ChocChip

Alex, we all know that this comment is good craic anaral but lets be honest it is the best argument against how even a football expert can get it so wrong. If a manager like SBR of impeccable credentials can be wrong just what does it say about someone like Souness and some of his decisions. 50656[/snapback] By football expert you mean Blaydon, right? 50658[/snapback] Yeah because Blaydon picked the starting 11 for what, at least the last 4 years, prior to Souness and he often told the press how Viana was a DM. 50660[/snapback] Did SBR ever say Viana was a DM? I thought when said 'replacing Speed' he just meant left side of central midf.

Juninho aside, and maybe Ravanelli, who did he attract? Most of them were mercnaries anyway which suggest the money being offered was what attracted those players, and nor Robson himself. At one point Middlesbrough's wage bill was bigger than both Arsenal and Liverpool's and only second to Man Utd and our own in the lattter parts of the 90s. Shearer has attracted not only genuine quality, bit top-class professionals. I think Shearer will shock us all I really do, I'd never write that man off regardless of what he chose to do. back on topic, I think it's unfair to judge Chopra based on fits and starts, just 16 games and only 4 full starts. He has the talent, everyone recognises this within the club, Shearer says he's one of the best natural finisher's he's seen but he's struggling to adapt from reserve team pace to Premiership pace and as a result he's looking lightweight. At his age now, one has to worry because some players in his age group have over 100 Premiership games behind them, yet at 21 he's being asked to suddenly jump up from effectively reserve team football which as anyone will tell you is slow as ferk, to the high intensity of the Premiership. I'd like to see him given 20 games but we can't really blood youngsters through, especially in attacking positions, when we are in dire need of wins and some kind of consistency. It's tough and I feel for the lad because he loves this club, he's anotehr Clarkie, Toon daft and wants this so bad. 50652[/snapback] Well, i want Shearer to shock me, i really do. As for Chopra, i think his problem is that he has no real physical advantage. A lot of Prem strikers are strong and/or quick. He's neither. Even Ameobi is strong if most of him is pointing him in the direction he intended

Didn't Bryan Robson attract good players to Middlesbrough? 50641[/snapback] He did say half-way there. Can't really compare Robson and Shearer tbh. 50646[/snapback] True, Robson was much more successful as a player 50648[/snapback] No he wasn't. He was involved in more succesful teams (and then only just). 50649[/snapback] Now now,don't get all sensitive on me, i was fishing

Didn't Bryan Robson attract good players to Middlesbrough? 50641[/snapback] He did say half-way there. Can't really compare Robson and Shearer tbh. 50646[/snapback] True, Robson was much more successful as a player

Didn't Bryan Robson attract good players to Middlesbrough?

When you guys say this player is a 'replacement' for that player i think it can lead to direct comparisons when maybe they're not applicable. Players can be just different and each will probably bring something different to the team. I really don't know the merits of Luque, never seen him play. Robert could provide great delivery but was not an intelligent user of the ball often imo. He could ping in a great cross but would also sometimes choose the wrong option. Sometimes he'd run with it and often lose it when passing it early would have been better. Often he'd stand about near the touchline with play going on in field just, i'd compare this to Pires who would often run a diagonal behind the full back and needs are fairly simple pass to make that move look great and incisive. Robert's movement off the ball wasn't very good imo. He was good when he had a bit of time and space to hit a good cross. He didn't have enough strings to his bow i think. I reckon Bellamy made Shearer and Robert look good because his movement created space for everyone. Won't ever deny Robert's assist record in whatever season it was but whatever pattern of play we were employing then, we either changed it or the opposition figured us out. As far as stats are concrened, Jenas always had a very high pass completion rate so i wouldn't use them to enforce an arguement. I'd like to see a stat for the % of successful opposition attacks (by that i mean a shot on goal) just after Robert lost us the ball, bet it would be pretty high! Is Owen a replacement for Bellamy, both quick with good movement, both even come with dodgy injury records? You can't say he's Shearer's replacement because he's a completely different type of player. Is Emre a replacement for Speed, Jenas or what Viana should've been? I don't suppose we'll have all the expensive players onthe pitch for long but if we ever do then we'll see how they play as a team and who contributes what and how.

Doh! I'd suggest that if Mr Souness goes this route we'll be playing 4-5-1 more than 4-3-3. Also, you claim he might play 4-3-3 at home. So does that mean you reckon he'll play 4-4-2 away and if so how is 4-3-3 going to be used for the majority of the time? 50269[/snapback] First up, i'm guessing at what Souness might do not what i'd do. I think he think's 4-3-3 is a more attacking formation, so does Johan Cruyff by the way. So i think he might try 4-3-3 more at home and maybe away if he thinks he can or if he needs to come back from a goal down. Personally i was interested to see how 4-3-3 might work but after watching the highlights of Manure against Spurs (1st half Manure playing 4-4-2) reminded of how sweet it is to watch an attacking team play 4-4-2 properly. Right now i just care about the results so whatever formation they line up in won't overly concern me as long as we get the points. People say Chelsea are boring but i reckon their fans get plenty of entertainment just looking at the table nevermind going to the match!

