alias75

Think the point is whoever we sign at RW probabaly wont be first choice next season anyway. The midfield of Xabi, Sissoko, Gerrard and then Kewell or maybe Gonzaelz on the left looks very strong and whoever we sign for the right i wouldnt want to disrupt the balance of Alonso and Sissoko in the middle and Gerrard on the right causing havoc. So do we spend £10 million plus on a right sided player that wont be first choice, or do we go for someone in the 3-5 million region who can come in for certain games and do a top job when called upon? Personally id go for the 2nd option and someone like Pennant looks ideal. He wont cost the earth allowing us to spend our money on the stirker we need and he will do a good job when called upon.

heard Zenden on the radio last week and he said if the season was another 2 weeks he'd be ok to play. But as it was he was just going to make sure he was ready for next season.

beat him once when he had to foul him but i thought Downing had a very quiet game so you have to give him credit for that since he was marking him. Hes also been part of a Sevilla side that have been very strong defensively so im sure hes capable although thats not attributes. Going forward he was superb all game, and put in a fantastic ball for the first goal. Looks very comfortable in posession and very quick. I agree though that fullback may not be his best position in certain PL games but hes a good player and im sure if Rafa wants him he thinks he can improve him.

Navas isnt too shabby either!

Doesnt look like a fullback but his pace gets him out of a lot of poor positional play. But going forward he looks very good, bags of pace and lots of quality. Ive only seen him play half a dozen times but i cant remember too many occassions where hes been caught out defensively.

great ball in for Sevillas goal...

whos going to be the first to get this guy confused with the other S.American?

was hoping to see the boots Cisse was wearing in the warmup or did those photos get over exposed?

Looks a decent player but completely the wrong type of full back Rafa needs for his defensive system. Hes out of position way too much we need someone that holds the line well and does his job effectively and consistently. He spends too much time attacking which leaves that side of the defence over exposed. I agree if Krongkamp goes then id like to see Barragan as backup, he hasnt been ultra impressive in the ressies (after an excellent start) but i get the imrpession he finds that level too easy and he could be ready to make the step up for the odd game after all i think he has first team experience in the Spanish 2nd division.

great goal by Stevie, just think hes much more effective either on the right or just behind the front man. Give him the freedom to attack without needing to defend so much.

pretty low key game as expected, the 2 centre backs have been rock solid and Alonso has really become a top holding midfielder. The one thing id mention is that Stevie playing in the middle in a 4-4-2 doesnt work as well as Sissoko in there (imo) he wants to get forward so much and is often advanced of the forwards so if we lose it we're wide open throuhg the middle.

very nice finish

these english players are doing their best to kick lumps out of each other...

Im gonna quote the wizard of Oz on this one "If he only had a brain!"

That bit is certainly true...

Fair play to the people at OT for playing YNWA on the PA too...

Taken from TLW havent seen it here

think Carson is the only one that we'll take back, by all accounts hes been doing very well, wouldnt be surprised to see him loaned out again next season though. Still have a small hope that Le Tallec will be kept, ive watched him even this season where hes hardly played and for France U21 hes looks a quality player. I think he needs to be realistic about where hes at in terms of playing games but i think he could even improve playing for our current reserves and working with Rafa full time. Both he and Flo's progress has obviously been stunted by the way they were handled in the first coupleof years they were here, but i havent given up hope on Le Tallec especially. Think he has the vision and footballig intelligence to become a very good player giving the right guidance and he obviously needs to change his attitude a bit too.

Not forgetting Victor who we could get on a Bosman and is good enough to fill in for certain games if we get injuries / suspensions and need to play Stevie in the middle or rest one of the central midfielders. Dont think right wing is as much as a priority as it was at the beginning of the year with the emergence of Sissoko and the success of Stevie out there. Maybe even we could look at another central midfieder, and class Gerrard as a wide right player or someone that can support the front man.

Im not sure if im allowed to post it...

They're both there plus a few of the first team

I have a stream can i post the link? Its a pay site though a few dollars for a months subscription ps the kids are playing very well much the better side, and looking to play some good passing football.

i know a site thats streaming it but you have to pay is it ok to put the link up here?

Another thing Bellamy said in that interview that i forgot to post was that hes recently got married and became a father and as we've seen with other players, that can sometimes have a psoitive affect on them and force them to grow up. Its important we sign players with the right attitude and given that Rafa obviously deems this an important quality in any signing if Bellamy does come you have to trust the managers judgement.

I think Bellamy is one of those players you hate unless he happens to play for your team. Im of the feeling that if Rafa wants him then thats good enough for me, he does come accross as an idiot on the pitch but i think a lot of that is done to wind up the opposition. The important thing is his ability which is very good, hes one of those players that will always be a nuisance even when hes off form because he has lots of pace and despite what people think hes a very hard worker for the team and never gives his marker an easy game.