Dr Spectrum

I can remember Italia 1990...however my memories are very vague. I can remember seeing the likes of Lineker, Beardsley, Platt, Pearce et al but no enough to stick my neck out and say "x is the best". Really I'm better going from Euro 96 onwards. There are a few candidates from the more sucessful 96 team...Shearer, Gazza...etc and some from whats followed - Gerrard, Owen, etc. I'm going to have to go for someone who did it over a longer period than that month. I feel funny saying this - not only because of who he plays for but also because their are no extraordinary moments that can I recollect, especially from major tournaments, such as what Gazza did vs Scotland. Paul Scholes. Maybe no as spectacular as some but I honestly think he is and was a wonderful player. From 97 or so until the world cup in Japorea I think he was Englands best player. I remember the period around Euro 2000...when Keegan was in charge, he was absolutely awesome for England for a while. Strange picking someone from probably the worst England team that I can vividly remember but there you go. Scored a hattrick in one game I think, and he got the goals that beat Scotland in that playoff. Remember watching a game in the Euro2000 when I noticed a big MCFC flag in the crowd. Said "Ooh look, theres a City flag", someone else - who obviously knew nowt, had a penny drop somewhere and claimed that the only reason I was knocking one out over Scholes mad was cos he played for City...soon shut up when I pointed out that wasn't entirely accurate. Fucking travesty that he got bumped aside for the vastly inferior Lampard Also, Micah Richards.

Orville could not be reached for comment. While he does wish he could fly, right up to the Sky Sports News studios, unfortunately, he can't. Uh huh. Don't believe there is either. These guys in the City, theyre no mugs - and its hardly as if theyve rushed into this.

"Harris" here is Keith Harris, exec chairman of Seymour Pierce, the broker behind the deal. As I said on page 1 (), he has money outside of Thailand, and a kangaroo commission set up by an illegal goverment can do nothing to affect that.

Complete and utter irrelevance T'sT. The moneys have already been cleared by various banks in this country, there's nowt wrong with it. This is just more baseless mud-slinging from a bunch of bitter muppets.

Well ya. I always felt that was harsh. The players were absolutely wasted, I seem to remember Danny Mills being the only England player who could still run in the heat/humidity. Dunno...there are a lot of good Portugal players there...apart from Maniche, Valente, Gomes, they were all pretty good. OK England had some good guys too (Apart from a left winger), but I don't think there's a dramatic difference, especially with Rooney out of the equation in both games and being replaced with players of the calibre of Vassell and Crouch-J Cole.

I agree. Although, i do rate Scolari higher. The guys a genious on the international scene. England had the better squad of players on both occasions. I disagree. Certainly in ths case of 02. But even so, they're isnt much of a difference. 02: England: Seaman; Mills, Campbell, Ferdinand, A Cole; Beckham, Scholes, Butt, Sinclair; Owen, Heskey Brazil: Marcos; Cafu, Roque Junior, Lucio, Edmilson, Roberto Carlos; Gilberto, Ronaldinho(Sent off), Kleberson; Ronaldo, Rivaldo 04: England: James; Neville, Terry, Campbell, A Cole; Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, Scholes; Owen, Rooney (Vassell after he broke his foot) Portugal: Ricardo; Miguel, Andrade, Carvalho, Valente; Maniche, Costinha, Deco, Figo, Ronaldo; Nuno Gomes 06: England: Robinson; Neville, Terry, Ferdinand, A Cole; Beckham, Hargreaves, Gerrard, Lampard, J Cole; Rooney(Sent off), Portugal: Ricardo; Miguel, Meira, Carvalho, Valente; Figo, Maniche, Petit, Tiago, Ronaldo; Pauleta Anyways, I think the main reason Scolari gets such a tonguing was because of 04...Sven was seen as someone who always stuck by his big names no matter how they performed but Scolari had the balls to sub Figo...and it worked.

