James

Person he'd most like to meet: Tommo It's Porridge.

I've just had a look. That was written by Porridge - I know his style.

Thats a bit of a suprise. RIP

Crazy, isn't it. You can finish 6th and still qualify for the Champions League. Madness! 2nd - 5th in the playoff, isn't it? Aye, and 6-9 in a playoff for an Intertoto place That would be great if we had that in the Premiership tbh

How can you include Carroll, Patisson, O'Brien and Edgar in the poll who have all played less than 5 games, and then not include Luque who has played in more and scored?[/Luque-fanboy]

Van der Sar G Neville R Ferdinand Vidic Evra Ronaldo Scholes Gerrard Giggs Drogba Berbatov :lol:

Being Player of the Year automatically makes you better than the young player. Another youngster ought to have received recognition, the Premiership isn't solely about one player, no matter how good they are.

Don't really see the point of allowing him to win both awards to be honest.

I think its very much a case of: 'I'm playing out of position, so I'm going to have to make an effort.' if he tried as hard and concentratedas hard as he has done atleft back, when playing right back, he'd be a canny player. He showed at Spurs that he can be good when he wants. Mygripe with carr has always been about mental attitude rather than ability levels.

In the past, we've had players like Shearer, Speed, Bellamy who have been motivated to win for every single minute of every single game they play. Although the manager must take some responsibility for motivation, certain players, particularly the more senior influential players play an important role in getting all eleven players motivated while playing. After all, once on the pitch, there isn't much a manager can do from the sidelines. Some players dont have the natural drive of others, so it is up to other players to find it. We need to get some determined and inflential players back into the starting lineup, particularly up front. I want to see Emre, Parker, Carr and Given taking up more motivational attitudes on the pitch, as they've got it in them, but seem to think that it is others responsibilities.

Thats for all the clubs with players called up, so base dot current selections, we'd get about a 10th of that, wheras manyoo would get over a 3rd of it.

Harsh on Nobby, surely he's been better than Dyer? Wayne Bridge has been Chelsea's best player, its been tough for Dyer so far, but he has kept the ball well, bringing it back to Solano who has been afforded too much space by Kalou. Solano may be looking the better of the two, but its been an easier job for him so far, and Dyer is playing a disciplined if unspectacular shift.

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.