Knox_Harrington

Did well for us last season. If we have Garcia left and Pongolle right there's enough drive for me.

I aacept all that but I'd rather play two up tonight as both forwards need a run, Gerrard won't be available and Sissoko offers more mobility. Essentially though it is much of a muchness as far as I'm concerned. Either of them would be fine and is a testament to our central midfield strength.

Would like to see Cisse - Morientes up top again. Both need games. Sissoko and Alonso centre mid, Pongolle right and Garcia left. Unlikely though...

You know what, something tells me Michael Owen really, really likes Turin Brakes.

Achtung Baby and, gasps, Pop for me. Closely followed by Boy.

So what you're saying is that there are real question marks about him?

Yes. You can tell this when he runs fast.

So Evra and Govou so far! Second para there is interesting.

I do believe that more than most strikers Owen would cover a fair few deficiencies. However Rafa wants a more holistic apporach. Like Spike says, we need to push up more. For that we need a faster centre half than Hyypia. That means that against most teams in this league we can play most of the game in their half. Then as George says we need width. If we can stretch right and left and especially if we can get genuine pace either side we can create gaps. Then we will be able to pressure play across the board and create channels for forwards to move into. I think that such an approach would suit Owen immensely and that's why I hope he comes back. However it would also suit Cisse. It would suit Morientes. It would suit Crouch. Owen can score the poachers goal that turns an average performance into a winning one, a who gives a f*** one, a we're stopping off to get on the ale on the way home one. But if we can hem teams in and stretch them then we can genuinely challenge and Owen, Cisse et al will only help that. I hope and expect the former to come. I hope the latter stays and I think we will genuinely challenge.

Last season though that was as much if not almost totally down to Baros as anyone else because he loved to run around. Already this season Cisse has been in position to miss three decent chances against Sunderland and have a good goal disallowed and score four from inside the box in the European games. It's chicken and egg to a certain extent.

Movement or the ball just not getting there? I'd say our first problem away from home last season was simply not imposing ourselves on games away from home. Too often we haven't got close enough to the box! Baros is a bad example because I never rated his movement. It was chaos theory stuff. I'll keep moving for long enough and eventually I'll get it right. His movement has never been conventional. Plus he was playing up on his own. Not generally the case for seasons prior to last and exactly why we need to use two up more often. We were struggling to win away from home when Owen was last here. If the build up play isn't good enough, as it wasn't away from home last season or the season before, then what can you ask forwards to do? We hardly got a look at Cisse last season either. An example of his striker's instinct was against Kaunas, I know they are poor but it would have worked against any side. Cross thrown in, Crouchy knocked it down and Cisse pounced on it, and knocked it in. Think it's early to write Cisse off. I'll happily write off Morientes as a line leader. He isn't suited to it at all. As a deeper lying player I think he'll come good. Djibril ought to have led the line against Boro. I think selling Djibril would be a shame - I think we aren't far enough off seeing the best of him if played in his correct position. However if he is going to be thrown right constantly then we should let him go as soon as possible.

Think if he sells Cisse he'll buy Kuyt. Especially as Kuyt has done a bit wide right for Holland occasionally.

I didn't see it coming either RP. Feel blindsided by the news. However will he fit into our formation?

Can't be bothered. Just re-read what I wrote. Cheers.

In response to Mozza's post... I don't think anybody here expects us to fork out £15m+. Michael Owen has a great deal of bargaining power - he can threaten to sit his contract out, costing Real around 5m Euros a year and whatever tey could recoup in a transfer fee. He would fit into the system we have employed in all but two of our competitive games thus far this season. I don't take our manager's comments to the media at face value. I would hope that he doesn't tell them what he is thinking. EDIT: ...but as ever RP was much more concise.

Hahaha!

Hmph! I'm going to write the mother of all I-Told-You-So posts when we sign over eight first team players and Owen is one of them and we've sold as many as we've sold. A bit of one up one off and I'll be claiming my five pounds.

If Rafa acts like he wants Owen the expectation amongst supporters goes up. The expectation goes up and the price then goes up. If Rafa acts like we can get Owen for £11m then the price goes up for a centre back and a right mid; they know we have £11m to spend, so why not on their player?

4pool has immediately responded to get his crown back in the General. But yes, it's certainly one of the oddest things I've seen in the footy.

Well if it matches how we are negotiating with Madrid then they won't know what to believe. They may suspect that he's doing that but they can't be sure and meanwhile Owen's agent is getting on to them saying Owen will sit his contract out then that's 5m Euros a year which is a hell of a gamble for a player who may not play that they could cash in on. Posts merged: Wind your neck in.

Christ on a bike, CarraLegend. If we are in negotiations with Madrid and saying we won't pay whatever fee they are offering because we're not particularly bothered it only serves to hammer that message home by stating it publically. If Owen has told Madrid there is only one place he will go to and we've told Madrid we won't pay stupid money because we have other priorities and we are prepared to miss out then they need to come to us. May be true, may not be but that isn't important. Look at it the other way. If Rafa gave an interview saying he wants Owen and will get him at any cost then the price goes up. He gives this one and it goes down. Sky have given it the exact spin we want.

I get the impression they open Readers Digest envelopes proclaiming their millionaire status with a flourish and are gutted every time. They are happy their partners are so busy playing croquet after work every night, especially with that good looking one who works in accounts.

Christ people are very trusting. How some of you lot get through day-to-day life is beyond me.

When will the shop be open on Friday before the service as I'll pick some up then if possible. 10am as usual?

Awesome.