brummie

Speaking as a fan of a club with enormous spending power, I hope we never exercise such power in such a fucking stupid, desperate, futile way. I'd rather not have the money in the first place if we were going to spaff it away like that. And I'm sure you'll all say the same when your takeover goes through. West Ham really are a bit of a joke.

Not so much the fee, but 90k a week?

Talking of West Ham and transfers, are they utterly fucking mental? It seems so: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=459644&in_page_id=1779&ct=5

Berbatov's first for Bulgaria last night was an absolutely fantastic goal. <Sorry, we have a blanket ban on all football videos, regardless of source.>

^^^ this is true. I have just seen it.

I honestly believe that it will make England worse - but I suppose I am pulling a "vic" here because I have no evidence to back that up and Hargreaves has hardly been the backbone of the England team has he. Nah, just the best player for them at the last WC. Sorry, I'm over defending the lad. I wouldn't say he's a crutch, but he's a key player for England. Shame he doesn't play for Canada... any chance of you qualifying next time around? Canada has gone a long while without a manager for our senior squad, and now we're bringing in our U-20 manager as soon as the U-20 World Cup is done. So, it doesn't look good. We need a proper manager, and our football association has it's collective head up its collective ass. With that being said, though, football is becoming more and more popular in Canada. Apparently we have more children playing "soccer" now than we do playing hockey. So, we should have more talented players to choose from going forward. Also, our U-20 squad is not too shabby. Will you be attending the Toronto FC friendly against Villa this summer? Aren't you playing Celtic too? I'll be there, yeah mate. I was at the Benfica game too, boring as hell. Looking forward to the Villa match, I'll report back with pic's and the like. Good man! Enjoy it, the both of you.

He was shit for the first third of the season, IIRC.

top 4,then spurs,then a quagmire,6th is achievable and spurs are no great shakes. this post could come from a toon or villa perspective Aye, it could do, but I don't think Villa or Newcastle will finish 6th. If Everton buy well this summer, they'll do very well again, and Tottenham will do well again, as well. I do like the idea of Villa, Newcastle, Spurs and Everton starting to put a bit of pressure on the big four, though. As wibbled on about by that bloke in the Deloitte report the other day.

I don't think you'll fnish 6th next season, it is too much to expect Big Sam to turn around what you have now and get you into the top 6 in one season, no matter how much money he has to spend. If I were one of you, I'd be agreeing with Gejon, decent progress is all you can really ask of a manager in his first season.

Would be the coup of the century so far, although I can understand how you'd hate to admit it. It'd be like Gordon Cowans signing for Darlington. 10 years ago obviously. I saw Ron Saunders leave us when we were in the quarter final of the EC and turn up shortly after at Birmingham City. After that, nothing can be quite as hurtful or bizarre, tbh.

Would be the coup of the century so far, although I can understand how you'd hate to admit it. It's never going to happen. That may be the case, but if it did and at that price, it would be an amazing piece of business. I'd put money on Sunderland staying up if they did sign him.

Would be the coup of the century so far, although I can understand how you'd hate to admit it.

I really like Ranieri, he's an entertaining character for starters, and he got a raw deal at Chelsea I thought. I hope he gets the Citeh job.

Swarfegaaaaaaa!!!!!

Fantastic ball by Jenas there. He's a quality midfielder. Not like that Gareth Barry.

I don't think Robinson is shit, I just think he is bog standard average. Wes Brown is shit, mind.

*guilty chuckle* Sorry Dr Spec.

He's a nice enough bloke, he can hit a cross alright, but there's realy no point bringing him back at this point. He'll be playing in a joke of a sub SPL level league soon, what use is he going to be to England then?

I honestly believe that it will make England worse - but I suppose I am pulling a "vic" here because I have no evidence to back that up and Hargreaves has hardly been the backbone of the England team has he. Nah, just the best player for them at the last WC. Sorry, I'm over defending the lad. I wouldn't say he's a crutch, but he's a key player for England. Shame he doesn't play for Canada... any chance of you qualifying next time around? Canada has gone a long while without a manager for our senior squad, and now we're bringing in our U-20 manager as soon as the U-20 World Cup is done. So, it doesn't look good. We need a proper manager, and our football association has it's collective head up its collective ass. With that being said, though, football is becoming more and more popular in Canada. Apparently we have more children playing "soccer" now than we do playing hockey. So, we should have more talented players to choose from going forward. Also, our U-20 squad is not too shabby. Will you be attending the Toronto FC friendly against Villa this summer? Aren't you playing Celtic too?

I love the way in the B international Barry was all over the pitch and involved in a lovely move to set up Smith's goal, yet Downing looked the worst player on the pitch (including the Albanians) then scored two flukey goals in which the goalkeeper basically dived out of the way of the ball like it was a grenade, thus guaranteeing his England future, whereas the aforementioned consistently excellent Barry clearly knows now he has no international future. McLaren is such a cunt and that kind of thinking is why we'll do nothing under him

Oh joy. Downing and Dyer.

I notice two of the goal of the season contenders were by Villa players, although our best goal this season (Berger against Sheff U) wasn't featured. Scholes against us for me, mind.

'Difficult second season' syndrome or has he just lost his way completely? Spookily enough, MON says precisely "difficult second season" http://www.soccer365.com/EUROPEAN_NEWS/Premiership/page_99_143782.shtml

We've only seen Bouma at LB this season, although I believe he has played CB a bit for the Netherlands. I don't think Davis has lost his way completely, I just think he needs a change of surroundings, possibly. Trouble is, MON is going to be buying midfielders this summer (one thing I will bet money on is that of NRC and Joey Barton, Villa will get one and Newcastle the other, incidentally), so he'll have to fight harder next year.

tbh he's looked rubbish everytime ive seen him play (the season before last). Has he improved since then? Immeasurably. Almost as much as Bouma improved, he was just unlucky to get injured.