Thorpinho

I just dont understand how he keeps getting back in the team. What is it that our managers see about his performance that literally 50,000 people dont see?? The same goes for Alan Smith.

We are not desperate for goalkeepers, and so transfer money should be spent elsewhere in the team. Considering Given's rapid loss of form/fitness or whatever has happened to him, i really don't see too much difference in any of the 3 keepers we have. Krul, Harper and Given all have their weaknesses but im not too bothered about which of them ends up in goal. Harper deserves a turn now though.

We dont need him, not for the money he would cost

Arsenal wont buy him, Man Utd probably wont what with having Ronaldo already which only leaves Liverpool and Chelsea. Could easily see him on Liverpool's right hand side which has always been a bit of a problem area for them under Benitez. I have always thought he was a good player, and seems like a canny guy in his interviews unlike some of the other young players coming through at the moment.

I just think its pointless talking about a player until he has made it into the first team squad. The academy lads and reserve teams should be supported, but stop trying to speculate what will happen - just enjoy it when it does rather than trying to make yourself look like a superfan by saying "i saw him play for the under 11s" or whatever

The hype for Portillo at Real Madrid was worse than Chopra's. I heard so many times "he has scored more goals than Raul at youth level". Where is he now? A perfect example of how pointless talking about academy players is.

It was hilarious watching the replay of the goals on SKY just after the final whistle at St James' in the concourse area. This guy was screaming at the TV saying 2 Boro players were offside, so i turned around and said to him why aren't you screaming at the defence for allowing 2 players to be coming in at the back post and winning a header when trying to supposedly defend a lead. There is no conspiracy, the decisions are not making us shite - the players can handle that one all by themselves.

Just leave the lads alone until they are actually in the first team squad. Its great when they come through, but going on about how great they are meant to be doesn't do them any favours at any club.

Absolutely fantastic guy and a great host. Strangely though i dont like it when he presents actual matches for sky, its just not natural!

He looked very assured when he first came in, but poor management from Allardyce really knocked his confidence and mistakes started to slip into his game. Not a first teamer, but a very valuable squad centre back. He wont be back i dont think.

I have said this before and will say it again - a lot of the time our much maligned defence is not to blame for conceded goals. The gap we have between the midfield and defence is criminal, and the top teams like Man Utd and Arsenal have a field day in this area. The defence clear it but it just keeps coming back because the centre of our midfield is SHITE. Given isn't shit, the defence these days isn't that shit. Its the midfield's fault and the sooner this is rectified in the transfer market the better.

He wont be sold today thats guaranteed. In the summer maybe, but only if he had a major sulk and demanded to go.

I hope he stays with Ferguson and repays him for making him the player he is. One day he will end up at Real Madrid though.

Football would be a much better place without Willie McKay.

Does anybody know what Jeff Vetere did at Real Madrid? I am personally not all that excited by the changes, but will judge this new management team on the players they either target or bring in. It is pessimistic of me to say, and based on absolutely nothing, but I just have a bad feeling that it wont work in the slightest.

I think the club will TRY to be ambitious but fail and lose out on any quality players to teams offering any sort of European football. We will be lucky to get anyone of any decent quality, despite the best intentions of KK and the depth of Mike Ashley's pockets.

bloody hell do you think that journo was having a wank over Ramos at the time he wrote that as well! I have completely and utterly given up reading any of the stories these tabloids write. I think we just have to laugh and get on with it.

i can see us taking a bit of a pasting, but grabbing one or 2 goals. Something like a 4-2 defeat or 5-3, then the media can wet themselves over "kamikaze" football headlines.

I must admit I never actually watch Middlesbrough these days as they are so boring...is Woody still the same player? I dont want to see us give the smoggies 8 million quid for a player who has lost his pace/confidence/ability etc. If its the old Woody then get him in.

I hate spurs because no matter how shit they play, no matter how much of a joke their defence is, they don't get the criticism they deserve. I am fucking sick of watching all the footy shows on tv like MOTD, soccer saturday etc etc and hearing "newcastle need to get the defence right its just not good enough" from one guy and then 30 seconds later Spurs are a good solid side they have talented defenders whilst they sit there and watch another 3 or 4 goals sailing past the pathetic Paul Robinson!!!!!!! That brings me onto another point about them - their fans sing englands number 1 at their keeper - are they really that stupid to think he is good? p.s they have Goldfish boy - thats a good reason to dislike them.

thats exactly what Spurs need, another incredibly injury prone centre back!

if anyone does manage to get the first 25 seconds of that would appreciate it being posted on here!

Could not agree more, especially about the difference between the cricket and football journalism. I would love to have the intelligence and insightful thinking about the game the cricket guys have transferred into football. If you read the back pages of tabloids there is rarely anything about actual football, just about players off the field behaviour, boardroom disputes, people wanting to leave clubs etc etc. They have totally forgotten the original point of it all - what happens on the pitch.

He was quality, i wonder how much our old Keegan years team would be worth these days with all the crazy prices for players. People are comparing Sir Les to Drogba who is worth around 25 m now i guess, Shearer at his best? 40+m?

It should be purely compensation for injuries. Effectively renting the players from clubs for tournaments doesn't really make much sense to me.