tmonkey

Good wingplay from Jonas that doesn't result in a goal due to poor finishing/shooting = Jonas is shit.

Smith doesn't win the ball cleanly at all. Gets more of the man.

Should be 1-0 to West Brom.

3 year contract. Reckon that was more important for him than getting Premiership football. He's not at an age where he could have afforded to wait around hoping for an extension that might never be offered. Best of luck to him, was a mid-to-high calibre player for us and this is an excellent signing for Villa. I don't think he's slowed down all that much, seems to be one of those naturally athletic guys who'll not put on weight, and combined with his defensive ability and experience he'll probably be good for at least a couple of years.

Distin was a rock for Man City and has been a rock and a leader at the back for Portsmouth ever since signing for them. In hindsight, it's been a big mistake not signing him. All the money spent on s*** like Bramble (talented but a big flop), Boumsong, Coloccini, even Woodgate (class as he was, always injured) could have been spent elsewhere had we just bothered to offer Distin a decent wage (and probably not even close to the type of wage we've thrown at s*** like Nicky Butt, Albert Luque, Alan Smith, etc down the years). Come to think of it, irrespective of how well or how s*** they've done elsewhere, we seem to have consistently suffered every time we've shipped out these "moody/greedy/inconsistent/lazy Frenchmen" as they're often referred to. There are exceptions, like Boumsong, but with the majority of others, we've usually sold them to the detriment of the team. Bernard going meant Babayaro came in and f***ed around for a few years (with Ramage/Huntington filling in). Robert wasn't really replaced until Luque was signed. Ginola's replacement was John Barnes. N'Zogbia was replaced with either Ryan Taylor (s***) or Lovenkrands (who was s*** in midfield). Distin's replacement was Bramble. Good managers will work with these players, which is why all of the above were good players for either Sir Bobby or Kevin Keegan (pretty sure Bassong is his signing). I look forward to the day we'll have more "moody, big-headed, inconsistent" French players on our books, because hopefully we'll have someone in charge who appreciates what these players are, even though some of our fans may not.

Ridiculous fee. What a cunt Ashley is.

I replied to the other part of the post - the blatant attempt at baiting isnt going to get the response you want so you best leave that Just because some muslims got pissed off doesnt mean that was their intention - its an innocent chant and the vast majority see it that way. It just so happens that some overly sensitive souls have taken an issue to it Whether its an innocent chant is nether here nor there. it was enough to piss off muslims so that they would complain - and did so which is the point of the thread. "Overly sensitive souls" I'm not baiting anyone least of all you but I expect with your name you aren't Welsh Chapel. Come on think about it. Why would any Western, German, include a reference to Mohammed if it were not to take the piss? "Hence why decades after the chant has been around there are now "complaints from muslims". Is this true? is it an old chant? well there you go - some uptight muslims sitting around waiting to take offence at something else................ BTW dont be surprised if someone moves this thread. It's being reported as part of the chanct for decades. Maybe Muhammad rhymes with something in the chant that is German? Maybe there was some other guy called Muhammad who liked white and blue? Who knows?

Sensationalist reporting exists within the muslim world too. No doubt the chant, which has nothing offensive in it at all, has been reported on negatively by some daft Turkish rag, which has led to "hundreds of angry e-mails" (browsing other forums, looks like the Arabic reports did headline that the chant was offensive, which is of course without any justification). Hence why decades after the chant has been around there are now "complaints from muslims".

http://www.scripting.com/images/notAngry.jpg

Even though he was at the heart of the Spanish side that won the Euro Championships in style, and also a vital defensive member of the Barca side that won everything last year? Not sure. Maybe he's not a spectacular defender, but he's difficult to beat at the highest levels and in the big games. Spain and Barcelona's success is down to their attacking options, not defensive. Puyol can be clumsy and often dives into tackles without thinking and gets caught out. Much of it is down to their attacking strength and playing style yes, but Puyol has been great for both sides when it's mattered. The CL final was an example of this, fantastic defensive display from Puyol at right back. Rooney, Ronaldo et al didn't get a look in. I'd agree that he can be clumsy, but he wasn't last season imo, nor was he throughout the Euro's. I'd say he's a world class utility defender given how well he's performed across the back four.

