tmonkey

Still not seen anything about the fee being agreed other than on Sky Sports (News). Fridaynightitis probably.

My only concern over Shorey would be that he look one of thos players that only use their other foot to stand on. I have a problem with professional footballers who literally will not pass the ball with their wrong foot. Coupld of times he got himself into a muddle because he wouldnt use this right foot. Hes a left back though. Completely acceptable to be one-footed in that position for me, especially since his left foot is clearly an extremely good one. His passing the entire game was as good as it is in the Premiership, a whole range of passing in his armoury with good accuracy. Again, its clear that he has the ability to step up a level, as this was a relatively big game for him being his debut against Brazil in the new home stadium. Kneejerk, but I hope we sign him as hed be a good addition.

Barry, Barton, Carrick, Lennon, SWP, Bentley - they need to be given more games. Gerrard Lampard as a partnership is dead anyway. Hargreaves is the best central midfielder England have at international level, so there should be no chance of a Gerrard Lampard partnership leading into Euro 2008.

Two remote potential positives from this game, from an NUFC point of view: 1) Shorey looks a decent little player at international level. Comfortable on the ball all game, never looked out of his depth for a second. Hes blatantly a good player at Premiership level. 2) Hopefully any slight interest in Smith is killed off - interest from anyone connected to our club, or from any of our fans. Shiite, overrated player, the sort of workhorse player who will ensure England will forever get mullered by technical teams and his presence in the team in the Premiership would just result in his team playing as though they have 10 men. He has absolutely no technical ability in his game. This isnt just based on tonight - this was just the confirmation that hes s*** at a higher level, on top of being a mediocre player at Premiership level.

Owen to score first.

Might me made to eat my words tonight, but surely Smith is one of the most overrated forwards in the Premiership at present in terms of the fact that hes rated "highly" by so many despite frequently doing nothing in games? No pace, no skill, no height, no strength, limited technical ability, just a hard worker who makes over the top challenges to compensate for his lack of ability, and has half decent finishing when he does get a chance. Hes like an over-glorified Kevin Gallagher, and probably isnt quite as "good" as Gallagher was.

I simply disagree with the conclusion youve come to. The only time hes actually forced a move was that infamous move from Arsenal to Madrid. He was sold by Madrid as his form was poor and he hadnt adjusted, he was merely docked at PSG whilst he tried to get his way back into a Premiership club, went on loan to Liverpool who he was absolutely desperate to sign for, then signed for City, where he stayed for 3 seasons. At the time he was to be sold by City for financial reasons, we get linked to him, and clearly he wants to come to us. Eventually ends up at Fenerbahce to play CL football and keep himself "in the window", stays there for a while until there is interest in him from Premiership teams (this time a statement from Souness that Anelka is desperate to sign for us), then ends up at Bolton, who regardless of position in the league table, arent big enough for him (would Owen want to sign for Bolton? He kicked up enough of a fuss signing for us, so I think not). Again, what in there suggests he would engineer a move away from us? We're a bigger club than the likes of City and Bolton, well in terms of resources, players at our disposal, recent success, etc, and we're not based in an inferior domestic league ala the Turkish First Division - ultimately, there was a reason why he was desperate to sign for us, and I think youre overlooking this because you dislike him. We're the type of club hes been desperate to sign for since his Liverpool loan, and I think wed get good service for him. But even if we didnt, if he does as you say, I still dont see the problem. Having a top player for two seasons is alot better than not having one in that period of time. Hes not a problem in the dressing room according to the likes of Keegan, hes a good trainer and a top player on the pitch, hes just had a very good season under Allardyce, our current manager, and hell no doubt leave Bolton with alot of fans happy with his service. The reason for your conclusion that hed be a negative addition, whether short or long term? I simply dont see what is there to suggest that hes such a bad influence that hed not be worth having in the short term, especially when his recent spells at City, Fenerbahce and Bolton suggest hes nothing like that.

Who ManU also nearly signed before his move to Barcelona, who at the time was playing average for PSG and has since then gone on to be the best player in the world (untill recently). Ferguson clearly likes his Brazilian playmakers.

Not going to argue about the "off in two seasons" comment, although I disagree with it, but why wouldnt he do much here? I know youve always had a dislike for him, but come off it man, hes proven without a doubt that hes a good forward with a class all round game. Hes shown he can play very well in different teams at different standards with different styles of play in the Premiership - slick passing of Arsenal, defensive Liverpool (briefly), lower mid table strugglers Man City, and now "long ball" Bolton. Hed be a quality signing for us and someone who would most likely be more than happy to work with Allardyce again.

Barton is a significantly better player going forward in this overhyped box-to-box role, partly because hes not been messed around like Parker has. Signed after a purple patch for Charlton when he was scoring the odd goal, converted into the next Makelele and taught to sit back, then asked to be the next Gerrard and having to constantly get into the opposition's box - all resulting in the next Jenas, ie a player who plays like he doesnt know what his role is. This will be a great deal if we make a million or two in the process and replace an underperforming, overrated, newly re-converted box-to-box player with someone more natural at that specific role.

