Cronky

Interesting. Chelsea were rumoured to be looking at PEA, and now they've signed Drogba, perhaps their interest has gone and we've been left a clear run. Well it's possible.

Remember Leicester away, 0-0 them down to 10 men (Richie Wellens off) and they dominated us. Patrick had a lovely curling out side of the left foot shot tipped over, just about our only shot iirc. No recollection whatsoever. I thought he was deeply unimpressive.

Yeah, I think he has his good qualities, but like you say, RB is no longer a priority. Gnabry looks really good, but he'll have a tough job breaking into the Arsenal midfield. He really needs more first team experience.

There seems to be a few players who fall into that category eg Abeid, Bigi, MYM, where the belief seems to be that they'd become better players under a better manager. As I say, that seems to be based on hope rather than any evidence on the field. I'd gladly see Taylor replaced as well. However, I think after the Everton debacle, Pardew's faith in MYM was severely shaken, because the player wasn't just bad, he was completely hopeless. You can bank on Taylor producing some kind of performance, even if his style of defending isn't very imposing on the opposition.

I don't share people's faith in this player coming good for us, with or without Pardew. The optimism must derive from some assessment of his potential, because his actual performances have been very erratic and nervy. Keeping him on seems a bit of a gamble. If the opportunity is there, I'd rather get rid and try someone else.

I wonder how much this lad would have got fined. http://www.fanphobia.net/uploads/actors/27516/william-foulke-photo-shot.jpg William 'Fatty' Foulke, England international goalkeeper in the 1890's.

Just seen the game. I suppose we have to make allowances for jet lag, players getting used to one another, a clear instruction to pull out of tackles etc But - I didn't think Sydney were all that bad. They passed the ball much better than us and were more confident in possession. They just didn't cut the mustard at both ends of the pitch. Colback's was the only performance that encouraged me. There was nothing spectacular, but he moved the ball on quickly and (usually) with positive intent. Before he received the ball, he seemed to know what was going on around him, and knew what he was going to try and do. If we're going to try and achieve any fluency this season, he'll have a big input.

In Lampard's case, for a midfielder to be his club's all-time leading goalscorer is a fantastic feat, even though his team were nearly always much better than the opposition. He was an outstanding finisher. Gerrard though could produce moments that would take your breath away - like that equalising goal from 35 yards against West Ham in the Cup Final. That combination of power and skill sets him above the rest IMO.

I'd say that Gerrard, Lampard and Scholes all played better for their clubs than their country. England have always struggled for fluency, and of course most top players perform better in the familiar surroundings of their clubs, where the formation can be built around them. There was always the problem - which was never overcome - that if you played those three in their best role, they be competing for the same place. In that respect, Gerrard's versatility was a problem for him, in that he could be shunted forward, or wide, or more recently in a holding position. So he had to adapt more than Lampard, who had to play in centre mid to be of any use. Scholes also tended to get shunted wide now and then. If you restricted your judgement to England games, you'd be hard pressed to choose between them, because none of them consistently shone in that environment. But looking at club form, I'd say Gerrard comes out top.

I agree with your assessment of the player, but I do think he was given a chance. He couldn't cope with the physical demands of the PL. Shame, because he was good to watch.

The Dutch are incredibly good linguists. I once worked in the same office as a woman called Ruth for 6 months, and it was only in her last week that I found out that she was Dutch. From her accent and fluency, you couldn't tell. Cunning linguists even.

The Dutch are incredibly good linguists. I once worked in the same office as a woman called Ruth for 6 months, and it was only in her last week that I found out that she was Dutch. From her accent and fluency, you couldn't tell.

Gerrard has been a great player, and it's a shame that his international career has ended on a bad note. In terms of the future, I think we have three great young midfielders in Wilshere, Barkley and Oxlade-Chamberlain. Unfortunately, we don't have anyone to anchor them and protect the defence. Barry (who I'd have taken to Brazil) now looks out of the running. Henderson could possibly do a job but he doesn't really look like a holding player. Jack Cork has impressed me, but he doesn't seem to be rated by the manager.

Really? On the transfer rumour front, there's recently been something of a deafening silence on that one. The only link I've comes across is a club in Ukraine. Events over the last few months have only sullied the already bad reputation that HBA has built up over his career. The idea that - yet again - Hatem has come across an unsympathetic and callous manager isn't going to be easily swallowed by professionals whose livelihoods depend on getting decisions right.

The story in the Mirror is that Liverpool have asked him to lower his wage demands, and that Arsenal and Spurs have not pursued their interest. This looks like a case of a player pursuing clubs, and not the other way round.

A bit frustrating, because he had improved a lot after a bad start in English football, and was still improving. I'd have liked him to have given us another season. As it is, it feels like we've broken him in, and another club will reap the benefits. Still, I'm happy with his replacement, so let's look forward.

Absolutely right. HBA is a big baby in the middle of a sulk.

It looks like we've taken a bit of a gamble on someone who's underachieved so far. It might be an attitude / motivation issue, but that's only going by his haircut and the rather self-satisfied look he seems to carry with him. Pardew could be right. The energy of a Premiership crowd could be what he needs to really get going.

Or Cabaye and Debuchy.

Yeah, the elite athleticism is what's impressing me so far. Been so long since we've had a striker that isn't small/weak/slow Yep, the raw material of a decent striker seems to be there. Grounds for optimism.

Neither Colo nor Tiote have ever struck me as natural captains. I wouldn't be surprised if De Jong is promoted at the first available opportunity.

Would be excellent IMO. fits the bill. Holds up the ball well. RTG would be lovely as well. From what I've seen, he's big and strong, but not much else. I'd prefer Riviere, because I don't know him and I've got room to fantasise about how good he's going to be.

That's interesting, because yes, I can see that the way he plays, with those sudden bursts of acceleration and changes of direction, must be quite knackering. He's the dead opposite of a one-paced player. To be honest, he just looked tired this World Cup. Players aren't machines and he needs a break.

Ronaldo could never play the #10 role and no Ronaldo doesn't have all of that. Ronaldo is an effective machine, one of the best goal scorers I'll ever see, but he's not near the top guys when it comes to technique, intelligent and vision on the pitch. He's got dribbling skills, goal scoring ability and is physically superior to most players nowadays. But he's no Cruyff, Messi, Maradona, or Pele. I'd agree with this. I see Ronaldo as a superb athlete who by dint of hard work has developed well technically. But he doesn't have the natural gifts of the players that you've mentioned, and that does show now and then. Particularly in his passing.

I suspect that MYM wants to go, which of course is another consideration.