merlin

Exactly mate.......one decent game doesn't detract from the fact that he's a horrible little overpaid malingering shite hawk. For £4m a year, it's not exactly asking a lot of him to actually play well once in a while. Agree - NOBODY has doubted Dyer's ability, but just because he's played a couple of good games in 2 years does NOT make everything right about him as an asset to the club. He is grossly-overpaid and by some on this board, over-rated - if you want to know why those of us who criticise him do so , I suggest you look at the performance of Paul Scholes for Man U since his return from injury ; here is a player older than Dyer who your hero once famously stated should be removed from the England side so HE could play - immediately after Dyer's claim, Scholes, who NEVER comments or gets himself into off-field scrapes, went out on to the field at SJP and rammed Dyer's cocky words right down his throat after orchestrating a 6-2 hammering in front of our own fans. Some of you guys seem to have forgotten all this - if I had the choice, I would swap Dyer for Scholes in an instant, regardless of Scholes' age. You would STILL get more value-years out of Scholes than you will from Dyer. So , to answer your question, we ' Dyer detractors' as you put it, have NOT gone away ; once Dyer has completed 3 full seasons without breaking down, getting involved in off-field controversy, or protesting about which position he plays in, then maybe those of us who think that way may reconsider...

In so many ways, Ned summed-up the whole spirit of the club when Keegan took over - his 110% effort, even when not at his best, his relationship with the fans, his crucial goals, not just against Pompey but all through the promotion season and the fairy-tale end to his NUFC career make him a legend for modern supporters. SJH personally thanked him for his efforts for the club and told him he would always be welcome at SJP. He received a special pen , engraved with his time of service and with the club's crest on it - something which previously had only been given to the likes of Albert Stubbins, Bobby Cowell etc and they had been great players.. Wish Ned every success in the future - he was crucial in the making of NUFC's Premiership tenure.

Unfortunately, I think N'Zogbia will be getting the things you think he needs quite soon - but NOT at NUFC, methinks......!!

Disagree - did you ever see Ardiles & Villa play for Spurs?? Also, best Brazilians never come here - always end up in Italy, Spain or Portugal. SBR had Romario at PSV & he was a raging success . We had Mirandinha, but he got injured on Luton's plastic pitch & was never the same. Up until that point, he looked as if he could have made it and I think WOULD have done in a better side.

I'm sure Freddy Fletcher was given the lions share of brownie points for bringing Keegan to the club as manager during the SOS fiasco when he was getting stick from the fans for his part in that, I can't prove it as it's just my memory. As for the board taking us forward since 1992, that was under the guidance of Sir John Hall, we've gone a long way backwards under Shepherd. We've gone from 2nd in the Premiership to where we are now, 17th and on the same number of points as Sheffield United who are in a relegation position. As for a manager like Keegan instantly putting things right, that's probably true, the thing is, Shepherd thinks that Souness and Roeder are the men to do that. Souness was the man to improve on 5th in the league and Roeder was the man to improve on 14th which he did for one half season but is so far failing to do this season, he could possibly fail to beat what Souness did in his one and only full season. Also, think about this, shitty Ellis spent less than us and still finished above us in the league, more times than we finished above them with Shepherd steering the ship. Spending money is useless and just turns a potential profit into a loss without any gain for the club if the club can't appoint a manager who can spend the money wisely, Factamundo. Spending is useless when you go backwards while doing it, spending is only of use when it improves you as a club and as a team, we've got nothing for the money spent so we've failed as a club, again, Factamundo. The situation of the Club and its performance over the past 3 years tell the whole tale of its decline under the DIRECTION of Shepherd as Chairman - 'FACTAMUNDO' !! And the previous years ? Before Souness came was what exactly ? I know the team has declined under Souness, I predicted it. That is why he has gone. The old board, pre-1992 though, would have kept him as simply being in the top league was success in their eyes, unlike nowadays. Factamundo. The current Board will be DELIGHTED if we are still in the Prem at the end of the season - is that progress..??

