buzza

Point taken. I suppose the price would have to be right as he is only a short term solution (2, possibly three years), 7-9 million euros... I would take Bentley aswell but I think he wants to get into the top four re his comments

Don't want to be too pedantic but I've noticed the phrases "getting Bummed" and "bummed in the face" a lot when referring to a possible rout. I suppose getting bummed is straightforward to understand (penis - bumhole action) but being "bummed in the face" raises a giggle as I conjure images of some "person" frotting/rubbing their dirty "sheriffs badge" over the opposing managers face??? Please correct me if I'm wrong!! P.S. Wouldn't surprise me if a few managers would like to be bummed in the face (Paul Jewell, Taggart - that would be great wouldn't it!!).

What's a party helicopter? Sounds blooody ace whatever goes on inside it!!

All out to keep Owen and Martins, get another striker for when Owen gets injured again...

Rather have Deco. Every big team has someone who knows how to dictate the pace of a game; when to slow it down and when to go all out attack etc. The man has bags of experience at the highest level and would walk into just about any team. Bentley has had a great season, what if he's a one season wonder? is he going to develop? Deco: guaranteed Bentley: nearly!

Must be close to thirty... Yes confirmed 29!

The only people we could realistically take from Barca would be Gudjonsson and Marquez... Deco would be a dream, Henry would be like a "threesome with the last two missworlds"...

Henry: Totally unrealistic, huge step down for him. If the noises from Barca are that they will sell there will undoubtably be other suitors which match his pretensions (valid or not!!).

From Spain I'd go for: -Diarra (Madrid), not getting a game in madrid and is a tough holding midfielder. Doesn't shine so much for Madrid as they've got excellent creative players but is a decent all rounder. -Rafael marquez (Barca), another who isn't getting his game. No nonsense centre back who can pass a ball, can play as right back aswell. -Deco (Barca), another out of favour, great all rounder in the middle, rarely loses the ball and seems to always be in the right place toi pick it up again. -Gudjonsson (Barca). We all know what he can do, isn't doing well out in Spain... -Zigic (Valencia), giant forward who is also very skillful, can't seem to break into the valencia team and has his problems with Koeman. -Maxi Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), unrealistic signing as this is the main man in Atletico.Box to box midfielder and probably the best of the argentinians at this moment... -Poulson (sevilla), very tough defensive midfielder, also knows how to pass a ball, seville's unsung hero. -Fabiano (sevilla), goal machine. Could he adapt to the prem? would he take a step down? Just a few... There are loads out there and if Keegan is dreaming, then so am I !!!!!!

I don't want to put a dampner on things but Deco is not a "ccreative" midfielder in the mould of the zidanes/kakas of this world, his is more a mix of the two midfield gingas Butt & scholes, nothing fancy just does his job very well, perhaps a little more creative than Makalele whilst sacrificing a smidgeon of defensive talent...

I reckon it'll be 500 - 0 Sorry, didn't forget the hype!

Think about it, what other league can boast so many top quality managers that we have and the differing styles that go with them? *Ferguson *Wenger *Benitez *Ramos *Eriksson *Keegan O Niell Moyes Hodgson Obviously only the first six are internationally renowned!! Spain: Rikaard Schuster Aguirre Koeman Italy: Ranieri Ancelloti Mancini Cuper

Here's what I would do DEFENDERS:- Sell- Carr, ramage. Ben Haim Brown Bridge Bridge covering or playing left back with Enrique, Benhaim and brown for centre back with the added bonus that if beye get's injured we can move brown to right back. MIDFIELDERS:- Sell Zoggy (he obviously doesn't want to be here!) Deco to add both bite and creativity. Romeo castellen, extremely fast and skilful right winger. Left winger...suggestions! FORWARDS:- keep all three and add somebody to replace Viduka (from: Huntelaar, Fabiano (seville) or Berbatov) Leaving us a team of: Beye-- Brown--Benhaim---Enrique Castellan---Butt---Deco--Martins ---------Owen----Huntelaar---- If you prefer 4-3-3 just shove martins up front aswell...

1)I think a top quality central defender is the highest priority we have, to partner whoever is playing better or whoever plays better together. Two full backs as cover, selling carr, and Zoggy will most probably leave us. 2)Top class striker to replace Viduka. As good as he may play he is very injury prone and doesn't seem to have the "hunger" if we want to go places. We have back up in Carrol (more minutes next season) and Smith if necessary to hold onto a lead (prefer to sell him TBH). 3)Playmaking midfielder of the Deco mould (can defend and create attacks) and possibly a midfielder (or two) with pace to replace duff and zog. 4)Young developing defensive midfielder to get minutes when Butt's knackered. 3 top class players & 4-5 "squad" players. Players out: Shola, Duff, Zoggy (prefer not...), Carr, Ramage, Emre (too many injuries)

Has anybody looked at the passes completed stats (see telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/03/31/sfgtot131.xml ), Geremi, Barton and our three forwards all got a close 90% completed pass rate!!! Unreal compared to the 60% jobs a couple of weeks ago!!

I don't think we have any chance at all, unless they have an off day. Spurs are playing really well at the moment and WILL score against our leaky defence. Berbatov and Keane are scoring for fun, if they don't they have bent on the bench... Just a small chance that owen and viduka could put a couple away in the first half and then squeaky bums until the end. This is certainly a game to give us a reality check. Will be extremely happy if we come away with a point, that will assure us our safety IMO.

With two billion in the bank at a high interest rate of around 7-8%, ashley will still have between 11-31 million to fritter away as he likes without making an actual loss from his fortune... Ooooh to be a rich man!

what did you mean with the straw men reference? not a dig, just a bit thick this morning, weekend debauchery n' all...

If Keegan is to make any "star" signing or preferably "high quality" signings then a centre back and cover for full backs is essential. Again a couple of chelsea rejects wouldn't be too bad i.e. Bridge, ben haim & ferreira... Just keeping the chelsea thing hot, don't suppose they'd be overpriced either as Chelsea have overtaken our mantle of buying big selling cheap!!

Nobody ever complained about Teddy sheringham being too slow or not having any tricks... I'd like to see owen develop into the same type of player, obviously doesn't have the same heading ability but sheringham didn't have his pace either...

Wow! A decent thread with good arguments. I am also of the opinion that we are very much part of the group of "secondary" teams in the premier league who all claim to be "big" clubs and all of their own support would bet his house that a player would rather move to his "big" club rather than yours... We are all quite similar; rich owners, decent history and managers capable of doing well: Villa, Man city, Everton, newcastle, Tottenham and even Portsmouth TBF. Any player who is worth his salt would find it hard to choose between these clubs at the moment and would much prefer any of the top four. It wouldn't be easy to get bentley here, I'd actually prefer to get some cheaper rejects i.e. Wright Philips

They certainly don't look such a bad team on paper... Still stuff 'em though! Hoooooooooooooowwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll take the same side as we put out agaisnt brum. 3 "sturdy" midfielders and three decent attackers, take off barton for duff/zog if he doesn't perform. Newcastle 3 - 1 Fulham Owen, Martins, Bullard, Martins

Personally, I don't think people realise how close we are to going down, other teams have what I would call easier run ins, WE ARE PLAYING SHI**E, we only have three win games, the rest are hands down losers. if we don't get behind the team on saturday, that difference the twelth man could have made may well come back and haunt us! FULHAM IS A MUST WIN GAME...NO DOUBTS AT ALL!!!!

good read that!! Totally a<gree with most of it.