sadoldgit

Split views on Ramirez then but I think it is harsh to call him a malingerer. Some players get injured more than others and some take longer to adapt than others, especially if the system they are asked to play in doesn't suit their strengths. We know that he can deliver the goods if used in the right way. As I said before, he is still only 24 and has plenty of football ahead of him. I hope that in whatever time he has left with us that he shows us what he can really do on a regular basis.

Bumbling fool or underworld mastermind? Either way he should not be the most powerful man in football. I find it hard to believe that he hasn't been compliant in the corruption but then stranger things have happened.

cameron

Confucius say never go to dyslexic tattoo artist. Jody has some serious ink!

Because maybe you are a pessimist?

I don't know how you can be so sure? He is still young and has played 34 times for his country. He has shown he can play in the premiership but he needs to show consistency and he needs to keep fit.

I guess it was just a matter of time but they have now got around to opening a criminal investigation on him. Also he is suspected of making a "disloyal payment" of two million Swiss dollars to Michel Platini made for work performed between Jan 1999 and June 2002. Hmmmm.

sting

it..

Koeman seems like a reasonable guy. If he decides that he doesn't want to stay I would expect him to tell the club early on and the club will then look at alternatives. It has happened to us and every other club on a regular basis and although it isn't ideal, it is football and we will cope.

buy

I appreciate what you saying and we can debate players' valuations all day long and get nowhere. If Hull had paid £10m for him would we feel that £12m was still over the top? Maybe. If Long had better ball control and was a more prolific scorer I doubt if he would be playing for us or if we could afford him. I just think he has been here a while now and what he cost us originally has been done to death. He is here. He cost £12m. We all had a good moan about it when he signed but the situation has moved on. For the record I think that we overpaid for him but he is a very useful squad player and handy to bring off the bench when defenders are tiring. Are we better for having him? I think so. Are there better players out there? Yes. As I say, it is all relative and there are plenty of clubs out there who spend money on players that are probably over priced. But if a club is prepared to pay that price, that is what the player is worth to them. Whether we like it or not is neither here nor there but it does fill in the time debating the issue!

It has been going on for years.

Should add that many here wanted us to spend £15m for Charlie Austin as a back up for Pelle.

It doesn't make it ok to who though? If the people who spend the money are ok with it, isn't that all that matters? If you paid £3000 more for a car than its "market worth" what difference does it make to the bloke next door? You don't agree that we should have paid £12m for Long or that Liverpool should have spent £35m for Carroll which is your opinion and fair enough - but if the clubs are willing to pay that money that is their choice and means the player is worth it in their valuation. Long may not be a first choice but nowadays we have squads and he plays a part from the bench. Look how much teams like Citeh spend on their benches. We may have paid a lot for him but strikers do come at a premium. I am not saying that I agree that he is worth that much money, but if the club think he is worth it that really is all that matters. They wont not buy a player just because the fans think he is overpriced.

Remind us again, how did your prediction against MK Dons go?

Transfer fees mean nothing. Rickie was clearly worth more than the million or so we paid for him. You could argue all day long that Long wasn't worth £12m but if that is what the club felt happy with and wanted him that badly, £12m it is. Personally I would rather pay £12m for Long than £16m for Chambers but it was Wenger's call and sobeit. Lallana, Lovren and Shaw - you could argue that we got way more for them than we should have . It is all relative.

Lallana has moved on, time you did too mate. He ain't coming back so you will just have to learn to love Long instead.

I can think of a few who do want him to fail.

"The Gash" as one would have him known, is only 24 and has plenty of football ahead of him. If he can put in performances that we know he is capable of then we benefit and he will benefit as he will get a good move. It is a win win. Cant see why anyone would want him to fail.

shop

Clark

dodgy (for those oldies who remember Norman Vaughan)

He did play for England while a Saint as did Lambert, Lallana and JRod. Playing for Saints didn't hold anyone back and Hodgson spent plenty of time watching our matches.

drugsnrocknroll