Taylor Swift

It's got nothing to do with wins. The summer's nearly begun, why not plan ahead? It's actually got everything to do with the fact that these players can be signed if we're ambitious enough and for many people to say 'no thanks' is quite stupid. Just because Man Utd won the title with unproven kids 15 years ago doesn't mean it's going to happen again any time soon. We're going to need classy players if we want to compete with the best, but classy players on the way up aren't going to sign for us, are they (and Bentley's not in this class before anyone says so)? These kind of players, players with quite a lot to offer imo, are the kind that we can sign and should make every effort to do so. My comment was aimed at those people that suddenly seem to think we can do better than Henry. Apologies.

Btw, just to put things in perspective, Real Madrid broke the world transfer record to sign Zizou when he was 29. Deco is 30. Henry is 30.

It's got nothing to do with wins. The summer's nearly begun, why not plan ahead? It's actually got everything to do with the fact that these players can be signed if we're ambitious enough and for many people to say 'no thanks' is quite stupid. Just because Man Utd won the title with unproven kids 15 years ago doesn't mean it's going to happen again any time soon. We're going to need classy players if we want to compete with the best, but classy players on the way up aren't going to sign for us, are they (and Bentley's not in this class before anyone says so)? These kind of players are the kind that we can sign and should make every effort to do so.

Honestly, players like Deco and Henry, even if they only have a few years left, would offer us so much on the pitch let alone what they'd offer to the younger players and there's also what they'd offer in terms of revenue as well. Their skills have declined but Henry hasn't lost his ability to finish and neither has Deco lost his ability to pass the ball. They are still a cut above the rest and would easily still play for the top 4 (they're actually playing for one of the best teams in Europe but somehow they're not good enough for us?), and eventually, these are the players we need to have in our team so if the offer presents itself now, why not? Of course the only thing stopping this is fees/wages but we will eventually have to pay big wages and huge transfer fees if we want world-class players and these two (Deco and Henry) would be a brilliant start.

However highly you might rate Henry's footballing skills, he's not a team player and he's not a leader. That's not part of the package that he'd offer. The leadership thing is questionable, I agree, but like I've said, I've seen him plenty of times this season playing like someone who knows that he's not the main man anymore and thus is quite deferential to younger/better players. But anyway, even if there's doubts about that, there's absolutely no doubt he's a team player. He had one of the most all-round games you could find in the Premiership, he topped the goals and assists charts so many times so really there's no basis to your claim at all.

Personally I thought at times his attitude while captain of Arsenal was shocking, the way he'd go in the huff, pretty much abuse some of the young players. Not what I'd want from a captain or a leader. True. But different teams, different circumstances. Because he won't be expecting us to challenge for the title, I don't think he'd be wound up as tight as he was at Arsenal, and therefore resort to that form of leadership. He seems to have realized that he's no longer the best, and I've seen plenty of times this season where he's been really unselfish. He'd give us a real edge that none of our players (except maybe Barton and Zoggy) seem to possess, raise the standards around the place and will be the difference when we play teams of similar quality (Spurs, Everton, Villa and City). He'll also be perfect for the way KK wants the team to play, and I think he could teach Zoggy and Martins, two of our players who have loads of potential, quite a bit.

A bit ambitious, Jun I think Portsmouth will still be the favourites for the game on Saturday because they match up with us very well. I'd be pretty happy if we came away with a point.

Not really vocal but leads by example I guess. Much like Shearer imo. I think his experiences at Barca might have also humbled him (being a substitute for an 18 yr old for example) and Keegan seems like a manager who knows how to control his players so the odds of him thinking he's above everyone else and being a dressing room cancer must be pretty low. The only possible negatives would be the transfer fee, wages and how long he's signed for. But because of what he can offer on the pitch and the 'intangibles', I think he'd be a quality signing.

His intensity would also be a real positive for us I feel. You can never underestimate the impact of a player who sets such high expectations for himself and the team. At least he'll be a good presence and give a real example to the players (especially the younger ones) about the attitude you need to succeed at the highest level. We also haven't had a real leader on the pitch since Shearer retired and Henry might revel in this role here.

