Gary Speed cannot shoot to save his life!

[Tom Robinson]

Come to think of it, he can't pass, tackle, run very fast, take people on or do anything very well these days. The only thing he is still good at is Heading

[The_Ferret]

Rubbish! He's on a par with Viera and Keane this season. Look at the stats man! :roll-eyes

[Tom Robinson]

LMAO, funniest thing I've heard all week, do you want me to get the Opta stats now, or wait to save you the embarasment?

[RUSSYY]

On a good day Gary Speed is real class, only trouble is he does'nt have that many good days :no

[Phillip Craig]

totally disagree he's been one of our best performers all season.

[JawD]

Hey!! We`re being a bit harsh here arn`t we? ok, so against City he should have buried one..... but as a whole I`d say he`s been one of out better performers. One of the few players we have who can dive in when needed. Lets not forget he1s been asked to change his role a bit now and become more defensive as well. I still glad we have him.

[RUSSYY]

totally disagree he's been one of our best performers all season.

A good player yes! but vastly over rated, dont think he is improving in fact I think he getting poorer

[Phillip Craig]

I don't Speed has ever been a player who people have rated really highly which is disapointing for a player who always gives his all and plays well in 90% of matches. I think if you look back to the games when he first came to the club to the games he has played this season you will see he has got a hell of a lot better. I wouldn't say he has got worse this season I think most of your views on him are unfortunatly coming from the match yesterday only igh

[RUSSYY]

I don't Speed has ever been a player who people have rated really highly which is disapointing for a player who always gives his all and plays well in 90% of matches. I think if you look back to the games when he first came to the club to the games he has played this season you will see he has got a hell of a lot better. I wouldn't say he has got worse this season I think most of your views on him are unfortunatly coming from the match yesterday only igh

You could be right Phil but I dont think so,must admit though I was dissapointed in our performance last night and I can get a bit up tight at times. P.S. Hope I'm proved wrong about Speed :cry

[Phillip Craig]

You could be right Phil but I dont think so,must admit though I was dissapointed in our performance last night and I can get a bit up tight at times. P.S. Hope I'm proved wrong about Speed :cry

You watch Distin comes out of defence plays the ball through to Robert. His inch perfect cross meets the head of Gary Speed and Newcastle beat Sunderland 5-0

[RUSSYY]

Now would'nt that be something to talk about for months. Dont think Monkeys heed would get out of the S.O.S.alive!!! If Speedy gets one against the HICKS I'll take back all I've said about him,and more??? :razz igh

[Tom Robinson]

Distin played really well last night. He got caught out of position a few times, but his heading and tackling were excellent. I think Wanchope only won one 50-50 header against him all game

His tackling was also excellent, some of the times when he'd gone up field, he made some awesome tackles and the fans all cheered

[The_Ferret]

Well, I like Speedo now, but when he was first heere, I really thought he was awful, but he was getting played out of position, on the left wing! But now, he is one of the top midfielders this season. Only Keane and Viera are better. If he does score number 5 against the scum, I hope it is a sublime chip, like albert's against manure!!!

[Tom Robinson]

A sublime chip like Alberts, LMAO

If Speed scores, it'll be from a header, he can't shoot to save his life. He is nowhere near 3rd behind Viera and Keane. Have you forgotten about Gerrard, Murphy, Scholes etc

If he is so good, why do we never dominate the centre midfield anymore? Well, sometimes we do when Dyer is playing I suppose

[JawD]

Hmm Have to agree with Tom on his last post. Speed, although I do like him now, don`t think he is anywhere close to Keane or Viera, or Gerrard, Scholes etc. I say that because they would all get into our team in place of him, however, he is reliable, rarely makes errors, and always gives 100%

But, that wasn`t Toms statement I guess. He was on about his shooting, in which case, may have a point.

[The_Ferret]

Yeah, but why have a go at the man if he gives 100%, and makes a positive imput to our game? :??? If you want to complain, have a go at Bassedas, Gavilan, or Marcelino....

[JawD]

Hey, don`t get me wrong. I`m not having a go at him. He`s still one of our more consistent players. His all round game is good. But, I would agree that he`s not the best at shooting. But thats not what we use him for, especially now as Bobby has him in a more defensive role.

[Tom Robinson]

Whether Speed gives 100% is irrelavant. My grandma could give 100%, doesn't mean to say she's good does it? Robert doesn't give even 50% and he scored a wonderful Free Kick against Southamtpon.

What I'm trying to say is, like with Rob Lee, 100% is just not good enough these days. You've got to be good at something else too.

[JawD]

Ok then, compared to Viera:

Category Speed Viera

Mins Played 1694 2068
Goals 3 0
Shot Accuracy % 37 14
Pass Comp Opp Half 76% 80%
Pass Comp Own Half 89% 85%
Tackles Attempted 67 130
Tackle Success 66% 76%
Blocks 8 5
Fouls Conceded 28 63
Opta Index Score 952 1097

Now, we know Viera is a better player, but maybe Speed isn`t as bad as you think!! Also, just to put it into perspective, heres some other Opta scores for you Ljungberg 960, Murphy 898, Petit 862. To name but a few, obviously there are plenty better, but there are a whole load worse!!!

[Tom Robinson]

It's the goals that have put him there. But in big games where you need players to get stuck in, Speed is nowhere to be seen. We need a defensive midfielder, hell, David Batty would be good enough

[The_Ferret]

Rubbish! We are an attacking team, and you don't need a ball winner if you hold most of the possession. Batty used to win the ball and pass it sideways, and nothng else. He's a talentless animal, who could never get a place in a cultured team like ours. Speed will be fine until Jenas comes of age. I think Acuna's better though. He is class, and can score more. and has a good 'bite yer ankles' manner on the pitch!

[Tom Robinson]

Well you just totally contradicted yourself there, first you say we don't need a player with defensive attributes becuase we are an attacking side, then you say Acuna is best because he has those attributes :???

[The_Ferret]

Nah mate, I havn't, cos what I said was, we don't need a purely defensive player like Batty, who is bollox anyway, whereas Acuna is a player who can play defensivley, well, but is primarily an attacking midfielder.... Look at his goal tally, and his attacking play-stats.... We do need someone to win the ball, of course, but with our quick, ball-playing defense, in Hughesy, Distin, Dabizas and O'Brien are better suited in that role, which means that having an attacking midfield is more suited to our style of play... That makes Acuna's defensive skills a bonus, but not a necessity, which is just as well, because he often legs it up front, when he should sit back and defend.... Comprende, amigo???

[Phillip Craig]

Agree with that however without Dyer it has to be Acuna and Speed with Dyer it has to be Speed and Dyer sorry don't think Acuna is good enough to take over yet as he doesn't have the control of the midfield that Speed has. Speed is more of a leader who makes sure the midfield is in the right place. Very important.

[The_Ferret]

I think Clarance is better than Speed-o, but not yet adapted quite 100%, so yep, I'd agree that Speed is ahead of him, but Acuna will be very important to us in the long term. Especially with the gruelling fixture list we'll have with Champs League football....