Kieron confirmed again yesterday that he is too shit scared of screwing it up to take on his man. Ipswich did it the other week and the filthy dirty mackems did it yesterday: 40 yards out, one man to beat, and the defender shows him inside knowing that he'll bottle it and head out wide. Disgraceful. If it's so obvious to our opponents then there's no point in perservering with it, is there?

Bite the bullet time.

1) Dyer won't try to score if he can possibly avoid it.
2) He's one of the fastest players in the side.
3) He's a big girl's blouse when it gets physical.

3 is unacceptable in tandem with 1 but we badly need 2. The only way 2 is of any use to us is if we have a forward capable of keeping up with him or preferably to get ahead of him. Shearer doesn't fit the bill so we either wait for Cort and stop playing Dyer or get Gallacher up front.

Do you hang onto Dyer in the hope that we will one day have some mobile forwards or do we sell him in order to buy those players we need to make a proper fist of 4-4-2 (quality left winger and another striker)? Horrible dilemma in that we could probably manage a swap of Dyer for Keane at Inter if they are really interested in him, but Dyer and Keane would make a great partnership but we couldn't afford Clive Mendonca at the moment.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

Answers

We keep him Softie. Some players will be doing a lot of soul searching after yesterdays game.Hopefully something positive may come out of this mess.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

Understandably YBR feels that with Dyers speed, stamina and skill he shud be a the main man trying to link midield with attack. Hes obviously not ready for this yet. Im desparately hoping he has the balls to use him as a 30 min sub coming on for Solano(or sometimes centrally if required). Wed soon get more productive play out of him i reckon. YBR also needs to consider(if he goes 4-4-2) the fact that an average/decent left sided player will be more useful than sticking Dyer on the left with a bit of freedom.

Dyer for Keane sounds fantastic but I think we shud give Dyer more time and i doubt very much hed agree to goto Italy.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

Hey I'd forgotten about Keane in Milan. If it were up to me i'd swap without a doubt. Solano is better than Dyer and the two are too similar. Keep the best and cash in on the worst.

Wonder what Gavilan's like on the left?

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

I've said it on another posting, but instead of going for Keane, I wold swap Dyer for TAF.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

I see Chelsea have turned down an 11mil bid for TAF from Rangers....out of our reach.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

If it's just a confidence in the box thing, then there is a place he can go to and learn how to score goals and pass the ball etc - it's cold and dark and the chips are horrid. I think players like Dyer and Cordone could do with a spell up there, for at least forty-five minutes of the ninety.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

Let's remember that we 're talking about using a England international with half a dozen caps, apparently valued at £10-15mm, and who has been playing in the PL now for a season and a half, as a 30 minute substitute!!
I think the guy's a stonking talent who has a real problem in his head - he thinks he's doing the biz when he plainly isn't. When players like Rob Lee say in the Press what a fantastic season YKD's having it doesn't help one little bit.
I don't know what the answer, but it's getting to the point where he has to "sh*t, of get off the pot".

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

Are you all mad? This bloke has just cemented his place in the England side with an intelligent, skilful performance. He's one of the quickest players in the league, with the skill to go with it. So his finishing is utter shite at the moment. So what, he'll improve it. We have to work on his attitude, i.e. manage him, and we have to build our side round him. I know the balance of the side isn't right yet, but to say it's Dyer's fault alone so we should boot him out... Can anyone explain what Big Al did for his 40,000 quid this week that was so much better than young Kieron's efforts? Either we build a skilful footballing side, or we bring back George Reilly to partner Shearer (feed off the knockdowns), stick to a rigid 4-4-2 and hoof it foward at every opportunity. Do me a favour.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

I don't think TAF is out of our price range if we are trading...... YKD....plus £1m would get him I'm sure.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

I'm troubled by Dyer's present contribution, but a straight swap for TAF would IMO be bad business - the guy's over-rated and not worth a penny over £6mm.

