fredbob

plenty of people have harped on about "trophy signings", in fact. Plenty of people also agreed with the sentiment, although now it appears that it is dependant on the individuals responsible for the signings. All the signs point to the fact that Mort is going to run a tight financial ship here, I hope I'm wrong but if it turns out to be the case I also expect a lot of uturns and denials. And if he does, we'll lose our manager. It beats me why people think you can match the other top clubs without competing with them. Although I know the reason why. The thing is, is that you'd very quick to make a sweeping statement like this which is based on precedent set 30 years ago and twisted quotes, but if anyone was to ask a direct question to you such as; Based on the bit in bold, does that mean you think we will spend very little this summer? Do you have an estimate of how much we will spend? I can pretty much guarantee that despite your absolute certainty that you are right you wont be brave enough to put you head on the line and answer either question, because deep down you know you could be wrong.

i thought it was the National FA that deserted him and the team. I.e The world cup preperation was a bit of a joke and a laugh and he wanted to take it seriously, the faclities were substandard as well, result of bean counting Irish FA. Was out of order with the way he went about things but i think he had a point. Mcarthry was made to look a hero etc, he was the petulant villain. I see no real reason why he'd lie, he'd been pretty frank throught the rest of his Bio.

Nah, Bramble had moments when he would go on a career best 3-4 games in a row where he'd quality. You always knew that boumsong was never ever gonna regain his composure cos his confidence was destryoed. I must admit I had my doubts when he struggled in his debut against Yeading. Haha, was his debut at Yeading?? Man, that was a terrible game for everyone involved though, i rememebr his high point being when he kept Henry pretty quiet when we played Arsenal once, then something happend to his kid and he was the definition of crap, never played well after his kid became ill if i rememebr correctly. Thats what i base my opinion on him anyway.....

Would keep him to be honest, Still a decent age and if anything would be a good option to come on a change a game, give him more protection like we saw when Parker was a DM and Butt played with him and he'd be quality, maybe the Owen role with less of a goal threat but more of a creative license. Doesnt give the ball away much and isnt a physically demanding role in the side so he may become less injured (at a guess)

I'd of been inclined to say yes because he had a brilliant pass on him and had some deent creative touches as well, its not exactly the most physical role in the team so he might be ok then, but he's not exactly done well enough in his career for me to want to punt on him.

Nah, Bramble had moments when he would go on a career best 3-4 games in a row where he'd quality. You always knew that boumsong was never ever gonna regain his composure cos his confidence was destryoed.

West Brom (h), when he had that blondey-ginger mop thing on his head. Apart from that, I agree with you. He did play well against Brom, therefore his good games to s**** games ratio is better than Smiths. Smith played well against Arsenal to be fair, and he looked alright in some friendlies.....its not a coincidence that Pattinson performed wellagainst effectively a 1st Division team.

And never will be. Even the world's best forwards at the minute are streets ahead of Rooney. Eto'o, Torres, Van Nistelrooy etc.. Rooney is very good, but he's definitely not great. See, id disagree with that, look at the stats that Man U have with him in the team, also he has a goal scoring record of nearly 1 in 2 games (throughout his Man U career), thats generally accepted as being a top goal scoring ratio, to be fair to him he's not an out an out goal scoring strikers like the others as well so his build up play and influence on the game isnt highlighted as much as the others. If i could have any striker in the world at nufc, he'd come very close to the top in my opinion. Pretty sure Geremi's played in all of our wins this season... This is why im of the opinion that Geremi is as good as Rooney.

Matty Pattison is the only player i can think ofwho has never had a good game for newcastle, not even in friendlies. For me, as shit as Smith has been, its just a bit too early for me to say he's the worst ever. Pattinson is the stand out player here, i can easily remember good games that the others had, even Faye.

Well i saw him play and whilst he wasnt very effective during the game, he did show some glimpses of creativty.

And never will be. Even the world's best forwards at the minute are streets ahead of Rooney. Eto'o, Torres, Van Nistelrooy etc.. Rooney is very good, but he's definitely not great. See, id disagree with that, look at the stats that Man U have with him in the team, also he has a goal scoring record of nearly 1 in 2 games (throughout his Man U career), thats generally accepted as being a top goal scoring ratio, to be fair to him he's not an out an out goal scoring strikers like the others as well so his build up play and influence on the game isnt highlighted as much as the others. If i could have any striker in the world at nufc, he'd come very close to the top in my opinion. Aye, the likes of Torres, Nistelroy and Eto aren't valid comparisons cos they do a different job for the team. They're primarliy finishers and Rooney isn't. Rooney has got a bit of everything - strength, power, good touch and passing and he gets his head up when he's on the ball. Finishing's not what it might be but he still scares defenders when he picks it up 20-30 yards out, as he can make things happen. Must admit I preferred to watch the swashbuckling, raging bull Rooney of 2004 and before, but would probably agree that he's a better footballer these days. Of course they're valid comparisons, they all play up front. And Eto'o is far from just an in the box finisher type of player. He is fast, strong and can beat players with ease. Same with Torres. Eto'o can even switch out wide when needed and will track back opposition wingers. They are a much more frightening thought 20-30 yards from goal as they're more likely to put the ball in the net. Man Utd have scored 72 goals in the league this year. Rooney has only managed 11. Keepers will feel an advantage and gain confidence playing against Rooney knowing he will need about 4 or 5 chances to score a goal. So wheres this "streets ahead" opinion fit in, Eto'o without a shadow of a doubt poses more of a goal threat, but Rooney poses more of a threat to the game. Rooney can do it all as a striker, create as well as finish, Eto'o cant create, hae a look at those goal that Man U have scored and i bet more often than not Rooney played a role (if not key role) in a lot of those goals. I dont think the same can be said of torres or Et'o and defnitiely not for Van Horseface. Like i say, if i placed money on who i thinkcould drag the game by the balls and win it for a team id put it on Rooney. Its takes the great players in the world to be able to do that.

