Unbelievable

83 minutes gone and Ajax still 0-0 vs Twente in the Champions League pre-playoffs. They have lost the first leg 2-1, so unless the score in the next 10 minutes they haven't qualified for CL, and Twente have.

They're building a serious challenge by being linked with loads of players in the News of the World? Ermm, Woodgate, Modric..? Woodgate was in January and we offered just as much for Modric. Seems so far we've both been willing to spend the same cash, we're hardly just talking about it are we.. I would say there is a substantial difference between trying to get players and actually having them sign a contract. I think it´s fair to assume both Woodgate and Modric would have been first choice reinforcements seeing as we went in for them early, but we lost out to direct competition in both cases. If that makes you comfortable about achieving our goals than good for you, but it certainly doesn´t appease me (and yes, I know it´s early days, but I don´t see how that prevents me from concluding that Spurs are going after their business better than we are at the moment). Edit I also fail to see the logic in excluding Woodgate from planning for next season. He will be there next season, won´t he, or did they only sign him for the second half of this season? Some would argue that it was excellent timing for that transfer as the competition would have probably been far greater in the summer if Woodgate had continues playing the way he had in the first part of the season.

They're building a serious challenge by being linked with loads of players in the News of the World? Ermm, Woodgate, Modric..?

If we started last season with Keegan we would have been way above Spurs, I doubt Ramos would have made that much difference to them. Means nowt. Their squad pisses all over ours as things stand, and their manager isn´t exactly clueless either. They are setting themselves up well for next season, whereas we might well be in for another false dawn the way things are turning out..

By finishing 11th? No, by building a squad that´s much better than ours and appointing a top class manager to guide them there. Ramos won't be there long, he doesn't stay anywhere long. And didn't they build a top class squad last summer? Yes, and they fucked it up, which is not to say they will do it again. Player for player, their squad is stronger than ours and they are adding real quality to it. I would say they aren´t to far behind Liverpool in terms of squad strength, whereas we are light years behind, especially as they keep snitching the few top quality players that will consider coming to a ´non top 4 club´ away in front of us.

By finishing 11th? No, by building a squad that´s much better than ours and appointing a top class manager to guide them there.

Well, at least the seem to be building a serious challenge to the top 4 rather than talk about it (or it being impossible) like we seem to be doing..

Emre. Although I can see how you would have forgotten about him.. Still, a first team midfielder for me when fit..

Always the same with Spain. Great youngsters yet they never achieve anything special in the senior national team.

Great goal Zenit. Good crucial pass by Arshavin again..

Scott Parker is twice the player Alan Smith is. Parker can do spinning around AND falling over. Well, Parker may not have been a striker by trade, but he did find the net occasionnaly, and fairly spectacularly sometimes as well, might I add. Plus he could actually break down play as a defensive midfielder without a 100% foul rate and giving away stupid freekicks most matches, so that makes comparing Smith to him downright insulting. Things went downhill with Parker when our clueless manager saw it fit to play Emre as DM and Parker as AM/box-to-box midfielder as a centre midfield combination.

Thanks but no thanks..

He's done well at the back end of this season, so I would consider renewing his contract at the same terms as currently, especially given the reasons that rebel_yell 12 has given. However, 2 of his 7 recent goals have been very badly taken penalties (yesterday and vs Sunderland) that could (should?) both have been saved. We need to bring in a first team player who is more comfortable in dead ball situations, including penalties. Here's hoping that Owen will still be good for 15 goals or more next season and can remain fit for the rest of his time with us.

You have to laugh in order not to cry.. 6 million and 50k/week for such an abomination of a player. What was Allardyce thinking..?

Do I count? Entitled to our opinions tbh Allright then, of course you're entitled to an opinion. I'm just curious about what you're basing your opinion on? It certainly can't be what Zog or Keegan have come out with recently? Keegan isn't Souness, he's not going to come out and put down one of our players in public. I see what you're saying, but what are you implying? That Zog has been s*** in training and doesn't deserve to wear the black and white shirt ever again as far as Keegan is concerned.. Geez, and here I was thinking Keegan was a straigth and honest manager.. Then you obviously don't see what I'm saying. This is what I see that you're saying: Is there some hidden message? I'm saying Keegan's comments should be taken with a pinch of salt because he talks up all of the squad, it was only the other week he was praising Stephen Carr yet where is he now? Up the road without being offered a contract, it's typical Keegan and the man management he uses. So I'm not saying N'Zogbia's lazy or anything, I'm saying don't read too much into Keegan's comments because he wouldn't come out and tell you if N'Zogbia wasn't pulling his weight anyway. Fair enough! I still fail to see how (other) people have seemingly formed an opinion that Zog has been shit for us in the past two seasons (he hasn't) and that he ins't motivated to be here (no direct quotes whatsoever to support this, and direct quotes from Keegan and Zog himself as recent as his last contract renewal not even half a year ago..)

