Rich

Plenty of Smoggie Toon fans on here anyway, are there not? Bit of a daft "debate" all round, really.

Not necessarily "all" teams: Arsenal have Lehmann, Almunia, Poom on full-time contracts. Chelsea have Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Hedman on full-time contracts (although Hedman was obviously an emergency buy) and the Blues probably can't be considered "sane". The likes of Everton, Tottenham, Portsmouth, Villa, Reading and Bolton have 3 or more senior 'keepers each, as well (or at least full-timers). I can't be arsed to look into the rest of the league (outside of the top ten), but I'd assume most teams have at least 3, while Liverpool and Man Utd are two high-profile ones that do not. Makes sense to me to keep Srnicek instead of risking wrecking Krul's loan spell or having to bring in some other dodgy 'keeper on loan at the last minute.

I just think they're a top-class outfit, and while I've seen numerous threads/posts mocking them on here that have been hard to disagree with, I wouldn't say "no" to watching a Champions' League semi-final against Chelsea at Anfield. I think most of us would deserve some glory in this disgusting hypothetical world that Vic has created in this thread.

Liverpool, hypothetically. Would be difficult though, no doubt.

Why will we/they be embarrassed, I think Daveed meant?

Keeping Harper, Given and Srnicek seems sensible if Roeder wants TIMMAH! to go out on loan for the entire season. I cannot see it making sense sending him out on loan, only to recall him if one of the senior players gets injured. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to look at getting a better 3rd choice than Pav, mind, plenty of clubs have a decent 3rd 'keeper. Very unlikely with everything else we'll be doing, of course.

Utterly predictable, the whole thing. I'll be amazed if we get more than £5M for him.

Reeks of a "punishment" to me, like, but you're right in saying it could be for a number of reasons.

N'Zogbia in the reserves now, eh? Bye bye Charlie-boy.

At the start of the season I would have said us... shows how much I know. If Duff, Dyer, Milner and N'Zogbia played to their full potential, then it would most definitely be us, but in reality it's most definitely not. I'm not sure we can consider Nobby there now, unless a right-back is incoming this summer, or Roeder starts picking Carr there if we sign a left-back.

Was away for Souness' full season, fortunately, but all other ones I've attended. The sparsely-populated postgame against Wolves being the main one that sticks out in my mind. I'll still hang around this time, but I won't be applauding heartily. Would be a cracking time for a protest for the doom-mongerers, mind. Someone should look into that.

Can't be arsed to fill that all in right now, but I will say this: I feel like this season has been going on for decades. Seriously. It seems a lifetime ago that I was watching us against PSV/Lillestrom/Villareal at SJP. I don't usually feel like that and I'll be interested to see how many people stay behind after the Blackburn match to "cheer" the players. Roeder will probably cancel the lap of "honour" if there are any more performances like Pompey, mind. "Glenn Roeder does not do laps of honour when all we've won is the Intertoto Cup."

He sounds like a disease.

I'll be amazed if we buy a striker this summer, like, or even if we get one in on a free. I'd think if Owen and Martins stay, Roeder will be happy with his striking options as Owen and Shola will be like "two new signings" in his eyes, and you can sort of see his point. Martins, Owen, Ameobi, Sibierski, Dyer and Carroll will probably be considered by Glenn as his striking pool for next term (although I think KD will play in the midfield if he's fit). That's three "target men" strikers and three "quick" strikers, in the simplest form, and I can genuinely see Roeder being entirely satisfied with it. Not that many of us will be, mind. This is especially if we don't qualify for Europe, I should add, because that's far less games to spread out amongst the squad and Roeder will probably have other areas that need urgent attention after he jettisons Bernard, Bramble, Moore, Onyewu, Emre, N'Zogbia and Luque. EDIT: Should really note that if those who are expected to leave do go (and I'd say only Emre/N'Zogbia have a chance of staying out of those 7 above) then we'd have as many strikers (5 - Ameobi, Carroll, Martins, Owen and Sibierski) as defenders (5 - Babayaro, Carr, Ramage, Solano and Taylor)/midfielders (5 - Butt, Duff, Dyer, Milner and Parker) (maybe more strikers, depending on where you put Dyer). That puts things into perspective a bit more. I really cannot see us getting anything other than defenders and midfielders this summer, unless one of our forwards leaves, of course. People hoping for a £10M striker coming in regardless will be sorely disappointed, I think. If you look at those lists, as well, there's more chance of the likes of Babayaro and Carr going than ANY of the strikers, in Roeder's "purge". One thing is for sure: it's going to be a very busy summer.

Aye, but this is a slightly more subtle way of doing it, isn't it? If it were to happen, the outcome is entirely predictable and the ends would probably justify the means. It's a difficult one to call, but it's more of a slow progression than a big fuck-off upheavel. I really can't see Houllier coming to assist Roeder like, although stranger things have happened. I bet Roeder would be more effective with a DOF alongside him, mind, as it would give him more time to focus on the coaching/motivation/selections. Actually, wait...

Aye, who the fuck needs coaches and physios and assistants and all that shite? I could manage the Toon on my todd in my fucking sleep, man The DOF thing is undoubtedly the way of the world these days, because managing a PL team is a big enough job as it is, without taking responsibility for almost every aspect of the entire operation. I bet even the likes of Alex Ferguson has a top-notch support network underneath him.

Why the feck did he want the shirt when he was nailed-on to move? That made no sense to me at the time and it still keeps me awake at night.

Bowyer was #11, wasn't he? Before he moved?

He definitely said it, but I definitely can't be arsed to look it up for you. No doubt it was in the Chronicle, though.

i was replying on global. The saint number 10 becoming the cult of modern footballer number these days because i thought it was pele who introduce first. The No. 10 becoming symbol of Ace footballer which represent pele as the symbol of ace footballer. I was speaking to GeordieMessiah, mate, don't worry! He was unhappy with waiting 8 minutes for an answer to his initial question. You're 100% right, as usual.

spastic That actually made me chuckle.

Was that answer quick enough, btw? Or did your panties still manage to twist before I replied?

I voted for the "daft ones", so that they were "bolded" and made the poll look better/neater. Basically, the utter shittiness of the poll/thread required drastic OCD action and I took it. I would make the same decision all over again, if necessary.

Once a player is registered as a number I don't think it can change in that season, but it can certainly change in the pre-season the following year - although it's probably a bit of a cunt if it's a popular player and the strip is staying the same (Ferdinand switching from 9 to 10 in 96 probably made the club a stack of cash as I bet loads of people bought new shirts because they were "outdated" and to get "SHEARER 9" obviously.) The manager doesn't usually pick numbers, as far as I can see, it's mainly down to the club/tradition/player.

That 8 minute window you gave all of us to respond in was very lenient of you. Cheeky bugger. These days it's a free-for-all with player-power and that, although I'm unable to see the day when we give the #9 to a defender or something of a similar nature. At more and more clubs there are 'keepers with funny numbers and Woodgate at 'Boro is #8, for example, which is very odd to me. I suppose it's heading down the NFL route, where players can pick between 1 and 99 and if it's free at their team then they can have it. Goalkeepers most definitely aren't all #1, either. Vitor Baia was number 99, you know? There is a 'keeper in Spain who is #5, I think, although it could be Italy - my brother was prattling on about it last week. Traditionally I think GM's lower number for defenders/high number for attackers was on-the-money, but it's definitely moving towards us having number 83's, 69's and 57's all over the league, just for the sake of it. Some clubs will obviously have history with a shirt and so will keep that particular number for a particular position (16 at Man Utd after Roy Keane, etc.) but apart from that, it's fair game.