Yorkie

I disagree. I think Martins is better alongside a proper forward You can't surely be referring to the likes of Ameobi and Sibierski? I know statistics aren't everything, but it is clear to see that Obafemi has blossomed since he has been partnered with Dyer who, unlike Shola and Sibi, is on the same wavelength - and crucially, has the speed to keep up with him.

He hasn't been amazing but if it wasn't for Dyer, Martins would be half the player/performer that he is at this moment in time. See my earlier uber-post on Page 3... Dyer has brought Martins on significantly.

Dyer's played upfront about ten times since he's come back and done a bloody good job aswell.

I selected the bit to comment on because that was the bit I wanted to comment on. I think it is very, very risky not signing a striker, something you appear to support because you want to see Martins up front with Dyer. I don't see why you have a problem with me quoting it, tbh. Jesus Wept. Read my fucking posts for God's Sake. I said i misworded it. I'm not happy that we didn't sign a striker. I clearly stated that afterwards. I said that if there was to be any reason at all for me to be glad, it was so that Martins and Dyer could play together. Fucking pulling teeth.

This. Fucking hate Middlesbrough. It'll be for summat daft like £3m n'all.

HTL, I said that you nit-picked because... You chose to comment on the opening 6 words of my entire post which, like i say, included 7 or 8 lengthy and detailed paragraphs, with plenty more relevant things worth quoting on. The opening line was even mis-worded - something i clearly pointed out later on. I know you didn't know that at the time, but still. It was just something so pointless and barely worthy picking up on, out of the entire post. That's why i said you were nit-picking. Why you chose to overreact about that is beyond me, calling me 'paranoid', etc. And about me being 'childish' in my response to your first post, it's hardly as if i blew up about it. I said it was 'disappointing' that you had decided to do that. That's all. And, regarding the other note, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and although i agree with you to some extent (i don't believe Parker should be a regular starter), to say that Scott Parker is 'inept' is simply nonsense.

Broken eyelash, apparantely.

No, thats true. Butt is not "inept", he's just "mediocre at his very best". And Parker is "decent int he main". BRAMBLE is inept. Disagree about Butt. I'd argue, and i can imagine quite a few people would also do so, that he has been a key figure in the first team this season. His experience and his passing ability have been vital, and i think he and Emre have a very good partnership in the middle. Parker's alright - he's neither here nor there, really. Neither of them are 'inept'. Bramble's just s***. The one he showed us on Saturday? Yes, because he's been doing that consistently all season. He has been passing terribly all season, and that backpass on saturday hasn't got anything to do with my opinion. Why did you include it in your initial post, then?

This season included, Ally? Kieron Dyer is a key figure in our revival this season, and has consequently brought on the performances of other players - notably Martins. Martins, since the return of Dyer, has scored 8 goals. As apposed to the three that he scored in the two/three months before Dyer's return. I'm not saying all of those Martins goals involve Dyer, but it's a knock-on effect. Initially, they all did, and this has improved Oba's confidence and appetite in general. Plus, in the past, whenever he has been fit, Kieron Dyer has generally been a key player for us - and never a bad player. Unfortunately for him in the Bobby days, we had lots of quality players, and you could say that he was overshadowed. Key player and one of our best, in my opinion!

I seriously don't see any reason for not having Dyer as our third choice striker, when Owen comes back of course. For me, he's certainly justified his selection for a constant place upfront - he's collaborated superbly with Martins as soon as they united. And, arguably more importantly, he's looked wholly ineffective in midfield.

However, when it comes to contracts, we ought to be worrying about whether or not Bramble is going to stay on.

I wouldn't have been against giving him a 1 year extension in the slightest, because it shows that he's done enough to earn his place as a squad player next season. He has done that, but not an awful lot more. Recently, he's looked slow, appeared to have little quality and seems to have lost his bite and battling ability that he had at the beginning of the season. Yes - he's done very well to score the goals that he has and they've been damned important, but they've only been scored due to the fact that he's been lumped in the side because of injuries. 1 year, sure. That would mean we wouldn't have to be inherent about getting another squad player next season. But two years shows a long term plan. And for a deteriorating 32-year-old, that simply shows a lack of ambition and just desperation. Not good. If we don't sign a striker in the summer, i won't really be bothered. To be completely fair - i don't think we crave one. We'll certainly get by, at the very least, next season with five strikers in the squad. Martins, Owen, Dyer, Shola and Sibi - in that order - would be our options, aswell as the progressing youngsters. There are certainly more pressing needs to sort out in our squad than upfront, which is why i'd be relatively happy if Sibi got a one year extension. Don't get me wrong, i love Sibi and he's become something of a cult hero in my opinion. Two years is just crap, though.

No, thats true. Butt is not "inept", he's just "mediocre at his very best". And Parker is "decent int he main". BRAMBLE is inept. Disagree about Butt. I'd argue, and i can imagine quite a few people would also do so, that he has been a key figure in the first team this season. His experience and his passing ability have been vital, and i think he and Emre have a very good partnership in the middle. Parker's alright - he's neither here nor there, really. Neither of them are 'inept'. Bramble's just s***. The one he showed us on Saturday? Yes, because he's been doing that consistently all season.

No, thats true. Butt is not "inept", he's just "mediocre at his very best". And Parker is "decent int he main". BRAMBLE is inept. Disagree about Butt. I'd argue, and i can imagine quite a few people would also do so, that he has been a key figure in the first team this season. His experience and his passing ability have been vital, and i think he and Emre have a very good partnership in the middle. Parker's alright - he's neither here nor there, really. Neither of them are 'inept'. Bramble's just shit.

Fucking gold.

To say that either Butt or Parker is 'inept' is utter garbage. No argument whatsoever. That's a total exaggeration.

Should be up to the players in my opinion. For a friendly, at least.

I disagree with your opinion and am told to grow up... Sorry, i bow down to your vast fountain of knowledge. How dare i not.

Bring back Charlie Woods.

I'm not quite apathetic yet. Give me a few more decades of no silverware and i might be there (similar to one or two of the 'older' generation on here).

Fixed that little typo. Both the original and your amendment are utter garbage so don't waste your effort, Towelie.

To point something as insignificant out as that, out of the entirety of my post which included 6 or 7 lengthy and detailed paragraphs... What else would you call it mate? Did you even read past the first line?

Couldn't tell you about the family enclosure, but i can tell you about the game. My advice would be to not bother with the Zulte game mate. We'll more than likely win, but it'll be a boring and slow 1-0 or 2-0 using a weakened side. Arguably, none of this will matter for your lad as any first game is absolutely ace, but i would suggest picking a more elusive sort of tie. Welcome, btw!

Nice little compilation. And, oddly enough, it does seem to seperate the evidently good performers from the bad performers. Nothing we don't already know, though. But it's decent proof.

Get the hell in.