Bo Benn

Only the last couple of seasons and once more in the last ten years. Been six season ago since we last started our league campaign at home though (a game did lose mind).

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Ah yes, all that crappy Italian food and lousy weather. Can't see how anyone could ever want to stay there.

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I'd be more than happy if you are right. Agree no huge loss on the squad left back wise. But when we got Johnson I was looking forward to having both him and Arbeloa in the side because they offer different qualities. We really didn't have any good cover on the right last season, thankfully Arbeloa played in pretty much all of the games. We are in the same position now as a year ago body count wise. My hopes were about improving an already good side enough to finally snatch that title. Now we have lost quantity and a little quality in Dossena and Arbeloa leaving. Just saying we may need to find someone who can cover at least in case of injuries. Do we really need another CB though? As you just said Hyypia made very little impact on the pitch last season. Not many clubs can compete with having three excellent CBs like we do. In terms of priority I'd rather have a a forward, full back or wide player before another centre back.

He may not be the god sent spain and RM fans claims he is, but I'd still have Ramos over both Arbeloa or Johnson any day of the week. Extending someone's contract comes at a price and a risk as well. Again he may wanted so leave for some time now, and told management about. Therefore no attempt was made to get another contract signed.

Gudjohnsen would provide attacking cover for at least a season.

My impression is that he wanted to go back to Spain for a while, that is why a new contract wasn't signed and Rafa was in on it. Which makes the deal a bit easier to swallow than Owen when Rafa was just appointed. Still think he he was a very good player for us and we might struggle to replace him.

But you have to admit we look thinner along the whole back four with Doss, Arbeloa and Hyypia leaving plus Skrtel and Fabio being injured to begin with*. I always preferred Insua to Dossena and always questioned why he wasn't above Doss in the pecking order, so I don't mind that particular change. It's the overall loss of personnel I'm worried about. *Haven't heard much about those injuries in a while now. How much of the season will those two miss?

Huge risk with the current set-up of forwards. Lost a fair share of points in the league last season because of Torres' injury. Had given up on Babel at the start of this summer after last season. Now it looks like he is staying and I pray to the lord I don't believe in he will finally come good for us. I think of the bunch of Kuyt, Voronin, Babel, Nement and N'Gog; Ryan is the only one with potential to really make a difference for us. Dirk I think is better left in his regular position. But then again Babel has disappointed me numerous times before.

Indeed, the bullying here is much more intricate. Anyways, back on topic. Was convinced we pretty much our transfer market involvement sorted for this summer, but after losing both Dossena and Arbeloa surely we will be looking for replacements? Personally I could live with Insua having a go as 1st choice LB with Aurelio being out for whatever time he need to get back and then injured again. But besides to two south americans there is pretty much nobody for cover. To the best of my knowledge there are no youngsters ready to make the full senior squad step-up, but do correct me if I'm wrong. Could Agger pop up as LB? On the right hand side it looks just as bleak. Johnson and Degen is all we got. With Degen also being injured a lot, and quite frankly I suspect without having watched a single full game with him that he is quite crap. Carra and Skrtel both covered that position before but I'd rather not go there again.

Being a British law novice, is affray basically the same thing as starting a brawl?

It's official then. Very sad to see him go myself. He has been an excellent player for us, and I'm sure Rafa wanted to keep him. Hopefully GJ will introduce another dimension in our attacking play, as it was there Arby had his weakness. Then again when we play better sides I was always very comfortable having him on the team sheet. Right up there with Markus Babbel as our best right back of late (Finnan's probably a contender as well). Always seemed a good personality, a team player and goal celebrator supreme.

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Same career route as Arbeloa wasn't it? But still hope he switches to the right sooner rather than later.

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Thought Benayoun was a f***ing superstar for us later half of last season. But I get your point.

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Our games around the Alps are often covered by Eurosport no?

In ~18 years time I think we'll see N.Torres as the first woman player for the men's first team. Oh yes she will.

My memories of the players on the left side had apparently been totally erased.

ie Dossena could raise 8-9m...