I believe we have to keep working on KD's latent talent, and try to straighten out his head (if BR can't do it then frankly no one can) - however, if one of the Italian bigs offered us £15mm for him I'd take it.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

After what I saw today I'd be tempted to offer LKD to Spurs in exchange for Carr & Sir Les. Solves two problems at once. Who or what is TAF?

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

Clarky, with regards to Dyer as a 30 min sub, i just think it wud be a good idea till he matures a bit. Fact is hes not proving effective in a role behind the strikers or indeed as a central midfielder in a 4-4-2 yet. I agree there was some effectiveness with him on the 'left'/coming into centre in a 4-4-2 but id still like to see a few crosses from the left aswell as right, Im sure uncle Alan wud agree. Just look at what 2 crosses from the left did for the scum yesterday.Solano also tends to run out of steam 2nd half. Gavilan cud also allow either to rest.

Dyer has shown on several occasions he can be effective running onto balls down the right and getting balls in, even if theyre not the typical swerving high balls ala Beckham/Solano. Hed also be useful running into the box from the wing, onto/with the ball. Yes Dyer+Solano on the right can be effective but Shearer+LuaLua and the right defence should be able to link up with Dyer on the right quite nicely. At least hed have a defined role instead of running around chasing the ball and looking lost half the time. It wud allow him+Solano to burst their guts for the time theyre on the field. Only prob wud be YBR will want to sub his forward and central midfielder the way our squad is at the minute.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

Tony Green Jnr.....TAF = Tor Andre Flo (sp) Tall, lanky Norwegian, Chewsee

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

There seems to be so many problems in the team and so little chance of things picking up that I've decided to do the dishonourable thing

Sell my season tickets off cheap and go on the Man U waiting list.

Glory, glory.......Glory hunter.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

I'll give you 3/6d and a packet of Woodbines for them, Rik!

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

It's a deal if you can also get mi new computer linked to mi old one.

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2000

Dyer has to play in the middle, but not every game. There are times we'll need bit rather than craft, like Sunderland. We HAVE to play 4- 4-2, with either him or Speed alongside Lee. Bassedas on the left, he looked like he's got a left foot and Nobby on the right. Anyone seen copping out like Saturday should be put up against the wall.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2000

Sorry Martin I can't agree with Dyer in the middle. He is too undisciplined to undertake that ole and would leave Speed, who I'd replace with Acuna, too exposed and we'd get overrun in midfield.

Dyer is okay in the middle if we are playing a team that is falling down in midfield like Boro did but with him floating around all over the park we have no structure and every great team has a recognisible structure from which they start from and THEN be flexible.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2000

And if you believe the press and Teamtwaddle a number of leading European clubs are interested in signing him with the starting price stated as £15 million!!

Sell him for that money easily. Centre Back, Centre forward and a left midfielder (Morrison from Sheff Wed) and I think the team would be better off.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2000

"Are you all mad? This bloke has just cemented his place in the England side with an intelligent, skilful performance."

Where he will be joining the Nevilles and Soopa Kev. His wonderful performance on the wing against Italy amounted to 1 tackle and 1 shot. That's one more shot than we've had in the last 3 games and the same number of tackles.

"He's one of the quickest players in the league, with the skill to go with it. So his finishing is utter shite at the moment. So what, he'll improve it."

He was fine when he was getting into position but missing because he was at least a threat: we're talking about the missed open goals against the likes of Wimbledon last season. Now he doesn't even try to get into those positions if he can help it. Tomasson used to miss all the time but didn't hide the way Dyer is now. When Dyer is on the ball approaching the box opponents don't even bother to close him down now, they show him inside and he doubles back to try to go outside. Waste of time and opportunity. Last season he was at least bursting into the box and hurling himself onto the floor looking for penalties which is dismal but a start. Now he waits for people to go past him. What use is pace when he stands still?

" We have to work on his attitude, i.e. manage him, and we have to build our side round him. I know the balance of the side isn't right yet, but to say it's Dyer's fault alone so we should boot him out..."