I'd do a deal for Alves if they really wanted him... Please be bollox! Please be true! Come and get me plea

http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2109897,00.html Thats interesting...David Bernstein was chairman of City from ~98 to ~03. Presided over our recovery from the 2nd division, but resigned over the decision to sign Robbie Fowler. He's a quality operator...no doubt about it. Playing my-way-or-the-high-way with people of that calibre...I wonder if that makes Ashley either ruthless as owt, or a headstrong muppet? PS:

Seems most here are pretty confident that Sven is the man for the job... Personally, I'm in two minds. On the one hand, his record speaks for itself. I have no doubts over his ability as a manager (as long as we can get a good #2), and I've become somewhat indifferent to the media - There have been some absolutely scathing reports in recent days about Thaksin, I don't think I'll be arsed when the inevitable Sven is a muppet headlines start to appear. But my big worry is that we're going to end up as some sort of poor-mans galactico operation. Thaksin said he wants us to be big in the east...I really, really don't want us to sign names for the sake of names. Sven is by far the highest profile candidate, and we've already been linked to guys like Owen, and even Freddie Ljungberg. No the type of players I want to sign...we've got some moneys now so I'd prefer to get some players in who will go on to make their name with City rather than assorted washed-up "stars". I'm worried that we're targetting people for their pulling power rather than their suitability. Still, his first choice was Ranieri - who is no a big name but I thought was perfect for the job - so I'm probably being a little paranoid cos...you know, how do they say it - "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is".

Comeback on! Na I didn't put a bet on. But I'll look like a proper genius if they win this

Thoughts please..... PS:

If I was a betting man (something Im actually considering becoming for this game!) I would be lumping all my moneys on Serbia. I bet I could get crazy odds, would not think twice about backing a team that had won every game theyve played their proper team in, without conceeding a goal. Buying money. blueyes.gif

Chelsea are way too high too. Clingers on or no, they hardly sell a ticket for Champions League group games and they didn't sell their allocation for the FA Cup semi final.

Looks a lot like Real where they use Diarra and Emerson to give the top 4 liscense to go....but there is absolutely no comparison between RvN, Raul, Robinho & Beckham and Barca's 4. I'd think they'll let Deco go and use Xavi+1(Hopefully somone better than Motta, Marquez, Edmilson, etc). Get a better goalie, a bit of chopping and changing at the back, could be looking at the best team ever.

No. We don't have enough money to pay £17m on one player, given the amount of other players we need (I think we need a new front 6). There is absolutely no chance we will go for Bent and the notion that we would is ludicrous. This article is far too speculatory (Is that a word?) on this matter and the bit on linking him to Newcastle is hardly cast iron. Smacks of just linking him to everyone so they can claim they broke the news after the event. Bent -> Spurs.

There's no way to say...hardly anyone has done any serious business. Several clubs havent signed anyone! Only feel confident making predictions on clubs who have shown their hand in the transfer market. Wigan, 20th. Good fucking riddance.

I hate these "big club" pissing contests and normally try to ignore them. But seriously. I ain't having that. I was insulted that we were originally so low (in the same bracket as Boro? Come off it) but that post is just silly.

Is that Chris Killen, the New Zealand international? Ya. Didn't look owt when he came thru here, but he's carved out a nice little niche for himself in scotland. Just signed for Celtic! I would have never believed that 5 years ago.

12 Middlesbrough 38 12 10 16 44 49 -5 46 13 Newcastle United 38 11 10 17 38 47 -9 43 14 Manchester City 38 11 9 18 29 44 -15 42

Barton?

Is there anyone near the class of Henry? Tevez maybe?

Hmm. I hope Barca keep Etoo too. Them two with Ronaldinho and Messi down the sides, wow. That will be fun. I'd much prefer them to flog the deadwood - Guily, Gudjohnsen, that Argentine fella who scored against Chelsea, and so on. I'm disappointed for Arsenal tho. Even tho I'm of the opinion that Henry is past his best, and even if Wenger is alright with this, you can't replace a player like that easily. I hope they don't turn to shit - I want them to carry on being good. Be a shame to lose the last piece of flair (from a team that I can tolerate) from the business end of the premiership. Ya, that was hilarious.

I disagree with you. I think he is poor. Just my opinion of him on a purely technically level. Got nothing to do with him being a dirty player - I thought Dennis Bergkamp was absolutely criminal, his first touch was alright tho . No worried about his lack of know-how?

http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Articles/Room_101.htm