benjii

The problem with "playing hardball" is that you risk becoming less attractive to these players in the first place. At the least, they would be less likely to sign long contracts. If he only had a year left he could see it out and leave for nothing. Generally, if someone is being disruptive you are best off getting a good price and reinvesting. No player is irreplaceable. However, what is so hard at the moment is the number of players who seem to be agitating. It would be good to play hardball to put a stop on it but I'm not sure it's best long term.

For which club?

The thing is, it's a little hypocritical to moan about a lack of club ambition at the same time as you're moaning that the club won't sell you. These guys need to be a bit more professional. If they signed long deals purely on the word of one man, especially in an industry as bonkers as football, then they are a little shortsighted.

Whilst I think Morgan is excellent, out of all the "star" names, he is probably the most expendable. In fact, we wouldn't even need to sign a centre mid. Wanyama must start. That leaves Cork, Davis and JWP. If we weren't looking at all the other departures as well and hadn't already raised a load of cash, I would say there is a fair amount of decent logic in taking 20 - 25 million for Morgan and converting that into attacking talent.

He can **** off, the walrus faced fanny.

The fact is, there really aren't very many "proven" Premier League strikers. Ignoring van Persie, Aguero, Giroud etc... who are they? Well: Lukaku - wants to join a club playing CL. Would cost a fortune and big wages. Adebayor - as above and also a helmet. Hernandez - is he proven? As a main striker I'm not convinced. Welbeck - not exactly proven in terms of goals. Probably wouldn't want to leave United. Remy - good player, potentially a candidate but would probably want a very hefty wage. Cisse - one good season, one not so good. Proven? Crouch - good player and could add to squad but wouldn't be an inspiring signing. Benteke - probably the best shout yet but is very hit and miss. He's certainly not a proven consistent scorer and would cost more than Pelle and Ings combined. Bony - looks good but does one season mean he's proven? In any case he probably sees his next move as being to a top club. Anyone else? Carroll? Odemwingie? Wickham? The idea that there's a feasible pool of proven Premier League strikers to pick from is not accurate. If we sign Ings and another more experienced striker to supplement Gallagher and Jay Rod I'd be happy with that.

Well, we achieved two promotions and won the JPT recently. Cup success is largely down to luck of the draw and performances "on the day". It's bit of a stretch to say a team who produces good players "should" win something. Why "should" we win anything when the biggest clubs have far greater revenues or virtually unlimited wealth behind them. Our academy players plus some shrewd signings got us to be the eighth best team two years after promotion. I would say that is significantly ahead of "par".

Sure. In my opinion, he played worse over the course of the season than any of the other regular starters. The difference between us and the teams above us, apart from squad depth, was a potent top flight striker.

That would be very disappointing, given he was our weakest link.

Most of Ramirez's performances last season were pretty good. I'm not surprised a misanthropic, expat, little Englander, with a more than healthy mistrust of Johnny Foreigner, who never watches matches would be: a) confused and angry; and b) an awful person to converse with.

Agreed. The lyrics are embarrassing and the music is an awful, stunted dirge. Pathetic. No wonder they look about as inspired as a skid mark when they sing it.

He did not. He said that the best players he has worked with at Celtic are Forster, Virgil van Dijk and Wanyama. He said Wanyama has left and is at Southampton.

You did say recently that you wanted England to lose. For what it's worth, I agree with your previous post. Rooney should be dropped.

And three of the last four away. Stitch up!

I dislike it when people say or write "myself" in an inappropriate context. They usually should say or write "me".

You're joking? Pearce is unbelievably annoying. Managed to make Martin Keown sound intelligent tonight.

Although I applaud Hodgson giving some players a chance there are some fundamental and glaring problems with this squad and team. Squad: A Cole is much better than Baines and should be there. I think Shaw is also better than Baines. Clyne (and probably several other players) is/are much better than Johnson and should be there. Central midfield: I can't believe the over-reliance on Gerrard and Henderson. At least one of Carrick or Barry (or even Cork) should be there to protect the back four. The balance is completely wrong and it's not something that Lampard or Wilshere will fix. Neither of those latter two really deserve to be there. Team: Rooney out wide: obviously a stupid idea. Lallana, Ox (if fit) or Milner would do a better job. Barkley: massively over-rated IMO. Should have put Lambert or Lallana on earlier.

Maybe if Lallana had focussed a bit more instead of acting like a ***** he might have made the team.

Paul Hart must have turned us down.

Er, no. You said the deal was "done" when it quite clearly isn't.

Campbell would be a good shout. Would probably frustrate at times but he can get past people and has a good left foot (which adds a bit of variety to our options in terms of attacking from wide positions). I've got no idea what sort of fee Arsenal would want.

Yeah, but he's right. Exhibit some taste for goodness sake.

England are extremely weak at full-back, central midfield and striker. That's not good.

Clyne is the best of the three. Shaw is more noticed because he's a leftie.

You're coming across as a dribbling simpleton. Save some of your scorn for MP who always indicated he might not want to leave. He also had a year left on his contract. You're seriously suggesting that one of the board's first actions should have been to start an earnest hunt for a new manager when the incumbent is doing an excellent job, is widely popular and has a year and a half left on his contract? Genius. And I'm not sure why you are convinced we can't attract a decent replacement. By all accounts , Koeman and Yakin are interested. We are, rightly, not panicking to appoint the first decent candidate we interview. As for relegation: no chance, unless we sell Lallana, Shaw and several of Lovren, Morgan, Fonte, Wanyama etc and we don't sign anyone decent. You honestly think we're going to finish below several of West Brom, Sunderland, Swansea, West Ham, Stoke, Leicester, Burnley, QPR? It would take a monumental cock up to manage that and so far there is no reason to expect one.