Ronaldo

Ancelotti's the greatest but I have to admit, every time I've since Real this calendar year they've been underwhelming at best and totally dysfunctional at worst. Something's wrong there.

Defensive midfielders are ultimately a side effect of the pragmatism that has engulfed English football since European influence became prominent around 15 years ago. Fortunately I think they're now basically a dying breed, while some sides - namely Man U - have never deployed them with genuine regularity.

You're saying there's no criticism deserved for what Man U have served up this season with all that investment? I think you're the buffoon, personally.

But so much so you had to quote it twice?

It's streaming on BBC iPlayer for those of us whose significant other has the TV rights on Mondays.

I'm amazed so many on here seem to disagree with that sentiment given the sickening Cheick Tiote love-in that's been going on for almost half a decade.

Does it really matter?

Safe to say nee forrins who spit at people in that picture.

I've always thought that CMs should basically be able to do everything. Ideally you want two like Dyer and Speed - able to contribute defensively and offensively in different ways.

You're alright, man.

Aye. It's the Hull City manager's fault one of Europe's colossal talents of a decade ago has pissed his career down the drain.

That's the least funny thing I've read on here in almost a year.

And he's contributed more than Smith. Overran's crap but not Smith crap.

I can guaranteed you'll never hear such a shift in perception of a player's ability when he signed for Man U in 2004. Then again, they all wanted to sign him again in 2011 when it became clear we wanted nowt to do with him.

Also worth noting that he was never that good to begin with.

It's irrelevant, then.

I don't think the though too much of Beckham's attitude, mind. It's been a while since I read the book but I think he said something about Beckham being the only player he managed long-term who wanted to be famous more than he wanted to be a great footballer.

He would probably think a lot better of him if he signed the contracts they were offering him. The boy ran down his contract purposely, so he could leave for a paltry fee and was worth an eight figure fee in less than one year. It is a bit ridiculous to act as though Manchester United never let go of players that could have helped Newcastle United at a point in time. Even the likes of Diouf, Tosic, Simpson, Shawcross, etc. could have contributed at this club. He generally made the moves that were best for Manchester United, but it is a huge club and so much talent comes and goes. Smith, Butt, and Obertan are just poor chocies. The first two were immediately regrettable investments on players who were not the same physically after years of injuries and playing at the top level. Obertan was an acceptable risk to take who simply hasn't worked out and only racks up appearances at NUFC because there has not been proper recruitment to replace him. Ryan Shawcross fucking moonwalks into the current Man U defence.

Ferguson talks about it in his autobiography. Doesn't think too much of Pogba as a person.

Well, no. The fact he has one useful attribute alone makes him better than Alan Smith.

Mate, that sounds like an addiction to me. Be careful.

Must be why he's playing for a mid-table Championship side at 26. I think it's probably a case of either/or with Perez and de Jong, too.

Yeah. He was evidently a good footballer/defender but a physically inferior CB who was past his best physically. Bad combination for the PL, but he had a lot of good games for us.

Wasn't worse than Boumsong, Williamson or Rozenhal.

I'd love someone to explain to me what on earth it takes to win that award.