Beck has tweeted that Yakubu is going to play in the charity game

[Nero]

I don't think viduka left under a cloud. I think he got a bit of unfair critisicm while he was here about only playing well when his contract was up to be renewed. But his departure didn't really raise that much ire, even though he went to the Geordies.
I also think Emerson pretty much gets a free pass. Only player we've had that went AWOL as far as I can recall. Say what you like about ziege and Merson, they always put in 100% on the field.

Is Higgy playing? Him and Mustoe were the unsung heroes of Robbos teams.

I'm pretty sure Viduka did leave under a cloud. If I remember correctly, he scored for Newcastle at the Riverside not long after going there. He was roundly booed as a result.

 

[festa5]

I'm pretty sure Viduka did leave under a cloud. If I remember correctly, he scored for Newcastle at the Riverside not long after going there. He was roundly booed as a result.

A former player scores against us for Newcastle and is booed you say? Very strange

People weren't particularly happy that he signed for Newcastle but I wouldn't describe as leaving under a cloud. Fact of the matter was they were offering daft money to a 31 year old with a patchy injury record.

We couldn't really match it and no other club was in for him on that salary. I don't think anyone seriously begrudged him the move in the circumstances. Annoying as it was he went to Newcastle.

 

[atypical_boro]

A former player scores against us for Newcastle and is booed you say? Very strange

People weren't particularly happy that he signed for Newcastle but I wouldn't describe as leaving under a cloud. Fact of the matter was they were offering daft money to a 31 year old with a patchy injury record.

We couldn't really match it and no other club was in for him on that salary. I don't think anyone seriously begrudged him the move in the circumstances. Annoying as it was he went to Newcastle.

I guess these things are subjective. I was more disappointed when he left than Yakubu, but it was mainly because of where he went.

 

[festa5]

I guess these things are subjective. I was more disappointed when he left than Yakubu, but it was mainly because of where he went.

I was more disappointed because he was a better player than the Yak.

I was more annoyed with the Yak. Viduka never downed tools and forced a move.

 

[atypical_boro]

I was more disappointed because he was a better player than the Yak.

I was more annoyed with the Yak. Viduka never downed tools and forced a move.

True, but TBF Yak only really did that for one game. I remember not feeling as bothered as everyone else about Yakubu going. I knew the 2006 team was broken up and I wanted some fresh faces in. Shame Mido was one of those faces.

 

[Nero]

A former player scores against us for Newcastle and is booed you say? Very strange

People weren't particularly happy that he signed for Newcastle but I wouldn't describe as leaving under a cloud. Fact of the matter was they were offering daft money to a 31 year old with a patchy injury record.

We couldn't really match it and no other club was in for him on that salary. I don't think anyone seriously begrudged him the move in the circumstances. Annoying as it was he went to Newcastle.

Maybe I remember it incorrectly. I seem to recall Gibson staying he was offered the biggest contract in the history of Boro but choose to leave for Newcastle.

 

[festa5]

Maybe I remember it incorrectly. I seem to recall Gibson staying he was offered the biggest contract in the history of Boro but choose to leave for Newcastle.

To be fair it was something like that. Remember him saying he was uncomfortable with how much we offered. But I always thought it was reported Newcastle offered more even so (or maybe a longer contract). Could be wrong.

 

[atypical_boro]

To be fair it was something like that. Remember him saying he was uncomfortable with how much we offered. But I always thought it was reported Newcastle offered more even so (or maybe a longer contract). Could be wrong.

Its true, Gibson said that, and he also said it was X% of the gate money that made him uncomfortable.

At the time though, I felt it was a bonkers decision to let him go (he was so good, and we couldn't replace him) and that Gibson was going to regret the decision (no doubt he did 18 months later). I was then massively disappointed he chose to go to the Magpies. I still wish he hadn't even now. I think I loved him as much as Juninho until that point.

 

[Nero]

Its true, Gibson said that, and he also said it was X% of the gate money that made him uncomfortable.

At the time though, I felt it was a bonkers decision to let him go (he was so good, and we couldn't replace him) and that Gibson was going to regret the decision (no doubt he did 18 months later). I was then massively disappointed he chose to go to the Magpies. I still wish he hadn't even now. I think I loved him as much as Juninho until that point.

He's my favourite Boro striker in my lifetime. He could be absolutely unplayable when on song. I remember arriving at Villa Park for the West Ham Semi-Final full of optimism. As soon as I heard Viduka wasn't fit I knew we'd be beaten. He was playing that well at the time. Strange thing was Boro still had Yakubu and Hasslebaink at the time.

 

[atypical_boro]

He's my favourite Boro striker in my lifetime. He could be absolutely unplayable when on song. I remember arriving at Villa Park for the West Ham Semi-Final full of optimism. As soon as I heard Viduka wasn't fit I knew we'd be beaten. He was playing that well at the time. Strange thing was Boro still had Yakubu and Hasslebaink at the time.

I've never loved watching the Boro as much as when we had those 3 in the squad upfront.