Nachos

He is only 18 like. For me he's the more intelligent, better all round player than any of those other names you mentioned.

Since when did we start pandering to youth team upstarts? Let him go if he wants to.

I think King is getting ahead of himself there. Yossi has been quoted saying he could be back earlier than predicted, maybe the Everton game.

Just when you think The Times is getting its s*** together, you read this mancs a*** licking, tabloidy drivel from James Ducker. Not sure how the club or players are to blame for a play written by Dave Kirby, but there you go. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle6920853.ece

The tough games just keep coming thick and fast don't they. Yet another huge week, by the end of it we could be back in business in both league and CL. The alternative doesn't bear thinking about.

Does anyone even rate Barry that much? I still think he's hideously overrated and remember plenty of opposition to signing him at the time. He's certainly become a better player since we were linked to him.

I've got an idea how he would have set up with Barry, not as a traditional wideplayer but more on the left of a narrow central 3, with Gerrard on the opposite side, and utillising the full backs to provide width. It might have worked, it might not. I'm still not sure how that would have made the Keane signing more succesful. He was either good enough or he wasn't. Eventually it worked out for the best and we stumbled into something that worked, like Riera providing some much needed balance.

It's time he moved on over Barry, especially since we brought in Riera instead and pushed the mancs all the way. Is he trying to say that Barry would have been the difference in all those silly draws that ultimately cost us?

I haven't been studying his pro zone stats lately but whenever I've watched him play he's never struck me as a lazy. He's no Kuyt certainly but then he's probably not being asked to constantly track back and cover extra ground to make up for any technical deficiencies. The game at the top level is so fast and organised these days that it's pretty difficult for any player to be lazy in the traditional sense, unless you're name is Babel. Flair players often go missing when a game is tight and physical, which can be construed as being lazy, but most have a strong inner work ethic. Anyway, I think Rafa would have gladly taken Arshavin and fitted him in somewhere, probably off the left where his defensive duties are less of an issue.

That might be true but it's impossible to put an exact figure on these part ex deals. All we know is Barca are desperate to sign Masch and those should be our type of demands, especially given Toure is now out of favour.

Why's that? Barca obviously want Masch and he wants to go to them, and Toure can barely get a game. It's a deal that would suit all parties.

Interesting snippet about the youth set up: “I want to see the academy producing local players,” Benítez says. “We didn’t produce too many so we had to look elsewhere to be able to find the new generation of players that will be at the heart of the team and the club. We need local players.”

Lucas should be exempt from completely natural crowd frustration.

25 million plus Toure would be an excellent deal. IF the money is then spent on a top class attacking midfielder.

Didn't we try and sign him before the deadline? Bit of a daft generalisation to be honest.

Forgot to mention, I had a look through The Times in the newsagents before and in the middle section there is a big 4 page tribute to the Scum to celebrate their 40th birthday. So don't buy it.

Great news if he's back. It will give everyone a lift.

He should be judged on how the team is progressing not his political expertise. Rafa is in it for himself like any other manager. All he's doing with this piece is deflecting from his and the team's misgivings this season and adding to the instability that surrounds the club. I have no doubts that he's currently the right man for the job but he's not infallable and needs to sort out whatever's gone wrong this season or he won't be able to keep abusing the loyalty of his staunchest supporters and their mistrust of the owners.

Pavulechenko would be a bit of a pointless one. He's out of sorts and barely an improvment on Ngog, who is at least already fully integrated into the squad. I could be tempted by a loan deal mind.

Bit of a pointless article and not quite as dramatic as the headline suggests. Not the greatest timing either. I'm tired of both manager and owners using the club like their own personal PR vehicles, regardless of how it affects the team and fans. If they have issues, sort it out.

What would happen if one club decided to break away and sell their own TV rights, taking into consideration that the remaining clubs would get a bigger slice of the current deal?

I doubt they care. The stadium has been a lame duck for a while and if the CL profit stream freezes up theyll jib it. Though I think theyd be prepared to take us under and claim bankruptcy than sell for lower than their valuation. Its the LBO way.

Should have guessed really. Agents reguarly link us to their clients as part of new contract negotations.

The term world class seems to get thrown about far too easily these days. Using the traditional definition there's only Gerrard who could sit comfortably in that company. Mascherano is a good player, certainly, but world class? Not for me. His game is too limited.

I've learnt through painful experience never to write the mancs off, dodgy decisions or otherwise. They'll be in the mix come the end of the season. Arsenal could just as easily challenge for the league or fall apart. It will be interesting to see how they cope when the pressure's on. For me we are fighting for a top 4 spot. Given our current state I would be ecstastic with 3rd and a trophy.