midds

I wonder if anyone comes out with the old "one for the purists" bollocks trying to defend this abortion of a game. Utter dross.

Fletcher's already on...

The game needs a scything, late tackle to fire it off. Get them all going.

Going to put the cricket on shortly...

This is absolutely awful. It's the Cup Final ffs.

HTL? Just kidding, calm down, calm down etc...

Sky just ran a little snippet of a 92 year old bloke who was at the first FA Cup final at the old Wembley. They showed loads of cracking old footage of the game and he was just reminiscing. Nice little interview. They have managed to get him a ticket for the game today too.

Gotta love the spineless wonders on this board? Quite happy to slag someone off for having an opinion they apparently disagree with but too scared to say what they think themselves. At least fight your corner. Zero respect.

The floor's yours...

I bet they'd accept dosh while they still can. Same with what i said about Bridge, offer them a decent amount - nothing extravegant, say £3m, and tell them to take it or leave it. It's a decent offer that - and it'd be a coup from our point of view aswell. I reckon they'd probably be tempted. Though with Bridge, i said £5m. Same principal applies. That's the big difference for me now though. Whereas before I'd have been wary of buying unknowns for canny fees under Souness and Roeder, under Sam - I'd back his judgement and scouting of the player and probably expect them fit in better and perform from day 1. It's nice having a manager you trust.

I'll shut up then. Just for you. Heaven forbid anyone to disagree with you...

As long as we're absolute bastards to play against, I'll be happy. We want teams coming up here shitting themselves. Unlike Fulham, Watford, Sheff Utd, Man City and Charlton who came and took the piss. hoping we can put those to the sword next season. A bigger pair of bollocks away from home would be much appreciated too. Dig in and fucking battle - coming away with a point whereas we'd have lost before.

That was a long time ago! I just don't rate the bloke. I wish I did...but I don't.

Let's agree that Harper has served a purpose then? He's filled a gap but I still don't rate the twat. I'd throw the lad in, despite his inexperience tbh. PS. You're right - Given has similar weaknesses to Harper but they aren't as pronounced as Harper's. IMO.

I think Dyer would jump if given the chance, I hope Bramble goes to Portsmouth and tells HR Dyer is available because i think HR would put a bid in for him Don't think Dyer'd go to Pompey, tbh. Maybe Spurs, West Ham, something. Something tells me he'd love the bright lights of the big smoke like... Just got to be patient enough for someone stupid enough to shell out for him.

Sorry mate, we disagree on this one! Don't rate Harper at all. Think he's a decent shot-stopper and that's about it. He can't organise his back 4, doesn't command his area, makes poor decisions and his distribution from hand and from the floor is woeful. He's got no ambition and thus hasn't pushed or extended himself to get better or iron out his flaws. If I was the boss, I'd have let him go years ago. I'd much rather have Krul playing than this joker. I'd even accept Krul making a few mistakes while he's learning/trying to better himself than stick with good old Harper.

May aswell send Krul out on loan to get some proper experience and keep the "waster" on the bench. I think its harsh to say Harper is taking the piss, would much rather he was here than changing keepers every few years because the current one has got the hump. We have seen from a few times over the years that its not all that easy getting a decent first choice keeper let alone back up. Yes he has lacked ambition but I still don't think he has been taking the piss, if the managers didn't think he was good enough then I doubt he would have gotten contract renewals. Fair enough. I just think Harper's been coasting for years. Hasn't wanted to be a number 1 anywhere which leads me to doubt his self-confidence. He's collected his wages every week whilst in the knowledge that the boss doesn't rate him highly enough to start him if Given's fit. Zero respect for the guy. Krul needs games and if Sam is going to persist with Harper then yes, he needs to go out on loan. However, I'd move Krul up to number 2, giving him games in both of the Cups and low-key League games - (maybe 8 a year) Any injuries/suspensions to Given would mean he may play 20 games a season? Harper brings nothing to the squad imo. Collects his wages and gives fuck all.