I'm sure Freddy Fletcher was given the lions share of brownie points for bringing Keegan to the club as manager during the SOS fiasco when he was getting stick from the fans for his part in that, I can't prove it as it's just my memory. As for the board taking us forward since 1992, that was under the guidance of Sir John Hall, we've gone a long way backwards under Shepherd. We've gone from 2nd in the Premiership to where we are now, 17th and on the same number of points as Sheffield United who are in a relegation position. As for a manager like Keegan instantly putting things right, that's probably true, the thing is, Shepherd thinks that Souness and Roeder are the men to do that. Souness was the man to improve on 5th in the league and Roeder was the man to improve on 14th which he did for one half season but is so far failing to do this season, he could possibly fail to beat what Souness did in his one and only full season. Also, think about this, shitty Ellis spent less than us and still finished above us in the league, more times than we finished above them with Shepherd steering the ship. Spending money is useless and just turns a potential profit into a loss without any gain for the club if the club can't appoint a manager who can spend the money wisely, Factamundo. Spending is useless when you go backwards while doing it, spending is only of use when it improves you as a club and as a team, we've got nothing for the money spent so we've failed as a club, again, Factamundo. The situation of the Club and its performance over the past 3 years tell the whole tale of its decline under the DIRECTION of Shepherd as Chairman - 'FACTAMUNDO' !! Good that you realise the decline during the latter stages of Robson's time and the massive mistake of appointing Souness as his replacement. Most of us have known that for ages though, but at least you got there in the end. 'Got there in the end' HTL !? You've GOT to be joking !! I put a thread up on a rival site back in 03 about the lack of action in the transfer market prior to our Champs Lge qualifiers but ALSO criticised some of SBRs buys. What sort of response do you think I got ? I can assure you that everything was pooh-poohed in the same way you have tried to rubbish the point I made, and NO-ONE agreed - don't suppose YOU post on any other sites do you....!? Maybe YOU were one of those who disagreed and now ADMIT that the Chairman has messed-up big time..Well , you DO , don't you.....!!??

I'm sure Freddy Fletcher was given the lions share of brownie points for bringing Keegan to the club as manager during the SOS fiasco when he was getting stick from the fans for his part in that, I can't prove it as it's just my memory. As for the board taking us forward since 1992, that was under the guidance of Sir John Hall, we've gone a long way backwards under Shepherd. We've gone from 2nd in the Premiership to where we are now, 17th and on the same number of points as Sheffield United who are in a relegation position. As for a manager like Keegan instantly putting things right, that's probably true, the thing is, Shepherd thinks that Souness and Roeder are the men to do that. Souness was the man to improve on 5th in the league and Roeder was the man to improve on 14th which he did for one half season but is so far failing to do this season, he could possibly fail to beat what Souness did in his one and only full season. Also, think about this, shitty Ellis spent less than us and still finished above us in the league, more times than we finished above them with Shepherd steering the ship. Spending money is useless and just turns a potential profit into a loss without any gain for the club if the club can't appoint a manager who can spend the money wisely, Factamundo. Spending is useless when you go backwards while doing it, spending is only of use when it improves you as a club and as a team, we've got nothing for the money spent so we've failed as a club, again, Factamundo. The situation of the Club and its performance over the past 3 years tell the whole tale of its decline under the DIRECTION of Shepherd as Chairman - 'FACTAMUNDO' !!

Pigshit. :roll: Another member of the Ostrich Society......... Who the **** are you to tell 48,000 people to stay away from games they've probably paid for months ago? How anyone can slag off the fans for supporting their team is ****ing unbelievable. I've got my own opinions about who's to blame for the state we find ourselves in and 'the fans' are right at the bottom of the list. The **** who are apparently running this club however..... As for the ostrich dig - ****ing do one. 'Who the **** are you to...' Can you place a posting without attempting to use bad language, or is your vocabulary NATURALLY that poor ?? As to your question, ITS CALLED AN OPINION - something you clearly haven't heard of, so just to enlighten you, its something everyone is allowed to have WHETHER IT ANNOYS SOMEONE ELSE OR NOT !! Got it ? And if its a sore spot with you because your life is so empty that you have to have your fortnightly dose of being conned just because you paid for it, then you are even sadder than you project on these posts. As for getting rid of the people who run the club, go back & try to decipher what my original post meant. I'm sure the majority got it and No - I WON'T 'Do one' - the Ostrich dig summed you up perfectly..

