leffe186

Who would he replace? Sandro? Modric? Van Der Vaart?

I wondered if it had something to do with the fair play rules, but iirc they take into account this year's balance. It's mental, though as you and I know more than most, much of the stuff spouted is just made up.

Isn't that a clear example of ensuring top flight with a few handy goals?

Nobody's mentioned the obvious factor of the homegrown rule in inflating prices. Before last season started Liverpool were relying on untried kids to make up the numbers.

Aye, it doesn't make sense really. West Ham must have lost a lot of money for being relegated, they have the Olympic Stadium to worry about so where's the money coming from (especially when none of the players have been sold yet). Not much of a worry if you're being given a stadium and a wodge of taxpayers cash on top /bitterSpursfan

Who's that then? Suarez and your lad? Wacko, where's all this outlay coming from? Your accounts will look a bit scary after last year (no CL) then this (no Europe).

That's not a Dowie though, Dave. Lies? Completely made-up bullshit? Surely a Blatter.

I'd really like you to name them. Someone cited Carrick, Barry and Parker's wages earlier for comparison. Well, Man U could afford to take a bit of a punt on Carrick (and of course they kept Scholes and Giggs), Man City are on a different planet and West Ham seem to have lost their minds on wages a couple of years back. Everybody should now be cutting their cloth according to what they have coming in. To echo Neil from outside - the only indisputable fact is that Barton and Nolan were central to survival this year. I'd be looking for tweaks rather than major overhauls, and losing Barton (as well as Carroll) is on the side of 'major overhaul'. Nolan still has two years, so there's not a major rush. Barton is the bigger issue.

Clearly clubs have decided that the Financial Fair Play regulations will do absolutely fuck all. That's Chelsea, Man City and now Liverpool living in a fantasy land.

Lovely play by Lampard and Milner. Walcott not looking altogether convincing so far.

Formation isn't doing us any favours. Bent looking isolated up front, and the Swiss very quick to get men behind the ball if needed. Wilshere needs to start being more adventurous.

Switzerland looking pretty canny here.

I am so sick of the "Self-Preservation Society" riff.

I used to think Dave re-typed them to make life easier for us.

Sweet Jesus, it's not even June. I kinda wish we could shut down the internet over the close season. I have read so much utter shite this week (worst culprit the Mail) and I don't even live in the UK any more.

Absolutely.

Edit: Silly tackle, but he was so playing for it.

It must be horrendous. DIVE.

Thanks Disco. Glad about that, the fewer the better.

I didn't realise they'd bought Sinclair. That's a pretty good squad they have there.

How many players have each side got on loan?

What a fucking game. Only turned it on for the second half too.

Brummie doesn't seem to rate him much but i'd be very happy. I really wouldn't be, just wouldn't see the point. Friedel has pretty much gone now, as Brummie says. He's not better than Gomes so shouldn't be first choice, we already have Cudicini in the "experienced back-up" role and I'd rather have a young keeper as the number 3. Plus, he's not homegrown (unless I'm very much mistaken). The only decent reason I see for him coming in would be if we are looking to sell Gomes and bring in, say, Foster. He might then be useful if we're rotating keepers e.g. for the Europa. Unless 'arry wants him for our collection of unconvincing ex-pros being groomed as coaches.

Downing will cost an absolute fortune, surely?

The rumour started on RTG and it looks to have been relayed by Wraith via Twitter. The rumour 'quotes' suggest that his leg hasn't fused properly and his leg is now bent, so going by the rumours, his problem would be nowt to do with playing, as he's just 'crippled' and couldn't play a match anyway. Doesn't seem quite right though, this type of problem would've been flagged ages ago imo and if his leg wasn't straight, surely he wouldn't have returned to train at all, as it's a pretty serious problem. That just means that the ball will travel in a corkscrew manner, confounding opponents /royoftherovers