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Has anyone actually consistently watched him play? Or is he just a 'trendy' signing because apparently Chelsea wanted him in January and he's on a free transfer as well? I seriously have some doubts as to whether he's actually been seen consistently by many people on here. However, saying that, I'll trust Allardyce's judgment and seeing as he's seen Ben Haim in training for awhile, this does look promising.

Nothing's changed man. Does anyone honestly think Chelsea will be shittier next season? Ballack and Shevchenko will be one step closer to fully adapting to the league, Pizarro and Alex are class. There's no way they don't challenge, and they're still my pick for the title next year (if nothing significant changes).

Have they actually signed Mascherano? And for how much? I was under the impression that they're 'loaning' him from Kia Joorabchian. Anyone confirm or deny this?

Its not on, Allardyce is a long term plan, money cant buy you team spirit and organisation & its a disgrace if Ashley is only willing to give him one season. No, but not spending any money will not create team spirit and organisation as well. Money isn't a factor. The manager and the players he has is the factor. Mourinho spent a shit load and I personally think Chelsea have the best 'team spirit' in the league. Yet there have been teams in the past loaded with stars who don't understand the notion of 'team spirit', for example Real Madrid during their Galacticos phase. Money isn't a factor in whether team spirit is created or not. Why is it a disgrace if Ashley is only willing to give him one season? If Allardyce does spend £45m, we should expect to be comfortably placed in the top 6 and actually challenging for the CL. When Abramovich bought Chelsea, he expected them to win the title in the first season!! Ashley's doing the smart and right thing. He's not stupid, and he does rightly expect success given the sum of his investment.

To be fair, he's never scored more 20 in a season as far as I know. He's never even ("even" ) got 20. Was that a dig at my lack of the word "than" NM? No, it was my backing up your being (almost) right. He's never hit 20 goals (and probably never will, certainly not for us!). I can't see why not, he hit 17 in his first season in a largely underperforming side. Why wont he get that extra 3 under a better manager with hopefully a much better team? Jon, I think NM was talking about Owen, not Martins..

When's the right time to start acting like a total cunt? After we win the league? I'm really excited, can't wait to show off my cuntish behaviour when we win something!

Don't lock it. This could be the last one ever. Cherish the moment people!

We'll see how he handles all this money. He's had one big signing in his whole managerial career, and although it came off, it's still only ONE. That was the major worry I had with Sam, the fact that he has no experience spending a shit load of money. Now with the takeover, this 'fault' of his will sharply be put into focus. And it was obvious that Ashley would only give him one season man. I mentioned this before as well, but there's no way a guy spends £133m and then worries about spending an extra £5m or so to change the man who'll lead his team. Sam has one season, and I really hope he's successful.

And people laughed when I said this.. You think after making an offer of £130m and supposedly having a £bn in his bank account, he'll sweat if he has to pay off Allardyce after a season? You think he'll sweat if he has to spend £6m to sack him? One of the big reasons the Allardyce hire was a coup was because he's good at getting the best out of underachieving players, and he's also good with a shoestring budget. However, with this new fella, if he is actually for real, why would he want someone like Allardyce? Just think about it for a second. Why wouldn't he want someone proven at the highest level to be the manager? Assuming he's going to free up cash for his manager, it's just logical to go for someone who's proven and who will deliver some form of success. Big Sam has a season if this guy's for real. And this.. "Newcastle United has a wonderful heritage and the passion of its fans is legendary," Mr Ashley said in a statement. "I am sure that, like me, they are already excited about the prospects for next season under the new manager's stewardship." (from bbc.co.uk) looks like Allardyce is safe Not really. Do you expect him to come out and say 'I expect success in the first year or else Sam's gone'?? Of course not man! He won't want to rock the boat right away, but seeing as he's been a highly successful businessman, do you think he'll let someone unproven like Allardyce try to take this club to a place that he himself has never been? (ie. Champions League) Here's a dose of an 'I told you so' (if it all comes true that is..)

:lol: That is class.

What???????????? He was saying that he just wanted to follow on the trend and type like he did because it seemed cool. Regards, Shak Yep. I'm a sheep, not a shepherd. Regards, Apisith

I just want to follow the trend and type like this because it seems cool. Regards, Apisith

Shearer. But only just because I wasn't born when Keegan came as a player and when he was a manager, I was still a kid.

Vucinic has scored two goals for Roma Bonera has hardly played AT ALL. He can't even displace the oldies in the Milan team Get the fuck off of FM.