And never will be. Even the world's best forwards at the minute are streets ahead of Rooney. Eto'o, Torres, Van Nistelrooy etc.. Rooney is very good, but he's definitely not great. See, id disagree with that, look at the stats that Man U have with him in the team, also he has a goal scoring record of nearly 1 in 2 games (throughout his Man U career), thats generally accepted as being a top goal scoring ratio, to be fair to him he's not an out an out goal scoring strikers like the others as well so his build up play and influence on the game isnt highlighted as much as the others. If i could have any striker in the world at nufc, he'd come very close to the top in my opinion. Aye, the likes of Torres, Nistelroy and Eto aren't valid comparisons cos they do a different job for the team. They're primarliy finishers and Rooney isn't. Rooney has got a bit of everything - strength, power, good touch and passing and he gets his head up when he's on the ball. Finishing's not what it might be but he still scares defenders when he picks it up 20-30 yards out, as he can make things happen. Must admit I preferred to watch the swashbuckling, raging bull Rooney of 2004 and before, but would probably agree that he's a better footballer these days. Agree with all of that! That game against Croatia 2004 was one of the best individual perfomrances from anEngland player in a long long time. Reckon we'd of got to the final if he didnt get injured in the QF. You could see the confidence drain from the England team the second he hobbled off the pitch.

Yeh, Torres has been the outstanding striker in Europe for me, has looked immense for Liverpool.

And never will be. Even the world's best forwards at the minute are streets ahead of Rooney. Eto'o, Torres, Van Nistelrooy etc.. Rooney is very good, but he's definitely not great. See, id disagree with that, look at the stats that Man U have with him in the team, also he has a goal scoring record of nearly 1 in 2 games (throughout his Man U career), thats generally accepted as being a top goal scoring ratio, to be fair to him he's not an out an out goal scoring strikers like the others as well so his build up play and influence on the game isnt highlighted as much as the others. If i could have any striker in the world at nufc, he'd come very close to the top in my opinion.

I don't think he was a 4-4-2 player due to his lack of pace, especially in the middle. If he had a couple of players around him doing the donkey work, that would have suited him better. Hell of a left-foot on him though. Yeah, I agree there and he wasn't a big strong type either so playing in the middle of a 4-4-2 was even more of a problem when he wasn't pacey or box-to-box type either. I think you could have played him as a deep lying playmaker or in a more advance role in a midfield 3/5. Either way though you'd have to question 1) Why Robson bought him 2) why he wouldn't give him a chance when Jenas was out of form (for several months) & 3) why he wouldn't let him move on sooner. Funnily enough, I think he could have done quite well in Owen's current role. I'm not sure Viana would be making late runs into the box to try and sniff out a goal though. True, but what we'd lose with Owens GS prowess we'd gain with Vianas passing and creativity.

Think this'll be a tight one, size of the game getting the better of both of them, cant see Keegans men come out all swashbuyckling but cant see Keanes men coming down and surrendering, tight nervy game for me. 1-0 to us.

Unlucky in the sense that his time at newcastle essentially ruined his career (not newcastles fault - but he had a bad time here), i always got the feeling his subsequent career was a result of destroyed confidence. Agree, he wasnt suited to the prem but he never really got to play in the centre of mdfield that much if i rememebr correctly, not that that would of made a huge difference....thought he did some good things.

Werent we linked with Barzagli in the summer??

Kenny Dalglish took over a team who were 2nd in the league and left a team 13th. Yeh but he wasnt close to being THE worst manager in the past 15 years. I mean he did bring in some good lpayer and was absolutely robbed of the worlds best striker at the time. He did get us to a cup final, he tried to bring back the youth set up and didnt bring in absolute shit for us like Souness did. He did far more good than bad. Roeder had nothing about him as a manager. But it would be unfair to call him the worse, but he was no better at all than Dalglish.

Kenny dlaglish worse than Roeder?? what is going on with this poll? Is it me am i missing something here?

Watched the Man U arsenal game and everytime there was a confrontation with the ref he was always there calming things down moving the players awway etc. Leader on the pitch, seems to of calmed down alot, i wouldnt be bothered if he was made captian in the future has the makings of a great one to be honest.

It's a difficult one, 2 me its basically split into the Rooney of old ie England Euro 2004 or Rooney of knew Man U at present, both players have there merits. rooney at present is less effective as an indivudal but very very eefective as a team, but the old Rooney had the ability to grab the game by the balls.

supposition, and a silly comment to be honest. Cort, Viana, Bramble, Robert, Bellamy, Lua Lua, Milner, Butt, Jenas, Woodgate, Acuna, Ambrose, O'Brien, were all bought by Robson. Some come under the "big fee", some come under the "potential and young" category. As I've just said, if you really think the chairman [and his board] should back the manager for every player he wants, you can't then complain about "overspending". Backing managers was not the problem, it was the choice of player by the managers involved, and that goes for all the managers, not just Robson. So who gave there judgment as to whether a player wasnt suitable or not? Did Shepherd et al take it in there own hands to assess the need of that particular player? If so, why? Serious question bytheway? Just interested to know your views.

So if it came down to having Rooney of Everton or Rooney of Man U who would people choose? Im undecided.

Am i reading this right? There are 26 people who would rather we had Souness over Allardyce if the the job became availabe for those 2 again?