AyeDubbleYoo

It's lovely.

Just thought back to GCSE business studies (!), something called 'Hairy Audacious Targets' that businesses set - basically a ridiculously high goal that is never expected but is used to drive the staff on to mad levels of productivity. Problem is if you make them too hairy and audacious everyone knows what you're upto and it never works. So a nice balance needs to be struck.

I don't think anyone is saying that 6th is the ultimate aim for the club in the long term, but to finish 6th next season is in my eyes optomistic, and I'll be having a street party if we've done it this time next year. Good on Taylor for aiming for it, if he'd come out and said we're aiming for the title he'd have looked like a moron.

I always though slavery was more to do with being held against your will for no pay, subjugated, beaten, humiliated and forced to work? Seem Sep thinks it means being paid unimaginable sums of money to play the game you love, fame, fortune and an endless string of hot women queuing up to bone you. Buffoon.

The league is very average except the top 3 IMO, we'll do OK if we flesh out the squad a bit more. Sick of articles like that, we could do with a FB but defenders definitely aren't our problem at the moment. It's like they copy and pasted some of that from every season preview for the last 10 years.

Any of those will do...

Well his fault in that he would have actually taken the drugs, but who knows what mental and other issues drove him to do it? We already know he had agrophobia and hadn't been outside for months.

Drivel, if Ronaldo wants to leave he should have to hand in a formal transfer request (that can be accepted/rejected by Man Utd), which I imagine would forfeit any bonuses etc he is due, and only be allowed to leave if Man Utd get a satifactory resolution. On the other hand, we know contracts mean nothing in football except to guarantee the value of the player when he does bugger off.

Fair points, they could employ the team on this magazine to produce some quality web content instead.

The magazine is bound to be cringe-worthy, but at least we'll have something to stick next to the Man Utd/Chelsea/Spuds rags in WH Smith.

I did as well.

Whether they do or not they'll have a much better squad than a lot of premier league teams, including us.

Yes, Keegan boot camp, they better work hard!

Look dudes, it's not a competition between Martins and Owen. Chill, we've got them both

Word.

Aye, but the fact he's been released is ridiculous. Players go to the press all the time about how they want to leave their clubs, and nothing happens (except they usually get their wish as well as compensation from both clubs!) FFS, Ronaldo has been at it for the last 3 months.

To be fair, Smith gets quite a lot of grief as well! I'd like to see Shola stay in the Prem, see how he does with regular 1st team football. I don't think he'll do much, but at least deserves a chance.

I'm not so sure, remember Everton have had a couple of years of solid building whereas we've had a couple of years of terminal decline, turmoil and near relegation.

I don't see any reason, apart from press bullshit, for all of this Ashley-hating that has suddenly sprung up. Of course he would sell for 450 million, anyone with half a brain would cash in a 150m profit in a year. But the reviews and changes he has put in place so far suggest nothing but a long-term view. I don't think we can even judge him after this transfer window TBH. Maybe after 3 or so we will have enough to make a call.

He's probably about as good as Barton, but without the mental instability, so he would be a better squad member than Joey. I wouldn't be ecstatic if we signed him, but for a modest price would be a good option for central midfield. Saw quite a bit of him at Reading, and along with James Harper he formed a quality CM partnership. Don't think we should hold the Chelsea thing against him, many people would do the same with a massive pay day on offer.

Crouch is easily worth 11m in today's market, I can't understand why people continually put him down. Quality player who should do very well at Pompey.

Why does it matter to Spartak whether he goes to a Champions League team? I thought they would just accept any offer that meets their valuation, thene Pav would be free to turn them down.

Legend for us, personally a big underacheiver. It seems unusual that he has the drive and determination to make it as a professional footballer, but not the desire to go higher in the game. He could have gone for first team football and made a big push for the England team. All said, thanks to Steve for some solid service over the last 15 years.

26 is not that young. 26? Fuck that. Thought he was younger than that to be fair. Still, some players peak later so doesn't completely rule him out.

Shockingly similar to 'If you don't know me by now' by David Brent (Juxtaposition records). I.e. if you've got enough cash you can make a video and release a single. "Erm, yeah, I was making a clear one pound profit from every single sold..."