Ollie Watkins

[AV82EC]

I'd also rather have Archer in the squad than Duran, to be brutally honest. The latter needs a loan out for next season.

Yep spot on. I’ve been distinctly unimpressed with Duran so far he looks incredibly raw for a back up striker at this level.

[Risso]

I can see both sides of the argument with respect to Archer and giving him a shot in the squad or selling him for decent money. But then we went and spent £18m on Duran, who got a few goals in a far weaker league. If we're bringing youngsters in to develop and sell on, what's the point in bringing one in for a fee that would be the sort of money that promising youth players usually get sold for?

[Drummond]

I watched Archer in the play-off game, so their biggest of the season and he really didn't do it, I wonder whether that's just not being ready for the big occasion. You can counter it with the goals for us in the League Cup, but it's a worry.

If you're going to write players off after a less than stellar performance in a single game, then you could do similar for quite a few of our players who have had a stinker in certain games this season. Kamara at home to Leicester as a case in point, if that was the only time you'd watched him you wouldn't want him in if we got paid to take him. That would ignore how good he was in other games though, and it's the same here, the whole Boro team seemed to freeze, and using the game to single out Archer ignores the fact that they might not have got to the play offs in the first place if it wasn't for him.

Well yes, plenty of our players have been written off as utter shit and garbage after a single error in one game! Generally, he has done well and scored goals, and I hope he goes on to be our record Premier League goalscorer, but to do it, well that takes a lot.

[Drummond]

I can see both sides of the argument with respect to Archer and giving him a shot in the squad or selling him for decent money. But then we went and spent £18m on Duran, who got a few goals in a far weaker league. If we're bringing youngsters in to develop and sell on, what's the point in bringing one in for a fee that would be the sort of money that promising youth players usually get sold for?

I guess it's about the differing styles, and the stats too. Archer is similar to Watkins, though I'd probably argue he seems like a more natural poacher and finisher, whereas Duran is more of a traditional centre forward?

[SamTheMouse]

I suspect the belief is that Archer just isn't a big enough unit physically for the Premier League. Which would strike me as a bit unfair.

[Brazilian Villain]

I suspect the belief is that Archer just isn't a big enough unit physically for the Premier League. Which would strike me as a bit unfair.

FWIW my uncle, who's watched most of Boro's televised games this year, reckons young Ramsey will make it at Villa but is still unsure about Cam.

[SamTheMouse]

I suspect the belief is that Archer just isn't a big enough unit physically for the Premier League. Which would strike me as a bit unfair.

FWIW my uncle, who's watched most of Boro's televised games this year, reckons young Ramsey will make it at Villa but is still unsure about Cam.

Has he elaborated as to why?

[Smithy]

I suspect the belief is that Archer just isn't a big enough unit physically for the Premier League. Which would strike me as a bit unfair.

FWIW my uncle, who's watched most of Boro's televised games this year, reckons young Ramsey will make it at Villa but is still unsure about Cam.

Has he elaborated as to why?

My boro supporting mate believes they'll both make it, though having failed to go up he is desperate to secure them both again for a full season, because he thinks automatic promotion would be on with them both in the side.

[Risso]

I suspect the belief is that Archer just isn't a big enough unit physically for the Premier League. Which would strike me as a bit unfair.

Just wrong, surely? He's 5'11, exactly the same height as Watkins. Neither of them are exactly Peter Crouch but nor are they Alan Wright. Emery's style doesn't require a big target man anyway.

[Duncan Shaw]

Back to Ollie.....he is streaky, so one more streak now of 3 this season please!!

[brontebilly]

I suspect the belief is that Archer just isn't a big enough unit physically for the Premier League. Which would strike me as a bit unfair.

Jermaine Defoe wasn't that big, scored plenty though. Archer is explosive, get him back into the squad and give him games. Not starting Ollie every week and giving Archer the odd 5-10 mins.

[Yeltzer]

And Southgate hasn’t picked him. Again.

[Smithy]

And Southgate hasn’t picked him. Again.

It's a shame, but his drop off in form was really badly timed.  If this squad is picked a month ago, I'm certain he gets picked.  But six games without a goal, and missing the pen on Sat, I think makes it easier to pick Wilson ahead of him.  He'll bounce back, hopefully with a brace on Saturday!

[Drummond]

And Southgate hasn’t picked him. Again.

It's a shame, but his drop off in form was really badly timed.  If this squad is picked a month ago, I'm certain he gets picked.  But six games without a goal, and missing the pen on Sat, I think makes it easier to pick Wilson ahead of him.  He'll bounce back, hopefully with a brace on Saturday!

I'd rather he waited until Sunday to be honest.

[Hookeysmith]

And Southgate hasn’t picked him. Again.

It's a shame, but his drop off in form was really badly timed.  If this squad is picked a month ago, I'm certain he gets picked.  But six games without a goal, and missing the pen on Sat, I think makes it easier to pick Wilson ahead of him.  He'll bounce back, hopefully with a brace on Saturday!

How does Gallagher or Phillips get in above Ramsey? Is that the Kalvin Phillips that has played about 3 games this year?
And Harry Slabhead - he must have compromising pictures of Southgate somewhere

And what else can he learn from Jordan Henderson - he gets shitter with age?
Kalvin

What an absolute tosser Mouthgate is