Martin Lol

Should guarantee at least a dozen pages!

Are there willing buyers? Not decrying the lad because I really think with Drogba he is the best 'ball in the net' striker in the premiership. But with his injuries he comes with baggage and I'm not sure just how many clubs would want him unless Newcastle were contemplating taking a heavy loss.

Whilst agreeing with you that £4m would be a bit steep, I personally don't think they will sell Bouazza for £4m, they will want more. Bearing in mind that Watford held out for a fortune for Ashley Young and eventually got £9.6m, I just can't see them settling for less than half of what they got for AY. As for Babel, Spurs agreed a fee but Babel opted not to move, he wanted a CL team, ideally one which had Wenger as the manager. That seemed to be the likely move until Ribery recently declared he was moving to the premiership in the summer and that Marseille had set his fee at £12.6m, a figure the club have subsequently confirmed so I believe. Really depends on who Wenger wants more in his squad, but I think one or other will be joining the pikeys.

what makes you think that? He's a manager - he'd want to manage at the first sign of things going wrong. Plus there's the Evans thing at Liverpool. Bernard Lacombe is still very much involved in Lyon's transfer dealings although I don't think he still carries the title of Sporting Director, so in that respect Houllier isn't in sole control of all matters. There's an interesting article on the BBC site: Lyon exemplify values of patience If any aspiring football chairman wants to learn how best to run a football club, they could do worse than pay a visit to French champions Lyon. Les Gones are attempting to become the first club from a major European league to win six titles in succession. Unbeaten in Le Championnat this season, and already five points clear of second place Marseille, the odds are shortening by the week on Lyon accomplishing their goal of a sixth consecutive title. In the Champions League, Lyon have been in equally scintillating form, destroying Real Madrid with a virtuoso attacking performance in their opening group game, before demolishing Steaua Bucharest away in Romania in their next match. As they prepare to face Dynamo Kiev in the Ukraine on Tuesday, Lyon lead Group E by three points. BBC Sport talks to Tottenham sporting director and Frenchman Damien Comolli to discover the secrets of Lyon's success. PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE Unless your name is Roman Abramovich and you have money to burn there are no quick fixes to building a successful football club. Current Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas took over just under 20 years ago in June 1987. He had to wait 15 years to realise his dream of bringing Lyon their first French Ligue 1 title. When Aulas, who was the the chairman of a software company, took over Lyon they were in the second division, but he promised to have the club back in the first division and in European competitions within four years. In 1988, Aulas appointed Bernard Lacombe as sporting director and former Lyon player Raymond Domenech - now France manager - as coach. Domenech immediately guided the team to promotion. Aulas's promise of European football within four years was also delivered, though the club's Uefa Cup campaign was disastrous as they were beaten 8-4 on aggregate by Trabzonspor. That season - 1991-1992 - Lyon also only avoided relegation by only two points. Another 10 years was to pass before Lyon picked a major trophy when in May 2001 they claimed the French League Cup, their first piece of silverware since 1973 when they won the French Cup. In the three years before they claimed the title, Lyon twice finished third and were runners-up in 2001. The following year Lyon clinched the Ligue 1 crown on the last day of the season, beating Lens 3-1, who had been ahead of them by one point going into the game. According to Comolli, the continuity provided by Aulas and the club's sporting director Bernard Lacombe has been key to Lyon's success. "The club has had the the same people, Aulas as chairman, as well as the chief executive and Lacombe as sporting director, since the late 1980s. "Even when they didn't get the popular results they stayed together. There is a continuity within the management of the club and that is so important." COACHING SUCCESS Lyon have had plenty of coaches under Aulas. As well as Domenech, former Fulham boss Jean Tigana has also coached the club, but Jacques Santini, Paul le Guen - now at Rangers - and current boss Gerard Houllier, are the three coaches who have each taken Lyon to a higher level. Santini arrived in 2000 and within two years had delivered that elusive title, before he was appointed coach of the French national team. Le Guen replaced Santini and led the club to their next three league title successes. But Comolli believes Houllier's appointment in the summer of 2005 could see the club achieve Aulas's next ambition - Champions League success. "Gerard was the person they needed to finish the job," said Comolli. "He is very intelligent and has got so much experience. That is why I think they will do something very big in Europe. "There are six teams who can win the Champions League and Lyon are one of those six. "You need luck - with refereeing decisions and injuries - but Lyon are up there with the big teams in Europe now." CIRCLE OF SUCCESS By winning the French league title again and again and thereby qualifying for the Champions League, Lyon have established a vice-like financial superiority over their domestic rivals. Over the last two years, Lyon have lost key players such as Michael Essien and Mali midfielder Mahamadou Diarra, but their financial power - the club now has a £100m annual turnover - means they invariably sign the best French players. Diarra has been replaced by 23-year-old Jeremy Toulalan, who joined from Nantes in the summer, and is seen as Claude Makelele's successor in the French national team. "Clubs like Paris St Germain, Marseille and Monaco have had no continuity," said Comolli. "Lyon's stability and success has given them a massive edge over their rvals. Because they win everything that means they can buy the best French players. "They are miles wealthier than other clubs in France. If you are a French player then there is no other club you aspire to play for." SCOUTS DO YOUR BEST As well as recruiting the best French talent, Lyon have discovered if you want to get ahead, a dash of Brazilian skill goes a long way. The club have established a formidable scouting network in Brazil, which has been developed by Marcelo, the first Brazilian defender to play for Lyon during the 1990s. Working in tandem with sporting director Lacombe, Marcelo has proved a shrewd judge of talent. Integral to Lyon's recent success have been defenders Cris and Cacapba, midfielder Juninho and striker Fred. Juninho proved be an inspirational purchase, the player that dictates how Lyon plays and who scores his fair share of goals, notably from free-kicks. It is no coincidence that he joined at the start of the season Lyon secured their first league title. MINING GOLD Lyon used to have the best academy in France and the first part of their success was partly built on developing their own young players. Lyon's academy is no longer the best - according to Comolli Rennes has now the most impressive youth development scheme in France- but the French champions are still capable of producing a gem every two or three years. Much is expected of Hatem Ben Arfa and even more of Karim Benzema. "Karim is going to be fantastic player," said Comolli. "He is a striker who can play in wide positions. He is very strong, very quick, who can score goals. He reminds me a bit of Sylvain Wiltord." http://news.bbc.co.uk/solpda/ifs_sport/hi/newsid_6046000/6046336.stm

