Yorkie

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.

Awesome in the World Cup, loved him.

Would absolutely love him at Newcastle and have been saying it for ages. He'll go to Spurs.

Gotta beat Wigan now.

Hellers.

Not too bad tbh. They'll be one point within us, but it means that Reading aren't too far away. It makes a win at Wigan all the more meaningful. God i hope we win.

Fowler: Penalty king. Hasn't got the legs. Has lost it. Should have retired years ago.

If Charlton win, it'll be those three for definite who go down. IE - West Ham are the only one of the three with the potential to survive, unless if they lose today.

We want Watford to beat Everton - bigtime. That'd be an immense result for us. If anything like that happens, or Watford even grab a draw, we simply have to beat Wigan. The Wigan game really is a crucial one.

If he's just rotating the squad it's an odd decision then, in my opinion. Dropping his most in-form striker. Dropping him from the entire squad? Rafa's selection policies are strange.

That's cos Boro wanted too much money. He's a free agent in the summer.

Doubt he'd settle for a place on the bench and he would want high wages Exactly the same for a big money striker, though!!! See my point! Whatever striker we buy, is going to be cover. I'd rather spend nowt on it than £10m!

HOW has he not redeemed himself...? A goal and an assist in the Nou Camp......? Or has he done something else?

Could do with a draw between Boro and Reading tbh. Reading win and they go ten points clear of us. Boro win wouldn't be too bad - they'd be one point off us. On a side note... Viduka on a free. Get him signed up. £10m on Huntelaar/Bent/Ashton/Crouch + trying to fit them in a new formation + one of them being left on the bench making them unhappy, etc. Or. £0 on Viduka. Reliable back-up who always scores goals and won't complain too much if he's left out of the team. Will happily sit there earning his wages and might not even have to move house. He's not everybody's cup of tea, but he's a goalscorer and a presence in the box - there's no doubt about it. I'd be very happy to see him come in for nowt, rather than us blow cash that we don't have on a striker we don't need.

Like it matters.