half the players' job to motivate themselves. Why should he have to do it all? I watched the game mate. That is how I KNOW that the players where getting nothing from the bench. And the players do indeed motivate themselves - but not against the shite at the bottom. That is 100% fact. Fair enough mate... you've got a good argument. If Roeder was silent all the way through the match, i'll be surprised, but you were there and i wasn't. And about the players... i'm not sure there. That sounds entirely unprofessional. To Lovejoy... you're right. But he had to drop Milner - Milner couldn't face another game. His non-performances stuck out like a sore thumb, by his standards, against the Belgians. The line-up today was right... but he shouldn't have forced himself into doing it. He should have rested Milner the other day. And to Indigo... before he inevitably comes out with his "can't comment if you didn't see it" bullshit, i haven't once spoken about the game itself - other than to say "i'm sure it was a crap performance...". So shush in advance.

Awesome final, tbh. Non-stop entertainment. Rotten what happened to Terry. Really hope he pulls through and the signs appear to be good? I was genuinely a bit scaredyish when he went down - he was just lying 'dead-like' on the floor. Wasn't a nice scene. But what preceeded and what happened afterwards was sheer entertainment. Arsenal were absolutely magnificent in the first half. Their youngsters are fucking class and what a finish from Walcott. Chelsea were simply not in it, and we might hate them (me included), but you've simply got to admire Drogba's footballing ability. The first goal was a good finish but the second... what a goal that was. Absolutely brilliant header. The thing at the end was hilarious. SO GLAD Webb sent them all off. Players, particularly those from the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea, are so arrogant, so self-centred, so cocky, they think they can get away with anything. Nah. Fuck off bastards. Awesome final!

The selection was pretty much correct for today's game. He couldn't have done a huge amount differently tbh. The thing he did wrong was start Milner the other night. And you know this how??? We're you in the dressing rooms? It's half the players' job to motivate themselves. Why should he have to do it all?

Who? Name names if you are going to insult people. Just had a scan through, so far spotted Chicago Shearer, Ridzuan and Skirge write us off - i got bored after that. To those three - if insulted you, i apologise from my heart of hearts. Just think it's odd how people choose to write us off now, after this particular game, when were unlikely to ever get into the European spots. People are jubilant and confident, etc, etc when we beat someone good - we're better than Spurs etc - and all that malarkey... then we lose to someone lesser than us and the throats are being slit. Plus, looking at it on the other hand, we're still not a million miles away. There is a glimmer. We came from further behind last year.

Hardly an insult. But OK, i'll have a look through the thread and have a little look.

Didn't see the game, but the people that are on about "UEFA Cup qualification out of our hands now, etc etc" are talking nonsense tbh. The truth is, it was never really in our hands. And, when you look at it, it's still only one result. Our run isn't as difficult than one or two others around us. Again, i have to re-iterate, i didn't see the game. I'm sure that it was a crap performance, something we've seen before*, and it certainly does highlight our inconsistency - but i'm not going to go slitting my wrists over this one. Wigan are fighting for their lives and they would have been desperate for a result after the Charlton/West Ham debarcle. And we've got a monumentally shit record there anyway, with key players out. I'm not saying that the people slating Roeder are knee-jerk, because he does make the same mistakes over again - but i'm not entirely sure he made them today. You simply cannot dictate what went on in the dressing room at half time because you weren't there - but if Roeder wasn't in there rallying his troops after they've gone in undeservedly 1-0 down, i'll be gobsmacked. We don't know what was said though, so we can't make facts about it. Plus, you cannot say that he didn't try to change things this time - because he did. He brought on Milner and N'Zogbia with a significant amount of time left to play. The only major mistake he made for me, was starting Milner against Zulte in the second leg. That was the totally stupid decision. He was obviously shattered, you could see that from his two performances, and the game effectively meant nothing. It's just a crazy, crazy situation when you see that he's started him in that game, and rested him for this one - the crucial one. Of course, by today, he had no option but to rest Milner and his line-up was pretty much spot on in that respect. But he should never have forced himself into that situation in the first place. So, like i say - i'm not stating that people are knee-jerk, because we all know Roeder's weaknesses, but i'm just saying that they're a little bit fickle. We beat Liverpool, Villa, etc, picking up a really good run - one concerning defeat and it's all 'Roeder out' again. *And tended to pick up from...

Hardly surprised. JJB: 0-1 0-1 0-1 Roll on Boro.