Isegrim

That's also what he was best at when he was at Inter. He isn't one to build your game around as he is just far too naive and instinctive. But these are attributes who make him a perfect sub.

He's still a decent player and with more confidence and in a more balanced and creative team will be a big asset, but he will have to take a very huge pay cut (about 50%) to be value for money. It's also good to have a player of his status in the team to make the team attractive for other players which should be underestimated.

For me, Owen tried his damnest for the team last night. Unfortunately his pace has virtually gone making him a bit of a busted flush, but he was trying 100% for us imo. I think he looked very lively for the first half hour but then quickly started to fade away once the team was more and more pushed into the own half.

More than a way to go, we could have lost that 1-4 and the overall game not have been all that different. Not good, especially bearing in mind who we were playing and how they've been this season. Another summer like the last one (or just 1/2 as bad) and we'll be breaking Derby's record next season (assuming we do stay up this season). I'm pleased someone has had the presence of mind to attempt to piss all over any joy anyone might be having from this rare and exciting victory. Well played fop. Reality is still reality. They had a few chances on the break but I thought we thoroughly deserved the 3 points. Not least because we took our chances. They weren't unlucky, they couldn't convert the odd chance they had. That's what football in general and high pressure matches like last night in particular are all about. I thought they had a worrying spell of dominance late in the first half and for the first part of the second half until Martins' goal when Newcastle couldn't create anything worth of note. But you could see what gaining confidence (and getting more space) can do for a team, hope some of it can get kept for the Fulham game.

I'm also worried about Hull's last game. If Manchester have nothing to play for anymore and field a team of youngsters plus Hull playing with a lot of passion they still could get something out of the game. Ideally we win against Fulham and Hull lose against Bolton and everything is settled.

Agreed. The main problem obviously being the lack of end product. There was a few times tonight when he could cross it but he decided to try and dribble his way through and ultimatley lost the ball or fell ower. There was someone saying on Real Radio before that despite the lack of end product, he causes problems for defenders etc. Might have been Bob Moncur [l/quote] Plus Nolan was offside, a goal the was just a result of mishappenings and errors. I like it but want to see less of it next year...

Its a fuckin wank song to adopt innit? They should have picked " Don't Let Your Son Go Down On Me " by Elton John Rub it in by admitting the second goal was offside...

His touches were sublime tonight. Also the first half of the hour, him and Owen looked like they could get us something. Though, when the midfield stopped providing there was nothing more to be seen from Owen but Viduka was still involved. He might look like a whale, but if he is keeping us up, I'll will join Greenpeace in the bid to save him!

I always was a big fan of Oba Martins, me... Quite happy, could watch the game on Greek television as the local pub arount the corner was so kind to put in on for me. German TV wasn't bothered to watch this crap... Haven't read anything here so far. Forgetting about the early goal there was a really worrying poor spell between the 30th minute an Oba's goal when Boro easily could have nicked the game. Especially in the second half there wasn't any half decent chance created when you thought Shearer should have sent out the players again all guns blazing. There were only a handful of players who looked like being up for the fight. Faif play for the Weight Watcher do put in this kind of shift, without him we wouldn't have won today.

Looks like I'll have to give Bawan an extra year of penalty training... Won't be able to come in the summer, especially not July. Maybe going to turn up during the season at some stage though.

Curse of the Parky, thanks for that. If only I had a water cannon...

No. The building for the stadium started one year before it was decided that Germany would host the WC (and was already finished one year later). The same applies for Hamburg's ground.

Someone should start a Martins/Owen thread, I think that would push Ant over the edge...

I think Bawan should start attending gardening courses tbh.

Bad handwriting? Maybe Ant is Kieron Dyer and that is why Renton is getting so wound up...

I hope the football coaching doesn't involve penalties...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...to-players.html

That is my favourite part of it. What a load of bollocks. How are all tarred with the same brush? Those who are never late don't suffer from the list any way and those who are serial offenders are going to get punished much harder as those who don't. "Penal codes" like this can be found at most clubs anyway. Storm in a tea cup. I'd start to worry about a Souness-esque manager style when Shearer starts to hit out at players.

http://www.adidas-group.com/en/News/archiv.../05May2009a.asp I blame 2J.

So all the other 1000 or so peaceful drinkers were idiots. Thanks for the heads up. Seriously man the police almost started the trouble with their behaviour. Water cannon ffs! It's what happens there every May 1st though. They didn't water cannon last year tbf.... The problem is that the Rota flora has been bought by a millionaire who has left it as is...This is what is winding up the authorities, cause they were quite keen to seize it. The problem is that there are loads of dickheads on both sides. Police isn't really helping themselves with their tactics and antics (in Berlin as well), but among the anarchists are loads of absolutely idiots whose idea of anti-capitalism protest is to gain the right to loot and destroy shops (as happened in previous years). The huge police presence isn't because there has been everything peaceful in the past.

Those were the times when we got hammered at Anfield, been two down, brought on Robert and Bellamy and got a lucky and undeserved draw...

So all the other 1000 or so peaceful drinkers were idiots. Thanks for the heads up. Seriously man the police almost started the trouble with their behaviour. Water cannon ffs! It's what happens there every May 1st though.

That's going to be mass murder...

Quelle surprise...

Thinking you can have a peaceful night out in the Schanzenviertel on May 1st seems like borderline idiocy. What was your other plan, going for a quiet kebab to Kreuzberg?