Correct There seems to be a lot of hypocrisy amongst the fans at the moment. If this team was managed by Souness, playing the way they are at the moment, the cries would be heard all over the town calling for the manager's head. But because it's nice guy Roeder, they treat it differently? Roeder is sh*t, he should never have been given the job and he should be sacked asap - just like Souness - in fact going on track record, we should be MORE horrified with Roeder in charge compared to Souness. But of course, he's a nice guy so we shouldn't think that........ Quite agree, but if you DARE to criticize the FANS(!)you will find that someone will call that 'Pigshit' (See thread on 'Takeover'- Holds head in frustration...) There seems to be some sort of malaise with people now whereby they criticize`anyone who appears not to be ' NICE' but allow all sorts of crap from idiots who are touchy-feely but useless. You just have to look at the useless tools in politics....!!

Pigshit. :roll: Another member of the Ostrich Society.........

What are 'DEENDERS' ? tongue.gif I've seen Huntelaar playing for Heerenven, and for Holland U21 earlier this year, and he really is a good player. But hey, I didn't believe we'd get Owen. And we did.... Keep dreaming unless the takeover happens...

Whitehurst had to have a special extra-large set of shorts mad for him, as the club didn't haveone big enough ....! Remember the tackle with Bracewell - was at SJP, Boxing Day 1985 v Everton. It was Bracewell who went into the tackle, but 'Billy the Brick' saw it coming and ensured that Bracewell came off worst... Was quite a good game, a 2-2 draw with a great goal from Peter Beardsley and another good one from Gazza. As has been said, Whitehurst would have just had to LOOK at Keane and the former Man U 'hardman' would have fainted......!! Pity they played at different times ... would have been worth the admission alone to see that contest.

I think a lot of clubs will look at selling stadium naming rights, however, the figures Arsenal got for their naming rights aren't a good yardstick to use. Arsenal were selling naming rights of a brand new stadium, which has never been known as anything else. Selling rights for an established stadium won't bring in anything like the same amount. We're having this discussion on some of our boards, and the general consensus is "so long as they pay up, they can call it what they like, we'll still call it villa park" - sponsors know this, and the price will be lower accordingly. Things are going to get interesting with the West Ham takeover and now tonight they're talking about George Gillet buying Liverpool, with 4 CL places to go for, there's going to be a lot of pissed off billionaires not getting the return they want on their money. Agreed - This is where the selection of a REALLY good Manager becomes crucial.Only clubs who have really top guys are going to make it to the promised land, REGARDLESS of oney spent on players(we don't have to look too far to know that, do we...!!??).

Huntelaar wouldn't touch us with a bargepole at present - he probably would have done had the club tried to sign him after we played Herenveen a few years ago, but both he and NUFC have moved in opposite directions since.....!! Suspect we'd be blown out of the water by the likes of Milan, Barca etc if he was for sale. And yes, Oliver has proved his credentiials once again - Huntelaar is 23, not 26. Only way NUFC could sign the likes of Huntelaar is if the takeover goes ahead and the club stay in the Prem. Unlikely that he would be allowed to move until summer at least, and even that's doubtful..(the takeover as well as Ajax allowing him to go !!!).

