Hughesy

Or they just don't understand football would be my guess. So people don't understand football because they don't agree with the pair of you. Christ When people make ridiculous claims about the ability of Dyer - yes, they don't understand football. The guy's weaknesses were too numerous and too important to ever make him a top player. You'll notice that in our most successful seasons, his contributions were limited, both statistically and in the way he unbalanced our team.

Or they just don't understand football would be my guess.

Would be a bit strange if Everton hadn't given him the best medical treatment? Not really sure how or why that is an issue?

Speed was the key in that midfield. He held it together and had to do all Dyer's defensive work for him yet got a huge amount of stick from fans who clearly didn't have a clue what was going on.

He was a good dribbler - I'll give you that - but there is absolutely no way in a million years anyone could ever describe Kieron Dyer as having a better touch (ie an ability to bring the ball under control) than Joe Cole. Dyer's control of an incoming ball was pretty bad to be honest.

You genuintely think that Dyer had a better touch than Joe Cole? Surely you are joking...?

I obviously wasn't watching the same player to the rest of you - can't get my head round some of these opinions of Dyer. Amazing stuff.

Complete and utter s****. We can agree to disagree if you'd like...

He'd have been little better than a SWP or a Lennon. Seriously, the guy didn't have nearly enough basic footballing technique to be a top player - he couldn't pick a pass, he couldn't play a pass and his control was average at best. The occasions when NUFC played best when we had him was when he came off the bench as an impact player. Massively massively overrated player. Joe Cole is in a different league as a footballer.

Kieron Dyer would never have been close to a top player even if he had stayed fit. You need to have good technique and awareness to be a top player. Pace and dribbling would never have been enough.

Seriously - you don't need to do favours for South American agents to have an effective South American scouting network. Not aware of many people who suggest Nacho was awful - he's a Uruguayan international - so clearly had something about him. Although he hadn't been a roaring success in Europe beforehand or indeed after he left us. I've said before - we shouldn't really ever have been looking to buy foreign players for huge amounts of money. Whilst not suggesting we should not have ambition, we do have to be realistic about our position in world football. We aren't a historically successful club (not by European standards), we aren't a London club, we aren't a massive city and we have been 'struggling' for a while. If we buy a player for 8+ million, you have to wonder 1) why the player is coming to us 2) why a 'bigger' club hasn't already bought the player ie Luque, Boumsong et al. Much better off focussing on players in the 1-4 million bracket in my opinion, who are young and hungry.

Exactly. This is the problem though, we have sections of the fans who are very naive, and think Football is just Premier Manger 98 on the Playstation. In fairness - we didn't exactly see the fruits of that connection did we? Can hardly blame ppl for thinking that it was a senseless move. You don't need to loan players to break into the South American market....

Would love Kevin-Prince Boateng and Anthony Annan here! Vittek btw is pretty awful (despite the 3 goals he's scored at the world cup so far). He wasn't good enough für Nurenberg. And they are an awful club. And I really really don't think we need Boateng. We have enough of these kind of players in Barton and Carroll. We don't need another player who is "dangerous". Not that we'd ever get him...but how could you think we don't need someone like Boateng? He would offer a touch of class and creativity to our midfield. Would be a fantastic signing.

Are these Puma shirts meant to be tight fitting ones or does Lovenkrands just have very skinny arms?

Oh shit... did he pronounce something wrong? On live tv?? Shit - must mean he's a complete moron.

Heskey was one of our best players tonight. Never been a huge fan but his hold up play and link up play was brilliant. Much rather have him on the pitch than the flat track bully Defoe.

Ilan looked like a good player. If he is on a free, we should snap him up.

Fletcher to Wolves for 7.5 million apparently. (Skysports).

Bit of a difference between Redknapp and Mourinho...

Just to echo everyone else - Onuoha would be a fantastic purchase. Would be delighted if we got him.

On a footballing basis? Jenas is on a different level as a footballer to Ambrose.

Don't really why people think Villa would accept a figure of around £20 million for Milner. They bought him for 12-13 million - so it isn't as if the figure being bandied around represents anywhere near a large enough profit for a player who adds so much to their team.

Signing on fees are spread over the length of the contract - so it's not like you pay the player a lump sum of 500k upfront on the day he signs.

Couldn't work out what was going on in those scuffles. The bald guy did fly though... Was odd that it happened when it did though because it all seemed to have quietened down when the punches flew. Was good to see the QPR guy in the brown jumper get escorted out.

That's the most stupid thing I have ever read.