Crab Lungs

I think Hughes would be perfect, probably a nice blend between Pulisball and proper football. I'd still say they've got a big task moving on some players. I don't agree that Shotton or Nzonzi are any good, likewise Whelan, Wilkinson, Wilson etc. The very makeup of their team is for Pulisball, I think it'd be hard for a "passing" manager to go in there and get quite limited players to all of a sudden start playing tika-taka. I don't think the retention of Huth, Shawcross or Crouch (as decent as he is on the floor) will make any difference.

Yes, and the thought of Stuart Pearce coaching him and trying to use long words in conversation send a shiver to down my spine. Ughhugugguhuhh

Money, firstly. Secondly, ambition. If players can see that we're a club on an upward curb doing things the right way then it would be part of the attraction to become a part of it... and I doubt we'd be going for established stars like Monaco - more likely promising talent that could either grow with the club or, if we fail to achieve their/our ambitions - could be sold on to bigger, more successful clubs. We'll either make a very successful shop window or a half-decent club with the possibility of some success... over to Mr Cortese...

I'll agree with you on that, but aren't you saying they are, traditionally, one of the big famous clubs in France? I'm becoming less a fan of this "instant success and NOW" style that clubs with a bit of backing are adopting. I have to say, I prefer our own style though to an extent, we too have been "bankrolled" - although not to those (Monaco/PSG/Man City/Chelsea/Malaga/Anzhi) excesses and besides, it's clear we have a plan to blood talented youngsters for the first-team and compliment them with decent signings. I like our approach - money, of course, will always be the bottom line (see Ramirez) but we've also signed (and re-signed!) players who buy into our ethos and vision of the club and where it's going. I'd much rather our current approach than throwing cash around at loads of players and hoping they gel together, become a team and then win something. For me, that's somewhat artificial. The stories of Montpellier and Dortmund recently - and the continuing story of Athletic Bilbao make far more interesting, respectful spectacles than some team spunking millions on players to try and jump a few rungs up the ladder. Besides, the Champions League (our ultimate goal) is becoming something of a turn-off... it's going to end up a fantasy football playground for billionaire chairmen and teams. There will be no romance in it anymore in a few years...

Yeah, I've mentioned that... their recent history is far better, but you could take a Blackpool, Burnley, Preston or Huddersfield out of the doldrums with a similar crowd and huge finance and it'll still be an equivalent in size. Difference being, whilst the aforementioned clubs halcyon days are over and their "size" has shrunk, Monaco's has been pretty much steady despite the success they've had. BTW, I don't think we'll attract those players and even if we could, our manager/chairman probably wouldn't go for them anyway.

Yup, definitely. There is absolutely no way he'd go to Everton. Too far from home but more importantly, they've got a very, very, very tight budget.

That's all very nice, but if I was a professional sportsman wanted by Real Madrid or Monaco, I'd know where I'd go - even if Monaco would pay me far more. Same goes for Spurs or Monaco or Manchester United or Monaco. The other team, every time. I'd want to "feel" like I'm playing for a club with not only rich history, but with support to back it up. So, they've won a few things, great - if Preston or Huddersfield got bankrolled to that level they'd be strikingly similar to Monaco, even if their recent history isn't as good as theirs. And Monaco have had a huge advantage attracting players over other teams nationally and internationally, as documented above. For me, it'd feel completely false if I was a footballer.

I really can't see the point of players going to Monaco other than money. Surely, surely you can't be motivated by playing in front of 6,000 people every week? Sure, nice life but...

Massive appointment for them next. Pulis had done a brilliant job but done it in the ugliest way possible. If they really do go for a "passing" style next year, they've got a lot of sh1t to shift from their squad...

Osvaldo's great, if a little hot-headed. He's had some pretty serious competition for a place at Roma this year but he's still banged in around 15-16 goals in under 30 apps. Good finisher but a bit of a wild one. Can't imagine he'd come cheap.

Gracias, Senor.... defo not VMAN level's of sources but good nonetheless. One of them is actually pure second-hand but he has been spot on before. He's actually a poster on here! You were the main attraction, you little Schneiderlin clone!

Spazzy response from ill-educated people looking for a tear up. Oh dear oh dear.

Erm, I think you'll find the actual perpetrators of the crime brought that up... so people can surely justifiably talk about it, not be censored because you've got your knickers in a twist, surely?

Just seen the footage of one of them, possibly Sierra Leone origin? Doesn't look Somali, not spindly enough.

I'd wager the attackers were Somalian-British

I have my creepy, replica-shirt wearing moles in Andalucia in the lookout already.

Southern Spain, by any chance? Or are we talking Barca!?

We're not missing out. Pretty much everything City do is splashing cash for the sake of having money.

If only, Tokyo(s), if only. Nipponese is the only way for me. I'm absolutely sure of it.

Do you watch much of Norrkoping? They're my Swedish team and I love watching them play...

Saw that and I'd like to say I was surprised but I wasn't. Another bullsh1t mdifelder.

ha, that's fine, no probs... I'm going to try get my head around Cloud Atlas in a moment, not sure I'll be able to though. There's more, but I can't remember everything that I was told. More stuff on having the club up to standards to align with European football and that money is being spent on it very soon. Some stuff about the NBC deal and the money they're receiving from that is huge, etc etc...

Sorry, I was being an idiot. I meant the Itchen. Right of the directors box, my mistake. Told you I was tired!

Not all of it, ha. It was to the right of the directors box I was led to believe, though I'm trying to tie up exactly what was said/what I remember... it had been a long day!

Sorry, I may have got that wrong - just looked it up. There has to be over 40 commentary positions AND a revision of the current media setup/camera positions, which I was told is happening and will cost around £1m.