Just the prospect of GR confessing his sins makes the mind boggle. It could take a fortnight!!

I'm told that on ArsenalOnline.com Wenger said the reports in the Sun were not accurate. Of course that interview may also show that he is a two faced lying ****** as well.

this, possible the other way round win at home to blackburn draw away...maybe a point at Reading if we turn up. Maybe but my thinking was Watford will be down on the last day of the season, maybe throw in some youngsters for experience. Sparky doesn't allow any of his teams to go down without a fight. Time will tell.

Overpriced and vastly unproved. Would much rather go for Baines. If Bale does go to Man Utd, it will be as eventual replacement to Giggs in LM, the position Bale wants) rather than as a LB. Spurs offered the same but if Utd offer an amount that is ok to Southampton, there will only be one destination, Bale idolises Giggs like Walcott does Henry.

Very true. At a time when Arnesen was buying almost anybody and everybody who could kick a ball, turning down Finnan raised quite a few eyebrows even though he was hugely underrated at the time (and still is to a lesser degree).

4 Blackburn draw and Watford win.

Just about spot on. Berbatov turned down United in favour of Spurs as he felt he had to play regularly to adjust to the pace of the premiership. His agent has already said Berbs will stay at Spurs for at least one more year even though he signed for 4 and Utd have already asked about him. If next season Spurs qualify for CL Berbs will stay. But we all know they won't and Berbs will be gone to OT.

Strange that Arsenal only have two strips. Shit and utter shit tbh.

