Atticus Finch

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We weren't guaranteed to sell them - the owners put up the money without the guaranteed income (although obviously it was likely). For example, last year when Cisse broke his leg we couldn't sell him and it stuffed the budget so Moores had to buy Kuyt. We couldn't afford to buy without the money in first. This year if Cisse had done his leg we were able to cover it financially.

I suspect it is our former captain - Rangers and Newcastle, what is the link where McKay acted as the agent to move someone on after 6 months?

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Not having a dig, but I'm curious if you could name a "high profile" goalkeeping coach. And if you mean someone that once was a great goalkeeper that is a different kettle of fish - some of the best players make awful coaches as we all know. This guy has worked with Ocho before (and hence continuity), has got some academic qualifications as well as his coaching qualifications - as you say Rafa probably knows what he is doing

He has always looked sharp in pre-season, as he is very good athletically and therefore starts with an advantage over the less naturally athletic who take a while to get up to full fitness eg alonso

I've been thinking that Carra might do this for a while, purely because if I was in the same position I would have told them where to go ages ago. While not necessarily agreeing I can see the logic that Terry and Carra are too similar to play together, but for Carra not to be the automatic choice when Terry is absent is gobsmacking. If the CL is considered to be the benchmark to judge a players standards before getting in the England team (and most players under Sven for example were from the top 4 clubs) how can a player who has proven to be in the top 3 centrebacks in Europe in the last 3 years not be picked? And when he does it is out of position eg at full back which was never his strongest position and hasn't played there regularly for nearly 4 years! Treated like a dog As for England, I've never had the same enjoyment/affinity watching them as I do Liverpool. I remember being in the pub 10 (?) years ago for the England-Scotland game and getting strange looks when I refused to celebrate Scholes' two goals because he was a Manc. Even for Mexico 86 I was going to support Scotland until what happened with Hansen and Dalglish - and I was only 9 then! [and no I'm not a closet Scot - those are just the first two examples that came to mind]

Just to play devil's advocate and not to start an argument, how does making decent money selling unwanted squad players (and we have a big squad) factor into this? The better we do selling, the lower the net spend and therefore by your rationale G+H haven't backed the manager. But it could be a better selling strategy, Rafa thinning the squad etc. I just think net spend can be very misleading And all of it fails to factor in the significant investment that is being made in a new stadium which will be bigger and better than what Moores had planned and couldn't raise the finance for.

88 is for HH (8th letter of the alphabet) - Heil Hitler. Buffon claimed he was young and naive but he did request the number for the nazi association

This is exactly what I've been thinking. It might work spectacularly, but I can see an equal chance of it upsetting the balance

If (and it is a big IF) Tevez came, then Voronin could be his back up as he is more of a second striker. I would have thought if we get a fifth striker Crouch is the one most at risk, although Rafa may decide to try to keep 5 happy.

No, no, no, no The one thing this thread has going for it at the moment is that it is doing a very good job of keeping all these crap posts off the rest of the board. Otherwise every 30mins someone would be starting a new topic of "why haven't we signed anyone yet"

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If it was Tevez I'd imagine it could be announced as there is nothing stopping it ie remaining matches. On that basis (if the story is true) you'd have to assume it is a spanish based player, as their season is ongoing

It was an interview to the Italian press. If interviewed by an english newspaper, he would say the absolute opposite. Pele is known for being biased towards whichever country he is in/talking about at the time. Besides which he once claimed Nicky Butt was the best player at the World Cup. Fool.

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This combined with your Owen post in the general footie forum makes me think you are too sensible for this place. WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU WANT????????????????????

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Don't get too carried away - remember the threads on various chelsea/ scum forums during Istanbul? Be careful of comments coming back to bite us on the a***

I think he meant like rocking horse s*** ie rare Nor do I. I suspect it boils down to two things:- 1. The massively overblown expectations of him ie carnage and all the rest 2. His workrate and general demeanour on the pitch He is quick. He can score goals. He will never fit into a Rafa team though because of his lack of work rate and lack of skill on the ball. Too one-dimensional for rafa, but would have suited Ged's team perfectly

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