AyeDubbleYoo

I know where you're coming from nufc_gearodie, and I partly agree, but I think we deserve credit for the likes of the Liverpool result. To come back from 1-0 against such a good side is a quality result, even if the performance wasn't great. I'd obviously like to see us playing better football and winning more convincingly, but in the meantime I think the lads should get some credit for the results they have acheived.

Agreed, the problem with their stlye of football is that it is so difficult to produce consistently - the level of difficulty is so high. The intricate passing and moving can easily collapse with one minor error. Still like to see them playing it though...

I don't really get this 'papering over the cracks' attitude that always crops up. I know we haven't been playing amazingly well recently, but it's funny that when the likes of Chelsea scrape a win they've 'got character' and 'done enought to win', but when we do the same thing it isn't positive. We can't change the squad now until the summer, so I for one would take another few 'papering over the cracks' wins.

Alan Green, I'm getting angry just thinking about his nasal whinging and complaining. Can't believe the license fee payer is funding that utter nob.

any mongs here? i know there are a couple...

Woody's the best centre half I've ever seen play, was so impressed with him in his time here. Good luck to him, if he has the loyalty to stay at Boro then fine - but I suspect he might find other offers hard to resist if he maintains his fitness.

Unluckily for Emre, England is an English-speaking society! Yep...agree....shouldn't have been so silly...Its such a shame as well because I'm sure the UEFA or FIFA bastards are gonna come in and "make an example of him" and ban him for like 10 games or something. Hmm, there is a genuine debate about cultural meanings of words. I mean my Granparents still won't be convinced that calling a black person 'black' is now acceptable. English is a fluid language and meanings do change. Let's just hope that Emre did really misunderstand and his aim wasn't to be racist. Although if I was asked for my gut feeling I fear the worst.

Unluckily for Emre, England is an English-speaking society!

I agree we have the core of a decent side, what I would add is, in order of priority: A FECKING LEFT BACK! - With the Cole injury it seems increasingly unlikely that we will ever see Bridge in the black and white, so some serious scouting will have to be done to come up with someone of real quality. Unless Heinze is available of course, in which case we should go all out for him. A Striker who can hold up the ball and link the play - I don't want to see us turn into a long ball team, but someone who can make the ball stick up front and bring others into play. Hopefully Martins and Owen will be our first choices, so I don't think we need to break the bank on this one. A right back - less of a priority than LB, but we still don't really have anyone to do this job well. Our lack of attacking threat from fullback positions has been a major problem this season. Beyond that I'm not sure

If we do then the situation is obviously different. My argument was about the pathetic non-injuries that are used by clubs to worm their players out of international duty.

Some might, not all. If he was out for the rest of the season because of an injury picked up in a friendly the majority would be pissed off. I would be pissed off, but I wouldn't say he shouldn't have gone. The principal is more important, same was true when Owen got injured playing for England (although I know that was a tournament).

Nudge nudge, wink wink

I opened this thread to make that specific joke, gutted I missed out.

I would say the basic principle should be, as few players out of position as possible, and if the best players can play in their preferred position then do it. Nobby has been our best RB this season, so he should have started there. Taylor has been the best CB this season, so he should start there, not on either flank. Gooch was getting his debut and is a CB, so he starts there. That leaves the LB position where, tbh, we have no good options. If it was up to me I would have probably picked Edgar, as he seems the lesser of all the evils we have there.

Martins should go and represent his country, as every player should be desperate to do. I can't stand all of this injury excuse-making that goes on, it's pathetic. If he's an international player, he goes to play in internationals. Simple as that IMO.

Reading have a smart card system as well, you buy your ticket and they just add it onto your card either via the website, phone or whatever. Works quite well, although sometimes they can just not work for no apparent reason and you have to see one of the little steward gremlins to get your account checked and let in. So when it works it is handy, but there'll be some teething problems I would think.

people were leaving 10 from the end on new years day(man utd)2-2 game in the balance,no buses to catch. Mental. Unless a close family member has died there's no excuse for leaving early IMO. When I pay 30-odd quid to go to the match I'm watching the whole thing

I think Sherlock Holmes here is on to something. unnecessary, to be honest and nice contribution by the way...

I think a lot of people would welcome this, but I still suspect he might be talking-up the issue for political gain. As long as it can be done without the massive fences and nets they have in some grounds in Europe then it should be good. I do think the link between standing and atmosphere is overstated though, surely the biggest cause of a reduction in singing is the increasing ticket prices (which I think should be challenged) and the increased diversity of crowds (more women etc, which I don't think should be challenged)?

Maybe there was already a taxi booked from White Hart Lane, and since King just got injured...

Agree with the general feeling, he has to start sometime so let's make it this weekend. I think his knowledge of Fulham's yanks will be more useful than their knowledge of him. Just seems like it's more of an advantage to a defender to know how an attacker likes to play (for some reason!) Also, I'm going so I want to see him

It's not just luck though is it? If he takes the criticism for his failures we've got to give him credit for his acheivements.

I won't view the season as a failure, the reason mainly being the crippling injury list. We should give Roeder the summer to make some changes, and then next season to really judge his progress. I can't see the injury situation repeating (fingers crossed), so with a mostly-fit squad I can see us pushing on for a higher position next season. Fullbacks and a striker must be added in the summer though.

How about a front 3 of Babel ---- Martins ---- Dyer ? Oh, hang on....