Colos Short and Curlies

If ManU had not rejigged their finances just to sign Rooney (i.e. Ferguson knew he couldnt miss out on him), we would have landed Rooney. At the time, Everton were your bog standard lower mid table team with no money and no indication of moving forwards. IMO they had nothing but a dirty side that kicked lumps out of the opposition team, although thats easy to forget now that them and e.g. Blackburn have moved on and play decent football. Right now we'd look back and think Rooney wouldnt move because it would be a sideways step, but at that time we were still a club that had recently been in the CL, we were still in Europe having just finished 5th, and we still had some star players in the squad - i.e. it looked like we merely had a blip as all sides do. Hence, we'd have been a sizeable step forward over Everton at the time. On top of all that, you have the fact that we'd have offered ludicrous wages that even now Everton wouldnt be able to or want to match, just as we did with Owen. Hence, if ManU werent in the picture (as they had led everyone to believe) and the choice was between moving to us on big wages and playing alongside Shearer et al, or staying with Everton for another year, I think he'd have moved, and therefore I dont see how it never would have happened. never would have happened 'cause manu would NEVER have not signed the lad, they were always gonna do what it took to get him, our bid just forced their hand (i take it you've heard the kenwright/shepherd rumour) - BUT in the other universe where ferguson misses out on the third english footballer who is the best of his generation then yeah, perhaps we might have got him but if you think it was possible for even a second you're mental - i'm sure i even remember rooney saying he'd never have joined the club anyways after the event get a grip man No Rooney has said he would have joined. He would have gone anywhere to leave Everton (once a Blue and all that.....) at that point. FWIW the Rooney deal was genuine and it was a close call that he went to ManU (I was auditing at Old Trafford at the time of the signing).

Hansen Lineker Shearer

Wonder if Barca will push the boat out for Cesc after last night.

They actually win stuff tho. F**k me they have revamped their team and we've done nothing but the Spears kid. Come on Mikey, get your wallet out man. But have they really revamped their team over the past two years? Seems that they still have the traditional Spurs traits: Slightly dodgy keeper (Don't think Gomes is that good personally) Decent defenders on paper, dodgy in practice Pretty but weak midfield Decent but eratic forward line. They've bought some really good players over the past 12 months, some of whom I would have loved to see here, but its been a like for lke replacement in terms of the type of player they buy.

Thought that was from Wayne's World 2?

That's the end of that then. Bum Remington it is then

Just voted end of May. Reckon we'll have that Russian Bloke tied up by then

Did they take 4 keepers with them? Haven't seen the squad but that seems a tad excessive.

(mischief making)

Would be a mistake to go to Italy. Seems better suited to Spain, England or even Germany

Wehey, sod defending! They score, we score tbh We don't play till half time miss. You don't score until you score!

From what you've seen of him how would you rate him against Beardsley? I'd put the Zenit team in the same bracket as we were back in 92-94. Personally as good as he seems I wouldn't put him above Beardsley

From BBC; some direct quotes from his current club manager. That was one of the things I was trying to say the other day, I didn't see him bothering to hold a particular position on the pitch and this is important when defending the ball. A big club may sign him but not get the best of him without compromising in other areas, whereas Newcastle could stick two defensive players into the midfield and build the team around his individual brilliance. He is in the Le Tissier, Kinkladze, Berkovic, Juninho category. Brilliant, but not one for a bigger team. I couldn't disagree more he is one of the best players I have seen in the last 10 years and is in a different class to any of the guys you have named. Ok in football you have to defend but you also have to give the opposition something to worry about and Arshavin with his pace, passing, dribbling, crossing ability does this in abundance. If you look at England this is where we fall short yes we are well organised and work hard but with the exception of Rooney (on occasion) who do the other teams fear when they have the ball? In a different class to Juninho? You sure?

I'm only conveying what others who know him better have said. I've only met him once at the end of the season and he didn't say much. 'Hello' if I recall correctly! Hola shirley?

Glenn Roeder said he was on the phone all the time...nobody ever came Porn lines, evidently not very good ones at that

The missus pointed out Buffon and Lord Voldemort last night Emre looks like that Gerry from last years Big Brother

Said the same in another thread. No extra time and 11 a side penalties

Why do anything then if your not getting paid for it? Useless posting on this forum untill Dave opens his Wallet? Pointless watching football, we aren't getting paid for it! ... Tell me abnout it, I pay in more ways than is humane watching the Toon

Newcastle United Formation: 4-4-1-1 GK Harper RB Beye CB Taylor CB Faye LB Enrique CM Butt CM Geremi RW Lennon LW Arda ST Aimar ST Owen (Aimar in the hole to be picky) Sub1 Given Sub2 Edgar Sub3 Servit (Turkish Guy) Sub4 Zog Sub5 Martins Sub6 Smith Sub7 Barton Manchester United Formation: 4-3-3 GK Foster RB Brown CB Ferdinand CB Vidic LB Evra CM Carrick CM Hargreaves CM Snjeider RW Park LW Nani ST Rooney Sub1 Van Der Sar Sub2 Neville Sub3 Metzelder Sub4 Tevez Sub5 Huntellar Sub6 Giggs Sub7 Scholes Scoreline: 2: 1 NUFC Win NUFC goals: Owen, Martins Manchester United goals: Carrick First goalscorer: Owen

Would this not happen with Arshavin as well? Have you not been listening to the ITV pundits? Arshavin is a footballing God and will win the Premier League on his own (well if he signs for ManU/Arse anyway). On a side note, how annoyed much the scousers be for not even being linked to him.

sounds like a Batman punch noise

So who'd play up top then if we got Aimar? Can't see him in a flat four in the middle, more the Beardo link man. Can't see either Owen or Martns excelling as a lone front man unless they are told to play like Cole of the KK vintage (i.e only looking towards goal and balls being played in front of them to chase

If we pursue Arda then I reckon a nippy right winger is a must - think Ginola (although no slouch wasn't exactly Tyson Gay) and Gillepsie. Vary the attack, and for £6m Lennon would be a decent signing. Certanily more threat than Milner in a 4-4-2.

Germany Italy final I reckon. On another point, should they do away with extra time? We've had 2 extremes in 2 games - one good example of going for the win (Russia) and 2 teams playing for penalties - dunno what Holland were playing at! However, off the top of my head there were 3 bookings leading to suspensions, one injury to a key player and 2 overly tired teams in the semis. Potentially leading to less exciting games. 90 mins, then pens BUT..... each player on the pitch has to take one.

Feyenoord away. Had played footy that afternoon and had taken a kick to the eye socket (was a keeper). Was on some fairly strong painkillers and eye was closing but got some free WKDs in the Union at John Moores (Liverpool). Loads of Geordies in there at the time going mental, went out and pulled a cracking Irish lass despite the purple eye after. Found out the next day I had a fractured eye socket.