Shearergol

Who has most assists this year?

You simply cannot use statistics to judge how well a player is playing. Essien does not play behind the striker, Gerrard does. Of course you can. Goals are what win games and Essien simply does not contribute as much as Gerrard does to win games. Gerrard is Liverpool, he is more important than Torres. The same cannot be said for Essien. Essien does not have a vital role in the team, he isn't outstanding almost every week. Gerrard is. Ergo Gerrard > Ferdinand. Nice one. By the way, Gerrard has been dogshit for half of the season. Outstanding almost every week? Utter shit.

What? Is he just talking about tradition here? he spent 3 years at everton I'm just wondering how Chelsea aren't considered top 5. Strange.

You simply cannot use statistics to judge how well a player is playing. Essien does not play behind the striker, Gerrard does.

Played better than him. Next.

What? Is he just talking about tradition here?

Almost spot on, but there is absolutely no way you can have Essien over Gerrard. Why?

And Sven...

Did I miss a whoosh there, or is it taking the piss out of someone else?

Erm?

Has JC been playing central midfield then?

Seems a strange move to me, unless Gerrard actually does go to Chelsea. Barry will be to add depth/replace Alonso if he leaves Why would they sell Alonso though, and why would Barry go to a club which didn't guarantee first team football?

Can we lock this thread until NUFC comment?

Seems a strange move to me, unless Gerrard actually does go to Chelsea.

Lampard's had a pretty poor season tbh, and I'm his biggest fan 10goals and 8 assists this season says otherwise in my eyes. Think Ferdinand has had a better season than Vidic...just. I know his stats don't show it, but by his standards, he's not been great.

Along with Villa, to replace Barry, who's going to Liverpool.

Lampard's had a pretty poor season tbh, and I'm his biggest fan

I think it's because of the prospect of Emre leaving

He's a proven premiership goalscorer though, so £10m would be fair.

A quick Google of "Bobby Robson Boumsong," of course it's not proof but it adds a little weight. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2007/jul/17/newsstory.newcastleunited What is known is that the Boumsong deal was so odd that it was commented upon by every observer and plenty of Newcastle fans at the time. Four months after succeeding Sir Bobby Robson as manager, Graeme Souness was in his first transfer window as Newcastle manager. At £8.2m, Boumsong was his first big statement in the market and Souness compared the Frenchman to John Terry and Rio Ferdinand in terms of what he might bring to Newcastle's notoriously fragile defence, which had just lost the England international Jonathan Woodgate to Real Madrid. The difficulty Souness and Newcastle had in persuading assessors of the worth of the deal was twofold. First, that no other club was known to be challenging Rangers to sign Boumsong and, second, that six months earlier Boumsong had left Auxerre for Rangers on a free transfer. Newcastle were well aware of Boumsong prior to his departure from Auxerre because Robson had travelled to France to watch him. Robson declined the opportunity to sign the centre-half, even on a free transfer, and his doubts about Boumsong's suitability for British football were confirmed when the club's talismanic England striker Alan Shearer was marked by Boumsong in a pre-season game against Rangers and came off to speak in dismissive terms about the Frenchman's lack of physicality. Shearer, famous for guarded comments, even mentioned Boumsong's previous availability on a free transfer on television and when Boumsong made his Newcastle debut against Yeading in the FA Cup at Loftus Road, and was given a torrid time by DJ Campbell, doubts over the wisdom of the transfer mushroomed. You can dismiss that article straight away after it claims that no other club was challenging Rangers for his signature.

Well I'm glad he's got some sense at last. Doesn't Andy Hunter off here know him?

Xavi is their most important player. People talk about Messi, but I'd rather have Xavi tbh

To be honest, I reckon he'd only be gutted about losing Owen, and even then, as long as he can bring his own men in he'll be fine. The board need to back him though, be it through contacts or new signings. I'm sure they will do though, as they've now spoken about contracts for all of these three I don't understand why they are talking about it and doing nothing though ? Are they playing games with the players or something ? Just get them signed up if Keegan wants them, show them good faith, and behave like a progressive club by doing so ffs Signing Michael Owen asap on a new contract will speak volumes in football circles and tempt other players they target See, the only problem I have with them at the moment is they're talking a bit more than I'd want. I'd rather hear nothing coming from the club until things are sorted. Who's to say they're not already sorting these contracts out now premiership status is secure?

Press conference at 3.30pm

Bobby Robson looked at Boumsong and didn't go for him on a free. Not what I've heard tbh, but you know best EDIT: Barca wanted him at the time too, but you're a better judge of player than any of their scouts too aren't you?