Hughesy

Are there any 'proven' strikers available for the paltry sums we are likely to spend?

I still feel meh about the future, but can't help being slightly excited about these new lads. Yep - nothing like a new signing to make you feel a little bit optimistic, despite the wider depression.

The 90 side wasn't good mate. They got to the final on the back of their reserve keeper Goicachea coming in after injury to the first choice, Pumpido if I recall, and him being a bit of a penalty saving specialist. Fair enough - I was only seven at the time, so my footballing knowledge wasn't great. This was more based on what I had read. Feel free to make sweeping comments on zero knowledge tho. Napoli did have 2/3 good players in the Maradona side but had never won the league and never have since. They were up against the powerhouses of Inter, Roma and AC Milan. He lifted the whole city not just the club. They won the league twice while he was there. Messi will never be able to do that at a midtable Spanish or Italian club...Ever. I never made a comment about the Napoli team that Maradona played for. As pointed out, I am basing my discussion on what I have read about the '86 and '90 Argentinean teams that Maradona played for (I think that having looked again, what I actually read about the '86 team being pretty good rather than the '90 team - think the most recent interview was one done recently with Linekar). I would, however, question exactly how much football the older posters on this forum actually saw many of these greats play. Probably not even 2-3% of the amount of football that one can now see Messi, Ronaldo etc play? I sometimes wonder if familiarity breeds contempt with today's stars and that there is an element of mysticism that stills surrounds the legends of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

The 90 side wasn't good mate. They got to the final on the back of their reserve keeper Goicachea coming in after injury to the first choice, Pumpido if I recall, and him being a bit of a penalty saving specialist. Fair enough - I was only seven at the time, so my footballing knowledge wasn't great. This was more based on what I had read.

I agree (and to clarify - this is from what I have read than what I saw), but it appears to have almost become one of those football myths that the Argentinian team of '86 and '90 was useless, when they really weren't.

Spot on.

What Maradona did at Napoli will never be matched. Complete myth that Maradona carried Napoli, they had a great team. Same with the Argentinean team - it was a good team when Maradona was playing.

Agree with this completely. Far too much weight is placed on the World Cup, when so many other factors are relevant.

I don't think it is possible to judge players from different eras - so while a fun debate, it always becomes a bit pointless. However… I don't really get why such a great focus is placed on 1) winning the World Cup (given the huge disparities in the teams in which these world class players have played or currently play in and 2) having to put in a 'performance' in the final - not all great players happen to have a great game in a final. Shit happens.

Selling MYM would be a terrible move.

Really hope Haidara gets a run in the team - can't bear to watch Dummett chugging up and down the touchline.

Brilliant planning by us - let everyone know how much we are getting for Debuchy and that we want a replacement. Shock - asking price goes up.

If you can't take a goalkeeper sledging you, you really shouldn't be playing international football.

I would like to describe it as mawkish sentimentality.

Is the Ronaldo hardman thing a joke? I can never quite work out if it is an in-joke that I missed out on.

killed me what flip said after brazil played them about facing a load of chilean miners with tattoo's up their necks agree, chileans please I love the way they play man. I'd be over the moon. Get the Chilean manager in as well and then we'd really be talking..

Marveaux has a fair few flaws - but he is one of only players we have who can actually see a defence-splitting pass and then actually play it.

Can't agree there. Rooney could easily retain his power even he lost a few pounds and got fitter.

There are clearly quite a few spare ounces on him..

Not sure why people say the fee makes no difference. We are more likely to spend more money (however little) the more we get for Debuchy.

Rooney is also out of shape - yes. Don't get me wrong - HBA would be an absolute nailed on starter for me every week. He just could do with losing a bit of weight.

He is clearly carrying too much fat for an athlete though. You can tell his body fat is too high. I can't quite work out why people are denying this.

He's overweight for a professional footballer. That much is obvious.

This. The Hatem weight bit. Not the Ronaldo weight bit.

I saw Richards in town not so long back. He's a lot smaller than he looks on TV. 5'10" max. Good player, though. I'd love him to be our RB. Camera adds ten pounds I believe.