I like the way Rafa works tbh. He hasn't spent heavily on one player but he's taking little risks with more unknown players (Gonzales, Pennant etc.) and hoping one of them works out. So far, some have (Agger, Arbeloa to an extent, Crouch) and some haven't (Bellamy, Pennant) but this summer will probably be the one where he spends the cash on the stars (Alves maybe). Liverpool will definitely be stronger next season. I don't anticipate them changing their style because it is effective but I do believe that if they get players who are proven to be the cream of the crop, they'll be more 'efficient' and instead of losing certain games, they'll get a point and instead of drawing certain games, they'll win. With Arsenal, it really depends on how much money they have available to spend. The return of Henry will be like a new signing to them anyways so they're going to be better. He's still 29, should be at his peak. I really expect him to be a world-beater once again. I've heard Arsenal are actually asking him to come back 2 weeks earlier or something to make sure he's fit and raring to go straight from the off. Thus, I expect Arsenal to challenge for the title just because they won't be dropping points to mid-table fodder anymore (like they did to us, Villa, Everton, Boro etc.) as Henry's magic will be enough. There's also the boy wonder Fabregas who should continue to improve and next season should be even better as he'll have less pressure on him. Add to that the development of Walcott, the adjustment to the league by Rosicky (and Hleb to an extent), Arsenal will be better. With Chelsea, it's safe to assume they'll also be better. The core of the team is still there and with a summer of stability (ie. no major incomings or outgoings), I anticipate Chelsea to be the hardest team to beat next season. You also have to consider the fact that Ballack and Shevchenko will be better just because they're quality players and will continue to adjust to the league. Champions next season = Chelsea. Onto the Champions of this season, I don't think they can be much stronger unless they find a replacement for Giggs and Scholes. They've already upgraded one of their weaknesses (center midfield) with the purchase of Hargreaves. Now, the question with Manyoo is whether or not their two main players can reproduce and possibly better what they've accomplished this season, the two players being Rooney and Ronaldo. And they will have to at least match what they did this season because Giggs, Neville and Scholes will be a year older, and they're not exactly on the right side of their 'peak' either. Rooney and Ronaldo are quality, but I have a feeling that Manyoo depend on them too much and they won't be able to make up for any drop in form from the aforementioned aging trio. Of course, the summer's just begun and everything and anything could change.

Why hasn't anyone told Franky to stick it where the sun don't shine yet? Fucking go find another place to cry. You lost. Your manager did fuck up. And I'm fucking happy because it's fans like you who piss me off the most. Fuck off with your patronising shit and appreciate the fact that what you currently have, won't last. At least I fucking hope so anyway.

Right, now I can say this with punch: Any cocksucking little FUCKER who post-boosts or spams on my watch will have their puny little account WIPED OUT faster than they can put their hands in their pants to wank themselves off. This is a zero tolerance rule. DO NOT post boost. DO NOT fuck with me. End communication. You're back to being one of 'them' again, aren't you?

They won't. 2-0 Milan.

A deserved chance for Zoggy to 'take the shirt' (quoting Roeder)? Certainly is. I expect we won't spend any significant amount of money on a left-sided midfielder, it'd just be daft considering that Milner has played there and done well. Anyhow, I really hope Zoggy gets a chance, the chance that he never received in the season just gone by, and I hope he plays well enough to keep Duff out of the team for good.

Anelka was said to be better than Henry in their early 20's. Parky man, Anelka again?! Obsession, no doubt

There won't be enough space.

Was saying the exact same thing to a mate a few days ago. Milan to take a 3-0 lead going into HT but instead of it ending 3-3, it ends 6-0 instead! That'd make my fucking 'footballing' year.

Milan all the way.

No one's mentioned someone really obvious yet so I'll do it. Shay Given. He's been at the club for fucking ages, he's consistently good, mostly fit, our first choice and I just have a feeling making him captain might push him onto the next level ie. become a true leader. The only bad thing about it is he won't be able to drive the team forward etc. because he's a goalkeeper but tbh, don't you just feel that much better when you see his name on the teamsheet? Isn't that an attribute you want the captain to have? It's just a gut feeling but I think Given will benefit from being the captaincy and since he's been consistently good for nearly 10 years, saved us so many times you can't even count, I think he deserves it, and the team will benefit from him being a captain. Something else worth mentioning, since none of our outfield players has actually 'earned' the armband, it's common sense to make Given the captain. Why? Because we won't have another Parker situation develop ie. other players clearly should be playing instead of him but he's undroppable because he's the captain. Along the lines of what tmonkey mentioned, we don't want to give it to someone who's form will probably fluctuate. We need it with someone stable, someone who we have and can continue to depend on. There's only one man at the club that fits the ball and his name is Shay Given. I disagree with giving it to Owen because what message does that send out to the players? He's played 12 (?) games in two seasons and now he's suppose to be the leader of the team? Fuck off, that's nonsense. There is a point to be made about the 'political' captain but that's putting him over the importance of the team. If he's not already putting his all in atm, then he can fuck off, just like anyone else who's not giving their all.