oldtype

Ironically, (aside from the man who signed him of course) Glen Roeder was probably the only one of our managers who actually rated the Zog and tried to nurture and develop him. Anyone else remember the "velvet glove" interview?

I think the whole idea that "we mismanaged him by signing Duff" doesn't hold any water at all. We needed competition in that place and we weren't going to have him be the only left winger in the squad. Duff for 5m seemed like a a good deal at the time. Instead of relishing the challenge he decided to pout and let himself go just because he didn't get to be a guaranteed starter at age 20. This is a big ol' pile of bollocks, like. The signing of Duff, and consequent reluctance to drop him no matter what kind of 'form' he was in, stunted his development. It was also detrimental to the team as a whole. I don't get it, so was the only way to properly "develop" him to not sign any other left wingers and give him a guaranteed first-team place? He's a professional and it was his responsibility to rise to the challenge of competition for his place. For f***'s sake playing well enough to be chosen over Damien Duff shouldn't be hard Instead he chose to sulk, and his development suffered as a result. He got plenty of minutes under Roeder (Duff was made out of paper and often had to play on the right because everybody else in the squad was too) but he was never as impressive as he was in his breakout season. Of course, this only relates to the signing of Duff. The subsequent decision of several managers to play him at left back was of course unabated idiocy. Kinnear's handling of him was also sort of embarrassing but what about that man wasn't.

I think the whole idea that "we mismanaged him by signing Duff" doesn't hold any water at all. We needed competition in that place and we weren't going to have him be the only left winger in the squad. Duff for 5m seemed like a a good deal at the time. Instead of relishing the challenge he decided to pout and let himself go just because he didn't get to be a guaranteed starter at age 20.

£9m would be a bargain for someone of his quality. He's one of the best wingers in the league imo, certainly outside the top clubs. I reckon it'd cost you around that to sign the likes of Jarvis from Wolves. He's got talent ("one of the best" might be pushing it a bit) but considering that he's an individual with significant baggage, significant baggage at this very club, there's a huge risk there and I'd rather bring in somebody who's starting with a clean slate. Plus I still think he's a fucking disgrace and a cunt for the way he left. Of course I'll no doubt forget all about it if/when he scores his first goal back for us

At a rational level I feel like buying back N'Zogbia is the wrong move, especially if the fee is anything like what was being mentioned in January (9 mil was it?) At an emotional level, I don't fucking care it's summer I need some excitement and I just want to see us sign somebody.

Thought Charlie plays more on the right now. Jonas is a right-footed left-winger, he's a left-footed right winger. Playing them together would be Allardyce-tastic

The epitome of NWOAT AFC Champions League Round of 16 Matchups Foolad Sepahan (Iran) v. Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan) Gamba Osaka (Japan) v. Sereso Osaka (Japan) Al Ittahid (Saudi Arabia) v. Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) Jeonbook Hyundai Motors (Korea) v. Tianjin Teda (China) Al Sadd (Qatar) v. Al Shabab (Saudi Arabia) FC Seoul (Korea) v. Kashima Antlers (Japan) Zobahan (Iran) v. Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia) Suwon Bluewings (Korea) v. Nagoya Grampers (Japan) 4 Japanese clubs, 4 Saudi, 3 Korean, 2 Iranian, 1 Chinese, 1 Qatari, 1 Uzbek. All the A-League teams are out this year. Very much looking forward to seeing us play Kashima at home.

Dennis Wise has been controlling everything by email all along.

I'd rather not sign a striker for 20 million because he'll be guaranteed to break a leg so Shola can start. It's the Ameobi rule.

Shh! It only works for the good ones.

Typical Spurs, even their manager is ITK

Can we sign him? Please?

I assumed the key word was BOUGHT, as Loven & Ranger were frees I see.

I actually look forward to Smith. Him scoring would be one of the few things that could make this game even moderately exciting.

Well, there is Nile Ranger

It's not beyond the realm of possibility that they could actually get into the Champions League

I'd take a chance on Lallana. Ashley type of signing, he looks a decent player, in League One like but you know. James Perch still remains the only player we've ever bought from a lower division under Ashley.

Enrique's staying! ...in England

Colocho just... agreed with me

I think it was Kinnear who gave him the idea that he should be a big, bulky target man. Made him worse. I remember him being a lot more mobile back in the day.

We really need to be buying a proper centre back who can actually play in 2011. Faye is basically a zombie now. Way past it.

I'm sick of that s*** to be honest... the idea that people can make a living writing this bollocks is insane. The press is all the same imo. They've got quotas to fill so they need to churn out shit if they can't actually go out and find something interesting. That's just the nature of the occupation. The temptation to just make shit up is greater in sports journalism obviously, since football clubs won't beat the shit out of you like the government or major corporations will.

If we somehow buy a striker, another striker, a right winger, a left winger, a backup DM, (all of which are significantly better than the players currently playing those roles) and a replacement for Enrique if necessary, I'd start thinking about supplanting Simpson. Even then it's a toss-up with Williamson as to who needs to lose his place first.

Never mind him and Ben arfa, just imagine him with Nile

? He was pretty good for us under that season Shearer broke the record. Played a lot on the left, and was cheated with the fact that Duff came into the club and produced f*** all. Yeah, I think that was the season I was referring to. The season where he became a regular.