James

Half-time ratings: Harper 6 Solano 6 Taylor 9 Bramble 6 Carr 8 Dyer 6 Butt 7 Emre 7 Milner 8 Sibierski 4 Martins 6 We are desperate for a striker who is able to receive passes, and link up with the midfielders. Judging on the first half, there is only one team that is going to win, and it's not Chelsea. Would have liked to have gone in one up though, the game is only going to get harder.

There are also quotes suggesting that Owen understands his decision. Further quotes from Bobby Robson also offerring support.

On .cock Shepherd is taking the FA to court based on breach of employment law. If he wins, the FA will have to pay £15m of wages every year for the next ten years.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=462506&CPID=8&clid=4&lid=&title=Owen:+I Obviously it's just talk, but if he is correct, things could be looking up.

We are targetting Paul Robinson (the West Brom left back), Javier Saviola, Marek Saganowski, according to reports in the newspapers this morning. Don't know why we should be interested in Saviola to be honest, he's to similar to what we've already got. Paul Robinson is average. Would by dissapointed if we signed him, because that would show the direction we are going in - ie towards permanent mediocrity.

We'd probably make a small profit and get the better goalkeeper. For what its worth, Given is the better keeper, but such a move would be very good business if Given's stomach injury meant that Given was going to miss 10+ games a season from now on.

Is this not now his third spell on the sidelines since Christmas? These have been periods lasting more than one game. Alarmingly, goal kicks seem to be giving him trouble, there have even been matches where he has played through injuries sustained mid-match. He is 31, many injuries may not fully heal. If our medical staff have a feeling that this may continue, now would be the best time to sell, as other clubs may not have picked up on any problems, as this would secure decent money for a replacement. This is all assumming that I was manager and could choose the replacement. I don't see it happenning while Roeder is in charge. One effective and realistic replacement would be Isaksson in my opinion. If it is as bad as you think it might be then he should fail a medical at any clubs that want to sign him. I dont necessary think it's bad right now. What is not being appreciated is that this is a hypothetical case. I don't have Given's medical records. All I'm saying is that if it was predicted that he was going to miss games as frequently as he has done since Christmas, for the rest of his career, the best business decision would be to let him leave.

Is this not now his third spell on the sidelines since Christmas? These have been periods lasting more than one game. Alarmingly, goal kicks seem to be giving him trouble, there have even been matches where he has played through injuries sustained mid-match. He is 31, many injuries may not fully heal. If our medical staff have a feeling that this may continue, now would be the best time to sell, as other clubs may not have picked up on any problems, as this would secure decent money for a replacement. This is all assumming that I was manager and could choose the replacement. I don't see it happenning while Roeder is in charge. One effective and realistic replacement would be Isaksson in my opinion.

IF it looks like Shay Given will continue to miss matches through groin/thigh/stomach injuries as a consequence of his collision with Harewood, I would look to sell this summer, and replace him with someone who is almost as good, but able to put in a more consistent shift. In my opinion, goalkeeper is a position which really needs consistency if you are to ever have a successful season. If we can't rely on Given, we are going to have to rely on someone else instead. Hopefully though, the summer break will give him enough rest to allow him to regain his lazarus status for next season.

I meant to quote this post btw

If we had won the 5 games you've highlighted in bold, or alternatively, beaten Middlesborough and drawn at home with Manyoo, and won the other 4 matches in bold, we would have won the league.

We havent receive £6m from the FIFA/FA. We've received £1m + 50% of Owen's wages paid up.

New contracts for a start, N'Zogbia, Taylor, Given, Harper and Ramage all got new contracts iirc. In addition, some players get loyalty payrise clauses, so they may have increased wages.

I feel sorry for shay, he's had to spend the whole day stood next to Steve McClaren and Terry Mac

Owen and Shola are definitely not playing against Chelsea, says Roeder.

I don't understand any of the previous 5 replies.

I would agree with you.

beat Italy and Croatia/Hungary

Wingers have always played an important role in good attacking teams, especially Newcastle United. I'm interested to see which clubs others feel possess top class wingers. Personally, I would say Blackburn Rovers, judging on form over this season.

Tevez has really earned my respect. After a couple games when he failed to produce in a an appalling team (dominated by centre back Peter Ramage at one point), he was first moved out of position, and was then dropped, and was then initially ignored by the new manager. Many players would have just sulked, put their feet up until the end of the season, and then secured a move to numerous willing suitors. He will probably still do the latter, and he may have upset a few with some harmless Robert-esque comments to the Argentine media, but otherwise, he has just got his head down, and tried his best at playing football, forcing his way back to being a starter in his regular position, and finally showing some real quality.

I disagree that Rossi is shite. Just cos he didn't do much for us while sat on the bench, doesn't mean he's a bad player. I liked what I saw of him tbh. Technically, he was excellent, and he was always getting into good positions. However, he never played witha striker with who he could form an effective partnership.

Ink isn't yet dry, so don't get too happy.

This theory should be confirmed when we sign Anthony Le Tallec, Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Djibril Cisse, and Djimi Traore during the summer. Why the fuck are you talking to yourself? Dissertation getting to my brains.

I voted the same as you, as it was a shit poll, and the best thing to do would be to ruin it.

I'd be against getting Houllier as a Director of Football. In my opinion, a DOF needs to be in that position for a long period to build an effective scouting/youth network. Roeder may be happy to work with Houllier, they are known to have strong respect for one another, but when Roeder goes, we'd want the DOF to remain a DOF. Managers probably wont want to work under Houllier because he is too much of a manager himself. So the only option would be to make Houllier manager, or to sack Houllier, which would bring us back to square one in terms of improving the club structure. I'm all for Houllier as manager, but a DOF position seems a waste of time to me, especially considering the inevitable.