Nate

That's just conjecture. My point is, i don't think that's how he genuinely sees it. There's a risk element attatched to everything. He could come here, break his leg in the first game of the season, and waste a year of his career. Going to Chelsea is actually a small gamble with potentially massive rewards. I did say relatively small.

FYP. Tevez will be most effective around equally intelligent footballers, not the likes of Obafemi and Shola.

Also, don't you think he finds the thought of playing under Mourinho, alongside the likes of Terry and Shevchenko, and challenging for the Premiership, Champions League etc. enticing? From his point of view, the worst case scenario is that he doesn't even get close to the team all season and leaves to join a mid-table side, which is the current alternative, this time next year. I can't blame him for giving himself a chance of making it at a successful club and i'm suprised he's being so heavily criticised for doing so. I bet the relatively small difference in weekly wage comes quite far down his list of reasoning.

Why do you think he left Arsenal for Reading if money is all he cares about?

I did think they would finish above us next season, due to how bad Roeder was, and how good i think Keane will be, in equal measure. Not any more.

Yes, i do. As you've already said, he's dropped down leagues before in order to find first team football, in reality would he now knowingly sacrifice his playing career for an extra £5-10k per week? I don't think so. The latter certainly could have outweighed any doubts about the amount of first-team opportunities he'll receive, and you can't really blame him for that.

Fair enough, it just seems as though if a player joins a big club he gets put down for being a mercenary and not caring about his career, and if he goes to/stays at a smaller club he's showing a 'lack of ambition'. Do you think Chelsea are going to pay him more than the £40k-a-week we reportedly were?

Yep, showing the ambition and self-confidence to go and compete for a starting place against some of the best midfielders in the world... very similar to Neill joining relegation candidates as opposed to a team in the Champions League final for an extra £20k a week. I doubt Chelsea were even offering significantly more than us in all honesty, players can't win these days. You honestly think he has gone for the challenge? As I posted above there are about 6 players already fighting for those 2 spots, 4 of them are MUCH better than Sidwell. So you think Neill did the right thing in going to a smaller club with the guarentee of first team football for the entirity of his contract?

Yep, showing the ambition and self-confidence to go and compete for a starting place against some of the best midfielders in the world... very similar to Neill joining relegation candidates as opposed to a team in the Champions League final for an extra £20k a week. I doubt Chelsea were even offering significantly more than us in all honesty, players can't win these days.

N'Zogbia & Luque - hopefully. Bramble - unfortunately.

Do you actually know any Chelsea fans that didn't support them before the Abramovich takeover?

No they weren't. ...I mean, correct. Chelsea fans don't seem particularly impressed, it will interesting to see how he does there.

Where did 'the' Luque thread go?

Ah, thanks.

I know it should be easy, but what's the one in the middle of the top row on the first page?

As long as we ignore the fact Owen is x10 the striker, this sounds good. Owen is just better at positioning, creativity and reading the game. Things that all experienced players have. Martins will learn that when he fully adapts to the game. Pluss Oba's faster, stronger has a great shot and a hell of a leap... But at the moment, Owen is the better player. But in a year or two... ...there still won't be any signs of his positioning, movement and reading of the game improving? He's not a 17 year old.

As long as we ignore the fact Owen is x10 the striker, this sounds good.

No top manager would take the job on those terms, though.

Yup, mid table safety. Just what we need in the long term. Allardyce's record at Bolton doesn't suggest that's all he would be capable of at a club with our resources.

Chopra has turned out to be shite? 22 goals during the first season he's actually been given a chance in - he couldn't have done much more.

Latest statement? Where...

Owen, a luxury player who does not make any impact? If Martins is anywhere near as good as Owen at 27 he'll be doing very well.

I agree with those two too, but it's a decent group overall. Hopefully Shorey and Bentley will make the full squad.

Who doesn't deserve to be there?

No need to all quote the picture.