Under Souness 433 = 451, and 442 = 460. FACT. Beeyitch. 50235[/snapback] I don't think a 4-3-3 with a front 3 of Luque.....Owen......Dyer will turn into a 4-5-1.

With Luque as a left-sided attacker. 50232[/snapback] Full back you moron

IF we had everyone fit, who reckons we'll play 4-3-3 for the majority and who reckons we'll play 4-4-2? I think he might try 4-3-3 at home.

Notice how you all gang up on me while i'm not looking.

There's clear evidence of a glass ceiling on this board tbh. I'm not getting the recognition i deserve.

Your deliberately ignoring my posts and then claiming my insight for your own

I agree. 50167[/snapback] I feel vindicated as person, thanks Renton

I think he'd be a lot happier if he got the ball a lot less

Horror! That sounds like you don't rate Souness. How can that be, he's made some great signings, like. 50162[/snapback] What makes you think i rate Souness?

I havne't a clue? Steve Howey started as a striker but became a defender. Macdonald started as a left back but became a striker. What is your point? Souness has signed Luque as a left sided, attacking midfield player (like Robert) to replace Robert. Robert is not an out and out striker. Are you saying he is replacing a left sided attacking midfielder with a centre forward? 50159[/snapback] If GS wants to play a 4-3-3 than i think he'll play Luque on the left side of the attack. If he plays 4-4-2 then he play Luque up front because i think Zoggy has surprised everyone. There's nothing wrong about changing your mind about people. Fergie no doubt bought Smith as a striker but look now where he's playing him!

Surely it's not worth discussing Luque until we've seen how he performs in the no doubt startling variety of positions Souness asks him to play in.

Come on ! That is an exaggeration

All this in the 'Civilised West.' A guilty system recognises no innocents.

We were without Owen, Ameobi (new Shearer now like), Luque (whoever he is), Emre, Boumsong (thank god) and Carr though. And Nobby, Baba and Titus were just back from injury. Thought we started well and were gonna score, we'd have breezed it then i reckon. In fact, we played better than i expected, i'm not sure what that says about us though!

Given.......................6 easy night Baba........................7 decent all round Ramage...................6 defends well, doesn't like the ball Bramble...................7 some good passing, some miss hit. Looked comfortable Taylor......................7 Looked comfortable Solano.....................6 Nice touched here and there, looked tired i thought. Parker.....................6 Wasn't called on much, tidy. Faye........................6 Closed down well while Parker plugged the gaps, passing was better to. Zoggy.....................7 Looked lively, always has a positive 1st touch, couple of wicked crosses. Shearer..................6 Good goal, decent in the air. I give him a 10 for his post match interview on ITV. Not a man to be f**ked with i reckon, reminded me of Clint Eastwood in those westerns. Chopra...................3 One good pass all game. One thing i hoped for is that Shearer's team mates would've kicked and whalloped that pr1ck of a centre half for the rest of the game. I was desperately hoping for Taylor or Bramble to completely wipe him out at a set piece. Not enough solidarity imo, tbqph.

I think Chopra suffered from the NUFC tendency to pass to Shearer no matter what the situation. Otherwise i really saw nothing to ever really want to see him play again. Not quick, not strong, not canny just willing.

Funny story. I was at White Hart Lane with a Geordie friend and this bloke 2 seats along (we were all standing though) starts some sort of Pro-Nazi, Anti-Semitic rant. Me and my mate start laughing 'cause this guy is truly nuts. The thing is, he had a London East End accent. Then when i laugh too loudly this bloke turns to me and says 'Anyway, what are you f**king doin' ere?' I didn't really know what to say to this, then this huge skinhead Geordie who is standing behind the mental Nazi kicks him in the back of the head and he goes limp and falls over (he later gets up and wanders off). The skinhead Geordie says 'Nae botha son, you're alright by me, i'll look after you, i fookin' hate cockney's me, like.' I smiled weakly and looked pitchward and didn't utter a sound. At half-time me and my mate stay in our seats to avoid conversation while the rest go for a piss. When skinhead comes back he had bought me and my mate a cup of tea, my mate thanked him a lot and i kept mute and nodded in an exaggerated fashion. Then i turn round to watch the teams come out and i hear skinhead say 'Oi, chocolate.' My heart froze and i half turned to my mate for help and i can see the skinheads hand over my shoulder passing me 2 twix's for dipping in our tea. I was so relieved i almost spoke, just kept smiling and nodding and trying not to cry out of relief. Me and my mate still laugh about that, him more than me though...

I agree, i reckon he thought all the hard work had been done. Whenever i saw him on telly he was poncing about like the world was graced by his presence. He's shite and needs to know it in order to improve if he can.