Hughesy

Agreed.

Are people pretending to know the full facts of whether he was actually overweight or not?

I reckon Robson's team edges it. In an epic 4-3 victory.

Yep - absolutely ridiculous to think that we might be going into the season with just Riviere, an injured and out of form Cisse as our strikers. Unless they are hoping for big things from Armstrong, Campbell and Perez?

You must have enjoyed Euro 96 surely?

I think it's fair to say that a lot of nations (not just Ireland, Scotland, Wales, N.Ireland) like beating us as I wouldn't say the English are very well-liked globally. I doubt that any team would raise their game against us though.

I found out the other day that Walter Samuel is Jewish. A little known fact.

Yep - I would say that Nolan was a fair bit more overweight than HBA. I'd also say that Nolan's weight issues were often discussed and criticised on here. That's not my point - my point is whether Nolan was fined by the club for it and it was used as a reason not to pick him. The answer to that is that it wasn't. That was my point as well. It never seemed to be an issue with the club although the fans regularly discussed it (as do West Ham fans). Nolan, as much as I was never much of a fan, has a much bigger frame naturally than Hatem. He was captain, leading goalscorer for most of his time here and basically ran the first team prior to Pardew coming in. I bet you that their body fat levels were very similar.

Exactly - examining how crucial a goal is and then adding weight to it retrospectively is a bit pointless.

Absolutely convinced that if you looked through Lampard's catalogue of goals, you would find goals of that calibre in there. It's not about the calibre it's when they are scored that's the point here. Lampard to be fair to him has done it at crucial times too. But that feeds into the argument that was going on around Messi - I don't know how you can judge a player on moments in a match of particular importance that rely purely on chance and/or the performance of your team mates. There is no reason whatsoever to think that if a similar ball had dropped to Lampard in a FA Cup Final as it did for Gerrard against West Ham, that Lampard might have scored the exact same goal.

Absolutely convinced that if you looked through Lampard's catalogue of goals, you would find goals of that calibre in there.

Generally in a far worse team too. Didn't Lampard play a fair few of those games for West Ham?? Gerrard - 475 games for Liverpool, Lampard - 429 for Chelsea.

I wouldn't say that Gerrard is renowned for his speed or ability to beat players. I would say Lampard has better vision, is more intelligent in his use of the ball and the way he timed his runs, and was a better/more effective passer of the ball than Gerrard.

As in he's seemed to make a good career out of being a limited player? I think you are underestimating Lampard a huge amount in your analysis. I am not sure on what basis Lampard is a limited footballer - there is a huge amount more to his games than long range shots as you seem to imply. It would be a bit like me saying all Gerrard does is run around a lot (usually ending up in the wrong position), play long crossfield 'Hollywood' balls to the opposition full back and put in a few hard tackles (usually bordering on two footed).

Lampard has always been a more intelligent footballer than Gerrard in my opinion.

Yep - I would say that Nolan was a fair bit more overweight than HBA. I'd also say that Nolan's weight issues were often discussed and criticised on here. That's not my point - my point is whether Nolan was fined by the club for it and it was used as a reason not to pick him. The answer to that is that it wasn't.

Not the best example perhaps, but compare Elliot to someone like David James and the difference is laughable.

Yep - I would say that Nolan was a fair bit more overweight than HBA.

What sanctimonious shite. Better make sure no-one smiles on a plane.

That just says that his club want him to sign an extension, doesn't mean he will. Supposedly Liverpool are after him or Remy and so are we according to Ryder. We won't get either. Keep reading that article so that the words 'used' and 'poorly' are adjectives. Puts a new spin on it.

Why? They've the same squad as last year with their foreigners having had the year of adaptation and a better manager now? I just think that the teams around them have all improved a fair bit. Man United will be much better this season, as will Arsenal. Anyway - was more of a general musing really. I am not convinced their squad is that well balanced and it will be interesting to see how well Pochettino gets on at a bigger club, given that everyone seems to overlook the fact that his managerial record pre-Soton isn't exactly stellar.

Definitely reckon the squad is good enough to finish ahead of Southampton. The manager is the major weakness. I will be interested to see how Spurs get on this year. I can see them having a fairly poor season.

I think we should let Colback leave.. he's been a good servant.

Indeed but we both know Shola shouldn't have even made it through the academy. Really…?