Neil

Good thing Bruce is armed with spending that money. Seriously, that's a disgusting price for a player that does absolutely nothing. But he's young and English I suppose.

I hope Cabaye assaults Clattenberg.

Why? He's out of contract and hardly the player he once was. It's more the thought of Klose lining up alongside Victor Anichebe that amused me.

That means..... they'd be in exactly the same position.

Sorry, the last bit man. Where do they come up with this stuff?

Nobody is saying get rid of both of them this summer. Which is why I didn't point out any particular statement. I'm just emphasising in my view what a disastrous move it would be. God knows what Ashley's thinking.

Just from my views of where you're at currently and I've probably missed some points: it would be an awful move to get rid of Nolan and Barton. Yes, in the long-term it's nice to have a picture of a team with better players than them but for the position you're at in the present, they are essential players for your progress. Changing the team dramatically this summer would be rash to say the least and hence I'd advise yous to hold onto Nolan and Barton at all reasonable costs. I've seen a lot of predictions on here about how your aim for next year is to move up a few places and push for the top 7. I'm not saying that's an entirely unrealistic aim but just as likely at this moment in time is a couple of wrong decisions and progress is stifled, and you could end up moving backwards. This is a big summer for you not for wholesale changes but for keeping the squad together, getting a few players in (namely a good striker at least) and certainly not getting rid of 2 of your most influential players.

What, wait... people are actually happy to get rid of Nolan/Barton this summer?

Nasri, Arshavin and Vermaelen to name 3 recent ones were all around that level, I believe.

Maybe if they get enough floaty attack-minded players, their defensive deficiencies will go away?

I'm joking. I've posted numerous times saying exactly what you said. Not that it surprises me Wenger's (apparently) getting him.

Just what Arsenal need.

Yes, he wasn't good last night - missing an open goal can't be excused. However he can very much hit a barn door for England.

Bent can't hit a barn door for England? He scored in our last qualifier before Switzerland.

We're playing Villarreal in a pre-season friendly for Collina's testimonial.

"baffled"

Oh, so he still exists? That's good.

Surprise swoop on your bitter rivals for David Meyler?

I just don't know what they were playing at. What prompted them to deride Xavi like that?

Ireland are an odd team. They seem to always be there or thereabouts in terms of qualifying but don't actually qualify (last appearance in 2002, right?)

I take it all back. Gonna win da leeg! I mean cup. Championship. Whatever.

Bit hypocritical if you think Jarvis is the main man who should be ahead of Milner.

We've a bunch of uninspired players led by an uninspired manager (should that be uninspiring?) but tactical weakness is the tip of the iceberg. The atmosphere at Wembley is consistently flat for England games. Many fans barely feel a link with the players on show and the players in turn find little motivation to perform in front of unenthusiastic fans. Its reciprocal and systemic. Our national game is firmly secondary to our club game and the gap is getting bigger and bigger. It doesn't help that half the team come across as twats. This further adds to the feeling of apathy and isolation. They are supposed to represent us. Instead, they're more bothered about negotiating a 10% increase to their already ridiculous wage packet. That may seem obvious rhetoric but it's not exactly inaccurate. Why should we get behind them? Why should players take any notice of what fans think? These are the questions I think best sum up the situation with England at the moment. We, as a country, are falling behind. England, the great name of football, the Home Of Football (trademarked by Mr. Blatter), is falling behind. We are not great. We are not succeeding. We are not a force to be reckoned with. How many of you could say you would have been as much as bothered if we got beat today? I for one couldn't. That, to me, is a sad state of affairs. From top to bottom our sport appears riddled with weaknesses. The lack of technical aptitude coming from the youth ranks, the sleaziness of the FA, the power of the media. The rags go to work on a player, and we, as a country, buy it. The rags praise a player and we, as a country, buy it. I dunno. I really want to love my national football team, I really do. But I can't. I feel no burning desire to cheer them on. Yet there I'll be, shouting with support when (if?!) we get to the Euros. Guess I'm just a sucker for football.

Some of the service for Bent has been shite (from what I've seen).

How have ITV confused Lampard and Walcott?