Ronaldo

He's not as good as Hughes but he's a reasonably able player in several positions including DM where he's been the best of anyone we've played there this season.

That's the thing, we need someone who'll help us to dominate midfield, not someone relying on having quality to play off. Disagree about Utd, like. He's not a Man U player.

He's a fucking better player than Jonas as well, by the way.

Nor are most clubs to be fair.

He's not a 2nd choice RB, 5th choice CB should be given to a youngster. He's not a total liability at RB. Which youngster? We've seen plenty of shite youngsters come and go at CB, at least Perch can be relied on a bit.

Leeds are a big club that have been tragically run for over a decade.

Not quite right there - it is a requirement of EU membership that a country becomes a signatory of the ECHR...which, although slightly different, would still be used by Human Rights lawyers to enforce legislation similar to that which affected Mick's firm. Therefore it IS relevant to this discussion because on the face of it, the UK would have to leave the EU if it refused to comply....I bet they would soon back down if the UK called their bluff, though.... There's absolutely no way we'd be required to leave the EU if we repealed the Act and reverted to the domestic legislation, which is perfectly fine. As you say, they'd back down.

It does seems very pointless. As a 5th choice CB, 2nd choice RB etc how the hell do you replace him for less than £1m?

The Human Rights Act certainly needs repealing and for the record a lot of lawyers (I'll hopefully be one soon) actually agree with you on that. Not that it has much at all to do with what we're discussing in here, or Britain's place in the EU which has even less relevance here.

Mick's suddenly become a Pardew sympathiser.

We paid £6million for Dyer, back in 1998. Dyer was outstanding, though.

£8m for someone who looked very good in the Championship is ridiculous, mind.

Smith kinda faded out, which ruined that party.

Which front 3 do you mean?

Has a letter from Ronnie Kray in it, if memory serves.

I thought he played just in front of the back four there? Afaik we've tried playing him pushed up near the top of the midfield, less time on the ball and less time to create and harder to get in the box as he's often the one playing the final ball? Just my thoughts. I think he's very well suited to the deep-lying playmaker position. It's just (as I've said a million times) not a position that is suited this league, with a few exceptions.

Yeah I completely did. I actually think his tackling is OK.

Why did he score so few goals in France then, penalties excluded?

I've never beaten him with the tackling stick. It's his mobility, dribbling, presence going forward and consistency I have issues with. I do think he fades pretty badly after 70 minutes, like. For the record I do want to keep him.

No, it's just far easier and more optimistic to blame tactics. Nah. It's just more correct, really. Like it's Pardew's fault his corners are dreadful and he won't make the runs required to support the attack?

He has genuine quality, yeah. His suitability to this league is questionable.

No, it's just far easier and more optimistic to blame tactics.

Like Tiote's a 'midfielder' anyway.

Was I genuinely not clear enough? Sorry if I wasn't, like. Seems pretty straightforward to me. Obviously neither would be in the top 3.

Just don't even bother full stop if you're gonna ask silly questions like that.