Segun Oluwaniyi

I've never really loved Carroll's game outside of being the number 9 and a local boy (which was very fun to experience at the time). I still think he'll always be a bit of a blunt object upfront and that the last two years have shown who he really is. This is a striker with one exceptional skill, who will often enter purple patches of good goalscoring form, but will struggle to be consistent at the top level and should not be put under the pressure of being a team's main/only goal threat. The idea of pressure getting to him is an overrated part of the story, imo. That being said, he would still be a brilliant option for a team in our position, if we can maybe halve his obscene wages. Foluwashola, Demba-Demba, and Ameobi is a Champions League strikeforce.

You are correct the whole concept is somewhat disgusting to me. It is difficult to enforce, but if you have moved to a nation with sole purpose of furthering your football career, you should not be allowed to play for that nation.

Think we need a pacey striker that can cover that LF/RF slot that Demba was playing in. Not sure that Sammy is the answer, not yet at least. We are obviously bothered as we were willing to spend heavily on the Dutchman. Hopefully, Samuel can go on loan to a Championship side for at least half the season as well. There is no point in him stagnating and only having the odd substitute/cup appearance.

Yeh just like Man City won the Champions league straight away after spending £100's of millions. It took Chelsea 9 years with Romans billions. Chelsea probably should have been in the 2005 final, though. Just like Manchester City last year, PSG will be placed in a group of death this year, so the group stages should be entertaining.

I actually don't understand how it is possible to be "close to agreeing a fee". If you are close, you would have agreed it. Anyway, he's a nice player, so if we acquire him for a reasonable amount, I will be joyous.

No should play football with the shirt tucked past the age of twelve. It is imbecilic. The kit looks fine on our players, anyway.

I do not understand the hate for the French league at all. It is a competitive league that consistently produces top talent and now has several clubs willing to spend money. There is not a chance that the likes of Russia are better. Really, go watch a game from that league. The stands are empty, the players are generally rubbish outside of the Russia national team and the foreigners they are allowed in the match squad, and the football is boring.

I was convinced Adebayor would go to PSG for some reason. I hope they are in the process of selling Modric and Bale. Right now they are in a completely different class to us.

I am ridiculously fickle in my feelings towards other clubs. When QPR had Taiwo, I wished nothing but good things upon them. Now that they have failed to sign him, I hope they experience relegation and woe. Anyway, for the wage they will pay him Park will not give a team like QPR much. Players like that can make very good sides better, but won't change the fortunes of poor ones. If Wigan goes and pays 10 million and 100,000 a week to Khedira, Mikel Obi, or Busquets, all of whom were integral parts of their teams winning trophies this season, they will not get an immediate return worthy of what they have invested.

Stoke probably play 95 percent of their passes forward. The statistic means little.

WC 2010 knockout stages were significantly better than that of Euro 2012. The quarterfinals especially, had goals even. Both teams scored in only 2 of the 6 knockout games in 2012, and the Czech match, both Spain matches, and the England match have been quite tedious. It really died after the group stages, but hopefully the Italy game on Wednesday has awoken it. The only extremely poor knockout matches in 2010 were the two involving Paraguay and the final. The group stages were the tedious part. I probably underrate the Euros, since I have no vested interest, but the last one was in 2008 definitely better.

Your "defence" will have two wingers and one midfielder in those matches where Busquets or Mascherano are at the back. I've never been impressed by this guy. Supposed to be a star, but I don't see it.

I think he always will. Balo will remain occasionally top of the world, generally very useful, and a dangerous self-destructive force now and then.

So he actually fits in quite well?

I think the final will hinge on Mario Balotelli. The "outball" to him has been the most effective form of attack for Italy in the past two matches. If he plays as he did against England, his talent may not be enough to trouble Spain's questionable defence, but a performance similar to the one tonight will change things.

Victor Moses has several competitive senior caps for Nigeria. It would be quite odd if he could somehow play for Great Britain in the Olympics. Would it be possible given GB aren't a member of FIFA?

Low is a strange man. Kroos has played eighteen minutes in the entire tournament and he starts against what will be Germany's most difficult test to this point. I suppose Ozil stays wide, now? I don't understand why Muller has been banished, either.

I think this whole enterprise will be a disaster. I don't think GB will make it out of the group. It is a very strange collection of teams at this tournament. I cannot decide if it will be interesting or tedious to see the likes of UAE, Gabon, and Belarus on a major stage.

I think Best is a footballer with the ability to play in the Premiership, and I don't think Blackburn will be offering that for some time. There must be other options that allow him to play at a higher level for higher wages.

I thought common logic was to put you two best penalty takers in the first and last positions. Logical enough thing to do.

I will support Italy to win this now.

I don't think Kuyt and Huntleaar were worse than anyone else. It is probably time to phase Heitinga and Kuyt out of secure first team places, but there is no reason for them to be "banished". They were drawn into the "group of death" and didn't perform. This will happen sometimes. Last tournament they were two minutes from sending the final to penalties. That will happen sometimes as well. There is no need for the overreaction.

Has Johnson ever performed consistently well at any point his career other than the one in the Championship? I don't think he is that good.

He's a better target man than Pique if you ever have to desperately chase a game I suppose.

Whatever happened to Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, btw? I remember seeing him a few seasons ago and thinking he had everything to be a star. A genuinely creative and powerful player. I see now that Arsenal have dumped him to a Championship club on a permanent basis. Is he still any good?