Hardly going to set the premiership alight is he ? Of course he isn't. He's Scottish. Aye he'll do that when he is in management and coaching A fair point. Shankly, Ferguson and Busby are all legends of the game and I'm certain O'Connor will follow in their footsteps... The next Souness tbh. If he's lucky. blueyes.gif

Hardly going to set the premiership alight is he ? Of course he isn't. He's Scottish. Aye he'll do that when he is in management and coaching A fair point. Shankly, Ferguson and Busby are all legends of the game and I'm certain O'Connor will follow in their footsteps...

Right so he's got all the basics to become a top defender. What's the problem? He's still got another 5 years learning the game before he reaches his peak. 10 before he should reach his peak tbh Not sure about that one mind... At 31 he'll have the experience and should be reading the game much better than he does now. However, after 11 seasons in the physically hardest league in the world, his legs will probably have gone. Any pace he may have had to get him out of trouble will have gone too. It's not his fault but (potentially) 400 games down the line - he'll be on the way down, sadly. Defenders peak late 20s to early 30s tbh. He has many attributes which could lead to him becoming a solid center-back for NUFC. If you look at his rivals in the u21's: Anton Ferdinand, Liam Ridgewell etc they all are error prone as each other. Experience will boost his decision making and good training could mould him into a good defender. Guess we'll have to agree to disagree then! I think he'll be f***** physically in 10 years time. He'll be able to read the game but won't be capable of influencing it. Could be wrong and I suppose we'll just have to wait and see what happens. £10 bet his legs will stay. Not accounting for inflation/deflation, purchase power, etc. Thread bookmarked and ready to be bumped in a decade if you agree to the bet. PS, this is not an offer, it is an invitation to an offer. You mean 'invitation to treat' surely? It's a ridiculous post tbh. How could either of us prove his legs 'had gone' or not? Just my opinion that he'll be fucked by the time he's 31. You disagree and that's fair enough I suppose. We'll see what happens.

Hardly going to set the premiership alight is he ? Of course he isn't. He's Scottish.

C'est la vie. Shame to see them both down there but tough shitski. Forest weren't good enough to get out and Leeds were shit enough to go down.

Shearer/D. I. Manson from The Bill http://topps-the-bill.8k.com/andlancel.jpg

Same? After a season of consolidation, and with a billionaire owner whose CEO has said last week that there is "no limit set" on what he will spend this summer, that he wants CL football as soon as possible and is fully aware of how much that will cost? I'm not expecting CL football for a good few years (if at all) at least, but there's no doubt the club will be stronger next season. Maybe you are right but i just cant see your club to someone who is going to be much stronger next season. It depends on the players you will sign but im expecting from Villa to be at the same level as this season. Maybe im wrong time will tell Thats only my humble opinion. Dont offence mate. I really like Villa as a club and also Stilian Petrov plays there and im Bulgarian. BTW what do you think about him? I've heard that most of the Villa fans think that he has been big disappointment so far Villa will push on next season imo. Nothing spectacular but solid improvement. They'll spend canny money and improve, possibly pushing for top 6 in they can stay clear of injuries. I like O'Neill and they won't go into a slump like the did this (last?) season.

Right so he's got all the basics to become a top defender. What's the problem? He's still got another 5 years learning the game before he reaches his peak. 10 before he should reach his peak tbh Not sure about that one mind... At 31 he'll have the experience and should be reading the game much better than he does now. However, after 11 seasons in the physically hardest league in the world, his legs will probably have gone. Any pace he may have had to get him out of trouble will have gone too. It's not his fault but (potentially) 400 games down the line - he'll be on the way down, sadly. Defenders peak late 20s to early 30s tbh. He has many attributes which could lead to him becoming a solid center-back for NUFC. If you look at his rivals in the u21's: Anton Ferdinand, Liam Ridgewell etc they all are error prone as each other. Experience will boost his decision making and good training could mould him into a good defender. Guess we'll have to agree to disagree then! I think he'll be fucked physically in 10 years time. He'll be able to read the game but won't be capable of influencing it. Could be wrong and I suppose we'll just have to wait and see what happens.