Even though he was at the heart of the Spanish side that won the Euro Championships in style, and also a vital defensive member of the Barca side that won everything last year? Not sure. Maybe he's not a spectacular defender, but he's difficult to beat at the highest levels and in the big games.

Looking at defensive options that may not have been mentioned, I'd say Puyol, Mascherano, Alves and Maicon are world class defensive players (in the latter two cases, world class attacking fullbacks).

Superb delusion Agreed, attitudes like this are quite unbelievable. Here we are with the whole country marvelling at the factthat Lescott is "worth" 20mill and someone wants the same for Bassong. If Bassong ever demonstrates that he is a "Premiership calibre centreback with intelligence, composure and physique in his game, at a good age with suitable top flight experience" then I'm quite sure ManU, Chelsea, Liverpool will be offering 30mill for his services . I sometimes wonder if some posters here have ever actually watched the game? You're entitled to your opinion. Me, I personally wonder if some posters actually read the posts that they deride as insane or laughable. Judging by your reaction, I seem to have posted "Bassong is world class and worth £15-20m for sure". Let me re-state very clearly what my thinking here is. I've not said he's worth £15m, in fact I've specifically said he's not worth that. But I'd want that kind of ridiculous fee in order to make selling Bassong worthwhile. As stated, it's difficult finding a good defender with the traits listed above - and to further clarify the point that you've bolded, since you seem to have jumped the gun a bit, I'm not saying Bassong is at that stage yet. I've not even referred to Bassong directly in that sentance, I'm merely stating that it's difficult to sign a defender with those qualities, some of which Bassong has naturally, others which he needs to improve on to bring up to an adequate level. But the point here is that it's easy to see him getting there. And hence, we should not be letting him go for a "fair" or "good" price under any circumstance, unless we're absolutely forced to do so by e.g. his contract situation, or by our creditors/bank/etc. With respect to your comment about watching the game, I've seen enough to suggest that Bassong could be top class in a couple of years time, hence why I feel he's a valuable enough commodity to ask a ridiculous fee for from a club like Spurs who happen to be loaded afaik. Didn't Shearer recommend a similar price tag on Bassong to the board? But what does he know, eh? You've no doubt watched the game much more than him, so clearly you know more.

£15m. :lol: Come off it. It's insanity. He's not even worth ten. 22 year old who's been relegated three times. While perofrmed really well, there were still very obvious flaws in his game. He made alot of mistakes on is own as well. How many central defenders have gone for 20 million pounds in the history of football? Can't be many. Of course he's not worth that much. But neither are plenty of players going for ridiculous fees nowadays. Point is that we should be asking for a ridiculous fee, because given his age, physique and performance levels in the Premiership, that would be the going rate for someone of that calibre/potential. How much did Curtis Davis go for when he was with West Brom? £8m? £10m? I know he's English and hence there's an inflated price, but he never at any staged looked anywhere near as good as Bassong imo.

I'd want £15m at the very minimum, with clauses inserted to bring the deal up to £20m or more if he does well. He's not worth that, but this is a young centreback (22 compared with e.g. Lescott who's 26, or Haageland who's 28) with everything in his locker to be an excellent defender at the higher levels, having just had a good debut season in the Premiership. The two positions that all good teams are always reluctant to sell their players in are the goalkeeping positions and centreback positions, and the price needs to reflect this, as opposed to reflecting our bitterness at being relegated. We know first hand how difficult it can be to find a good, Premiership calibre centreback with intelligence, composure and physique in his game, at a good age with suitable top flight experience, and a reliable fitness record. So take the suitors to the cleaners if they want him.

Double edged sword this. Some of them are fit to be captain based on experience, loyalty, etc, but noone of them are fit to be cast iron starters, which is what a captain of a team should be. I'd go with Harper because of the length of service with the club and the probability that even if Krul were to replace him in the first team, Harper would just accept it and wouldn't be another captain kicking up a fuss and impacting on morale just because he's on the bench.

Who the f*** gives 100% in a friendly? Everyone knows friendlies are only important to build up fitness.

Maybe DL thinks the employees are also scum? Or maybe he hates your source/mate so he's winding him up by telling him porkies? The possibilities are endless.

Maybe. Might also be that nothing is forthcoming, and so selling Oba keeps the banks happy for a few more weeks till the interested parties stump up the cash we want for Bassong.

