Segun Oluwaniyi

Robinho had no choice. He wanted to go to Chelsea, but City came with an insane bid which Chelsea could not match. He couldn't stay at Madrid as he had burned every conceivable bridge there. City essentially forced him to come to their club. Ben Arfa seems happy enough to come here.

He's been misinterpreted at every step of his career. At some point this becomes a personal problem, not an everyone else problem. I think he'd be a quality player for us and a risk we should take. I wish people would stop trying to deny his problems, though.

HBA's problem is that he is an idiot, Kaka. People dislike him, some more than others. He of course had the now famous row with Diaby at Clairefontaine, which he quite lucky to escape from. At Lyon, he quarreled with several players and despite some top quality performances, they took the 10 million or so from OM and moved on. At Marseille, he has been petulant and quarreled with Deschamps. Despite some top quality performances, the team have decided to take the currency and move on.

I regret that post. I did not mean to insinuate anything about Nile. It is just that the first time I glanced at the photo I thought he was holding a gun. No alterior meaning.

Bollocks, you're blowing this way out of proportion. He's positively helped teams to 5 Ligue 1 titles at the age of 23. It's not as if he went round picking fights with everybody in his way you know, you're making him out to be some kind of mental anarchist. 5 teams? He's only been a serious part of two winning teams, and he was hardly a top player for either l'OM or Lyon. Deschamps kept him on the substitutes bench most of the time. He clearly has mental stability issues, but I think this can be overcome. Also, if we buy him for less than 7 million euros, we are probaly selling at a profit. Cleverly will leave and we will have to spend to replace him, which will result in a net loss.

Taylor, as you mention, Ben Arfa has played in massive matches for France's two biggest teams. He has played in the Champions League and Europa League as well, doing rather well. Cleverly might have looked decent against Scunthorpe, but HBA has played well over 100 matches of top level football.

What a brilliant piece of silverware. I want us to defend it next season. We should never relinquish it.

In that particular pose (the first photo), it would be normal to hold one. I actually had to do a double take as I thought he was holding one. I wouldn't expect that from Nile, it was just a quick sense of relief. Tend to agree.

I canot believe the interest in this match! This thread has accrued more pages than the last West Brom match. Good to see our fanbase are excited for the return to the top level.

I don't think getting a player who has never played in the top division of any worldwide league in on loan is comparable to acquiring Ben Arfa. HBA is just clearly the superior player at this point.

Is R. Taylor a makeshift right back? What exactly is his natural position?

What about 09-10? Even last year against far inferior teams, we were methodical and predictable. This will not work as well next season.

We seem so pedestrian. I know it is only friendles, but we are really crying out for someone like Ben Arfa. We didn't have enough pace and skill in 08-09 and we have less now.

Disappointed I missed Xisco. Was looking forward to seeimg him again. Jonas should really learn to shoot.

That trophy is actually quite beautiful. I actually much prefer it to horrible silverware they hand out when you win the Premiership or Ligue 1. weren't Deportivo on the brink of finanacial disaster recently? I recall something about them being relegated or enter administration.

Reminds me of Essien in that respect. Obviously has great physical tools for the position, but is like a caged animal when he plays there. He really has trouble overcoming his instincts to attack and participate up the pitch, this sometimes cost his teams as he is out of position. He has always looked more comfortable with conservative players like Makalele or Obi playing behind him.

Busquets is a good player, though sometimes I feel like he lacks the physicality and tackling ability that you would really want in a DM. He a good distributor obviously, but I feel like he doesn't always when the ball enough or stop the opposition getting forward as much as many others average/world class players in his position.

He's a funny case. He had one fantastic season at St. Ettienne which led to him being dubbed the "New Drogba", limked with all the top clubs, and become a part of the French National side. The next season he played woefully as his club barely avoided relegation. Lyon still invested in him based on his past form, but he has been awful for them as well. I wonder if his career will ever recover?

We must hope that Xisco comes around or Carroll turns into a top player. That is an atrocious strike force. Not one in there I trust.

We'd make it worldwide. Worldwide. I think we're clearly trying to get th player, btw. Whether we have the resources or the appeal is a completely different discussion.

Hughton really does seem like a canny bloke. Makes me more accepting of his faults as a manager. Glenn Roeder seemed a nice man as well, but he was turned on as soon as things began to go badly.

I'm not a big follower of the Nigerian league these days, but I didn't know of any Zambians on Enyimba. They were eliminated by a Zambian team today. Maybe you have confused the teams?

I think the French papers are pushing the Newcastle angle because HBA being the saviour of one of English football's most interesting clubs makes for a better story than him going to Hoffenheim or Werder which would be a similar situation to his current one.

Any sensible person would rather have Balotelli because he is not yet 20. This is just basic business sense. I do not think Kuyt is that bad techically and while he is not quick, he is a physically strong player who moves well with the ball and holds off other players. He will do well for you when surrounded by other talented attacking players as he does not often lose the ball and pops up in goal scoring positions as defenders do not focus on him. He also has a strong winner's mentality. Mario is a loose cannon with mental issues.

Dirk Kuyt is a damn fine footballer. All of this criticism and vitriol directed towards him is unfounded and a result of the herd mentality that has followed after the media condemned his signing. In the current, he is a far better player Balotelli, and will remain so unless Mario can sort his life out.