betterman

Yeah, Cristiano Ronaldo is just way out there on his own these days. Maybe we should wait and see what Tony Cascarino thinks of Mascherano.

He's not good enough.

The cheek of some people

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Could well be. I wouldn't like to write him off either, but much as I'd love to see him come out and show us all what made him great if I see his name in the starting XI my heart will sink, he's just not up to it anymore, besides the bits and bobs you mentioned.

Hysterically, I imagine. I like the way our boss more or less shifts the dross fairly quick and doesn't let his ego/pride get in the way of shifting his bad buys out again fairly quickly. I love the way he's a class act and a shrewd manager and would therefore not dream of offloading Xabi, Stevie or Pepe and a few others unless it was absolutely the right thing to do. Still don't see how people cant realise what a great buy Pepe was, what keeper out there who is available for decent money is going to improve matters here? However, without criticising him, Crouch clearly doesn't fall into the category of 'top drawer' players.

That's about the size of it. I just think he's getting an unfair time of it because some people are incapable of - rightly - pointing out that he's not someone we should be signing without making out that he's a bit s***, which he isn't. His performances and goals tally have been excellent this year, his first in the premiership. I hope he gets better and better.

I would be biased as I think he's a great lad, but I wouldn't be sure yet either. The one thing, that has been pointed out, yet people seem to be dismissing is that he has taken every 'step up' to a new level in his stride. He hasn't set the international stage alight, but anyone watching Ireland will tell you he has been quite good in a poor team so far, leading the line far better than others more experienced players in my opinion. I find his attitude refreshing more than anything, he will talk to the media at the drop of a hat, but is intelligent enough for it not to turn into stupid back page headlines all the time, while he is a genuinely decent lad who is doing very well for himself yet keeps his feet on the ground. On the pitch, he's quick, strong, good in the air and a quality finisher off either foot, plus he is a clever player and he works his socks off. for his team. Having said that, I wouldn't think he is the answer to our prayers, but I don't think it's fair to rubbish him either. For not being as good as David Villa and particularly not for his unexotic name! Funnily enough, I reckon Arsenal could really do with a player like him, but if any of the top four teams give him the chance to 'step up' I'd say it will be the mancs. I think Dirk Kuyt and Kevin Doyle are very similar in the way they play actually, but we have the better of those two players.

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I'm not saying Drogba's not been brilliant, it's that fact alone that's making all the fawning over the prick in here more tolerable, but what's the point of that post? I'm not having a go, but honestly, a thread practically canonising Drogba and Ronaldo has now denegrated into sarcy digs about our own players... lovely.

Would agree with that, always thought he was chelsea's best centre back. They'd love to have him right now, that's for sure. He's a better full-back than most full-backs too. Himself and Toure, given time, should be one of the best pairings around. Otherwise, if the point about the best team drawn from the top four is how few of our players are in it, I think it's simply a matter of money and that includes what wages teams can pay as well as what they can shell out in the first place. We're still well behind the others - including Arsenal - and I think if anything holds true these days it's that the big money - almost - always rises to the top. Particularly in the domestic leagues. The only recent transfer buy I reckon the other clubs reckon we stole a march on them with was Xabi to be honest and hopefully Agger given time. (I'm having a cut at the rest of the good buys, I just don't think any of the others are that cut up about missing out on Kuyt, Pepe or Bellamy etc). You could argue that this thread actually just proves we're punching above our weight, but what would be the point of that when you get the 'we're s***' nonsense in other threads? Our trophy haul, which includes the biggest of them all, in recent years is excellent I reckon. Sorry if I'm way off on a tangent here, but while we are no doubt a very big club and in most respects streets ahead of most others (who'd honestly want to be a Chelsea fan right now despite the 'success'?), in financial terms we are not up their with the best of them. That's not to apportion blame, it's just a fact. I'm not saying football can be reduced to economics, but a player of a certain class comes on the market and the 'top four' all want him, who'd your money honestly be on? We're just lucky we have one of the best managers around right now. And despite what I just said give me Finnan and Carra over Neville and Ferdinand any day of the week. Nothing to do with their club either. Xabi is worth a shout too. Actually, for Ferdinand, I 'd rather have any of Toure, Gallas, Carvalho or Vidic too.

If only it was that simple. They have both been brilliant this season all right, while Essien and Fabregas are good shouts too. As with all these awards a lot of it will depend on which of their teams actually wins (or looks like winning at that stage) the title.

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Throwing money at it now, a big gamble I reckon. 11m for Dowie to spend (I think that was the figure) was a lot for Charlton to waste. Only Andy Reid has looked like a proper player and he's not liable to stay fit for any prolonged period of time. If they go down they are now going to be in serious financial difficulty and not just the kind of bother that every relegated club is in when their revenue stream shrinks considerably. Will be relying on sale of Marcus Bent & Co. plus probably all their lesser lights to keep things ticking over if they go down, which will make it fairly hard to get back up.

The tag which has attached itself to more over-priced, average players than any other in recent memory. What has being English got to do with it. The lad looks like a good player. So did Glen Johnson. We don't particularly need a right back, we have one of the best in the league. We definitely don't need one if we're prioritising areas of weakness in our squad. Then you have to consider that Lucas Neill is coming in too. And at 15m you'd be mental, which Rafa isn't. If Chelsea are as interested as you think they are there's no point discussing it anyway because they will win any and every bidding war.

Pardew's probably the best appointment they could make right now in terms of who is available and who would touch it with a forty foot pole. Better than the previous two incumbents anyway. Still, would be surprised to see them turn it around now.

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