Crouch?

We should offer Arsenal £8mill for Denilson. Only 18 or something and already looks miles better than those 3.

This. Maybe a different list, but essentially, for the money were talking about, Crouch is very overpriced. Probably a few million more to sign Huntelaar, who is ten times the finisher Crouch is and has a similarly good all round game.

He should do what Keane has done, ie take over a big club in the Championship with money to spend, letting him shape the team/club into doing everything "his way", take them up to the Premiership, then prove himself there. Any lower, and hell struggle as there are plenty of clubs who just dont have the resources to achieve success in the short term. If he starts off in the Premiership, he may not get as much freedom to implement and rebuild everything that he wants to, and will probably have less time and more pressure in terms of the early results.

Both Pearce and Big Al were touted as the finest FA coaching products in recent times - thats definately how I remember it at the time. This was when Pearce was enjoying his honeymoon, which resulted in plenty of calls for Shearer to be given a chance to manage us. Pearce has shown just how much excelling in those FA Classrooms really means.

To be fair, he's never scored more 20 in a season as far as I know. He's never even ("even" ) got 20. Hmm...I was sure he had, and http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/fo/profiles/3929.html seems to confirm it. 01-02 Liverpool League 19 Goals, 29 Games 5 Goals, 10 Games (Champions League) 02-03 Liverpool League 19 Goals, 35 Games 4 + 3 Goals, 6 + 6 Games (Champions League + UEFA Cup) Thats 24 and 26 goals respectively. Regardless, hes a 20+ striker, whether or not hes ever achieved 20+ (which he has). Factors like fitness obviously play a part as to whether he gets to that target or not, but essentially hes a player who you would expect to hit 20+ if he were to play enough games.

Liverpool must be having a good think about Owen's situation. This season has proven without a shadow of a doubt that the one player theyre lacking the most is a 20+ natural goalscorer. Owen happens to be that, and hes also allegedly available for close to what theyve sold him for. Benitez may not be keen on Owen, but what would the new American owners think? Would they prefer to let the manager spend 30mill on Villa, or 10mill on Owen, who happens to be a big name England international player, a former Liverpool favourite, and a big shirt seller? Benitez might prefer someone else, but like settling for Penant after failing to sign Simao/Alves, would he really mind if his superiors failed to strike a deal for someone like Villa and having to end up with Owen as his "third choice"? Maybe that is partly the reason for his thinly veiled "buy who I want or I will walk" attack the other day, but still, hell know he cant always get his first choice targets and how upset would he be if he gets to spend big money in other positions having just signed Owen?

Been off form for too long for that price.

Why would Arsenal want him? Denilson shits on him and hes only 18 or something, Frabregas is miles better, Diaby is a better midfield battler, and Coker doesnt even compare to Rosicky, who cant get into the Arsenal midfield. Then theres the silent wall, Gilberto, who when he is playing is a very good defensive midfielder.

Got the lot? What exactly has he got? I've never seen him pass the ball further than 10 yards, everytime he gets past the half way line he runs down a blind alley and loses possesion, he can't shoot, he's got no leadership qualities whatsoever and as he's shown this season as soon as the going gets tough he dissapears from games and starts moaning. Disagree about him dissapearing when the going gets tough. Hes rarely in the game in the first place, regardless of whether hes up against good opponents or not. This is exactly the type of signing we should not be looking at. An average player going for a high price because of "potential", despite clearly having an attitude problem ever since being linked to Arsenal (on the pitch this is, its plain as day to see its affected his game) and not being too good in the first place.

Alonsgide Chopra?

Good call, we could do with both a left back and cover in the form of a utility player. Kill several birds with one stone, practically all the top sides have a good utility player in some form or another (ManU with Fortune, P.Neville, OShea, etc, Arsenal with Flamini, Chelsea with Diarra/Essien). Gareth Barry would be a top "utility" signing.

Julio Baptista has failed to adjust to the Premiership without a shadow of a doubt. He was great at Sevilla whilst in La Liga, but flopped at Real Madrid, the biggest club in the Premiership.

Hes not a Chelsea or other CL elite reject either, which itself is a plus point (ie stepping up the ladder, not down) but also means he wont therefore be demanding unreasonable wages which would be the case with the likes of Bridge. Well worth up to 6mill for me, ticks practically every box that we need. Although his form this season hasnt been as good as last, the ability/mentality to be a good Premiership fullback is unquestionably there.

There was a point last season where he looked a good target man - big, strong, good in the air, decent on the deck, good left foot, held the ball up well, did all the donkey work up front. If he had kept that form up, then by all means, go for him. But hes looked dogshiite in the past year. Slow, different wavelength to his teamates, no effort, regularly injured, technique to rival Shola. Hope we stay well clear, even for a free transfer.