Ronaldo

Do we have 27 points? What? As i've said, the attack is good enough for perhaps 5th place, the defence is the best in the league and is by far the main reason we're in 1st.

Butt just looked less knackered than Nolan and Smith, which says it all.

Carroll and Lovenkrands has looked pretty horrible whenever i've seen it, Derby and Palace at home especially. If Hughton plays Carroll above Best he should be lynched.

Voted Routledge. I think it's almost equally likely that Best could become something of a legend here or be sold in 12 months

So did we, apparently in Owen, plus we had Martins who was always capable of getting a goal. But we didn't though, as most with sense knew.

You forgot 'powerful physique' and 'leader'.

Beckham did Ok at WC 2006, no more and no less. The lack of dynamic threat/coverage on his side of the field was blatant throughout though.

I'd take Lennon of today ahead of the Beckham of 2006, which gives you some idea of how I feel about that comparison now.

It wont, they have one of the most natural goalscorers in the league. If he gets injured for a period longer than 2 months it probably will happen btw.

Walcott's a player who stretches teams and makes a lot of space for others, he has to go.

Yeah I did that in May, 4 months after I said we should drop him. Fair play to you for holding the hands up though.

Oh that's good, we should give him the captaincy now because last time round he f***ed up his training regime and wasn't fit enough to play an entire game. He's done, can be effective in Serie A but not in the international game.

Perfect specimen of an athlete? How's that? 4 years ago when we was captain we had to take him off against Ecuador because he was knackered. Can I stress, this was 4 years ago.

He's struggled to score since 2004 in big games, he plays his best football when he's relaxed and confident. Did your flatmates lock you in the cupboard over the weekend? Firstly i don't live in a flat, secondly f*** off. Arsenal away isn't a big game in the context we're discussing here. 3 games at WC 06, 2 champions league finals and an FA cup final. 6 of the biggest games he's played since he Euro 2004 and each one he's failed to make an impact. He doesn't perform well under pressure and any pressure we shelter him from (the captaincy) is a positive thing for him and us until he matures.

He's struggled to score since 2004 in big games, he plays his best football when he's relaxed and confident.

Any extra pressure on Rooney is a big no-no. He's not a captain, yet.

What is with you and english players 5 years past their sell by date? He's not a leader in the slightest for one and isn't good enough to be in the squad for two. A 35 year old LA Galaxy player who wears make-up leading out Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney.

Of course he would.

I wanted Rio Ferdinand to get it originally but Terry seems to have been a very good choice by Capello given results and overall performances on the pitch. No point in changing things, Gerrard's another arsehole, Rio's not nailed on to be 100% fit, Lampard would be my vice-captain but he's a little too passive (and nice tbh) at times to be considered a leader, Beckham - don't even get me started. Stays with Terry imo. But a gesture from him to smooth things over somewhat might be something to consider.

We've scored the same amount of goals as 7th place. To give the strikers and Nolan the credit is pretty ridiculous. Then again, we heard Coloccini and Enrique get slagged off by Lawrenson and Dixon while Shearer said nowt.

Nolan was the only player with any significant goal tally at that point, just seemed like he didn't recognize at all the defence was the strongest part of our team.

The defence is why we're top. These 'other clubs' find it a lot easier to score goals when they're not playing against us.

Said the big difference between us and the other clubs in the divison was that they had nobody to take their chances and we on the other had a lot of players capable of scoring goals. Load of bollocks that i might, might have expected from Dion Dublin.

No. His analysis of our season after the Boro game was one of the most flawed pieces of pundity i've ever heard, not sure i'd trust him to do a good job.

Harper Simpson Williamson Coloccini Van Anaholt Routledge Guthrie Smith Jonas Shola Best