hypochondriac

I agree.I actually think he is better and more consistent but I can understand if people think otherwise.

Try and understand what I am saying. I am extremely pleased with recent results. I wasn't too bothered about the Charlton result because I expected it. I do not expect champagne football, but regardless of results, with the squad we have and the resources at our disposal, I expected a better level of performance this year than we have had, regardless of whether we are in the driving seat for second or not. I don't see how last season is in any way relevant to this discussion.

You can't just pick a set of results which suits your argument. What has messed us up for top spot is dropped points, both at the start of the season and at places like Walsall away. To my knowledge, Brighton haven't lost to a team near the bottom except for Hartlepool who have a really good home record. They just have not had a few really disappointing results and performances against teams near the bottom with crap home records and that is why they will be champions.

Seemingly not as it seems to me to be even between Fonte and Lallana.

Who have an excellent home record and at the time were one of the form teams in the league. They weren't a team right down the bottom or on a horrendous run of form.

Maybe but that was not what I was talking about. I don't expect champagne football and I accept that we will have bad games, but I do expect in general a level of performance which is better than what we have seen this season (considering the players we have in relation to everyone else.)

It is not just results, but the manner of our performances which lead many to this conclusion.

Good player but Fonte has been the key reason why we have the second best defence in the division. We have done well attacking but the responsibility for that is shared around more players in that area of the pitch.

Fonte for me most definitely.

I'm not sure what some England fans expect. A 2-0 win away from home will do me nicely and sod the performance. Do that every time and we will win things. Having said that, the world cup was extremely disappointing both in terms of performance and results. We need to stop using efficient and unspectacular performances as an indicator for how we will perform against the better teams. It is a totally different mentality and those type of games will be extremely different. In qualifying, all you should care about is the result. England's main problem in the last twenty years has been that we are incapable of performing to our potential in a knockout tournament when it counts. It's a purely mental thing and people can bang on about our tactics all they like, but even taking that into account, we should have done better than we have in major tournaments. Now I would hope that Capello keeps faith with the team who performed today and recognises (as France has) that young hungry players need to be given an extended run in the team, regardless of performances, and the value that players who come in to do a specific job like Scott Parker can bring. When we try to accommodate all of the so called stars is when we fail. I would sooner have hungry and in form championship players than using that tactic, and I bet they would do better than that tactic as well! Recipe for future England success: Gerrard out Barry out Ferdinand out (we need consistency at the back ad the chance to build a partnership, too injury prone to offer that) Lampard used more sparingliy and only if he fits into the system. Rooney used where he is asked to by the team and the team not sacrificed to fit him in (possibly the most encouraging thing about today.) Wilshire Make him captain sooner rather than later. Failing that, build the team around him, but don't sacrifice the team to accommodate him as we did with Rooney. Parker play him or someone similar so that as a team we are stronger. Blood capable and hungry youngsters whenever we can and look to replace England 'regulars' if youngsters grab their chances and shine. Make it clear that players WILL be dropped should they not perform (I'm looking at you Wayne 'I am never dropped and it is assumed I am the first name on the team sheet even if I am in poor form both for club and country' Rooney.)

Regardless, it was a decent performance from us and a deserved win which is all you can ask for.

I do hate how people criticise England by saying it means nothing because we are playing a cr*p team. It's a tricky away game and it looks like we are going to win comfortably with a good performance. Well done us.

Speak for yourself!

It is a presumption based on past experience but it's not particularly important, more of a side comment.

I hope so, but all I was saying was that that remains to be seen.

In fairness, no one I have seen has actually done that. Maybe one or two posters?

Selling Chamberlin in the summer would more than cover that shortfall with just one transfer.

Lallana signed and no doubt did well out of a deal but equally the club know that by signing him to a deal the value of the asset goes way up (and again, taking this into account is something they can justify even with the financial support of the Liebherr's reduced. With regards to the training ground, I have already speculated that this could have been greenlighted before the departure of Markus an thus the finance would be in place. Now I have (again) adressed your points. Please do not repeat them again next week.

Sounds encouraging. We really need a leader in the middle of the park and I hope this addresses that despite his young age.

I have addressed his points more than once on this and on another forum (as he well knows.)

If you have spent the time that I have replying to MLG's points countless times both on here and on another forum you would have the same reaction that I have.

Lallana signing- Is blatantly worth it because anything we lose in wages we would more than make up eventually due to sell on fees. Remember that not having Liebherr's billions does NOT mean that we would have no money, just that our resources would be reduced from what we had last year. Rejecting bids for Chambo- that means little. If we sell him next year or the year after, we will still get the same amount for him that we would have done this year. Spending millions on training ground- It is entirely possible that Markus had green lighted this before his untimely death. Spending money on the training ground does not depreciate our asset anyway and makes it more attractive. It is entirely possible that we could have had a tightening of our finances and still be able to spend money on these things and turn down bids for Chamberlin. I'm not saying this is what is definitely happening, simply that it is a possibility. Now regardless of whether you think that is boring or not, I think it warrants some discussion. Sorry if that upsets you.

I didn't read anything you have posted MLG but I am sick and tired of replying to you so I'm not going to bother beyond this post.

Difference is that IF that is the case (and wages wise surely he is much cheaper) then his resale value is also going to be much higher than Howard's.

Yes but we can't play the same eleven every game. I do sort of agree and it's why we will only see if my theory is correct once we make the step up to the CCC.