Ronaldo

A rest for Jonas and Cabaye.

Like you wouldn't take £25m if it was made available for replacements.

Have Chelsea ever played a two man midfield with him? I honestly can't recall. And if so, who partnered him then? At his very best Essien and Makelele really allowed him to do what he does best imo. 2009-10 was his best season. Makelele was long gone and Essien only played about 12 games in the league. And Man U are probably best off going 4-3-3 anyway.

They didn't have a Tiote type in his heyday at Chelsea.

I think I'd take that in a second too. Hell of a player against the top 3, but that isn't enough for me to resist that amount.

You could say the same to an extent about Geremi and Barton. All of them were/have been paid huge wages and didn't deliver.

It's usually fairly proportionate.

The club won't let him leave on loan is what he said.

If he wanted to play that badly he'd accept lower wages at a Championship club.

Aye. Ludicrous comment. He's one of the luckiest cunts on earth.

Would it? Still a good player but another who's on the decline. He'll be 34 in June, meanwhile Giggs is 38 and retiring, with Carrick and Park both 31 this year. Not over-the-hill by any stretch, but not the players who are going to re-invent a Man Utd that looks desperate for re-inventing. That whole part of the pitch needs an overhaul if you ask me. Fletcher's situation is indefinite, whilst Anderson is inconsistent and Gibson's just rubbish. Cleverley is a good player though; how long's he supposed to be out for? You would expect Manu would rather just stick with Cleverley/Carrick as soon as the former is fit again (the latter has been decent since he returned to the side), rather than pay megabucks to prize Lampard away from Chelsea. He wouldn't be cheap, given the player still has 18 months left on his contract. And Chelsea would be strengthening what they should still consider a rival. Would do nothing for his career, either. It would severely damage the wonderful reputation he's built at Chelsea. Plus, he'll still be playing second-fiddle to players who are ahead of him in the England pecking order. He might as well just see it out at Chelsea; he'll still be worshipped there even if Villas-Boas phases him out. Or have i just been whooshed? He's 33 and still a bloody good player, why on earth would he want to 'see it out' with a manager who doesn't play to his strengths?

Smith obviously thinks Pardew's been told not to play him, or at least that's how he's trying to present it. Completely agrees with what Barton says about him being punished for advising the players not to sign the 'bonus sheet'. Obviously Smith isn't good enough to play for us - I personally think he's the worst player I've ever seen in black and white, athletically and technically. But Pardew has gone from starting him in the league a few times last season to not even picking him for the Carling Cup games. He's obviously been told to give Smith nothing but a few minutes at the end of the odd game to remind the idiots like Allardyce out there that he still exists and isn't injured.

I'm convinced that Pardew's referring to Ashley/Llambias being responsible btw. I've no idea why everyone's interpreting it differently. The second article backs that up. Smith claiming 'there's only one boss at Man U' as opposed to here - ie Pardew implying he's not responsible for Smith's lack of action. Barton's words somewhat back this up too.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4041783/Newcastle-news-What-happened-to-Alan-Smith.html Look at the state, man. Somebody comment because I can't be bothered.

Truth be told, I'd rather have a Guthrie and Cabaye CM partnership than any other against the lesser sides at home.

He's on his tip-toes with that ridiculous quiff. Looks like a rock solid 6 inches to me.

Oh, and .

That's a little OTT. It didn't hurt Coloccini's development. Coloccini's a great example for what i'm talking about. It took Colo a chilled year in the second-tier to get up to scratch. He came straight in the side when he first signed, and was propa garbage. But then, you knew/wanted me to say that. You were talking about long-term development. Coloccini's just about the best defender in the league right now, so that stint (which wasn't garbage, as you know) couldn't have done him much harm. Defenders learn from what they do wrong, not what Ryan Taylor does right.

That's a little OTT. It didn't hurt Coloccini's development.

Nolan's 6', Carroll's 6'3".

They're as bad as each other.

Well said.

That's how I feel about Obertan. Seems most other people see him in a different way. Pretty much everyone who's ever watched him sees it a different way. It's Obertan's job to actually make something happen with it, that's the difference.

I hope that's actually a reference to his ability as opposed to Mike and Derek.

That would be a brilliant move for both parties.