SNSUN

I mustard mit I wasn't planning on watching it, but the missus insisted. I'm bloody glad she made me watch it, it was brilliant, very entertaining, funny and inspirational all at once. Everything seemed to go to plan. Video interspersed with live stadium footage worked well too. Perhaps the best compliment is that the introduction of the teams aside, the 4 hours seemed to fly by. Liked it lots. I was impressed by the Olympic cauldron too (or whatever it's called.) Very impressive to have all the teams represented, then it lifted into one. My old critique is that some of the camera angles were a bit off, but that's really only to be expected with that many people and animals wandering around!

Not one mention for Ali Dia? I know he wasn't a transfer as such but not one mention on here until now? Possibly the worst thing any team in the whole wide world has ever done. And we had the privilege of it happening to us. Even though no money exchanged hands, it was still the worst 'transfer' in the history of the world. My vote? Marco Boogers. Joined the Hammers under 'Arry and got sent off in his second appearance, then got injured, then got depressed and lived in a caravan. Apparently.

Buttner, Lens, and Dann would be a pretty good week next week. And of course we're waiting for Butland to finish at the Olympics before we pursue him. That's 4 signings, and we'll be bringing in one more CB too. 5 signings by the end of August. Sweet. (I am not ITK.)

Great! Then we can re-sign Bale, Dyer, Mills, Crainie, Surman, Dex, Best, Bridge and Oakley and have a nearly full ex-academy side! Yay! Of course this isn't going to happen, but it was fun reading it this morning.Even a season long loan would be out the question, he's too valuable a player for Arsenal.

Sad to see him go, has been a good servant to the club. He'll never be a Premier League player but can more than do a job in the lower leagues.

Gave me lolz. Bearsy's are funneh. Cold meats are bad for you. Bears are vegetarian, although I can't vouch for Bearsy's.

Signing quality costs big money. Granted you could get the odd class player on the cheap, but if we get relegated next season (and confident though some may be that it won't happen, it is a very real possibility), we would be foolhardy to have big names/big wages in the squad that will either want to jump ship back to the Prem or we'll be stuck with on a wage bill. Rodriguez, Clyne and to a point Davis are all going to do well for us this year, I can see them making the step up with consumate ease, but if we do get relegated, I can see us keeping all three and trying to bounce back first time. I think Nigel and Nicola are taking the correct line. Stick to the wage budget this season, consolidate our position within the Premier League if possible, and then raise it year on year after that. 'Sides, all four players we've signed are better than what we already had, which Nigel stated was his aim. I'm not worried, I'm looking forward to the new season, knowing full well other transfers will be made by the end of August.

So what you're saying is you're NOT smarter than the average bear? Oh well, here's something to soothe you.

Are you real or anthropomorphic?

I hear Schneiderlin is on his way to Arsenal in a £6 million deal. (The above is probably not true.)

The more signings we make, the more content we become with the players we have. We're one centre back away from having a team to start the season with really.

In the words "Claremont Crescent", is the anagram "Concert Master". I think this thread is a hint to a new signing, someone we'll be bringing in that can lead the players, conduct the play from midfield and dictate the tempo. This thread is clearly a coded message that we're signing Messi.

Can't have a Countdown thread without her, even on the main board.

Another team has done that this summer. I can't remember which, but I read about it recently. Davis captaining Rangers means he'd be good enough captaining us. Then we'd have the two Davis's as captains. My choice for captain is Lambert. I think he'd do an excellent job leading by example.

If he's one of two centre back signings, then it's a gamble worth taking IMO.

His agent (who has a big mouth seemingly) has said he'll still end up in the Premier League, with Fulham still interested. They can have him.

We should make peace with the NSC lot and get them to do their detective work. They're bloody good at outing keyboard warriors.

Amazing how things change in just one year...

Jos will probably get a few mentions here, but for me it was Marsden. I didn't expect an awful lot tbf, as He never did a lot in his career before joining us, but some excellent performances and "that" goal means we'll remember him for a long time to come.

As a squad player and extra attacking outfit, then keep him. I very much dislike him, but if he's got a place in the 25 without us having to leave someone else out, or us not being able to make another signing, then fine. If we can bring in better, then do it, and ship him out. I suppose ultimately it depends on whether he's prepared to give his all every game, and to be frank, I don't think he will. He's a player that wants to play at the top level without actually trying very hard. A la the Wayne Bridge situation, sitting on a bench earning a fortune for doing nothing, I get the feeling Punch would love that situation. If we keep him, I hope he proves us all wrong, but I don't see it.

They like getting beaten 1-0 don't they...

Tommy For...... oh wait, played. Forgot that bit.

Or stalker! Matej Rondos! (Ok I know he didn't play for us but I have a keen game of FM07 going and he's made the step up to sub keeper in the first team.)

Mmm, he's a dish. I can see my missus getting her frig on to him at SMS.