midds

Me neither but they can afford it and I think they need someone like him. Better than Carrick who cost more! A potential central midfield of Hargreaves and Carrick for £35m. Aye they can afford it and I suppose when Man Utd call, the price goes up by a few million. Good player but I still don't think they've replaced Van Nistelrooy yet. They've got away with it this year because they've shared the goals around and Ronaldo in particular has chipped in with more than I expected him to but I'd have thought they needed a 25-goal-a-season striker more than a bit of bite in midfield. I have said before they couldn't afford to get rid of RVN without getting in someone with his goalscoring ability but felt I had been proved wrong given their taking back of the PL crown this season. Apart from Rooney (who himself can be very inconsistant) their forwards seem very average but they have enough in their team to deal with it. Who knows though, with RVN or someone of his ability maybe they would have gone further in Europe this season. Think they're short on quality up top. Saha's not bad, Solskjaer is canny, Rooney is outstanding but they need someone for him to play off. Then again, I'm sure Fergie knows what he's doing.

Me neither but they can afford it and I think they need someone like him. Better than Carrick who cost more! A potential central midfield of Hargreaves and Carrick for £35m. Aye they can afford it and I suppose when Man Utd call, the price goes up by a few million. Good player but I still don't think they've replaced Van Nistelrooy yet. They've got away with it this year because they've shared the goals around and Ronaldo in particular has chipped in with more than I expected him to but I'd have thought they needed a 25-goal-a-season striker more than a bit of bite in midfield.

£17m is an awful lot of money. He's a good player but I'm not sure if he's worth that like.

People are probably going a bit OTT but Allardyce has proved time and time again that he can get the best out of players who are coming to the end of their careers or who have been struggling for one reason or another. Given how the majority of our team have underperformed its no suprise this subject will be brought up again and again. But i'm still in the wrong to point out the near-hysterical hero worship. It's commonly known as optimism. Some people have some for the first time in years. And realists are castigated. Fantastic. I'm not castigating anyone. People are entitled to their opinions and an awful lot of people are upbeat for the first time since Bobby had us top 4.

People are probably going a bit OTT but Allardyce has proved time and time again that he can get the best out of players who are coming to the end of their careers or who have been struggling for one reason or another. Given how the majority of our team have underperformed its no suprise this subject will be brought up again and again. But i'm still in the wrong to point out the near-hysterical hero worship. It's commonly known as optimism. Some people have some for the first time in years.

People are probably going a bit OTT but Allardyce has proved time and time again that he can get the best out of players who are coming to the end of their careers or who have been struggling for one reason or another. Given how the majority of our team have underperformed its no suprise this subject will be brought up again and again. Agree 100%. One of the main reasons he got the job imo.

Said this last week. IF, and it's a big if, we sign Sol Campbell I'd give it to him. If we don't then I suppose Butt would be a canny choice. It needs to be someone who is a natural leader of men AND starts every game if fit. Very few of our first team squad fall into both categories.

Nice to see the Old Lady back where she belongs.

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.