Parky

Yup.

Exactly. Slow news day, so let's make some more bollocks up about Owen. They haven't even bothered to make up a pretend 'source at the club' to have tipped them off. Big fat pile of shit.

I'd try to get him to stay as well. Goals per game anyone?

Agreed. you also echo the same idea i was getting at, we need goals from all round the pitch. at the minute we don't have many people who are going to contribute goals outside of the forwards, perhaps Barton will be this player, N'Zogbia is another but even on his top form he doesn't score huge amounts. for that reason i don't think we can really go with Smith as he himself scores very few and then we're left completely reliant on one striker to score every game. I don't think Owen-Viduka will work too well for the reasons outlined above, though it would work better if we had pace elsewhere in the team to compensate for those two being fairly leaden and both at least guarantee goals. I think Allardyce will look to get rid of Martins and Owen, i definitely don't see either being here at the end of next season, in fact i suspect he was trying to flog both of them in the summer. in the immediate term (january) we have other positions to fill rather than buy another striker, right-wing for instance. anyway the issue of which two strikers we play up front will be a moot point if we end up playing Big Sam's 4-3-3. He did his utter best to get rid of one of them...All that talk of clauses etc..

Correct. Good points to consider.

I share your sentiment. It's a far too simplistic to say " smiths average and not worth 6m", there is so much more to it, as you have pointed out. I always maintained this board would come to its senses reg Smith as the season went on.

Championing the Sun and Alan Oliver over the best player at the club.

...and the closer we get to the point where internationals are only squad players for us the better.

blueyes.gif ...and let's face it Viduka and Owen will on a season long inj merry-go-round and Smith will get games as a forward.

Well I hope there are more 'decent games' from him.

I see the old Smith tide is beginning to turn on here.

It WILL be interesting if he comes back injured.

Where do you think you might finish this year in the league and CL?

I think you may well be proved right. I still like and rate the bloke and would have him here if Sam wasn't our manager, in a heart beat. If he his giving more time and more money, he will land the big one for them. Can't see him getting that though if they fail this season which is looking odds on. Tbh the setup Liverpool have they should be in contention every year for a few tin pots...Don't really see what he's done to the side since he's been there they still struggle if Gerrard isn't playing well or Alonso is injured. The test of a good manager is to understand and impliment his squad to overcome such things especially with that huge squad he now has.

I don't think we can rely on Emre's fitness so I'd still get an attacking central mf in with a strong creative component to his game. Right winger would be nice. Sell a few more wasters if poss.

Bent. Nothing more than an average striker. £6m for Smith is peanuts in todays market.

Always a good player to have in the squad...First in and last out in training type. Smith will always give everything and as Dave says a good alternative as a forward. Ocassional appearances in the center of midfield coming on for 20 min or so to spice things up and perhaps decapitate one or two of thiers...

mackems.gif ..top manger, genius tactician..yada yada...blah..blah...Spanish football...cup games..etc... Best bit was.. "Can't hide behind no money anymore".. blueyes.gif

Let's hope so. blueyes.gif

Pawing it into yer own net is never good.

:giggle:

Owen is in a different class to Martins 70/80% of the time.

Aye 2 goals for my dream team

Sounds like good stuff.