Leo No.8

I really liked the way the ref handled France - Spain. To say he was conned for France's free-kick is to me incorrect; Ibanez put his hand across Henry's chest and I thought did foul him. What the ref wasn't conned by was Henry's attempt to get him sent off by going down clutching his face, so I actually thought he got that just right. One incident I thought he dealt with superbly, and I'd like to see much more of it. I think it was the French left-back (whose name escapes me now, guy who plays for Lyon), put a slightly late tackle in on Pernia. Pernia went down like he'd been shot, and a lot of referees would have given a yellow card. As the Frenchman started running back to his position looking at the ref to see if he'd be booked, instead he pointed to Pernia and told him to go and check if he was alright and apologise. He did exactly that, Pernia got up and everyone got on with it. That to me really is promoting good sportsmanship, and getting players to do things in the correct manner rather than just waving cards around at will. He went most of the game without a yellow card when it was quite fiercely contested, which is definitely to his credit.

Capello, Benitez, Mourinho, Rehhagel & Rikjaard for me. Capello has won that many titles with Milan, Roma, Madrid and Juve - I just don't see how anyone can fail to include him in the list. His record is probably the best of any manager in the game at present. Fantastic all-round coach, extremely astute in the transfer market. Benitez winning two La Liga titles against the awesome financial power of Madrid and Barca is deserving of a place alone, but when you add his UEFA Cup at Valencia and incredible Champions League victory with us, he is along with Mourinho the finest young coach in the game. A meticulous tactician and perfectionist. Mourinho - yes we all hate him, but you have to look past that and see the fact that he won the Champions League and UEFA Cup with Porto, then has won the title at a canter over here twice. Yes he has had immense resources here, but his successes at Porto were with far less financial clout than the majority of the teams in the competition. He is a real motivator of men, pragmatic but knows how to build an immensely functional team. Rikjaard has put together the best team in Europe at the moment, and has moulded a squad capable of keeping Madrid at arm's length for a good few years now. For all the money they throw at the problems, it'll take a fine manager that kind of time to put together a team which can play together well enough to knock Barca off the top. Rehhagel - a fantastic club career in Germany (as illustrated above), followed by managing a team full of average players to quite possibly the biggest shock in the history of major tournaments by winning the Euros with Greece. Scolari won the World Cup with Brazil which is fine, but for me Rehhagel's achievement is far greater and merits inclusion ahead of 'Big Phil'.

Cannavaro is quality, no question about that. It always always amazes me how phenomenally good he is in the air for a man of his size. Every time I see him win a header against a player 4 inches taller than him it's like he's defying gravity.

It always astonishes me how highly Emerson is rated whenever I see him play. He's incredibly average - like Stevie says, just a holding midfielder with no exceptional talent, no better than someone like Boateng. I think he's extremely lucky to have played in the sides he has. Another player mentioned - Ibrahimovic; he really is crap; I've tried to convince myself otherwise, but I've seen him about 20 times now and he's been woeful every time, so if I came to any other conclusion I'd be doing so with no justification. He might have talent, but no more than plenty of top players and his application and attitude are dreadful.

Signing the best players in the World and hoping they'll all play well together doesn't always work. Chelsea are becoming the Galacticarnoz...

Parry: I was shopping today Rafa, and I thought of you and picked you something up... Rafa: 'What ees thees all about Rick?' Parry (with a big fatherly grin on his face, hair unruly as ever): Go on Rafa, just open it. Man-sized parcel with bow round it, standing under a plastic Xmas tree in the corner of Rafa's office (muffled): 'Will someone let me the f*ck out of here!'

This content is not viewable to guests.

This content is not viewable to guests.

Frankie Likes Many Anal Orgasms? (Sven says RELAX he's still playing)

That's the way I thought it was. By all accounts Pennant has agreed a deal etc and was happy to have the opportunity to be back-up. I think if Alves does fall through, you'll see Pennant wrapped up pretty quickly...

This content is not viewable to guests.

Much though I want Alves here, we can't be made a fool of by clubs raising the price every time we get near a deal. I say we leave them with too many right-backs if they f*ck us about any more...

Imagine for some reason Barca did decide to buy him. Then England came up against Australia in the World Cup, and Carra snapped him and ended his career...

Klose would be a great fit for our system and what we're lacking as well. Funny the way he was a big hit in the last world cup, went crap, and has now gone good again! Reckon his price would be a bit high now, which is a shame. Oh and by the way he scored 25 goals in 26 games for Bremen last season...

I'd been impressed with his cool defending all the way through, the way he read the game and he'd always try to keep the ball was superb - very classy. Most people will know how good Marquez is from watching Barca so I expected nothing less from him, but Osorio I'd never come across before. Really impressed me as well when they went behind and he pushed forward, Osorio absolutely roasted Sorin on several ocassions with clever footwork, and Sorin is no mug. Seemed as well to do everything without thinking it was all that big a deal, you didn't get the impression he was playing above himself in the big world cup game...

I'd be quite happy with Kuyt, but I'd prefer Ashton myself. Think he'd be absolutely ideal - he's immensely strong, works hard, has a great touch and scores goals. As has been mentioned though, the problem now may be price...

Got to say his performance against Argentina was one of the best individual diplays I've seen yet. Incredibly cool on the ball and composed, equally comfortable defending or attacking. He's still in South America with Cruz Azul at the moment - wouldn't be surprised to see a few European clubs sit up and take notice of him. Mexico were absolutely superb, was sorry to see them go out.

I actually think Aimar may end up here myself. Thought Rafa was far too quick denying any interest in a player he clearly rated so highly at Valencia, and at the price being quoted he'd be a steal. My suspicions are he wants to do a deal on the quiet...

Surely Seville wouldn't have splashed out 15 million Euros on a right-back if Alves wasn't going? I don't get it, thought them signing Hinkel meant it was all sorted...

This content is not viewable to guests.

No he's not - our cruzcampo drinking, Cruyff befriending resident is in fact around somewhere...

Hear hear - I said last summer I had a feeling Kewell would finally find his form in 05/06 and he really did. His improved form and fitness was a big factor in our vast improvement.

The only thing which really got my goat with Parry was the shambolic attempt to sign Simao, the last minute scramble, failure and resulting embarrassment seemed shockingly amateur. Overall I think he's OK, and this time round, one more striker and the completion of Alves would for me be the most exciting summer of transfer activity in a long time. I think basically the whole 'Sack Parry' thing has become a bit of a running joke, but people shouldn't take it too seriously - I'm sure he does a fine job overall.