Cronky

Good old Bellers. Mad as a box of frogs but I miss him.

If by that you mean it looked like falling apart any moment, then I'd agree. Harmison was an embarrasingly bad interviewer.

We just buy people who won't be worthless when/if we sell them. It's not a profit-making strategy, it's just a business tactic to make sure you don't invest a lot in worthless assets. What I hope has happened is that Ashley has realised the need for a bit of flexibility. In the Keegan era, Beardsley was a crucial buy. He was never going to have any resale value, but he didn't cost the earth and more than made up for the cost by his contribution. I think they're right to be cautious about too many transfers like that, but there's often a case for an exception. Like Maloney IMO.

Amazing how this idea persists. Keegan approved the signing of the shit striker. He walked when a midfield player was brought in on loan.

I thought we played some decent stuff at times and were unlucky not to win. I'm fed up of the sight of the ball bouncing off Walcott though.

Don't understand this thinking at all. The only compelling reason to sell him is his fitness record, and this is the first time he's fit going into pre-season and has a good chance of getting to top form. Previously I'd seen him and Krul as our only untouchable players from the selling point of view. With HBA, he needs to develop more of a team mentality and not always try to win games on his own. Watching his comeback this season, I've lost a bit of faith that he's going to make that transition. He seemed to be making the same mistakes. I mean, this is basically why he's playing for us and not Arsenal or Chelsea. He's got Eden Hazard's talent, but not his attitude or football brain. I'd love to hang on to him, but no longer at any price. See, I would say that he only decides to win games on his own when it's clear to him that he has to. Because his teammates are contributing too little. When we were playing well last season he was interchanging really well with everyone. Obviously he will take people on and do things more than the average player, but that's why he's so brilliant. I think this was a problem with his other clubs, not just us. He can't resist beating one more man instead of playing the percentages and releasing it. While I hate to agree with Supermac, he does have a point. Whether you lose the ball after beating one man or beating four, the end result is the same. Yeah, but you don't always lose the ball. On this issue, as so many others, Supermac is talking bollocks. No, of course not. Sometimes he does a Blackburn and goes through the entire defence. It's a matter of playing the percentages. The situation I'm thinking of is where he gets past the midfield and exposes the opposition back four. Usually a defender has to commit and that leaves a team-mate in space. That's the time when it's better to release it. I seem to remember that happened twice against QPR. There are other occasions where he beats a defender and gets to the by-line, and then tries to go even further instead of crossing. Great when it comes off, but not the wisest decision. Don't get me wrong. I would only sell for a mad amount. But it looks possible that Monaco will do precisely that.

Don't understand this thinking at all. The only compelling reason to sell him is his fitness record, and this is the first time he's fit going into pre-season and has a good chance of getting to top form. Previously I'd seen him and Krul as our only untouchable players from the selling point of view. With HBA, he needs to develop more of a team mentality and not always try to win games on his own. Watching his comeback this season, I've lost a bit of faith that he's going to make that transition. He seemed to be making the same mistakes. I mean, this is basically why he's playing for us and not Arsenal or Chelsea. He's got Eden Hazard's talent, but not his attitude or football brain. I'd love to hang on to him, but no longer at any price. See, I would say that he only decides to win games on his own when it's clear to him that he has to. Because his teammates are contributing too little. When we were playing well last season he was interchanging really well with everyone. Obviously he will take people on and do things more than the average player, but that's why he's so brilliant. I think this was a problem with his other clubs, not just us. He can't resist beating one more man instead of playing the percentages and releasing it. While I hate to agree with Supermac, he does have a point. Whether you lose the ball after beating one man or beating four, the end result is the same.

Don't understand this thinking at all. The only compelling reason to sell him is his fitness record, and this is the first time he's fit going into pre-season and has a good chance of getting to top form. Previously I'd seen him and Krul as our only untouchable players from the selling point of view. With HBA, he needs to develop more of a team mentality and not always try to win games on his own. Watching his comeback this season, I've lost a bit of faith that he's going to make that transition. He seemed to be making the same mistakes. I mean, this is basically why he's playing for us and not Arsenal or Chelsea. He's got Eden Hazard's talent, but not his attitude or football brain. I'd love to hang on to him, but no longer at any price.

Tricky decision, but I'd take £25m, providing Pardew can then re-invest the money in the squad. Talented player of course, but at all his clubs, he's had problems in fitting in around a team pattern, and that's still not changed. Turning down the money is just as much a gamble as selling him.

I don't think Ince will be on the radar. The talk of getting in players with Premiership experience suggests that the policy of recruiting youngsters will be suspended for now. Besides, Ince isn't that good IMO.

A career in tabloid journalism awaits you.

No. One person who has some kind of idea of what they're talking about is better than 100 people who don't.

West Germany 3, France 3, World Cup 1982 springs to mind.

Yeah, he didn't look ready for a top side. He often relied on his strength rather than finesse to get past people , and he won't be able to bully Premiership defenders like that.

We all know why that is, "Hatem, get back." Well wide players are supposed to help the defence, at least now and then, but I don't think that's the full story. He likes to collect the ball in space and run at the opposition or deliver a forward pass. He's not so inclined to make a forward run in the hope of getting a pass.

I think you basically have to fit the team around him. He hasn't really convinced as a No10 playing off a central striker, and when he's out wide he tends to drop deep rather get forward on the end of balls. Forward apex of a midfield diamond may be best, but then all the others have to fit in around that.

On further research, he seems to be out with a knee injury at the moment. Our Michael does like a punt in this kind of situation.

Only based on Dennis-style scouting, but of the three who we're being linked with, this lad was the most impressive.

Fear not. We won't get £20m.

I'd like to see an upgrade on Taylor. I was encouraged to hear Pardew talk about getting a 'dominating' centre back, because whatever his qualities, Taylor does not 'dominate'. He's very reactive.

It looks like it's swinging Bayern's way. If they score first, you feel it's all over. If Dortmund score, it'll still be a battle.

Dortmund won't be playing under the same pressure, and for that reason I reckon they'll do it.

First game of the season. The great corner I can remember was one played to the edge of the box where Colo was running in to meet it and sent a bullet header toward goal. It was a fabulous set piece, but, unfortunately, didn't result in a goal. Can't remember who it was against or where it was. I think it's as well to have an element of unpredictability with set plays. Opposing defences know that with every free kick inside their half of the field, we're going to launch it to the far post side of the penalty area and hope that one of our centre backs is going to nod it across. They can prepare for it.

I'd agree that those are the two areas that most need looking at, for the reasons you say. In the case of the midfield though, it may not be a matter of swapping one player for another. It may need a more complete revamp, because the balance looks wrong.

If he had any clarity about how he wants to play he'd have made sure he got the players to fit his vision in the last two years. It's more likely he never really had any vision and keeps changing it every time a plan goes wrong, much like his management on the pitch over 90 mins. I guess this is the difference in perspective, because in the life cycle of a football club, two years isn’t that long. In fact, in any job, your first two years is often a learning experience in which you make mistakes. The real test is your ability to then put things right. Of course, your boss can decide to sack you and bring someone else in who’s going to start from scratch, but that’s not always the best move.