Ginola

Most unexpected performer? (i.e. Who you didn't think would be much use but has been.) Best, Leon.

Just like we will pay £6mill for a 30-year old. Other areas of the team need strengthening more than CM as well.

Ah right, I thought you meant the Puma deal. Yea, you could well be right about the shirt just being for one season.

It was a two-year deal I think.

Ah fair enough, there is still no saying though that with the right guidance he would have become better than Ronaldo, although the chances are he'd be a better player than he currently is. The amount Ronaldo improved at Man Utd though was in the extremes. A lot of really talented youngsters won't come on that much, regardless of where they're at. Back to the original debate of whether or not he should play in the AM role, that depends entirely on the players that we sign. Personally, I prefer 2 up front, but we'd need 2 strikers capable of doing that job very well. I think he'd probably be most effective playing from the right, with licence to roam and drift in, but then that'd mean moving Barton and rearranging the centre of midfield, so I'm not sure that's really plausible.

I want the banana kit back.

That's bullshit.. HBA is suffering from the same problem as Ronaldo, fondness of the ball. SAF is the best antidote for that problem. Talent wise, HBA is just as big a talent as Ronaldo. It's his mentality that has stopped him from realizing his potential. No other man could convince me otherwise. I'll rather die before admitting HBA is inferior to Ronaldo He is inferior. You've already admitted to not watching much of him, yet you're certain he is/can be better than probably the second best player in the world. Insane.

Yeah thats all great and that but any names you'd like to see in these positions? CB: Douglas (Twente) LM: Jarvis ST: Gameiro I've not seen much of Gameiro so can't really comment on him, bit Douglas and Jarvis would be immense signings for us. I'd try and pick up a backup full back if possible as well, van Aanholt would probably be ideal for that.

Galaxy shirt looks lush, Seattles is horrible though

I disagree.

Please do.

So would Dorrans

Can be useful, but not a necessity. They have to really want to be there though as that's what it's about more than just being local. Joey Barton has been one of our most passionate players this season and shown how much the club means to him, and has arguably been our best player this season, so that shows it's more the passion rather than just being local that's most helpful.

I don't think anyone's said that. The point being made is that if a player wants to leave then he shouldn't be the figurehead of the side, not that we did everything possible to keep him.

My sentiments exactly.

He was FORCED to hand that transfer request in. [/obviously] He loved and still loves the club. He's have played for peanuts if Ashley had only given him a hugh and told him how much he loved him. Carroll was only ever interested in the future of NUFC, until we forced him out into the cold Forced by the club or his agent? I really doubt that the club forced him to hand in a transfer request.

Surely the whole situation is different when he hands in a transfer request though? You shouldn't have the figurehead of your team, the Raul/Shearer type, wanting to leave the club, should you? Obviously I don't know the whole ins and outs and everything that went on behind the scenes to do with the transfer, but for us to reject a bid, have a transfer request handed in, and then accept it, I know what it looks like.

It certainly should be, given some of the trouble some clubs have gotten themselves into due to financial problems. Obviously it's easier to just look at the players and the performances on the field rather than considering the financial implications, but the balance has to be right. Good team on the pitch, good finances off it.

Good news, I hope we don't rush him back though.

They both handed in transfer requests

You can't really say we're a selling club based on the Carroll sale. To take £35mil for a player who has had a good 6months in the PL doesn't make us a selling club, a lot of clubs in a similar situation would've done the same imo.

Beating the mackems 5-1. For a one off moment of pure ecstasy, it'd be Tiote's goal vs Arsenal, though.

I did the same.

Makes sense

I'd love a few little away trips across Europe, like. Still a lot of work needs doing if we're to get their though.