Howaythelads

1. For me its Robert with the added bonus that he can playup front if needed 2. Nobody really, he offers an option on the left, but sees himself ultimately as a central midfielder 3. Owen is Shearer's replacement for when he retires with the bonus that he is here before Shearer retires 4. I wouldn't keep him myself 5. If he could stay fit and score 15 a season then yes, if not he's an option in central mid, right mid and up front but not a replacement for Bellamy 50746[/snapback] So I take it you're optimistic that we'll still have Owen next year, Ive got my doubts to be honest. 50869[/snapback] Well thats certainly Freddy and Souness' intention to replace one all time great goal scoring legend and England international with another. I think he will still be here personally...and if he isn't we're fucked! 50960[/snapback] Owen will go in January.

Creating and scoring loads of goals without him, aren't we? Not that you give a shite about how the team performs.

1. For me its Robert with the added bonus that he can playup front if needed 2. Nobody really, he offers an option on the left, but sees himself ultimately as a central midfielder 3. Owen is Shearer's replacement for when he retires with the bonus that he is here before Shearer retires 4. I wouldn't keep him myself 5. If he could stay fit and score 15 a season then yes, if not he's an option in central mid, right mid and up front but not a replacement for Bellamy 50746[/snapback] 5 out of 5. Why can't everybody understand it?

That's because FS is doing a fine job of supporting his manager, as he does with all managers. That means he's doing his job, it's Mr Souness who isn't doing his. 50620[/snapback] Who appointed Souness again? 50622[/snapback] Exactly. Shepherd is steering this ship; the success of the club ultimately depends on him. He's rewarding himself for gross incompetence in my book. Plus, the club simply can't afford it. 50626[/snapback] Gross incompetence? Gross incompetents were Chairmen of the past like Westwood, McKeag and that lot. You seem to have forgotten how far the club has come since John Hall, followed by Fred, took over the running of it.

I'm not saying it's a certainty, Alex, but only a fool considers it to be out the question. Where are the goals coming from? We only have one striker who is up to it at PL level and he is struggling to maintain fitness. The last time I mentioned this the replies were along the lines of, " we won't go down because there are worse teams than us.....Wigan, West Ham, Blackburn, WBA and Sunderland ". Well I think it's a genuine possibility we won't finish above all of those teams others have mentioned in the past. It's just as well Everton have found their level after last seasons fluke.

Difficult to see how a boiler is a luxury? Just pay in cash 50621[/snapback] Impossible, really.

Steady on, man. 50702[/snapback] Why the comma? 50705[/snapback] It's a mistake. Why do you post shit?

Didn't Bryan Robson attract good players to Middlesbrough? 50641[/snapback] Not really. I thought he attracted mainly mercenaries or has-beens.

Steady on, man.

1. Want to make quite clear that I've never used stats to judge a player. However, as it is a stone cold fact that one player scored and created more goals than the rest of our midfield put together I'd suggest a good manager would try to get more from that player. It seems to be accepted by most that Mr Souness had it in for Robert and Bellamy the day he walked in the door. That's a lot of our attacking threat facing being booted out of the club. 2. It can be said that Owen is a replacement for Shearer on the basis that Owen is a goalscorer just as Shearer is. Owen is definitely not a replacement for Bellamy. 3. Clubs didn't 'figure us out' by getting to grips with Robert. What happened last season was that Mr Souness got rid of the pace and movement up front, which made it almost impossible for the midfielders to create anything. That's why we temporarily looked better when Dyer went up front ( example would be away to Sporting ). 4. The decline in our ability to break teams down started when Robson fell out with Solano. Again, nothing to do with Robert.

Luque has been at the club for more than 5 minutes. Thought I'd point that out. And you're right, I don't make snap decisions. 50630[/snapback] Snap judgement I meant, sorry Dad. You've made a one based on the short time Luque has been here. 50631[/snapback] Sigh. No I haven't made a snap judgement, I don't make them either. It is a fact that Luque hasn't been able to be fit enough to play many matches for us. I suggest you find something else to do instead of trying to pick an argument.

Luque has been at the club for more than 5 minutes. Thought I'd point that out. And you're right, I don't make snap decisions.

Aye, sad bastards on here who continually slag him, aren't they? BTW The people you know who didn't rate Robert are all wrong. I know best, as you agreed with earlier. I can also see the lack of goals in the team, I assume you and your mates think our previous attacking threat, that's now almost completely lacking, came from anywhere other than from Robert. That's what dislike of a player does to blinkered people, it stops them seeing the big picture.

