Case

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I believe he can. I really do.

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I think it's a fallback option, nothing more. The reason that Rafa is selling Josemi is simple. Steve has proven himself to be much much more than the competent right back Rafa may have thought he was when he joined. he is an EXCELLENT right back. Having said that, if Warnock, Traore and Riise were ALL injured or woefully out of form then yes, Finnan could definitely do a job there but is Benitex thinking of playing him there becuase we're about to sign Knonkamp? No. Definitely not. alias75 is making a good, theoretical point, which DOES stand up to debate - but I don't see it happening except in the most exceptional circumstances. Incidentally, some comments about Warnock being a "liability" are WAY off the mark. He has done extremely well this season for what is the best team, defensively, in the League. If he was a liability he'd have gone on loan to Hull / Sunderland / Bury by now. He is'nt. He is clearly somebody who is working VERY hard at his game and is learning, fast.

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Next time he's called up, I bet you a fiver that he'll be mysteriously "injured".

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I think we'd all love Joaquin here next month. In The Mirror today (ok, ok..) he has apparently stated that he doesn't want to move till after the World Cup - presumably becuase at Betis he's guaranteed a game every week and he knows what dirty full-backs to avoid, whereas in England he isn't and he doesn't. I hope he IS the player, but I doubt it - at least yet. All that is assuming of course that he wants to move here at all. I don't think Chelsea are an option seeing as they already have 73 wide players. I agree though that the right-mid needs to be top notch, a "Name" player as you put it. This effectively allows Steve, Xabi, Momo, Didi and Garcia to ALL play centrally, back or advanced and be rested, too. VERY important considering we started our programme in July. Maybe Benfica signing that Brazilian is a sign of a deal done. Maybe not. Some people have mentioned Pennant who, while not a "Name" is a good player and eligible in Europe. Whatever happens our midfield is now VERY strong. Almost as strong as Chelsea's stronger than ManU's (by a fair bit) and Arsenal's (by some distance). I'd strengthen it further by giving Didi another 18 months

Good call Dave, but Rafa occasionally rests Xabi, Momo, Harry and Garcia anyway, so in a way we've seen what could happen should we "lose" one or two. Didi and even JAR and even Flo at a push could fit in the midfield pretty effectively - and that's WITHOUT any summer signings and WITH the loss of Zenden, who was playing pretty well when we lost him. I think the key is the buy-in to the system that Rafa plays and obviously works hard on in training. Looking at Newcastle's corners on Monday I noticed Jamie VERY closely organising the zonal defence very VERY carefully. I'm certain that Xabi does the same with communication in the midfield. I think you're right that if we lost say Steve AND Xabi or Jamie AND Sami then yes we'd be affected. But if it had happened two years ago we'd have been stuffed. BIG difference.

I think (could be wrong) that Irwin and Cohen are together (back left). It's not Frank McGarvey (?) next to Hansen is it?

Ladeez and Gennulmen, we have a winner Let me know where I can send it onto mate...... Other points - Kevin Sheedy (front row left ...) Good player who never quite made it with us, doncha think....?

... I'm happy to send one gratis to the Forumite who can most accurately describe Phil's hair "style" as shown in this Pic from the late 70's. Use of the word "perm" is barred.

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