Neil

People who may not engage with football regularly, support England in the WC = "Shit! I must make an anti-England opinion known and feel important and against the popular opinion!" Fuck off. Support your country in what is a fantastic football tournament.

Roma-Inter. Totti smashed Balotelli in the last minute, totally lost it. Oh, Coppa Italia I assume? I haven't seen the score, but I'm guessing Inter won 1-0? Pretty random incident from Totti, though. I can only assume frustration.

Genuine question; what's Abramovich doing at the moment? I've heard a lot about not pumping much more into Chelsea - but is it factual?

Man Utd, Chelsea, and the rest. Highly contingent on the next transfer window, though. Both teams need significant investment to keep ahead of everybody else. Chelsea's squad is very old and ManU have been a one-man team for a big stretch of the season. I agree on both counts. But I really can't see them not being the top 2 next year, barring major investment from Arsenal.

Man Utd, Chelsea, and the rest.

Given the fact they are in it at the end of the season that's pretty much a given. Still don't want them to be there, though. Why not?

Was there a game tonight?

At least Andy recalled us being refereed out of the Champions League. Spurs IMO deserve to be in the top 4. Admittedly that's a lot being down to the fact we completely outplayed Man City twice.

Bent can't handle pressure because he had his chances at a big club and failed, had his chances for England and failed, and he's missed out on the chance of defying some of his critics this season by missing those penalties when he was under pressure (against his former club, the club who had written him off). His full 202 minutes for England, I guess you're basing that on? Is this the same Darren Bent who was Tottenham's top scorer last year? I'm basing it on his whole career. Considering his only rival was Pavlyuchenko then that's not saying much, and they still felt the need to sign Defoe and Keane, I'd be interested to see how many he actually got last season compared to the 4 months or so of Defoe... Eh? What are you basing on his whole career? He's had one poor season by his standards, 07-08 at Spurs. 142 goals in 337 appearances, is that a poor record in your eyes? It's not poor, it's pretty much exactly the same as Defoe's overall career record, I think anyone with half a brain would take Defoe over Bent (if it was a straight choice), so I'm not sure why anyone would take Bent, as Defoe is that type of player who will be going. My point is that you can't take Defoe and Bent, one or the other, and 100% of the time it's Defoe, for me and Fabio Capello. Right! Now we're getting to the crux of it. I disagree, we can easily take both. Where we differ is on the matter of Crouch and Heskey. I wouldn't take both, because I would much, MUCH rather have Bent, a player who has been absolutely prolific and brimming with confidence, in the squad, rather than Heskey, with 5 in 41. Goals aren't the be-all-and-end-all but they're pretty damn important for a striker and I can't see how we can have space for someone who has been utterly impotent for Villa this year. I don't think Crouch is a world beater but I'd take him ahead of Heskey. As such, Rooney, Crouch, Defoe, Bent and Walcott would be my forward line.

Bent can't handle pressure because he had his chances at a big club and failed, had his chances for England and failed, and he's missed out on the chance of defying some of his critics this season by missing those penalties when he was under pressure (against his former club, the club who had written him off). His full 202 minutes for England, I guess you're basing that on? Is this the same Darren Bent who was Tottenham's top scorer last year? I'm basing it on his whole career. Considering his only rival was Pavlyuchenko then that's not saying much, and they still felt the need to sign Defoe and Keane, I'd be interested to see how many he actually got last season compared to the 4 months or so of Defoe... Eh? What are you basing on his whole career? He's had one poor season by his standards, 07-08 at Spurs. 142 goals in 337 appearances, is that a poor record in your eyes?

I disagree with that, but even so, surely Defoe is more of a natural goalscorer than him and has done it for England before, therefore rendering picking Bent completely pointless. Even if you think Defoe is more of a natural goalscorer, how on earth does that mean we shouldn't pick Bent? My word. When is Bent going to play if we have Rooney, Heskey, Crouch and Defoe? Who are all better players/more effective/have better England records? My word, that is my point. So he hasn't been given a real chance at England level and therefore shouldn't be allowed in the squad? There's easily enough room for Bent. He'd comfortably go ahead of Heskey for me, if not both Heskey and Crouch.

Bent can't handle pressure because he had his chances at a big club and failed, had his chances for England and failed, and he's missed out on the chance of defying some of his critics this season by missing those penalties when he was under pressure (against his former club, the club who had written him off). His full 202 minutes for England, I guess you're basing that on? Is this the same Darren Bent who was Tottenham's top scorer last year?

I disagree with that, but even so, surely Defoe is more of a natural goalscorer than him and has done it for England before, therefore rendering picking Bent completely pointless. Even if you think Defoe is more of a natural goalscorer, how on earth does that mean we shouldn't pick Bent? My word.

It is making a sufficient impact off the bench in this circumstance, is there any evidence whatsoever to suggest he can do as well as Crouch or Defoe coming off the bench for England? No known evidence of this so he would get nowhere near my squad. He's only ever come off the bench 3 times for England - you're therefore saying on that basis, this 24 goal striker would come nowhere near your squad.

Bent can't handle pressure? Because he missed some penalties this season? Why would he never make it at a big club? If you think Agbonlahor is a better player than Bent, it's personal opinion, but if we're using Bent's England career as a guideline, are you going to ignore Agbonlahor's equally short England career? And we should take him over Bent because Aston Villa > Sunderland?! Bent's record this season is all the more remarkable because of the very fact he's in a mediocre team, and not being presented with that many chances!

In that case it would be completely pointless taking Bent, he's not going to play, takes up a useful place for someone like Adam Johnson. When have I said I wouldn't take Johnson!? Bloody hell man.

Never did anything off the bench for Spurs, not to mention he can't handle pressure, and would never make it at a big club. He's handling the pressure of being Sunderland's only consistent goalscoring threat rather well this season, wouldn't you say? Agbonlahor ahead of Bent?

What's everyone's predictions for Mallorca-Real tomorrow? If Mallorca are up for it, and I reckon they will be, 2-1 to them.

Rooney, Defoe, Crouch, Bent and Walcott (who can obviously play wide as well) for me.

You're suggesting we should therefore not take him and take someone else who has only made fleeting appearances from the bench? Who?

Milner does have the energy and tenacity to play in the middle, but neither he or Lampard are good enough in the air, or at tackling to compete with the best strikers in the world. I think we have a problem in central midfield. Carrick has been poor, Hargreaves has been dead and personally, I don't think Barry is that good. I'd play him for lack of anyone else, and that he has experience in England's central midfield. I worry against quality exponents of pass and move that we will be taught a lesson there due to a lack of a top-class defensive midfielder.

Impact player? 24 league goals this season - only Rooney and Drogba have scored more in the league, man.

Bent has to go.

Scharner's leaving Wigan as has been mentioned - he'd be a brilliant signing considering he'd be free, and he'd also be a handy player to have available. I wouldn't imagine he'd demand unreasonable wages either.

Thought we hadn't heard from him for a while.