I agree with that, and thought both were immense assets to our side. I bet he would have it in for Luque as well if he hadn't signed him himself. Doesn't seem like a proper Souness player to me. Btw aren't Robert and Bellamy doing quite well at their new clubs? 50477[/snapback] I've no idea, as I don't follow their respective clubs. What I do know is that they were both excellent players for us and were booted out with no replacements coming in. This is to the detriment of the club, as shown today with the financial implications of no European football showing up pretty clearly. 50596[/snapback] So now you're saying that Luque isn't a replacement for Bellamy OR Robert? Woah, that's a whole new ball game.... 50618[/snapback] Why would I say Luque is a replacement for Bellamy when it's obvious he isn't? What I've been on about regarding Robert and Bellamy since Mr Souness decided they had to go is that replacements should have been brought in first. They weren't and I neglected to be that specific in my earlier post. That's because I thought it was obvious, it's been said many times in the past by quite a few people. I should have known someone would be pedantic, though. Kind of you and also very predictable of you to oblige. Luque is the player Mr Souness has decided to bring in to replace Robert, but as we can see, Luque doesn't appear fit enough to play many matches, which is something that can't be said of Robert during his time at the club.

That's because FS is doing a fine job of supporting his manager, as he does with all managers. That means he's doing his job, it's Mr Souness who isn't doing his.

Alex, I frankly don't care much about divided opinion. The facts are pretty clear regarding goals scored and created by both Bellamy and Robert. It's indisputable, really and shows them both to be excellent players for the club. People can say they don't rate Robert because he doesn't tackle and I won't argue, but if you discard a player who creates and scores more than your other midfield players combined, you have to get a suitable replacement in first. I predicted goals would be hard to come by and I don't see any evidence showing me to be incorrect on that one. I'll add that it's ridiculous that people now slag Bellamy, given that they had nowt bad to say about him when he was here. Now he's a gobshite according to many. Talk about being taken in by propaganda, or what? Both of these players are quality PL players, neither has been replaced as far as I can see. The club has suffered as a result.

The first quote I've had is £2500 plus vat. Got another one set up for this afternoon. VAT has got to be the biggest rip off known to man,

I agree with that, and thought both were immense assets to our side. I bet he would have it in for Luque as well if he hadn't signed him himself. Doesn't seem like a proper Souness player to me. Btw aren't Robert and Bellamy doing quite well at their new clubs? 50477[/snapback] I've no idea, as I don't follow their respective clubs. What I do know is that they were both excellent players for us and were booted out with no replacements coming in. This is to the detriment of the club, as shown today with the financial implications of no European football showing up pretty clearly.

As I've been saying for a while now, if Mr Souness takes the club to relegation the club will go to the wall. That's how serious his mismanagment is.

I imagine this will turn into a joke thread ( quite a range etc etc ) but I'm wondering if anybody has any idea of what I should expect to pay for a 40kw combi boiler, plus installation? I want the boiler to be fitted in the loft space anarl, not downstairs. Cheers

Leazes Mag wrote him off as lacking heart after a game and a half IIRC. I know you weren't around at the time though. 50471[/snapback] In the minutes he played what I'd say is that he doesn't look like he is going to be tracking back helping the fullback, and tackling like Dave Mackay. As he was playing in the role previously filled by Robert, and the reason Robert was booted out was because he wasn't a proper player who tackled and tracked back, I do have doubts whether Luque will be any better on that score. Doesn't mean he won't be given a chance, though. If he doesn't track back he's going to be compared to Robert from a creative point of view, which means he has a lot to live up to.

