Ronaldo

Barton was injured for a lot of Allardyce's time here. I honestly can't see Allardyce playing Butt to the extent we actually did last season. He's not a stupid as Kinnear, Hughton or Shearer.

Erm, because he seemed to make it a priority to replace Butt the second he was given the job.

He was terrible, but by no means as bad as those 3.

It took a very, very special combined effort from Kinnear, Hughton and Shearer to take us down. Allardyce wouldn't have started Butt or Shola and might have even (pure speculation) dropped Owen when it was clear he was contributing fuck all last season.

No bitterness there.

Anyone under the illusion that we were getting relegated in 2008 needs to look at the table at the end of 2007. Allardyce would have taken us nowhere, but we would never have been relegated under him, no chance.

Yes, as it most certainly was last season.

What?

In the grand scheme of things, it was a mistake getting rid of Allardyce because we got relegated 16 months later.

Green, Foster, James and Hart are all marginally better keepers.

Find it hilarious btw that some seem to have reservations about signing Simpson for £500k but wouldn't sell Carroll for £4m.

Shittu is decent backup in this league but no more than that. Central defence is our strongest part of the team and you'd have to be insane to start messing with it to accomdate Shittu and slightly improve the RB position, frankly.

Hate to say it but nobody else wants him.

He was only poor against Derby in an attacking sense, and yes he got raped on Monday when a player fit for the premiership was given acres of space to run at him all game. Posters who were saying he was alright 2 weeks back are now saying he's complete s****. Imo, RB is one of the few positions we don't really have to worry about for the next 6 months should this deal go through.

But you've seen him with your own eyes! The fact is Saylor is by far our best right-back and Simpson rates on a par with Geremi. And probably Solano. I think Simpson is solid. And at the very least decent backup for the premiership. Solano and Geremi would get murdered in the premiership at RB.

I only wish I made such a fantastic contribution to the forum as you Iceman.

Fair enough, as I said, never saw him play for them. But I was told he performed very well for them. Not the first good full-back that Allardyce didn't rate btw.

One of their best players in the reserves was he? You're a very funny guy. He made 18 first team starts for Blackburn last season. I don't think I ever saw him play so I can't say further than that.

That's Jayson for you, he also rewatched the Sheff Utd game for the purpose of analysing Colo.

An absolute prick, hated the cunt for years. A spineless Manc twat.

Not saying it's gospel or owt but as I've said before my one Blackburn supporting mate said he was one of their best players last season. He knows his football and i fully expect him to be able to at least pull his weight in the premiership.

Berbatov's a brilliant player but not suited to playing with Rooney as they cancel each other out somewhat. It would be mad to write him off though, stick him up front with a Torres type and he'd absolutely shine.

Too right.

You said he was 'alright' a few weeks back tbf.

Clever. I agree with you about Bramble, mid-level premiership defender. Had the potential to be more, but factors prevented it.