Do I count? Entitled to our opinions tbh Allright then, of course you're entitled to an opinion. I'm just curious about what you're basing your opinion on? It certainly can't be what Zog or Keegan have come out with recently? Keegan isn't Souness, he's not going to come out and put down one of our players in public. I see what you're saying, but what are you implying? That Zog has been s*** in training and doesn't deserve to wear the black and white shirt ever again as far as Keegan is concerned.. Geez, and here I was thinking Keegan was a straigth and honest manager.. Then you obviously don't see what I'm saying. This is what I see that you're saying: Is there some hidden message?

Do I count? Entitled to our opinions tbh Allright then, of course you're entitled to an opinion. I'm just curious about what you're basing your opinion on? It certainly can't be what Zog or Keegan have come out with recently? Keegan isn't Souness, he's not going to come out and put down one of our players in public. I see what you're saying, but what are you implying? That Zog has been shit in training and doesn't deserve to wear the black and white shirt ever again as far as Keegan is concerned.. Geez, and here I was thinking Keegan was a straigth and honest manager..

Do I count? Entitled to our opinions tbh Allright then, of course you're entitled to an opinion. I'm just curious about what you're basing your opinion on? It certainly can't be what Zog or Keegan have come out with recently?

Quite a few others in this thread, but none that "count" apparently, so nothing to worry about..

Blimey.. What's he done to you? Bummed your girlfriend? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: He has got a point though, we only want people who give a s***. So did Zog not give a s*** when he was practically our only goal threath in the early stages of the season? Did he not give a s*** when he was playing out of position and got slaughtered by the press and fans for making occasional defensive errors even though he's a winger? Does he look like he gives a s*** now, something is wrong otherwise he would be playing week in week out. I am not questioning his commitment in the past, more his commitment now. Rubbish.. Reason? Kevin Keegan: Really, what are all you lot basing your opinions on that he isn't motivated? From what Keegan is saying he's being more professional than could be expected from a youngster who has been played out of position or benched for less effective players frequently (Smith in midfield ffs) this past season.. Keep telling each other he's been shit and unmotivated and ruin another young promising player at our club all you want though..

Blimey.. What's he done to you? Bummed your girlfriend? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: He has got a point though, we only want people who give a s***. So did Zog not give a shit when he was practically our only goal threath in the early stages of the season? Did he not give a shit when he was playing out of position and got slaughtered by the press and fans for making occasional defensive errors even though he's a winger?

Blimey.. What's he done to you? Bummed your girlfriend?

He was our best player in the early stages of the season despite not having had a chance in his natural position. People forget so fast. I will find it a travesty if we let Zog leave on the cheap; he's one of brightest young talents and I would expect the man manager Keegan to sort him out mentally..

Jesus, bit of T'n'C laddy, don't take it seriously. But if you want an answer, Butt has provided us with performances which gave us points, Smith on the other hand has only ever cost us points. I know it's not all serious, I still don't think there's any point of blaming this on Smith when it's just as much someone elses fault. Alternatively we could have spent the 6 million on a striker who actually scored a couple of (match or points winning) goals instead of going into rash, foolish two-footed challenges in dangerous free kick territory nearly every match (giving away points) and that would have put us in much better stead for European football without even having to consider winning a European place through the Premiership fair play table.. How much did someone like say Roque Santa Cruz cost again? I would be happy if we payed up his contract if it meant he never wore a black and white shirt again, he's that bad..

3 of the 4 english CL team have got the position they are in on the merit of there club, only chelsea have hamfisted there way to the top of the European leagues, Sepp Blatters suggestion would merely weaken the strength of the english teams in the CL but whats to stop the big 4 buying up the best english talent and best forigen talent starving the other teasm in the manner they do now - and still dominate this league. Do you not think the money available to Premiership clubs compared to foreign leagues has anything to do with it?