We will not finish top 6...

[alera]

The proof is in the pudding really. Villa used the money we gave them for Barry to sign downing.

......and what a truley horrific piece of business that was. Injured player who is no where near as good !

Everton are even struggling with the developement model from the championship etc now as they cant afford the wages Lescott is on £35k a week 1 / 5th of Terrys weekly wage after his hike. Is Terry 5 times better ?

They lost out on Naughton as Spuds were offering him double the wages plus they couldnt match the fee.

People assume that these clubs will get all the fee they receive to spend and that they can get equal or better players for less money. I would suggest that in the current market this is HIGHLY unlikely.

 

[Pam]

Christ, is Upson really all that bad? Shirley not.

 

[City Raider]

Arsenal had no regular centre back pairing all last season and still came 4th. Agger and Skrtel were swapped around with Carragher, Evans and Ferdinand (coz of injury) with Vidic. Chelsea's kept swapping around too.

It's not just about the players, it's what they're being asked to do and how effective work on the training ground is.

 

[rastus]

Time to start looking abroad and I feel MH will look in Germany as we have exhausted the PL.

Dont forget the % of foreign players in th PL is...................














I forgot but its a lot.

 

[johnmc]

The proof is in the pudding really. Villa used the money we gave them for Barry to sign downing.

......and what a truley horrific piece of business that was. Injured player who is no where near as good !

I think the same. But I also though O'Neil was crazy to give Watford £12m for Young but he is worth double that in todays market.

They play with a big man upfront and Downing has one strength in his delivery.

 

[alera]

Christ, is Upson really all that bad? Shirley not.

HEs decent player 30 but still got 4 seasons in him at least. Cappello obviously rates him he plays regular for England now and we have and excellent defensive record under him.

I would be pleased to have him in our squad. Much better player than Dunne or Ben Haim.

 

[Left Peg]

Christ, is Upson really all that bad? Shirley not.

HEs decent player 30 but still got 4 seasons in him at least. Cappello obviously rates him he plays regualr for England now and we have and excellent defensive record under him.

I would be please to have him in our squad. Much better player than Dunne or Ben Haim.

I think that may be the point. He may well be better than TBH and now Dunnie, but he's perhaps not as good as we were hoping for. We've done the business up front so it seems a bit of an anticlimax if we end up with Upson. Know what I mean?

 

[onceabluealways]

On defence - Toure, Upson and definately Lescott would improve us, personally i'd start looking abroad and Lescott.

To get top 6 should be nearly a formality without new defenders - we are stronger up front and that includes holding the ball up not just scoring and stronger in midfield - Just these improvements should enable us to hold the ball more therefore less stress on the existing defense. Also Given was only here from Jan and he certainly made us better.

Add to that Villa have been weakened and Everton likewise if Lescott comes.

Personally I think we also need the vreative midfielder to help break teams down after watching the SA games although Ireland didn't play in the final game.

I expect with what we have we will score more and conceed less than last season and get at least an additional 10 points just from away form alone

 

[Pam]

Who are so many people threatening to commit suicide, if we bring Upson in?

 

[johnmc]

Christ, is Upson really all that bad? Shirley not.

HEs decent player 30 but still got 4 seasons in him at least. Cappello obviously rates him he plays regular for England now and we have and excellent defensive record under him.

I would be pleased to have him in our squad. Much better player than Dunne or Ben Haim.

Tin hat maybe but he is also better than Richards and Nedum at this moment in time.

Please note that I said at this time, no doubt Nedum will go on to be better than him. ANd Richards as well.

I have not doubted any of our academy players in making this post.