Yorkie

My 'objective' would be Top 8. But if we finish ninth or tenth with obvious improvement, i'll be happy enough.

Good egg.

Why would Ben Haim turn down a contract at Bolton and Chelsea to sign for us, when next season it's acceptable to finish top 10 for us. So you're claiming it's unacceptable to finish in the top 10.

Where's he said that?

If Ben Haim wants to go to Chelsea and subsequently rot on the bench (if that), then let him. He deserves it. Just like Sidwell. As for Chelsea... well. Man Utd sign Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson. Chelsea sign Ben Haim and Sidwell. Two of our targets, to get us into top half football again. Erm...? Do they want to win the league again?

£19m for RVN iirc. The Owen* argument is inevitably going to come up. But, regardless of the hindsight bonus, Owen is an absolute class above Darren Bent, or atleast was back then. *Whom we signed from Madrid, having fended off competition from Man Utd and Liverpool... Spurs are getting Bent off lowly Charlton, with competition from the Spammers.

However, regardless of who we're playing and regardless of the manager, we always start the season shite and i'll predict a lowly three points from them first three games. Then we'll massacre Sibierski and Bramble on their return and hammer them 1-0 Bolton-style.

The first three games are sexy tbh. Bolton will struggle next season with Sammy Lee and the distraction of Europe (which, in fairness, won't last long), and who knows who else is going to leave? We should get a draw there. And Villa and the Smogs are both games in which we should be winning.

12 million max from us. No mate, you're paying £17m. Regardless of what you make back by selling another (equally as good) player, you're paying £17m. Which, in the words of every sane person on the planet, is sheer lunacy. Takes inflation to new levels. I'll take Viduka on a free, thanks.

An annoyingly healthy start to the season. We always start the season shit, regardless of who we're playing. That's potentially 7 or 9 'easy' points dropped.

Eh? I meant banned for posting the fixture list tomorrow. 'Fixture predictions', geddit? Never mind. Sorry, i thought you were being ironic. Like you were about to ban a load of people for this thread or something. *gunshot*

Prepare to be underwhelmed. If he doesn't he'll be sacked. New era's gonna be shite in that case, then. If that's the mentality. And we'll rot.

Get banned for predicting the forthcoming football match do we? Say so long to the pre-match threads, then! --- Why're ten people gonna get banned, Dave?

We'll get something utterly underwhelming, like Everton (A). There you go, that's my prediction. Trip to Goodison.

Prepare to be underwhelmed.

I like the new Swiss kit.

Top 7 or he's failed. I think you're a cracking poster Nut, as i've said on several occassions, but howay man. If we finish Top 6, i'll be absolutely gobsmacked. 7th, and i'll be pleasantly surprised. Top 10 and obvious improvement, and i'll be happy. Atleast make us difficult to beat. This is potentially the most major overhaul/transitional period the club has had since i don't know when... John Hall came into the frame? If i were to set any 'radical' target, it'd be 10/11 home victories. We have to be relatively formidable at home again.

Rather have Geremi.

Celtic/Juventus/Sampdoria and Hartlepool/Carlisle/Hull. Nice balance, that. Should see some youngsters blooded, which'll be good. Should be a fun pre-season!

Yay. Decent friendly, that. Would be good if we had Juve over aswell.

Double figures for Bent is too much.

With any ambition to what? Play in the Champions League & win trophies? Only one club there can offer that... Personally i would rather play in the Premiership for a club with renewed hope, than go to a micky mouse league where theres only a couple of teams in it. Celtic aren't ever gonna win the Champions League. If you go to any SPL team you have no ambition imo. SPL medals count for shit. He'd be paid some serious wumba to play, at half-pace, in a team that'll rip everything to shreads while gaining medal after medal, aswell as regular Champo League footy. Aye, his ambition is questionable. But the easy choice is Celtic. Obviously, i'd like him to come here.

If you had a few million tucked away, you wouldn't give a shit. Barton may be legally entitled to the money but he certainly doesn't deserve it. Greedy fucking arsehole. Couldn't give a shit if he's virtually our player or not. If he's acting the cunt, he's acting the cunt. Not arguing with that, cos it's spot on! But the mentality of a rich man is to want more. If the £300,000 is rightfully his, it's not like he's not going to put up a fight for it. Let's be realistic.

Just to go back to my original point of 'signing Ben Haim would be more beneficial than signing Davies, both from a financial and footballing aspect' ... that's because i don't think he'll ask for £65k. If he does, then Davies would more likely be the better option, obviously.

Woduld probably agree, Midds. I don't think he'll ask for that, though. And if he does, i don't think we'd pay him it.