Mikey

This is done in another thread, but Phil Neville is a destructive player - fullback, defensive midfielder - its easier to carry an 'average' player there than it is in more creative areas. No he doesn't, even if sometimes I wish he would!

I think Garcia is looking better to people as a result of not playing, it seems that him giving the ball away 20 times a game and missing simple passes to try some fancy little flick or other has been forgotten. Yes he has scored some very important goals for us, and yes he does add some creativity to the side but come on, most on here have commented on how bloody infuriating and inconsistent he is. Now he's injured, we don't score against City and he's what we need? We will need better than him if we're to challenge for the title.

Won the Champions League playing Centre Mid as well! I think the point is that very few teams win the PL with their 'more average' players in attacking positions, as we have them at the moment.

Respect, class, quality - call it what you will. Nice one.

Don't really give a flying F*** about his talent, its the tragic waste of our money that bothers me more. I'd have him back here and make him turn up for training every day with the kids and keep fining him for any dissent!

Momo doesn't pass too well. Xabi is a bit slow and doesn't score enough. Kuyt's touch is worse than Heskey's ever was. Bellamy needs more end product. JAR is a coward. Cara is 2" too short. Not criticisms , facts.

And everyone ignores the only actual news in the thread?

I think you're right, this season his level has dropped slightly according to Rafa, and in his opinion its directly related to playing more games. Hopefully if Arbeloa continues as he's started then he will be rested more over the next few seasons - I mean he's 31 now isn't he?

Why? What has lack of physical bravery got to do with shooting or passing instead?

Do you watch much football?

So Riise scoring more than Cole is relevant somehow but Bramble outscoring Carra is not? You're funny you! Can you read this with your head up Kaizer's ****?

Well I do like your reasoned arguement. Out of interest how many goals do his teams concede from the left?

So what are we going to do with him then? Loan him out until his contract expires and write off whatever he's cost so far?, I can't believe we've paid the £14M up front some of it must be appearance based.

If you put down whatever you think is our best back 5 then JAR is the weakest player in it, if he's in it. Good enough to stay as a valuable squad player but shouldn't be 1st choice in any position. Apart from now on this season when he's gonna play every game somewhere on the left!

Its so over.

His goals save him they really do!

Didn't trust him home or away against Barca at LB, or against Arsenal last week. You cannot say he constantly picks him, up until recently what other options did he have exactly? As my lad said today, if he didn't score half a dozen thunderbolts a season he'd be rubbish!

You don't mean Kuyt do you?

I know I keep going on, but I've been unimpressed to be honest. I expected a bit more for the fee and from all the hype - works extremely hard, great attitude, poor touch, misses loads of chances. Said it before and got flamed but if any striker has to go it should be him.

With all the goodwill in the world - not a F****ng chance.

I'd play Bellamy and Crouch up front. I don't think Rafa will though.

Bent won't cost £20M, West Ham's bid of £18M was pure desperation. He'll go for under £15M or more likely stay at Charlton if they stay up. Alves will be available for £16M apparently, Huntelaar for the same, Ribery for under that. Unless Chelsea or United are interested then there is no silly money around and United are already going to be paying £20M for Hargreaves, how much more will they have? Chelsea are already overloaded in every position apart from CB & RB. Supply and demand, apart from us in the Summer there will not be anyone else with much money.

£10M for Trezeguet? Bloody insanity.

Firstly we got Zenden because he was on a free, was an average player in several positions we needed cover in and we had very little money to buy anyone better! Secondly Rafa pursued Gonzalez for the best part of 2 seasons partly because he rates him and partly again because for the £3M odd we had available he was a good prospect with potential to develop. FWIW I actually rate him, think he has a lot of potential but needs more gametime, is fast and physical, also think he showed up well against Eboue. I do wonder though exactly what we think is going to be different next season, according to posters on here Crouch, Kuyt and Bellamy all deserve another season, Pennant and Gonzalez both deserve another season, our central midfield, CB's, RB and LB are all sorted as well. So what is going to be different next season to push us into the title race? Rafa, like it or not, is going to spend £50M this Summer and maybe more with some selling, so some of our players who actually would improve with another season aren't going to get that chance. There's no point keeping Gonzalez as back up to a new top quality left winger, when by common consent his play is suffering from not playing enough, and the same goes for Pennant on the right. LW - Aurelio, Riise, gonzalez, Hk, Zenden, Garcia. RW - Gerrard, Pennant, Garcia. Strikers - Bellamy, Crouch, Kuyt, Robbie. Who'e going to leave?

Thought that myself - bearing in mind that he's a promising new player and Babbel was a true European great of course. Been very impressed with him so far.