What a great thread

Would be a quality player and be a real leader for the team; someone who's been there, done that at all levels and of course will sell loads of shirts and help bring in other top players.

Is this Jimenez the one playing for Inter right now? If he is, he's a bit fragile and quite selfish imo. Not sure he'd be a success here.

If we want to be better than other teams we'll have to get players that are better than what they've got. I'm not sure Bentley is that player (better than Arteta? better than Ashley Young?). Even though he might develop into one, why not buy someone who'll instantly push us up there? It's not like waiting will help. Every team will be spending money in the summer; the top 4 will be trying to separate themselves further and the next group will be trying to improve as well. Signing someone like Deco will mean we have a player who's on par with the players that the top 4 have got. That's worth spending £15m for. Top class players costs top dollars. We need to spend serious money if we're looking to challenge the top 4 in a few seasons. Indi's also mentioned the other effects of signing a world-class player like him such as the merchandising and I'd say many foreign players will take note of us right away, which will obviously help. I think people seriously underestimate how awesome he is and underestimate the difference between 'good' (which the likes of Bentley are) and 'great'.

£15m is really not too much for someone who is proven and will transform the side. He'll easily be the difference between us and other teams like Villa, Everton and Spurs because he's better than anything they've got. I've said it already but I'll say it again, he can start for any team in the Premiership right now. And 30 isn't that old for a player like him who'll still have 3-5 years left in him. And, you can never really overpay for quality. And he's absolute quality. But anyway, if we're looking at a new RW, I'd rather not overpay for Bentley (because he's English) and go for someone like Jesus Navas who's already up there in terms of effectiveness and actually has potential to become quite a bit better. I've heard about his homesickness and all that, but if you never shoot, you never score, right?

he's shit now... maybe he can't manage the pressure of the hype Reminds me of Seb Deisler and Lars Ricken in a way. All the attributes physically but lacking stuff up there.

Bentley or Deco. Fuck me. Different class.

Luis Fabiano scores his 23rd goal of the season for Sevilla. It was poor defending but also a quality finish (if you know what I mean). Sevilla one up against Villareal.

An average player? You being ignorant of foreign football again? Of course man.

..by a lot. But of course, many of them will be snapped up by foreign clubs who are in Europe. Just skimming the list you can see names like Magnin (quality LB), Crespo, Solari, Seb Kehl, Assuncao, Dacourt and Ewerthon.

I don't think the pic is appropriate. Bad joke, Gypsy.

Something like a 4 year deal, £12m and we'd be laughing all the way to the bank when he fires us into the top 6 next season. Put it this way, I think he'd start for almost every team in the Premiership right now. Ignoring Fergie's rotation policy, he'd get a start at Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. So if we do sign him, it'll be one of the biggest and most important signings in recent history.

Too one dimensional? Ignoring that fact that you cannot really be 'too' or 'not really' one dimensional, wtf?! He might be on the way down but his game has never depended on pace/power. He's one of those playmakers who will excel for 5+ years because he can always keep the ball and is a damn good passer - one of the best in the world in fact - which is why he's been successful in so many competitions/leagues (including internationally). He's also a highly talented set piece taker and I don't think you need much pace/strength to be good at those. I think an apt comparison for someone who's been a success in this way in the Premiership would be Tugay - has always been fucking old but his skill set was always something else to begin with and therefore never really suffered from a physical decline. I'm not sure if he's worth £15m and £100k/week but 'too dimensional', seriously, wtf?

I wouldn't mind it if Keegan took a good look at Antonio Cassano. Highly doubtful that he'd want to leave Sampdoria but iirc he's only on loan there, but anyway, he's been in good form, looks happy and has lost the excess weight, so I think he'd be awesome for us. He reminds me of Bellamy (though Cassano >>> Bellamy in footballing ability) in that he's always in trouble off the field but he's got so much quality on the pitch that he'll be worth it. It would also be a signing that really signals our intention because when this boy's on form, he's up there with the very best in the world.

He's not saying that. He's saying that if KK had stuck to the 4-4-2 and left Owen up top and pretty much not involved in our attack, we would probably not have scored against Birmingham, won against Spurs or won today. That's quite a few points gone, no?