Smirking_Saint

I dont think we will ever agree on the Gerrard/lampard thing TBH. Personally Id have him in the side over Lampard but then I am happy for a player to take risks and attempt things, yes they are frustrating when they dont come off but the rewards we have seen when they work are incredible. He is more mobile and better all round then Lampard, perhaps he isnt as disciplined as such but most of that I think stems from the fact that Gerrard does work harder. Im not sure all his plaudits come from maximum effort, he keeps possession well enough when he wants to, agsinst certain opposition you need to take risks. As for Lampard he is more concerned breaking into the box then actually playing that disciplined. In that respect he wouldnt have marshalled like Gerrard on Wednesday. As per the DM thing I do agree, we have nobody really that wants to sit and break up, plenty that will sit and support. I think Cork is more Carrick though, he sits and intercepts for Saints and stifles but he is generally the ball player where as Morgan is the all action DM (not saying he cant pass). Which is why WanyamaI think is going to replace Cork more often as he is dynamic, strong and a destroyer. Cork could play for England, if Carrick is injured etc, but I think that he will need more support from the other CMs, Gerrard will be one IMO and Wilshere but he will have to work harder.

Id suggest we did buy him on his own merits but also because he will ultimately fit the system that MoPo employs better and essentially should get the best out of Gaston aswell

This or more likely Boruc Clyne Lovren Yoshi Shaw Morgan Wanyama Lallana Ramirez J Rod Osvaldo

Gerrard started of as more of a disciplined CM, I remember him having some very very good displays there when he was younger for both England and Liverpool but was then changed by different liverpool managers into the free role player that he is now. I can certainly understand where the frustration comes from watching him in a liverpool shirt but I think that they are happy to take that risk because of what he brings to the team. Also it wasnt so much a risk when they had Lucas and Xabi behind him !! Lampard was never really a CM and has probably grown into that role as he has got older but I agree is still not really a proper CM. I think at the moment Gerrard and Lampard are still able to play there in some degree, for me at least Gerrard looked good enough staying deeper and Lampard looked ok when he replaced Cleverley. Englands going to play 3 midfielders anyway so yeah I would suggest that Cork has a chance if he gets playing time of which I hope he will with rotation.

This is really not our remit anymore, it was us that offered him the best bed for a footballing development and it was Ox's dad that decided that Wenger was the best man to get that out of him. Now I have little doubt that he would not have been an England player as soon, nor would he have been involved in some European games but he would have got gametime and our coaching really is top notch. We are not the ones that can be charged with ruining young players, we are just looking after our own interests. The clause is a good one, and we were not to know that Wenger would have tried to be so 'prudent'

Its sort of been done to death how Adrian

Thats a fair enough opinion, not going to go off on one, I personally think he is technically gifted enough to be Englands first choice for a while. We will see how it pans out, the same with Ramirez

FWIW Gerrard was my MOTM, but Baines and Welbeck played well. Thats not the point exactly though, he is a good player

He certainly hasnt lived up to my expectations of him but that isnt to say he has not lived up to the transfer fee, it was only 4m more than J Rod and looking at the discrepency in the Osvaldo deal was possibly not even that much. The crap you spout about him not trying is just that, crap, he definately tries hard especially for a luxury player. You can tell his quality aswell, good on the ball and not scared to try anything. Whenever I watch him he looks like he could make something happen. I think he will work better with a man who can play off the last man, in fact I think our whole tactics would work better. So no, he has not been outstanding but certainly good enough, scoring 3 goals and 5 assists I think, so helped along the way, in fact without him we could even have been relegated.

Well he was MOTM so ill go with yes

He also did this well against Everton, in fact whenever I have seen him he works hard. Looks good on the ball, just is prone to frustratingly give it away every now and again. Im not even sure its that much more than anyone else either, its just popular to dislike him I supposed. Some would say obsessive. How long til your Osvaldo threads Dune ?

This is the danny Welbeck that scored twice and has been putting in good displays for england ?

Like I said in the ambition thread I honestly think you'll see Everton as a fading force now, I just cant warm to Martinez and dont think he is going to be the man to extend the wonderful work that Moyes has done. Moyes really did get everything right there, tactics, signing, motivation etc I was never impressed with Martinez at Wigan TBH, he only ever got them motivated at the end of a season and benefited from playing amoungst some equally dire teams. Kenright wont spend enough to patch up Robertos lack of defensive discipline and Everton are not good enough going forward to get away with it consistantly

Less Ego and more the fact the the manager picks the penalty taker and not the players

J Rod can play there as he is getting used to the inside forward role, Lambert I can see fitting into one of those forward three as it will detriment the harrying play we employ there. Osvaldo will play up top, thats what he is signed for and what we needed.

Probably the same reason as why people seem unable to handle the idea that our tactics do not accomodate two strikers I suppose ?

Is this confirmed ?

Im certainly hoping he settles at Saints far better than he did at Roma.

I dont think he will leave, it certainly gives us options. He doesnt fit the way Poch wants us to play up top as well as I think Osvaldo can. Having read about Pablo he is one of the hardest working strikers out there, chasing down balls, working channels, running onto through balls. The way we press, harrass the oppositions counter attack and win the ball high up the pitch I think Osvaldo will be better suited to capitalizing on those tactics. Lambert can potentially drop back to the No.10 role maybe but time will tell if Ramirez can make it his own or not.

Lamberts penalty taker as totti was at Roma

How difficult is the B licence out of interest Monk ?

So I said no Lamela, you give me the ball or I punch you in the face !!

Maybe if Bent regains his goalscoring form, maybe. Berba is incredible though, he could trap a comet that man.

Moyes is a good manager that had them organised, disciplined and motivated. He bought well, was cautious and had his tactics spot on. I would attribute the majority of Evertons success to him and honestly think that you will start to see them decline as a force, I really dont rate Martinez, yes he plays good football but is just far too open and Kenright wont spend enough to patch up Martinez' defensive tactics.

This I think he can push us right up there, City and spurs are the only two in recent times to break the original top four dominance, we all know the level of spending at City but Spurs have also sustained high levels for a time. Just ask Liverpool how difficult it is to get there and as much as I dislike them they are massive. I think an Everton level of sustainability is our immediate level of ambition if he continues the forward momentum he is attempting to build. The spending would certainly help but also trying to hold onto our better players and owning a successful academy. Is top four possible ? Not for a long time, it needs more than just funds (that are only sustainable with the right income) but also attracting the right players, that takes time to build the status of the club. Im going to be optimistic and say we 'could' make top four in our lifetime, but ambition or not we are not the size of those that sit in those berths right now.