OTF

My point was that if you have forwards that are constantly attempting to 'dictate the pace of the game', and close down opposing players it can sometimes be to the detriment of them scoring. There's plenty of forwards who are lazy as fuck who have made a great career out of scoring enough goals to make managers, chairmen and supporters forget about the other 70 odd minutes where they're doing fuck all. To name but a few there's Van Nistelrooj, Crespo and Yakubu. It's the midfield that should largely be dictating the pace of the game and bossing possession. I didn't mention Viduka because he's Australian, but because he's 'free' and I think could actually have a positive impact. At any length I even noted that it was just a silly pipedream. Viduka did ultimately fail here, largely because he was just about never fit to play. When he did take to the field he was clearly still capable of things that no other player in our team were (not just in the pie eating stakes). He's gone anyway and won't be playing any more professional football in a competitive league so I'll put that back to bed.

Half time trumpeting, yes please. I'm sure even at 35 he'd make 31 year old Geremi look like he's 80.

A good point well made. Better to have a striker who looks lazy, but has the energy to score a goal when required that one who expends loads of energy chasing down impossible balls, and heading on to noone ( ) who is then buggered when they get the ball in a good scoring position. People will scoff, but if we go up and someone could convince Mark Viduka to sign on a pay as you play style arrangement he'd be a good aquisition. He knows the area and the team, plus in terms of ability on the ball he's a class above anyone we've got or could realistically hope to get. Obviously in some kind of mid-retirement limbo at the moment, but I'd dare say he could be convinced to play some sort of bit part. /pipedreams

I could be convinced either way about keeping him until the end of the season or letting him go now. Definitely don't want him next season. Next season we'll need to bring in a decent premier league quality striker capable of scoring 15-20 goals to anchor our other permanent striking options.

I would've thought he was worth a place in the squad purely for his big match experience. He's got to offer more on the world stage than Carlton Cole or Agbonlahor. Agbonlahor offers pace that Owen no longer has. I'd probably have Agbonlahor in the side ahead off Owen TBH. However with Defoe in the side he has the pace of Agbonlahor so Owen's experience and dare I say finishing could come in handy at some stage. Carlton Cole is a bolter IMO. Darren Bent would be a better inclusion. Up front I think they should take Rooney, Defoe, Heskey, Crouch and one from Owen, Bent and Agbonlahor. In 2006 they took only Rooney, Owen, Crouch and Walcott. Ridiculous in retrospect in a squad of 23.

We're stuck now with having to give him a chance next season. There's fuck all chance that Ashley will sell if we're promoted. He's ignorant and deluded to the extent where he will think we'll have a squad and manager that's good enough to compete in the Premier League. What price a top 6 finish? In reality if we go up he should cash in and fuck off. Hughton should return to being a coach, a new manager should be bought in and 30 million pounds should be spent on improving our team.

Sucks to have been ahead twice and to only get 1 point. On tha balance of play though sounds like 1 point was a good result.

HAREWOOOOD!

Nolan!

Tottenham trailing Wolves in the 3rd minute after a Doyle goal.

Yeah, twas a corker. Free kick given, he didn't even place the ball. Belted it, Sorenson running back trying to swat it away, missed it completely. Goal. Quality stuff.

It's Carroll starting up front not Ameobi...

Looks like Benitez has taken over and we're rolling with the rotation policy for this one.

Butt out Nolan in pls.

What the fuck is it with Hughton that makes him decide to pre-blame the fans for possible future defeats? What expectation, half of us (myself included) expected us to crash and burn this season. I guess it would be hard to not be pessimistic having been involved right through the shermozzle of last season. As much as it might seem to some that we're flying high at the moment, compared to where we were just two seasons ago (let alone six or seven when we were in the Champions League) we're in a dismal situation.

The people of Cardiff must be questioning the merit of having multiple teams in the Championship. Surely they'd be better off combining their second and third placed teams and quite possibly taking out the competition. I suppose that would also depend on the form of fourth placed Cardiff, and Cardiff in fifth who are breathing down their necks.

We've won 7 of our last 7. Took us 38 matches to notch up 7 wins last season.

Nile from an Enrique cross.

Enrique assist.

SHOLAAAAAAAAAA! Nigeria's finest!

The only thing working against us getting him could be a concern that he wouldn't play that much for us. If he did come here and didn't play it would be a minor travesty as he looks to be a wonderful player with composure and skills well in advance of his age. If we got him for the remainder of the year with an option to extend beyond that it would be nice. Obviously he'll always be one for Arsenal (been there since he was 9 according to wikipedia) but he'd be a good player to have here for a year or so.

Poor bugger. Good player, the kind we should be looking for if we get promoted (though not someone so injury prone or old).

Steven Gerrard is a fucking despisable cunt of a human being.

Can you please make your own thread for this? I'd like to comment but don't want to derail this thread or take any of the effect away from his dramatic statement.

Looks like we're all set for a great transfer window then.