I. Never. Say. That.

FFS It’s a fact. We did lose them. How can you not agree with that? Im not saying that Dack getting more minutes would have made us not lose those games. We will never know that. JDT elected not to give Dack more minutes in those games. But we absolutely know that JDT’s decisions in those games ultimately led to us losing those games.

I never said that though did I. Bringing Dack on may or may not have resulted in us losing. But not bringing him on earlier definitely resulted in us losing it. Think about it 😀

Then you didn’t understand it. I said “So what you are saying is in all the games we have lost, there is no way the result could have been different if we had elected to using Dack from the bench earlierr. Because we know for 100% certainty that by not putting him on earlier resulted in defeat.“ Think about this slowly before you reply, but the reason we are 100% certain that not putting Dack on earlier in those games resulted in defeat can be proven, is because we actually did lose them!!!!! How is that utter bollocks. It’s pure fact.

See my reply above. I wouldnt start him. But he'd certainly be the 'emergency' option.

So what you are saying is in all the games we have lost, there is no way the result could have been different if we had elected to using Dack from the bench earlier? Because we know for 100% certainty that by not putting him on earlier resulted in defeat.

Fair enough. I have no problem with him not being in the starting line up. What I have a problem with is him being put on the bench for the last few games (until Sunderland) and not being sed, even when we are behind.

So basically he will contine to risk losing games which we are behind in to 'prove his point', rather than trying to get the best result for the team.

The last time we didnt lose a league game after going behind was at Coventry last year. Shocking first half before Dack came off the bench and changed the game. He offers something that no-one else in the squad really offers in terms being in the right place at the right time to be a goal threat. I don't get why when we are behind in games (such as Luton and Wigan) he isnt the immediate go-to man to try and get a goal and get us back into the game. Factually, whatever JDT has done instead when we have gone behind hasnt worked as we have lost everytime it has happened this year. Therefore Dack must be thinking "under what circmstances am I going to get on the pitch with enough time to make an influence". He's performed in the league cup games, and put on a highlights reel performance against Wolfsburg kids. JDT just doesnt fancy him. The above is all factual. The opinion piece is why JDT doesnt fancy him. Either he thinks the other players have more ability and are better suited to changing the game. Or he would rather somebody else changed the game than Dack incase it shows up his dedication to other players as being incorrect, and thus increasing the clamour for Dack to start. Personally I think it's the latter, which is why I think he is too stubborn in this situation to the detriment of the team.

Lots of fans of other clubs after the game on Tueday online saying Brereton will definitely be gone in January. If we are still in the top 6, and within touching distance of the top 2, come January I cant see any way we would sell Brereton. The bids would surely be lower than what we received last summer. They were not deemed to be adequate and I doubt the strategy when we rejected those offers was to utilise him for half a season to then sell for less money Even if JDT and Broughton foolishly wanted the money instead to re-invest, Venkys tend to over-rule their managers and keep players rather than sell them from under their feet. And the lad ultimately still just seems really happy to just do his best this season and see what the summer brings.

To be fair, even though they haven't started the best, Elliot has never looked out of his depth when I've seen Liverpool play this season. He's doing well and, even though there'll never be a connection to Rovers for him again, it's good to see. Good he's probably come back to see some mates last night as well.

The worst game for actually nothing happening (good or bad) for me was Elland Road on New Years Day 1996. Anyone remember it? Thought not. We drove over and it was so dull it was laughable. I just found this report whilst checking up on the date, which perfectly corresponds with my recollections.

To be fair the two sendings off were just 2 stupid bookings. I’d blame the players. The penalty may have been. However the equaliser is a barge on the keeper 9 times out of 10, then 3 blades are offside blocking his view. Then Laverty gets sent off for being thrown to the floor.

And Lowe.

Just looking at this "Premier League International Cup" to see what it actually is. Porto are in our group and interestingly they ahve won 2 of the 5 previous tournaments. They must take this fairly seriously.

So did Andy Cole but his goal scoring instinct to get into those places for those chances spoke for itself. Same with Dack.

Don't play him. Fair enough. But if we are poor or need a goal give him 45 minutes or half an hour. To have him on the bench and either not bring him on or give him a few minutes right at the end when we need a goal is baffling. Interesting that every starting lineup on the Boro thread by members on here has Dack in it. No hate to Sammy by the way. He's not shown enugh apart from odd flashes but he's not alone and the system maybe doesnt help him either.

Has he been closing down though?

I don't want to sack him. I just want him to stop messing around passing it about within 20 yards of our own goal when we are in danger. Cost us at Luton. Cost us last night. Also, try playing your more threatening and creative players more often. (Not at full back)

Wait till it's 0-0 on the Turf in injury time and Ayala's one-two with Kaminsky goes astray and they score.

Jon Dahl Stubbornson

Not what I’d have picked and I fear we will offer little going forward. However it’s still early days for Hirst and Sammy. They’ve got a chance to impress so let’s see.

Scotty beamed us up in 1992. Then retired. I have no real recollection of him playing for either Newcastle or Bolton.

Pretty well. Won AS Roma their first trophy in 14 seasons.

Not sure you can leave it too long. Curbishley admits he turned down offers after he left West Ham, but then he didnt return quick enough and soon became forgotten and the offers stopped coming in.