Who said it's all his fault? The problem is that he is currently a weak link with the players we have to work with. He won't shoot so he's no threat and we don't have any mobile forwards other than Gallacher who can get ahead of him. In that situation it's pointless to keep playing him doing bugger all ecept slowing down attacks and leaving us weak elsewhere. We either buy the players to complement him or get shot while he's worth something. All the time he fails to shine for us his value will depreciate.

" Can anyone explain what Big Al did for his 40,000 quid this week that was so much better than young Kieron's efforts?"

He drew defenders to create gaps for his supporting forward to exploit...in this case Dyer who failed to take a single opportunity to get up and help. Speed was the only one who came forward and that was in the first half hour. If you expect me to defend our skipper's decision to spend the last hour throwing himself on the floor at every challenge looking for freekicks then you will be disappointed. That wasn't the answer any more than hiding in midfield or bringing off the best tackler on the day (Acuna) for Lua Lua when we already had a lightweight forward unable to make an impression.

" Either we build a skilful footballing side, or we bring back George Reilly to partner Shearer (feed off the knockdowns), stick to a rigid 4-4-2 and hoof it foward at every opportunity. Do me a favour."

Well then you bite the bullet and sell Shearer to pay for the kind of fleet-footed strikers that Dyer needs ahead of him. The money won't just drop in our laps. We're supposedly 90million in debt so it's hardly surprising that nobody is prepared to throw good money after bad.

I say again: until Dyer learns to either shoot (so as to deserve a free role) or tackle he is as much use to us as tits on a bull. We need substance over style and I'm not happy watching someone showboating without an end product.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2000

Softie,

much more of this and we'll have to think about changing that handle of yours....

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2000

It's all bark :-) We haven't had nearly enough rough-housing on here lately. Frankly I'm concerned that less people are telling me I've got it all wrong. Come on you wimps. I've just called your pint a poof.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2000

Softie,

My pint is as straight as they come. Unfortunately for your baiting tactics I agree 100% with you and your comments re: Dyer. I wouldn't play him against Liverpool. Maybe a run-out in the reserves would make him start shooting again. We need midfielders who will be prepared to take a shot from outside the area. When was the last time we scored outsde the area.

Teams will gladly keep us out of the area if they know there is no threat. Someone like Patrick Berger who scores from everywhere outside the box is waht we need, not powder puff. If it's a confidence thing let him score a few in the reserves. In the meantime I'd be happier if Solano was on the right wing and we have a structured midfield, rather than the disjointed effot on Saturday.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2000

Softie,

My pint is as straight as they come. Unfortunately for your baiting tactics I agree 100% with you and your comments re: Dyer. I wouldn't play him against Liverpool. Maybe a run-out in the reserves would make him start shooting again. We need midfielders who will be prepared to take a shot from outside the area. When was the last time we scored outsde the area.

Teams will gladly keep us out of the area if they know there is no threat. Someone like Patrick Berger who scores from everywhere outside the box is what we need, not powder puff. If it's a confidence thing let him score a few in the reserves. In the meantime I'd be happier if Solano was on the right wing and we have a structured midfield, rather than the disjointed effort on Saturday.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2000

Have a look at the 'Yesterday' thread to see my opinions on NUFC at the moment.

That was one I never EVER believed they'd have to nerve to lose.

The effing pitch should have been littered with twitching corpses, rather. There's, but ours as well if needed be. Bunch of fcuking spineless tawts.

That's an opinion, not a topic for discussion.

They've got their effin work cut out now, as far as I'm concerned.

Bunch of fcuking spineless tawts.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2000

Penetrative analysis PB - and scarily accurate.

I would definitely drop Dyer for Sunday - he needs a big spoonful of humility (preferably 3 times a day). YBR won't, and he'll probably play a blinder.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2000

Well Softie, I didn't read your reply till just now, but you can put me down for the quick, mobile strikers brigade. I hate that target man crap. Dyer played in the middle for England the other day, not out wide. So is perhaps the choice really about building the team round Shearer or Dyer? I know Al's goals are the only reason we haven't been mismanaged down into the old second, but what do we do for the future? Time to get over the Shearer complex?

-- Anonymous, November 22, 2000