Raconteur

Can't believe nobody mentioned Lucas Neill - not that I think he's the dirtiest player, just that he seems to have a pretty bad reputation...

Utter tripe. I've just read the Phil Neville thread - and you make similar specious, incoherent arguments there too...

In all my time reading this board I don't think I've ever seen such a consensus as I do today - Toon fans united in their condemnation of booing Babayaro... Why? I know the whole "Get behind your team" and "Won't make him play better" arguments, but as far as I'm concerned it sends a pretty fucking clear message to the player - and the manager. That message is something like "You're a disgrace to the shirt - put in or fuck off" I also know that some might say it might have a counter-productive effect - well frankly I have two responses to that: Firstly, he's been accused of being a chickenhearted, workshy slacker anyway, so it seems clear he doesn't really care what we think, and secondly if it does make him worse then maybe it will force Roeder's hand. I'm not saying it was right to boo him, just that I totally understand. But more than anything the unanimous condemnation of it here has surprised me... EDIT: I just found the Phil Neville thread - maybe it's not so unanimous

Yup - I'm January 11 and got Phil Neville too :roll: You'd think they could be at least a little bit creative and use 365 players!

I only watched the second half thanks to some fine work by Foxtel's programming department - and when I turned it on at 1-2 down I nearly went back to bed! Penalty was soft as shite - Reading have every reason to be livid, but then so do we about Le Sib's disallowed goal (BTW soccernet's match report says that Stiles told Roeder it wasn't for offside but an earlier infringement - WTF?!? Where?) I can only comment on second half performances, but for me Milner was utterly anonymous and we were very shaky at the back. On the plus side Solano, Emre, Butt and Le Sib all looked very good, and Oba put in a good shift although as has been said has areas of his game that need improving. The best part was that on occasions we played some good footbal with neat, quick passes especially involving Emre and the strikers. I've given up hope of playing at a more reasonable pace, but if we're going to play at this manic, frantic breakneck speed we can at least aim to keep it on the deck for 90 minutes - we have the ability!

So everyone who wants the wheat seperated from the chaff is either stupid or lazy, eh? Why not merge the Football and General forums - I mean, if you don't want to read about Invicta Toon's love life or the Ashes just don't open the thread, right? :roll: Bring back the Transfer Forum! Bring back the General Football Forum! Bring back Thread Moderation! More wheat, less chaff, says I

Don't forget d) He was part of the manager's panel that drafted the requirements for the Pro License system!!! I remember reading not long ago that Ferguson's exemption was running out soon and he would need to do the course in order to continue managing - I read this as laying the groundwork to appeal any decision by the FA to enforce that rule... Even so (and as much as it sticks in the throat) he is right...

Wait for Gemmill to tell you different

Non-compliance see this page "Misreporting" is more creative accounting, such as the manner in which player transfers are recorded - see this page and macbeth's comments page As kiwi has said, along with others including myself, yes there is some bias in macbeth's website, but that shouldn't detract from the fact that the bare stats provide a fairly damning indictement on their own... With regards to the comment quoted above, wouldn't any shareholder be able to complain to the relevent regulatory body? I have no understanding of British securities laws, but surely a shareholder has the right to complain about the management of a public company they have invested in?

A couple of flaws in that argument - first and foremost is that Zoggy has indeed signed a new contract, as was revealed in the October financial report. A thread on the subject can be found here Secondly, Duff's versatility has been proven to be a myth - as terrible as Duff has been on the left this season, he has been even worse on the right or up front. Admittedly, it was poor decision making (in retrospect) to sign Duff in the first place, but for 5m he appeared to be a bargain - especially when, at the time, the myth of Duff's versatility was unchallenged (in addition to the even more fanciful myth that the Zog can play in the middle) Surely most of us agree that the Zog has the potential to be a Premiership star, but at the moment we have to hope he's just suffering the second season blues - as opposed to issues with his noggin ie interest from other clubs, Boumsong leaving the club etc

Indeed - but saying the right things to the press has never been a problem for Glenn...

Clarkie has always been a hero of mine, not to say he is without his faults, but I for one was delighted when he came back, and joined the backroom staff...

Was going to put Gemmill v Luque in the "Best vendetta" section too but NE5 edges that one. tongue.gif Neither holds a candle to a certain primate v a crock

"Post of the thread" That's exactly what I should have done - I'm very much with Gemmill's opinions on Luque, but fuck me Duff has been astonishingly woeful! Doesn't help that the Zog has been so poor this season too... Ironic really, on paper the strongest position we have is left wing. Too bad football isn't played on paper...

Dejan Stefanovic and Darko Kovacevic played for Sheffield Wednesday - Kovacevic flopped and went on to become a 20 million pound man

Ah, but the scout in GOAL had actually been fired by the Toon

I know it's all about opinions but bluebigeek.gif Cantona and Henry in midfield?!? Le Tiss up front?!? (I mean, you could almost have gotten away with swapping Le Tiss and Eric...) Apart from those three, I'd probably go along with something similar - I'd love to fit Vieria and Bergkamp in there, Giggs on the left would be a good shout too...

Gee, I really think this poll will settle the issue once and for all - I mean, we don't go on about Robert or Bellamy anymore, do we :roll:

What Rodhaminho said Just because Parker and Carrick play in a similar position doesn't mean they play the same role - Rodhaminho mentions Gattuso and Pirlo, both of whom could be described as deep-lying midfielders but play very different roles. And this is how I would assume Man Utd would play with Carrick and Hargreaves - a deep-lying enforcer, and a deep-lying playmaker. I'm of the opinion that this is what Roeder is trying to create with Parker and Emre - but it doesn't work properly for us because the players around them aren't effective enough. Duff has been terrible, Milner huffs and puffs but can't cross for toffee, our strikers aren't coming to get the ball off Parker or Emre. Perhaps Dyer playing off Martins' shoulder might prove more effective, with Dyer linking the two deep midfielders, two wingers and Martins up top...

More like Galacticos Lite

He's only scored 3 competitive goals...one was as a sub at Sunderland so that's wrong. Shhhh! You're ruining a great myth! tongue.gif

ALF (Angry Little Fucker) Syndrome, you reckon?

That's the thing - ALL of our defenders have deep flaws in their games. As I said, I'm biased, but I feel he is our best central defender as he is consistently decent, while Bramble ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous, Taylor has been poor this season (and increasingly reckless - never good for a centre half) while Ramage is little more than average

Koller's getting on - what about Crouchinho or Australia's answer: Josh Kennedy...?

Um... No, considering the entire league is only two years old with clubs started from scratch - and that he never played senior football in Australia... Anyway, I voted yes because I'm biased but am perfectly willing to accept he has flaws to his game. tmonkey's analysis of his lack of pace and mobility is spot on - but underestimates the 'strategic' nature of his fouls. Yes, he can be a right dirty bastard at times, but when does he give away free kicks in the sort of position Taylor did on the weekend? Very rarely I would suggest...