From what I can gather, MJ wants to get away from the idea of Berbatov and Keane plus 2 backups (even if one is Defoe) and wants a stronger 4 strikers so that there can be genuine rotation without weakening the team too much. A 4 of something like Berbatov, Keane, Bent and Ashton with Defoe and Mido going seems to be MJ's wishlist and Comolli seems to be OK with that thinking. Whether MJ will be around to see it is another question. A namechange may be necessary if Spurs don't get automatic European qualification for next season

Hope so. Never wanted him in the first place. I just hope there is enough financial support available to tempt another person to come in, any top manager would want reassurances that he will be supported in his efforts to build a successful team. That's the problem. A load of money has been squandered and we're left with a totally unbalanced squad. .............. and obvious to everyone except for the ones that matter. Says it all tbh.

Word. See what they're like under a new man and, if no change, ship them out at the first available window.

Ask Spurs fans - they'll tell you he was a mere shadow of his former self post knee injury. Very true. Was very good, got injured for a full season and afterwards was distinctly average, not his fault, simply as a result of the injury. What he couldn't understand was that he was worthy of a new contract with numbers he wanted but weren't justified. That's why he left Spurs, no-one (fans and management alike) were especially sad to see his departure. He left with a gigantic chip on his shoulder and I still think that's why he hasn't even tried to perform for you. I've said that here on a number of times before.

Proved in the past to be one of the best DoF's you could ever wish for! mackems.gif mackems.gif mackems.gif

Spurs haven't fared too badly from cherrypicking from relegated clubs. Robinson and Lennon from Leeds, Defoe and Carrick from West Ham, all 4 cost £11.25m. Irrespective of whether you think the players are good or bad, the fact remains that Carrick alone was sold for over £7m more than what all 4 cost, that profit would near to £25m if Lennon was sold. Personally, I think it's a pretty sound strategy. Depending on whether the clubs get relegated, I'm hearing that Ashton, Bent and Boa Morte (as a squad player) are very much in Spurs' summer thinking. Whether they get any of them is another question but the strategy remains the same.

Can we? Would happily have him as a squad player at least. Not considered good enough to be a squad player with the scum by Wenger.

they're youth scouts iirc, was quite a coup getting them as Wham's scouting at youth levels is supposed to be the best in the country. They used to be good, but now no more than decent. Just taken a couple of bods from Charlton's youth setup, which was never great at all. Arsenal's system still streets ahead of the rest (and yes, I do know the Youth Cup final this season is between Liverpool and Man Utd).

If rumours in London are to believed, Gilberto will be going in the summer but Juve will be his destination. That's been doing the rounds quite strongly now for a couple of months.

But, in the long run, what would be more valuable. 25 goals a season from Owen for the next 5 years, or a 5million loss? 25 goals a season (or whatever he scores) for the next 5 years, without any doubt. But that's the nub of the problem. Owen's contract only runs for another 2 years and under the new Uefa rules, he could buy out his contract at the end of next season for approximately £5m (assuming he's on around £100k pw). Don't sell him for £12m this summer and he could be gone for £5m next summer, gone for nothing the summer after that. Newcastle have to get him to sign a new contract this summer or sell him imo. Rules state that you can only buy out your contract to move to a club in another country. Owen has no intention of playing abroad ever again. I stand corrected.

But, in the long run, what would be more valuable. 25 goals a season from Owen for the next 5 years, or a 5million loss? 25 goals a season (or whatever he scores) for the next 5 years, without any doubt. But that's the nub of the problem. Owen's contract only runs for another 2 years and under the new Uefa rules, he could buy out his contract at the end of next season for approximately £5m (assuming he's on around £100k pw). Don't sell him for £12m this summer and he could be gone for £5m next summer, gone for nothing the summer after that. Newcastle have to get him to sign a new contract this summer or sell him imo.

Good and ambitious chairman with a good and ambitious manager. Have to be impressed with 45 pts out of 51, I think they may be next season's Reading. A win apiece for the derbies.

It would be like a dream for me, to see Newcastle to do better and the scum to do significantly worse! Hurts to say it but you're right, Wenger is that good.