I suspect not, and the only ones to blame are the fans - IF there had been some sort of boycott, even for a couple of games, I think Shepherd would have bottled it & sold.The fact that gates are still good has probably encouraged him to dig in and hope his scheme for the Casino comes to fruition before people get REALLY disillusioned. I wouldn't expect any other group or individual to move in if Belgravia back out and the above scenario becomes reality - the Club will be stuck with the regime for the foreseeable future and it is highly- likely that he will attempt to buy the whole Shareholding with profits & dividends from the new arrangement. You'd better start sending notes up the chimney for Santa....!

Fans who were around in the mid-70s will see a parallel with Alan Gowling, although Gowling was much underrated. A big, awkward looking CF with deceptively-good ball control. Gordon Lee used him as target man with Supermac as a sort of twin spearhead. It looked a bit crap at first, but they started to click around Christmas time in 75, and they hammered Everton 5-0 early in Jan, beat Spurs over 2 legs in the LC semi, Coventry 4-0 in a 4th Rnd Replay , won a real pulsating game 4-3 against Championship-chasing Derby at the end of Jan. The whole team benefitted from the 2 guys up front, with Mickey Burns coming from just behind the front 2 and Geoff Nulty/Tommy Craig/Cassidy in midfield. We scored quite a few goals, but had a poor central defence - Keely was a nightmare at times, similar to Bramble. If the players hadn't gone down with the Flu that was raging at the time, I am sure we would have beaten Man City in the LC Final that season. Who scored our goal ? Alan Gowling....!

Don't want either - this Club needs a new DYNASTY building, NOT trophy signings . Eriksson is a busted flush who would be OK for a club who have supporters who treat Football purely as a game(like Southampton).He is not either strong enough or charismatic enough for NUFC in the way that O'Neill would have been.MON was probably the ideal candidate for NUFC, but we have to look elsewhere now. Scolari would be 10 times better than Sven. As for Beckham - we don't need another show-biz signing whose best years are gone, and who has a Media circus surrounding him & his retinue. Beckham would not be as useful to the club as KK was when he came as a player in 82 because KK was a far more genuine character with boundless enthusiasm for the club to succeed - NUFC will always be simply a nice little career finisher for Beckham, and the club has moved on from that type of player(at least, it should do if the takeover goes ahead).

Just waiting for Invicta to post his usual thoughts about MON - but then, he's probably waiting for another Villa defeat before doing that...might be only a few occasions when THAT happens though..!!

Simpson has done a good job wherever he has been and is still young.Disagree the fans are too impatient - do you think they wouldn't have been patient with O'Neill? What about Robson's bad buys? Most people gave them a chance until they saw how poor these guys actuallly were. As long as people can see some progress , they WILL be patient, but for heavens sake, they've been patient for 37 years....!! Whoever is chosen has a very tough task ahead for at least 2 years...

Suspect he will be off like a shot if we go down, and may even be off at the end of the Season anyway - depends on Roeder's replacement.

Agree totally - this takeover is just too late..

Looking at the latest from the Express today, it won't be long before we all find out who the next Manager is going to be... As I said on the Takeover thread, I hope these guys get a move on but I can't think who they'll be trying to bring in ; Shearer would be a huge gamble at this stage, and I just hope they have someone good lined-up. We are in dangerous waters, and need to survive this season - next year is another ball-game(hopefully!).

If this is true, they need to get a move on - otherwise, they will have to think about trying to get out of the Championship and that will set everything back by at least 3 years...

Another Gem, Kitman - not QUITE up to the Wind in Me Willows, but very good none the less.. At least we're identifying the 'CANTS' at the Club..!!

Doubt very much that he'll go until at least Christmas unless there is a spectacular hammering at Arsenal followed by a loss to Pompey. No-one else of any consequence wants the job, and for Roeder to go so quickly would make the Board look ridiculous after the Souness affair last season. I suspect that there might be what is classed now as a 'reasonable' result at the Emirates(i.e. a small defeat).Arsenal will not want to kill themselves unless the game is dragging into a draw late on. Such a result, followed by a draw/small win at home to Pompey would enable the Club/Roeder to claim that 'We are futher on the road to recovery'('look how heavily Liverpool were beaten by Arsenal etc. etc').