Yorkie

Of all the unknowns that Robson paid (significant money) for, Bassedas was the only one that came off particularly badly*. Gavilan next, probably. That's not to say he didn't wast emoney elsewhere... *To be fair, Viana was one of the most highly rated youngsters in Europe.

Personally reckon we probably would have followed up our interest in Distin if Roeder had of stayed. Think that deal fell apart when Roeder left. Plus, Pompey were probably willing to offer him more than we were.

How, in fuck's name, can you say that you've seen him once in your life - then have the audacity to make a judgement such as that? Never heard of him, personally.

Doubt it tbh. He's never even heard of Barton.

We've been paid £2.5m to improve our midfield. I'm not complaining. Good player with the potential to be a very good one.

NUFC Away kit '08 tbh.

If we spend £45m... i'll expect us to finish in the Top 6. I think that's reasonable. If we spend £10-15m or whatever Sam initially had/has before any takeover, i'll be happy with top half and obvious improvement. Either way i'm not expecting too much too fast.

Do Birmingham really need any more fucking strikers? Bendtner, Campbell, Forssell, Cole, McSheffrey, Jerome. They can piss off. I want Viduka.

To be expected. Now then, let's start pin-pointing the fatties in the squad... Any starters? Pun intended.

What actually is the deal with this Manuel Fernandes character? Can Everton afford him or not?

Yep. Would take him any day of the week. He was one of the major people i had in mind when writing the post; Nobby won't be able to play every game. At a good age aswell, only 28.

Class player, nowt wrong with his attitude or professionalism nowadays. Needs anger management classes, but has the potential to be superb and no one can sniff at his charity work over at City. [/dave]

Northern Ireland finishing above Spain would be absolutely phenomenal. I'd love to see them in a major competition, it'd be great. Their campaign has been absolutely fantastic. The Spain and Sweden games, you've just thought "not a chance", but they've done it, and it's great. The quality of players in their squad is obviously inferior, but there's such a great team spirit, and that's all Worthington has to retain. If he does that, their success will continue. Even if they don't qualify, they'll have 'succeeded'. To put it as patronisingly as fuck, it's nice to see that they're not the worst of the home internationals anymore.

Well, considering their wages, i can't imagine they inhabit trash cans and i can't say many of them are short of six-packs, so i probably agree with him. Depends what he means by professional, i suppose.

Personally, i wouldn't be interested in Morten Gamst Pedersen. He comes along in fits and spurts, and no one was really saying anything about him until he had an impressive ending to the season. He's an erratic player, matches-wise and seasons-wise, just like Robert - and i don't think he'd be worth the inevitable double-figure asking price. Besides, i think we'd profit more from going after a right-winger, which i think is a greater need. Solano is a wing-back now; he doesn't have the legs nor the ability any more to be much of a competent winger, leaving us with Milner as the only real option there. So i think a right sided player is in need anyhow. And even if N'Zogbia leaves, we'd be able to fill in the left side with Milner, and use the new right-sided player to play down the right. Rather than just bring in another left winger, leaving us with three by the time Duff comes back; the Zog might stay. Instead, we'd have two right-wingers and two left-wingers.

Not that I am aware of. I think the French lost interest to pursue it further. I couldn't find any judgement in the official database when I looked (quickly) some time ago. They probably either dropped it or there was some settlement. Oh yes, and Jormany beat the mighty San Marino 6-0. Yeah! 19-0 aggregate scoreline.

If N'Zogbia leaves we have to look for a LW but untill then we need 2 CB, 1 LB, 1 RB, 1 IM and 1 CF + 1 GK if Krul goes out on loan before concidering a LW. So who the hell are we supposed to play at LW? Charles N'Zogbia He's leaving though, I for one don't think he's got a future here. And we can't wait until he goes because that could be August 31st for all we know then what will we do? Raid City's reserves, duhh.

This argument is going off course. I said that Shearer was past if for his last season, but it wasn't his fault that he was in the team - simply because there was no one else, only Chopra. That's all true. I said that he did alright in the season before that, scoring 19 goals IIRC. Most of them were in the cups, but so were Kluivert's. That's true aswell. Overall point i was trying to make was that he was past it in his last season, but i don't think he was too bad in the season before. Not 'past it' anyway; regardless of the opposition, he was playing in a shite side under a shite manager and he didn't score 19 goals by being 'past it'.

Kluivert should have played more, wouldn't disagree there. But by the end of it, he couldn't give a shit and he was injured half the time anyway.

Would love to see Shearer's goals per minute ratio in the 2004-5 season compared to Kluivert's. IIRC 7 were in the Prem, the rest against part-time farmers (they only milk the cows in the morning) in the Intertoto and UEFA. Think Kluivert scored seven goals in the Prem, aswell. And btw, the Intertoto season was his last season - the one where i agreed that he was past it.

Would love to see Shearer's goals per minute ratio in the 2004-5 season compared to Kluivert's. Kluivert, like Shearer, scored the vast majority of his goals in the cup competitions.

Yeah, because he was always happy to be dropped, wasn't he. I said that because the only other alternative to Shearer and Ameobi, was Chopra. Not because he should or should not have been dropped.

Shearer was past it for his last season, wouldn't disagree. But it wasn't his fault that he had to play every single game. Season before that, 04/05, he did alright - 19 goals wasn't bad for someone who was 'past it'. He should have been used more sparingly in the Premier League, though - but again - he was forced into the side thanks to constant injuries. He himself had a 3-month on the sidelines aswell, if i remember correctly. Anyhow, Parker has had an utterly fruitless season - we were a better team when he wasn't in it. He didn't pick himself, though. And although it was largely his doing, it wouldn't surprise me if he was one of many who fell victim to a shite managerial set-up.

There's no mistaking that he's an excellent player, and he's had an absolutely superb season. McClaren should forget about Bekcham - if he wants to bring players back, he should spend his time trying to convince Paul Scholes. However, i don't think i'd like to see him come here. I just don't think he'd work. He's played absolutely nowhere but Man United in his career, and he's what - 32 now? I just don't think he'd be effective... 'another Nicky Butt' if you like (in fairness, the re-invigorance of Butt has come out of absolutely nowhere this season). Hmm, that'd be a very tidy price to pay for such a player, but i just dunno. He's Manc through and through. Besides, as has been mentioned, i honestly can't see Man Utd letting him go this season, for the exact reasons that Jon pointed out. Ferguson isn't going to just sit there and pray that Anderson and Nani work out - they probably won't straight away; after all, it's taken Ronaldo a good few seasons to really start fulfilling his potential. He'll hang onto Scholes and Giggs for another season atleast, and to be honest, i can imagine they'll finish their careers there.

Isn't that Under-18s or something? I've often flicked that on in the past, but just find most of the games completely rotten.