hagi_complex

I just can't watch that show. It's f*cking toe-curlingly bad - the presenters, guests and people calling in. Stay sane and avoid it.

Are you on a windup? Xabi's not been in top form this season, but neither has the bulk of players in the team. The movement beside him and around him hasn't exactly been top class. Sell everybody.

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He looked good when he first burst on to the scene, but he's not fulfilled his potential and seems to have a major attitude problem. It's all set for Newcastle to spend £10m+ on him, so.

So true. Delighted for the Mancs. And the state of the Newcastle players celebrating.

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His comments suggest that he wanted it, but was never offered it. He's a great manager. It's early days still at Villa, but it didn't take him long to turn around pretty much the same squad as they had last year.

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I was watching it in widescreen on Sky and the camera work and director's choice of shots were indeed poxy. The camera was too low for a start. Sorta like televised games at Highbury when the action is on the opposite side of the pitch. The complete opposite of say games from the old Wembly or the Nou Camp.

Reina Finnan Carra Sami Riise Aurelio/Warnock Momo Xabi Stevie Kuyt Crouch

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Oh yes, there's plenty more, for sure. It's been a common theme for 20 years plus, though, regardless of the playing personnel and who has been in charge.

England's problem, for as long as I've been watching football, is that they are f*cking terrible at keeping the ball.

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I doubt it, but I'll do a little compilation at some stage if I get a chance so you can see what you're missing. It was hilarious again last night - Dunphy was tearing ManUtd and Ronaldo to pieces (brainless or braindead, he called him) and Giles slated Trevor Steven (who was co-commentating): "I like Trevor, but he's not very good at summing up"

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He might look like the b*****d offspring of Colin Hendry and Ian Dowie, but the man has balls and can play. s*** singer, mind.

F*ck. I can't believe I missed this. Dunphy talks a huge amount of crap, but I never fail to get a laugh outta him. He is the king of wise-after-the-event analysis (Andy Gray being a close second in his odious 'Last Word' guise'). They all hate Chelsea. Giles, Dunphy and Brady, I mean. I don't count the others.

Agreed. His passing has improved hugely over the last year, though there's still room for more improvement there. I expect the shooting to be next on the list. I predict he'll get one, and then settle into a 5 or 6 a season man. With a couple of them being netbusters. In general, he's been a revelation. He must be a nightmare to play against. Can you imagine Momo snapping at your heals every time you have the ball? He'd scare the sh*te outta me (and Ballack). Rafa's recent comments are very encouraging too - willing to learn and practice. An absolute steal at the money we paid for him. He's a freak of nature, in the best way possible. Even my manc mates rate him. Although some of these c*nts are trying to tell me that Carrick is a better player than Xabi, so their opinion carries no weight. Zokora is a good player, btw, but I've yet to see anyone boss Momo.

Both need games. It's a balancing act between 'playing your best eleven'* and making sure that the new boys are given enough playing time to find their feet. There's no point in having a great squad on paper when a number of the players haven't had enough games and can't fit in comfortably when called upon. In the early days, it's inevitable that this will lead to some inconsistency. I was very encouraged by Aurelio's performance against Newcastle and Speedy's already popped with two valuable goals despite not even making the 16 for some games. Rafa is the manager and he's managing. There are very few 'first choice' players in this squad, and when we have to live without the players that fit this category, his policy will reap its rewards. *© every halfwit pundit in the game

So far, so good for Dirk. The key thing for me is that he seems to have the mental toughness and attitude, as well as the technical and physical attributes, to make a name for himself in England. So many talented players (both for us and other teams) haven fallen down on this issue. I'm glad that Rafa is giving him games (an immediate antidote to Cheyrou Syndrome) and I've no doubt that he'll get better for us. A good buy and two fingers up to every Manc f*ck that gave me stick for us buying him after the World Cup.