Raconteur

That was a great goal. I remember watching that match on Channel 4. I was kinda half asleep on the sofa so I didn't see the goal probably until they replyed it. Better than Messi's, imo. But Maradona's is better than both. I have to agree - remember it is one of my favourite goals... Picked it up on the edge of his own penalty box and just blitzed through, amazing stuff.

Sorry, I should have put a safety wink after the first line I'll have to disagree about most gifted in the world - it's a very bold claim and I'm sure the likes of Ronaldinho, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo to name just three would have something to say about it. But hey, this whole thread is all about opinions, agree to disagree?

I have to say I'd take Platt over Gerrard eight days a week. That's why aussies should stick to Rugby League That's a bit harsh Stevie! But maybe you're right, my being Australian makes me view English players differently than you - I think that any player with a modicum of talent is massively over-hyped, way above the reality of the situation. In my opinion Stevie G is one of those players, over-rated by an English press and public desperate to think they're still a force on the world stage. That's not to say he's the most over-rated English player going around - ahead of him on that list are the likes of Lampard, Ashley Cole, Lennon. I'd say he's in a similar bracket to Terry and Rooney - talented yes, world beater no... And as for Platt, what can I say, I loved the way he played, not in Scholes' class but close - again, in my opinion

Without wanting to come across all NE5, but open a fucking history book will you! Worst ever in the EPL maybe, but... Well, see my sig... EDIT: I want Roeder out too, but that's just ridiculous

I have to say I'd take Platt over Gerrard eight days a week.

I actually wouldn't be surprised if Roeder started Luque on the left. My personal feeling have been made clear many times, and clearly Roeder doesn't rate him either, but with Duff out for the season and all the rumblings about The Zog's future... It will be interesting to see which way Roeder goes. Of course, there's the option of shuffling the pack, with Milner on the left, Solano on the right, Carr at right back and one of Babayaro/Huntington/Ramage at left back. Extraordinary lengths to go to just to keep N'Zogbia and Luque out of the team - par for the course for Roeder!

It's all been done! Besides, I think generally a lot of people have come around to the either of the following opinions a) He has no future under Roeder, so what we think doesn't really mean much really; and/or b) Roeder doesn't have much of a future here, so a new man might give him a clean slate...

Shrewd! Um, you know who's making the decisions, don't you? mackems.gif In fact, considering we need three centre halves minimum, not including assorted fullbacks, strikers and midfielders PLUS the fact it's Roeder doing the buying, I think we're going to need about 50 million quid! "Computer says no..."

Aye, that's where I was going - if the Academy is sub-standard, then surely we should improve it rather than give up on it! Beggars belief...

WTF?!? Surely not? Didn't we learn this lesson when KK closed down the reserves?

Well, obviously this is where my comparison breaks down - because in the RL situation I described the merged team alternated their home matches for the first season, then upped sticks and moved an hour north after that! And the name was a mish-mashed melding - so in football, something like North-East United FC! Further to which, I think we're fundamentally opposed on this one, because if Freddy killed NUFC off I would be thoroughly disenchanted with the game - thinking that tradition and history were being killed in the name of a quick buck (ie as happened in my comparison). You say in your opening post that you would adopt a team and even though you might not have the strength of feeling over many years you would consider yourself a supporter of that club. Well, I would probably feel the same way, except turning my affections towards another code, as opposed to another club. I wouldn't love another game as much as I love football, but I would come to like it...

So we should only play those who we KNOW are loyal or committed? So thats about 3. We're going to get tonked, every week. Starting line-up to include Peter Ramage, Lee Clark and Steven Taylor Plus Harper in goals - and maybe Pav the Geordie outfield?

Well, here in Australia (well, in the northern states anyway), if you don't follow league you can't hold a conversation in winter - it effects your social skills in exactly the same way not following football would in England Hence why I said it was comparable. Indeed, it was exactly why I had to develop the aggressive bluster - because people think you're a poof if you don't follow league! And since this is a hypothetical thread - are you saying you would support a merged Newcastle-Sunderland club if it was forced on you? Not being a Geordie, I can only go on my assumptions, but I would have thought if that ever happened the entire city would turn their backs on the game and follow either league or union!

I've been following your arguments closely, and I'm of the opinion that since you're hypothetical is somewhat outside the square, you should also expect some answers to be outside the square too... You've said (and I'm paraphrasing here) that people who say they don't support football are mocked as boring etc. But what if you turn it around and say something like "I don't follow football anymore, Shepherd killed my love for it"? Because something very comparable happened to me in a different code. Born in a rugby league region, I followed league right up until the Super League War in 1995, at which time my club was forced to merge with our fiercest rivals (now just think about that for a second - we are talking on a Newcastle-Sunderland scale here). From that moment any love I had for the game died, I didn't ever watch another game again. When asked who I support, I adopt an aggressive bluster and say "Fuck League, Rupert (Murdoch) killed the game for me" Which is why someone saying they would jack it in is not unreasonable - such a scenario as posited in your opening post would be enough to totally and absolutely kill someone's love for the game

Disappointing, but no surprise really. If Oliver and Roeder are of the same mind, we'll probably end up accepting the first 2m bid made

You've got the wrong Aussie cunt there - you're talking about Harry ubercunt Kewell Seriously though, Viduka might be inconsistent and might be a big unit but selfish isn't something I'd attribute to him. In fact his shite scoring record at international level is precisely because he has spent almost an entire international career up front by himself, back to goal laying off chances for the likes of Kewell, Bresciano and Emerton...

