TRon

Fowler's a poor example to make your point. There's no doubting his talent, but he was probably let go for other reasons than football. Lifestyle off the pitch; fitness possibly; sniffing coke again...who knows? Maybe he's just past it?

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/08/07/premiership_preview_no14_newca.html This writer in the Guardian reckons we'll finish 6th. Damn good read as well.

We'd give away a player who's featured prominantly in pre-season and is still under contract for free? older players not in the first 11 have been known to getr free transfers before their contracts are up (wether it be as a thank you or just to get them off the wage bill) If he wanted to go he would have gone on a free a few months back and not signed the 12 month contract extension. hell man,i'm not saying he's going ,just that it is possible that west ham could think they could tempt him.which is basically what the story says. Solano is under contract. How the f*** could West Ham expect to take him for free, which is what Oliver Twit is trying to suggest?

No one really reckons Shola is going to be a world beater, but like all the managers before him I am pretty certain that Allardyce will keep him here as an important squad member for this season at least. Whether anyone likes it or not. Feel free to bump this thread if I'm wrong though.

They won't do business with us but they'll be happy to use our obliging local hacks to get their revenge...

What would be the point? Still a useful squad member and we don't exactly need the money. Aye. Solano for one more year would be more profitable than selling him for £1m now. We're building a very good squad, Nobby's an integral part of it because he's a leader, will bring on the likes of Enrique, a fans favourite - and, something people must have simply forgotten - is still a damn good player. Pointless letting him go for tuppance. the cunts aren't even offering tuppence!

Owens and Martins could be out due to injuries/internationals during the African cup though.

We should offer to do a swap deal. They give us Dean Ashton + £3m and we'll consider it.

According to Oliver West Ham are prepared to offer £0.00. Not quite over a milion but it's a start I suppose.

Reading between the lines, looks like Oliver is spitting the dummy out because he no longer has easy access to inside scoops since Shepherd got the boot. So he's basically up for anything that will make life difficult for the club. Yes West Ham would like our players for free, and would love to stir shit by suggesting this move so Oliver obliges happily., even though he must know this will never happen. What a slimy bastard.

Slow players can't usually run past players...although Gazza did, so maybe it doesn't matter if they aren't Linford Christie type sprinters.

It's time for Alan Doh'liver. Come on Admin, make it happen...

But then he can look quite clever with his feet as well...maybe he should stick to easy stuff like laying it off instead of twisting and turning with the ball...but then he wouldn't be a handful any more. Can we really ask a PREMIERSHIP striekr to "stick to the easy stuff", and not expect to look like twats? Don't really understand what you are saying. Can you rephrase it? Where do you think our natural position currently lies? 6th to 9th in the league? If so, and i think it is in honesty, then how can we have a "young" striker on the bench, who we might have to bring on for tactical or injury reasons, who's ability is so limited that all we can ask him to do is lay the ball off? Out "second choice" strike force should be pushing and pushing for a first team spot, not someone we wince when we realise we HAVE to play them for soem unfortunate reason. That was my whole poi9nt though. He DOESN'T just lay the ball off. He feints, runs at defenders with the ball, generally tries harder stuff than 'just laying the ball off' which is part of the reason why he loses the ball - similar to Martins. This is what makes him a handful but it can also make him look clumsy when it doesn't come off. To answer your question I'm quite happy to have him on the bench as he's quite capable of changing a game. Yes I'd prefer a young hotshot instead, when we get one then we can sell Shola.

This prick is actually getting paid to write such shit? The mind boggles.

But then he can look quite clever with his feet as well...maybe he should stick to easy stuff like laying it off instead of twisting and turning with the ball...but then he wouldn't be a handful any more. Can we really ask a PREMIERSHIP striekr to "stick to the easy stuff", and not expect to look like twats? Don't really understand what you are saying. Can you rephrase it?

But then he can look quite clever with his feet as well...maybe he should stick to easy stuff like laying it off instead of twisting and turning with the ball...but then he wouldn't be a handful any more.

I agree. If Shola went elsewhere, I don't think it's beyond possibility that he could do quite well as a target man. Injury-free, he is definitely a handful, and not a bad finisher. I don't think he's quite ruthless enough for a top club though - but I'd be happy to see him on our bench.

Good cover for Viduka, but not good enough to be first choice.

I could have pointed out that the only successful appointment under Shepherd was Robson - and the prime driver behind that was John Hall - but wtf.

I would play Luque up front ahead of Shola alongside Viduka. Luque's a better finisher and has more goal-scoring instinct about him. Depends whether Luque will be happ to be 4th or 5th choice though, and I suspect he won't.

Not really fussed either way. His opportunities will be limited here so as long as we aren't expected to pick up some of his wages he could leave. If not, he offers us another option up front alongside Viduka, if Owen or Martins are unavailable. With Owen's injury record and Martins unavailability due to the African cup, that could easily happen.

I can see where you're coming from, but Allardyce's work in the transfer market suggests he's a pretty shrewd operator, and to be fair, he's tactically kicked our arse a few times, not to mention several teams with much better resources than Bolton.

I agree that it's time to move on and wish the new board every success in the future. The past is the past, and as you say irrelevant. So no need to discuss this further IMO, especially as it isn't related to the topic in any case.

Really good article that. This sort of attention to detail is exactly why I have wanted Allardyce here so long, and Mark Hughes is another manager who seems to have his eye on the ball in preparation of players. There's only so much you can do without the right players, but you only have to look at managers like Souness to see where negligence and lack of insight can lead. Allardyce believes in appointing experts, Souness believes in appointing his mates. Their respective records probably reflect this.

Could well follow a similar p[attern to the Rozenhal signing. He said similar stuff about staying in Paris before signing. If we make it clear we still want him I'd be surprised if Drago can turn down a big pay rise.