GusMcLean

Surely now if DIC came in with an offer equal to the last the Americans would sell. Granted they would lose a little face, but they would have an extra £30-50M each in a very useful time to have an extra £30-50M.

Courtesey of -HH- on RAWK: to the tune of To 'Wild Rover'. Our last number 7's have been quite obscene, So Rafa said go forth and sign Robbie Keane, We had Houghton and Whelan in great sides before, Now the Kop has a great Irish hero once more. And it's Keane wearing seven *clap clap clap clap* He creates and he scores. And he'll take us to heaven, Like King Kenny before.

Last year was not bad in terms of points adrift, yet there was plenty of room for improvement. I think there is a chance we could get close to the title, but it requires a fairly hefty turnaround.

If we do get Keane, I suspect he will play as one of the Babel, Kuyt roles, which I imagine will be narrower than last season. Rafa mentioned Degen and Dossena will provide the width for us this year, which suggests a narrower 3, in which case Keane, Gerrard and one of Kuyt or Babel would fit well.

I wonder how this could be possible. (Villa that is) A number of clubs will want to buy him, and he has a long contract. So Valencia can be picky about offers that come in for him. I can see at least 2 clubs bidding £25M+ for his services, so in all likelyhood we would have to be around that figure. While the player has some say in the matter, the club could happily veto it. Or could they? Did he perhaps have a release clause in his contract. In spain most players have some sort of release clause or two. Normally one as a general figure, and perhaps another if Valencia don't get to the Champions League? Either that is the case, or there is some money from somewhere. All options less likely that those previous. Can't see it happening to be honest.......on another wind up Shanks?

Too many false dawns to get excited, but I will be encouraged at any rate.

1. Masch 2. Reina 3. Aurelio

xabi did look fantastic. Such culture and composure on the ball, an absolute delight to see. As per a post I started on RAWK (when it was working), I feel Alonso and Agger are the pacemakers of our team and are vital to us playing complete, attractive football. It is no coicidence we have had our best run while they were both fit.

I think Kuyt, Torres and Babel are good options for the front positions. Assuming Crouch is on the way out, then we need a replacement who can offer something different to those above. Ideally someone big, yet quick who can hold the ball up reasonably well. Who exactly is anyone's guess, hopefully those who know more about it than me will have an idea up their sleeve. With a couple of youngsters up and coming, Nemeth, Lindfield, Hamill, Pacheco and Eccleston, I think we should expect one to make it to the first team squad in the next 3-4 years.

Quite agree He must have been getting so hacked off with the constant fouling on him. As Rafa said, he was getting kicked and then lost his head. Very bad tackle, and not great timing, but I understand where it came from.

Fairly typical draw for the Semis!

To the tune of the Animals go in two by two A slightly faster version of this: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XNl7WyLbtvg&...ted&search= they came to take our Luis away Tara Tara Fernando came the other way hurrah hurrah Fernando said no to the mancs ill rather play for the five times champs and we all get blind drunk when torres scores a goal Fernando Torres came from Spain, Ole, Ole, He came to make us great again, Ole, Ole, The Spion Kop will roar him on, He scores the goals and he scores for fun, And we all get blind drunk when Torres scores a goal...... He really has the speed and class hurrah, hurrah All he needs is a damn good pass hurrah, hurrah He’s quick, he’s slick, he’s got a good trick Along with Xabi he'll make us tick And we’ll all get blind drunk when Torres scores a goal

The whole insider thing is really irritating, and the one thing that links 99% of thier posts, they know something very specific and have zero humility. Shankslegend on RAWK however I do trust. He kept us very well informed on the takeover saga. Informed us of a £11m bid made 4 days before the Mancini bid. He didn't know who the bid was for, but knew there was one. Good chap!