I can't imagine they'll give Cristiano Ronaldo both awards - although, as brewer says, it's common sense that if he's the senior player he should be the young player too, it's just not politically expedient. Therefore I believe the winners will be either Drogba & Cristiano Ronaldo, or Cristiano Ronaldo and either Rooney or Richards. Would be funny to see the golden boy, labelled the biggest thing in English football since forever, getting an up-and-comer award

That's the way I've always done it - both in FM and when picking my squad in my coaching days. I've always been a bit of a nazi about numbers, and things like the Cannibal wearing number 9 gets on my goat. In response to the initial post re contract negotiations, I remember when Denis Bergkamp demanded the number 10 when he signed for Arsenal - Paul Merson being stripped of it. And I imagine Mickey Owen would have been "requested" to shift to number 9 this season only to stubbornly stick with number 10 for commercial reasons (For me, number 10 is a playmaker, number 9 is a striker. You're a number 9 Mickey! )

All good - I had myself a chuckle

prototypical - great word my friend, i think i'll try to use that more in conversation (i work on an oil rig mind so they might hang me for being a smartarse, but i'll take my chances) Or alternatively you could try using the word "stereotypical" which is what Racunteur was actually looking for. Or even archetypal - all three fit, and are good Queen's English... Just out of curiosity, was the manner in which you spelt my user name a typo, or do you have something to say?

mrmojorisin75 - you're repeating yourself over and over again, and I think it's because your premise is flawed... I notice that you seemed to have missed my post (because it's about the only one you haven't attacked!) so I'll repeat the meat of it... a) Remember that Huntington was lined up to go to Plymouth on loan and actually spent a few days there, but Roeder called him back because we were so thin on numbers b) Yes, we will be three centre halves down come summer. I don't think anyone believes Bramble, Moore or Onyewu will be here in August c) Roeder, dumb though he is, is not totally fucked in the head. He knows he will have to replace those three players - and everyone who has posted in this thread is hoping it will be with significantly higher quality. d) And given Roeder is not completely fucked in the head he will not send Edgar on loan without being certain he can afford to. He has demonstrated this with Huntigton already Since you asked us to hypothesise, I believe we won't adequately replace those three defenders - which means Edgar will not go on loan, which means you'll get your wish for more first team action next season. I don't know why you think Roeder will fail to reinforce the defence and loan Edgar out. Which brings me back to the question I asked in my thread - can you please reproduce the article where you got this all from? Not that you can believe either managers or journalists, but it would be good to know what we're talking about rather than your interpretation of it...

Wrong, wrong and wrong. As Shaman said, he was once a decent fullback, pretty good even, but he was finished after his knee injury. Boumsong left Auxerre on a free transfer, could have gone anywhere but where did his talent take him? To Rangers - where the mediocre shine. He only cost a ridiculous amount because we were extorted by Rangers (possibly with the connivance of Souness) Luque was signed by Deportivo on the back of one good season at Mallorca where he was made to look good by Eto'o and had one decent season out of three at Depor. Without turning this into a Luque thread how many of his caps were in competitive matches? Nine caps in five years doesn't exactly make him Raul or Morientes, does it?

Sibierski being your prototypical French-sounding name, of course

That's exactly right, Roeder might be an idiot, but he's not completely fucked in the head - at the start of the season Huntington was all lined up to go on loan to Plymouth but Roeder called it off when he realised we wouldn't be signing any defenders - and good thing too because we relied rather heavily... If we get defenders in and we can afford to loan Edgar out, well and good (for all parties). If not, then he'll stay and be considered part of the squad. And going on the Huntington situation, and that Roeder has allegedly already told Edgar he will be loaned out, then Roeder must be pretty confident reinforcements will be coming in - and considering we will be losing three central defenders, at least that many will have to come in for Edgar to go out on loan... But then again, I'm hoping Roeder gets booted ASAP, and the new man can make his own decisions on who shall stay, who shall go and who goes out on loan

Personally, I think Anal Oliver invites "personal attacks" as he involves himself in the stories he writes - "I understand" and "Roeder/Shepherd has told me" is appalling journalism, makes him look like a club stooge and attempts to make himself part of the news. Writing in this manner is pure ego, and thus invites attacks personal attacks...