Cronky

Dassler is apparently an ex-journo, rather than a businessman, and I wonder if that's been a factor here. An experienced businessman might bluff and dig his heels in when he's in a weak position, and then settle when he's managed to force the best possible outcome for himself. Dassler has done it the opposite way - he gave in and then decided to get stroppy. It's now a matter of saving face, but even that is too late. Not that Ben Arfa has behaved well, but that's another story.

Bellamy loves to create his own dramas, and I'm sure the idea of going to Cardiff like the return of the local hero appeals to him. I don't know that it's the best move for Cardiff though. It doesn't feel right for a good player to be slumming it like that.

Anichebe looks a good player, but also a centre-forward type, which isn't top of the priorities. I'm not sure Everton will be keen to do us any favours after the Gosling episode either.

Yes, both on and off the pitch. The failure of the club to deal with Shearer's retirement professionally was an even bigger disaster than the appointment of Souness - though in a sense, the two go together. Souness was the only manager who was prepared to put up with the situation.

The President of OM will clearly see it as a defeat if he lets the deal go through. What's more, it'll be a defeat to a combination of a mouthy youngster and a group of Englishmen, and no proud, successful Frenchman is going to like that. I suspect that Ben Afra is even more stubborn, and will get his way in the end. Which in a sense makes it all the more important that we should only take him on loan. If he's successful with us, we'll be on the end of the same treatment one day.

Ancient proverb - the more that is written, the less is known.

Rooney looked better in a free role and I think it's likely that he'll be playing alongside a target man next time. Step up Andy Carroll? But seriously, I would like to see him make an appearance in the Euro qualifiers at least. He's England's best prospect for an out and out target man. I think at one stage he'll make the squad in that role, but this campaign will probably be too early for him. I'd like to see Carlton Cole given more of a chance tbh. He's been a slow developer, but of the candidates, he's the best all round talent IMO.

I wouldn't agree. Some younger players - Adam Johnson, Gibbs, Hart, Wilshere - showed that they have the confidence to step up to international level and can be relied on. Rooney looked better in a free role and I think it's likely that he'll be playing alongside a target man next time. We looked better without Lampard. There's no questioning his ability, but if we have Gerrard in a CM role and Rooney as a roving striker then there's no room for him. It's a decision that would take a lot of bottle though. You're totally right, the Lampard/Gerrard thing could have been solved ages ago, just by dropping one of them. It was interesting that Lampard was subbed at half time, but Gerrard played virtually the whole game. I did wonder whether Capello was testing the idea out, and not just giving new players a chance. As I said, it's not an easy decision, but it may be an idea whose time has come.

I wouldn't agree. Some younger players - Adam Johnson, Gibbs, Hart, Wilshere - showed that they have the confidence to step up to international level and can be relied on. Rooney looked better in a free role and I think it's likely that he'll be playing alongside a target man next time. We looked better without Lampard. There's no questioning his ability, but if we have Gerrard in a CM role and Rooney as a roving striker then there's no room for him. It's a decision that would take a lot of bottle though.

Arsenal youth team, away.

Wilshere was barely on though? What impressed me was his composure. He didn't do anything silly just to prove himself. He played the situation that was around him, and in that short time, not much was really on. But he got involved right away, and you felt that he knew he belonged in that company. Compare that to Walcott, who always looks a bit jumpy.

I actually enjoyed the game. Even apart from his goals, Gerrard was brilliant tonight. Good composed performances from Gibbs and Wilshere. They're certain to be England regulars in time.

Gibbs really is a superb player. He never seems to take more than two touches on the ball. Zamora is not.

Glen Johnson still seems to be in World Cup mode. Mentally somewhere else.

I'm not convinced that lone striker is his best position. He looks better when he has a licence to roam. He doesn't look as sharp as usual either. I worry a bit about that episode last season, where he injured his ankle against Bayern. Fergie rushed him back the following week, he broke down after 20 minutes, but didn't come off until the second half. He hasn't quite looked the same player since.

I actually wouldn't mind this, I quite rate him. Better than Best.

Hughton is clearly interested in the player. Otherwise he'd have denied the story altogether. It could be that negotiations are less advanced than the French press were making out. OM may have been over-stating how imminent a move was in order to drum up interest elsewhere in a permanent move. It sounds like OM or the player's agent have asked if we him. We said 'only on loan'. There's a standoff. Hence this very non-commital 'no contact'.

agreed not nice at all I think people are only being honest here. I don't see what Best has got that is going to worry a Premiership defence. Shola and Carroll have their strength. Ranger may be inexperienced, but at least he has some pace. Best is very much Hughton's choice, and I think he's anxious to give the player a chance, having brought him here. But I don't see it working, particularly if he's in partnership with Carroll or Shola.

The player is away on international duty, so nothing was ever going to be finalised until later in the week. The press are just filling the gap with all sorts of speculation.

From what I've seen, Best doesn't offer us anything that we haven't already got with Shola and Carroll. If it now means that Ranger can't go out on loan, then I'd promote him to the bench instead of Xisco. If he's going to be at the club, it's better for his development that he's involved with the first team.

This issue of wages seems to have hit a number of clubs at the same time. Overpaying players on the reasoning that they're going to get you into Europe or whatever can only work if you're the only club that's doing it. If everyone plays the same game, then they cancel each other out. The Portsmouth crisis has really sobered everyone up. There's the dilemma of do you stay solvent and risk getting relegated, or do you splash the cash and risk going bust. A lot of owners are now going for option 1.

like i said yesterday, this transfer is absolute bollocks and we should get out now, cos we've been taken for a ride here, and your right the club won't have a plan b I've moved in the opposite direction. I started off thinking we were just being used, but now the deal looks like a probability. I certainly can't see him staying at Marseilles. No matter what's going on with this other player, this has all gone too far. The manager doesn't want the player and the player wants to leave. The club has no room for manoeuvre.

Arsenal, for the way they play and the emphasis on blooding their own youngsters. If they have better luck with injuries this time round, they've got a decent chance. I don't consider them outsiders.

For achilles to rupture, something has to occur. Usually you are impactd from behind or it gives out when you push off to jump or sprint. There is no guarantee that this occurs on a different pitch at a different club. The achilles of Senderos as a Newcastle player exists completely seperatly from the achilles of Senderos as an Arsenal player. I see a Schroedinger cat somewhere in this. Maybe Senderos could sue us for not buying him.

i remember early this year he said it, again he wouldn't be bothered about wages since he'd know they wouldn't be able to afford them I do wonder whether City will have a bit of a problem offloading some of their players. They won't want to sell them to their rivals, but only the top clubs will be able to afford their wages.