You've posted this already and I understand it. Which part of your post do you think I don't understand? What I've been saying is that Luque was signed to replace Robert. Q. When you refer to Luque having always been a striker, can you confirm that you mean a striker in the same mould as a Shearer, Owen or any other player considered to be an out and out striker? 50435[/snapback] I mean that in a 4-4-2, he'd be playing as one of the 2. Personally I see him as a replacement for Bellamy. Q. Is there a quote from Souness on the web somewhere which says that Luque was signed as a replacement for Robert? 50437[/snapback] I doubt there is a quote, but as I've said, there is no need for everybody who posts something on this forum to have to produce a quote. Or there shouldn't be. Do you insist on a quote for everything you don't agree with? Can you give me the quote from Mr Souness that states clearly Luque is a replacement for Bellamy? What there has been, and I've already mentioned this but it's been consistently ignored, were comments from Mr Souness that he was signing a 'proper' player who would offer more threat down the left side of the team. My interpretation of that comment is that Luque is replacing Robert, this idea substantiated by the fleeting glimpses we've had of him, when he did in fact operate on the left of midfield in the exact area Robert used to occupy. 50441[/snapback] Apologies, I thought I read one of your posts which stated that Luque IS a replacement for Robert, which in turn in took as gospel is a little different to I'm basing my opinion of what I've seen of the player of his career, in which he's been a striker. You're basing your opinion on an interpretation of a quote by a man whom you in fact believes nothing of what he ever says. Pointless discussion, granted, but IN MY OPINION it's Robert we haven't replaced properly, not Bellamy. Luque has the potential to be an absolute star at this club, as long as the fans give him time; from the comments I've read on here though, I doubt that's going to happen. That Chopra's a bit shite aint he like. 50454[/snapback] Ok, fine. Time will tell whether Luque is used as a replacement for Robert or for Bellamy. I honestly can't see anything that leads someone to believe Luque will replace Bellamy, but there you go, you think so.. I think my interpretation of the comments from Mr Souness are pretty well justified and don't see how else they could be interpreted. Be that as it may, you're right about Chopra, though. As for not giving Luque a chance....well I've been away for some time so I haven't been following stuff about him. Can't see why he won't be given a chance by the supporters.

But what is his full strength side anyway? I think the back four the other night is probably the best we have, Carr and Boumsong are so bad I certainly don't see Carr as being any better at RB than Ramage, and Boumsong..........what can I say? Taylor and Bramble is quite probably a better pairing. Dyer, Emre, Luque and Owen. Well I only think he can use all of these players if he uses Dyer as a striker. He shouldn't play on the right ahead of Solano, that's for sure. In other words, if he goes with Shearer and Owen, there's no place anymore for Dyer if everyone else is fit. Of course, according to some, he may go with Owen and Luque, so perhaps Dyer can play on the left. 50413[/snapback] why you wouldn't let it lie! 50415[/snapback] Ok, I will now. What do you think is Mr Souness's full strength team? 50419[/snapback] Given, Taylor, Ramage, Bramble, Boumsong, Solano, Parker, Emre, N'Zogbia, Owen, Luque I think we're short a left winger to be honest 50439[/snapback] No place for the bling bastard in your team, then. Assuming neither Bramble or Boumsong would be at full back, you've got Taylor, Luque and Zog out of position. Dodgy that, like. Nearly 1/3 of your outfield players not in their best roles, are you Mr Souness? How about this...... Given, Ramage, Taylor, Bramble, Babayaro, Solano, Parker, Emre, Luque, Owen, Dyer. Out of interest and on a more serious note, neither of those teams look great to me considering £50m and the squad Mr Souness started with. 50445[/snapback] Which players have I got out of position apart from Taylor? I think N'Zogbia is a better winger than a central midfielder, and Luque is a striker (yawn). At the moment in my opinion Taylor is the best right back we have at the club. Can't disagree with you about the £50m comment though. We needed to sign a left winger and two full backs, and didn't sign any of those. 50458[/snapback] I already answered that.

Ok, I deleted my reply. There's just no point, is there. Get help.

But what is his full strength side anyway? I think the back four the other night is probably the best we have, Carr and Boumsong are so bad I certainly don't see Carr as being any better at RB than Ramage, and Boumsong..........what can I say? Taylor and Bramble is quite probably a better pairing. Dyer, Emre, Luque and Owen. Well I only think he can use all of these players if he uses Dyer as a striker. He shouldn't play on the right ahead of Solano, that's for sure. In other words, if he goes with Shearer and Owen, there's no place anymore for Dyer if everyone else is fit. Of course, according to some, he may go with Owen and Luque, so perhaps Dyer can play on the left. 50413[/snapback] why you wouldn't let it lie! 50415[/snapback] Ok, I will now. What do you think is Mr Souness's full strength team? 50419[/snapback] Given, Taylor, Ramage, Bramble, Boumsong, Solano, Parker, Emre, N'Zogbia, Owen, Luque I think we're short a left winger to be honest 50439[/snapback] No place for the bling bastard in your team, then. Assuming neither Bramble or Boumsong would be at full back, you've got Taylor, Luque and Zog out of position. Dodgy that, like. Nearly 1/3 of your outfield players not in their best roles, are you Mr Souness? How about this...... Given, Ramage, Taylor, Bramble, Babayaro, Solano, Parker, Emre, Luque, Owen, Dyer. Out of interest and on a more serious note, neither of those teams look great to me considering £50m and the squad Mr Souness started with.