I knew it was all Kath the tea lady's fault. We'll never be able to move forward until we stop living in the past and get in a young ambitious tea lady who doesn't actually know how to make tea yet. Keegan - a manager who has proven he can make a team perform above their ability, who has proven he has a good eye for players who will fit into a desired formation and tactics which are not only winning but attractive to watch, who has a track record of 3 out of 3 promotions as runaway champions in his first year in charge. Shearer - a complete unknown as a manager, but hey, at least supporters of other teams might not laugh at us and we're not "living in the past" Difficult, difficult choice. If I supported another team would I be allowed to prefer Keegan to Shearer without being accused of living in the past? Spot on. The "living in the past" thing makes no sense to me. Keegan isn't Ged from Earthsea, he hasn't lost all his powers and is now some sort of impotent depressive has-been wondering around aimlessly. He proved what a massive difference in calibre there still is between him and the likes of Sam Allardyce last time he was here (only a year ago). He pretty much turned the same team that got relegated last season into a side that you could realistically see challenging for a top 6 spot over the course of an entire season. Had he been backed in the transfer market we'd probably have performed to a similar standard again - and judging by Kamil Zayatte's comments, Keegan was not undermined over "Henry, Ronaldinho and Lampard". Keegan is still a top class manager in the same calibre as Sir Bobby in terms of the effect he has and the teams he can put out (and dare I say it, Keegan is better at building a team imo). Everyone can remember the impact Sir Bobby had on Gullitt's team and how he changed Shearer's game, we went from diabolical to OK - Keegan pretty much did the same with Big Sam's team and turned Owen into a dangerous player again by dropping him into midfield. Hence, I'd be willing to take a risk on Keegan still having the desire and hunger to be our manager in the long term, because finding a manager of that calibre is difficult, especially when the club is in the Championship. It's not about wanting Keegan because of what he did in the early/mid 90's, it's about wanting someone who is clearly the best manager we could get right now. With regards to Shearer, there are serious doubts about his potential imo. There are indications that he could be good (e.g. dropping Owen), but also indications that he might be another run of the mill manager out of his depth in comparison to the opposition. He says the right things at times, but then so did Souness and Allardyce until it hit home how s*** they were and we started ignoring their now deluded comments. Keegan is much more in the Sir Bobby mould of managers, and seems to be a great motivator and man-manager, whereas Shearer based on e.g. the Barton episode seems more of a Souness type disciplinarian, someone with an ego who'll hang a player out to dry in public if he feels certain lines have been crossed (not saying Shearer is, just that he came across that way a bit). I also didn't like him dropping Jonas in the remaining few games - why? Drop the only outfield midfielder who actually does anything postitive on the pitch, one of the only players who can actually run considerably well, just to stick Guthrie on the wing whist keeping the faith with Butt/Nolan? I think in those situations, no matter how bad his end product, no top manager would have dropped a player like Jonas whilst sticking with players like Butt/Nolan. They'd have accomodated him into the team somewhere. And hence, you look at the managers who have failed here with us, particularly Dalglish (dropped Ginola), Sounses (dropped Robert) and Roeder (dropped N'Zogbia) is it possible that Shearer is another manager who fails to see the importance of ability/pace/running/something different? Maybe Jonas isn't a good enough indication of this because his end product was so s***, but again, looking at who Shearer replaced him with and the other players he refused to drop, it's worth thinking about.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8178079.stm Nice read. Interview with Sir Alex on there too.

Good luck to him. Was an excellent player for us in terms of value-for-money, and as part of a serious push for instant promition, should have been club captain this season with his contract extended. Has every right to both leave and want to leave. He owes us nothing because he gave us good performances. There is no light at the end of the tunnel for us at this point in time, so there's no point in him staying and getting frustrated every week whilst we continue to be dogshit. This being his final year of his contract with us, he's at an age where he needs to "cash in" so to speak and land that final big contract that will probably see out his career before form/fitness starts taking a plunge.

Alan Smith has a bit of a belly there.

Keegan. We'd be promoted immediately under him, and if he stuck long enough, would move up the tables towards the top 6 spots.

The fee is about right for him. No matter his faults, he's still a 15 goal striker who has pace, can create his own goals, proven in the Premiership and in Serie A, and is only 24. Anything less would be a bit of a pisstake imo.