Ronaldo

At home with 2 decent wide players and a strong attacker of the ball or two it's a very good system. Both visually and in terms of effectiveness. Pardew's version is basically two defensive banks of 4 with the strikers helping to graft.

It's more the manager, than any formation. With a different manager I would go with a 4-2-3-1 though, aye. I hate that formation too, mind. Negative and narrow. It's the kind of setup that has you scraping 1-0 wins away from home but failing to excite in front of your own supporters.

Nah. It never works and we certainly don't have the players for it.

Hernandez is a better footballer than Owen. Not quite as clinical/instinctive but a fine footballer and dangerous striker.

Why is it a shame? Pisshead footballer who shit on his hometown club at the first opportunity possible. Beggars belief how people still fawn over Carroll. Being sold for big money from a club who make it clear they want you to leave doesn't constitute shitting on anything.

Pressman. Legend.

Petre Shilton always looked tubby and it didn't stop him being a good keeper. Elliott has a hell of a way to go to beat off Neville Southall to the fat keeper crown. Not even sure he's less dainty than a Mike Hooper to be fair to the lad. Pretty certain that Shilton and Southall would've been better if they weren't fat. Peter Shilton was fat?

Probably when you stop saying it.

I think Arsenal finally drop out of the CL spots this season. Think both Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Liverpool leave them behind.

Yep - I would say that Nolan was a fair bit more overweight than HBA. I'd also say that Nolan's weight issues were often discussed and criticised on here. That's not my point - my point is whether Nolan was fined by the club for it and it was used as a reason not to pick him. The answer to that is that it wasn't. That was my point as well. It never seemed to be an issue with the club although the fans regularly discussed it (as do West Ham fans). Nolan, as much as I was never much of a fan, has a much bigger frame naturally than Hatem. He was captain, leading goalscorer for most of his time here and basically ran the first team prior to Pardew coming in.

Cabaye a DM? No, no, no, no, no.

Hartlepool.

Just like that, yeah.

People forget just how good he was from 2004-2010ish. Great player.

I can never decide whether Billy's love of Gerrard contributes to his dislike of Lampard or vice versa.

Lampard scored a perfectly legitimate peach in the World Cup against Germany to be fair. Scored in CL final, CL semi finals and a great goal to win the FA cup final too. Both scored crucial goals when it mattered.

I must admit some pals of mine ran into him at Elland Road when his son played there and gave him a bit of grief which he took in very good humour.

You certainly would. Everton away in 2006, left foot chip against Hull, that goal against Barca in the CL. Incredible strikes.

I think if you had to acquire one of them aged 25 with a view to having them in your side for 10 years, Lampard's easily the sensible pick. He'd guarantee you 200 goals, well over 100 assists, never get injured and generally be a committed leader and class act on and off the field. You can't really contend with that.

Yep - I would say that Nolan was a fair bit more overweight than HBA. I'd also say that Nolan's weight issues were often discussed and criticised on here.

I'm trying to be nice this week but that post is a hideous car crash.

Relatively prosperous? That's an understatement, like.

Bridges was probably assured by his agent there'd be a better offer that never materialised.