growler

I would call Owen a big game player. Shevchenko. Zidane. Buffon,Cannaravo,Keane,shearer, platini. all players who performed in the top games and controlled them. Thats what differentiates just a great player from a truly world class player.

Seeing the comments from Bayern, I agree, they ran their club right, got a 23million profit, and chelsea were able to run up 140million loss. Thats the change that needs to happen. Doesn't matter who owns the club, but the club itself must be self funding. thing is, with the amount of money in the game, fifa, Uefa, fifpro, G14, club directors, players no one really cares about the game long term. As long as in 10 years time, they can all retire with their millions. Surprised Arsenal are not saying the same thing, as they are the only ones still being run as a traditional club. Very well run, but still a club.

The main point I agree with, is that they ran their club right, got a 23million profit, and chelsea were able to run up 140million loss. Thats the change that needs to happen. Doesn't matter who owns the club, but the club itself must be self funding. thing is, with the amount of money in the game, fifa, Uefa, fifpro, G14, club directors, players no one really cares about the game long term. As long as in 10 years time, they can all retire with their millions.

Everton to win, and then get deducted 3 points for fiellding an ineligible player (perhaps Beattie impersonating a footballer?)

also ribery is signing for a arsenal

neill is 30 as well. not exactly a spring chicken. Hyppia is a model of professionalism and if he is happy to stay for another season as cover, I would be happy. Him and Carra would be great mentors to Agger, Paletta, Hobbs etc.

anyone able to upload a copy rather than youtube for those of us stuck behind a firewall...

When a player is NOT playing and stays its always for money. (bridge, SWP?) when a player is playing in the first team and leaves its for money. when a player takes a step down by choice its for money. (duff, Owen?) What the key thing is though, ANY player who signs for chelsea is doing it for money.

so thats where the story on KT came from....

he's right though. Everyone dives. The fa, FIfa, UEFA no one gives a monkeys though. Diving, shirtpulling and dissent are supported in the game by the fact that all those in control don't do anything about it.

The FA will never do anything about the swearing. Its called the WWF (of whatever the wrestling is called now) effect and is labelled as passion. Same as shirt pulling and diving are acceptable too.

I would like to think Kuyt and Gerrard will still be around in 2010. Maybe Carson in goal too. and what about Lindfield? guess this means we are not interested in Bale then too. so for the left, we have (deep breath), Riise, Aurelio, Insua, Warnock, Kewell, Zenden, Gonzales with Garcia and Bellamy as back up. For the right we have Gerrard, Pennant, peltier, Finnan with Garcia backup.

you might want to mention the fact that Traore, Smicer and biscan have played in a european cup final and won it, whilst Keane has not.... :-)

real madrid, to me are like united. rebuilding using young players, and starting to look good. For evra,vidic, ronaldo, saha, rooney, carrick are not a bad foundation. real have casillas, robinho, ramos, cicinho, and now marcelo, gago, diarra and Reyes. not to mention a few more years yet in the horse, guti cassano etc. also, you would think that by next summer, they would have removed the ghosts of zidane, figo, ronaldo, owen, beckham, woodgate and Carlos. Personally, I think they are on the rise and should be watched carefully. When was the last time we played them?

arsenal won't sign them; they are english. not to mention eboue (sp?) and clichy they won't go to chelsea. if you were a young english player would you? (SWP and bridge as a reminder). Its really between us and the scum, and the scum would look good too. they also throw their money around. However, micah to united? not a chance! Lets throw in the fact that one of our legends (Hamann) is at city, and we have the guy who brought through bale and walcott at our club, and we may actually a chance at these lads.

beckham to newcastle is pretty much done I would have thought. Like Owen, its a trophy signing of a player who doesn't care about playing anymore, just 'where is my paycheck?' You see, if he goes to spurs, or hammers in london, he will actually have to play well. This way, him and and owen can enjoy early retirement together during the day, and go back home to their families by noon. job done.

The irony of saying that one of the best wingers last season in the spanish league is not good enough for us (gonzales), and we should have signed the one that isn't performing in the spanish league this season (Joaquin) not to mention we signed a player who stats and performance last season identified him as one of the best right wingers last season. Confidence is low. That is all. We need a win away, even if the ball goes in off someones bum, I don't care. 1 away win and we can start to rebuild confidence.

england u-19's is great. I can't remember when we had some players in the u19's and u21's. As for Le Tallec, simply comparing him to Ronaldo at the scum, especially since everyone and their dog thought le Tallec had more talent. we'll never know, because he was never given the chance.

I sometimes wonder if Le Tallec, who obviously had the skill on and off the ball, would have faired ih Houllier has actually played him earlier. If you look at the likes of Cesc, Sendoros, ronaldo, Rooney etc the manager kept faith in the signings, and they came good. I still think about 'what could have been' with those signings... KEwell, Hamann, Gerrard ---Le Tallec Owen, Pongolle

I think I deserve a beating! How did I miss Hamann???????? Hamann and Gerrard were our best CM pairing for as long as I can remember.

with Rafa having been in a while, we can realistically do a new v old line up. Assuming Ste and Carra are first choice how about these: Dudek Babbel,Hyppia, Henchoz, Carra Smicer,Gerrard,Murphy, Kewell Owen, Heskey v Kuyt, Gonzales,Gerrard,Pennant Alonso, Sissoko aurelio,Agger,Carra,Finnan and then we could also do: Westerweld/Kirkland Carra,Medjiani,Traore,vignal le tallec,diao,cheyrou,diomede heskey,diouf v Carson Krompkamp,Josemi,Pelligrino,Aurelio Garcia,sissoko,zenden,warnock crouch,morientes can't think of any rafa signings that have been that bad!

perfect timing, goes well with us getting a new sponsor too.

lets not forget what happened when shearer kicked lennon in the head. England top players are generally protected, you cna be sure that if the event happened, it would never appear in the press. Now if a foreign player had said something.....

is his contract up this summer? will interesting to see how much he really wants to stay with us if he is! ie take a cut, or pay as you play deal. I rate him as a player and you can't blame him for being injured, not his fault. redknapp was the same and owen wasn't exactly a 50 game a season player either. We got him for 5mil and that price is bargain.

lets not forget the competition is to play in london, barcelana, madrid, or 'up norf'. I mean, the scum haven't exactly been hoarding the youngsters have they? As for our youth players, how do you know that anderson, hobbs et al won't make it? Finally, we are looking at the players too, Bale and Barnes to name two that we are in for. However, with every other club also looking at them, its difficult. Ironically, its the one market that chelsea cannot corner, as most young players know what happens if you go there. I also think we are suffering from the Houllier effect too, of not playing youngsters. Remember Wenger has had 10 years at arsenal of pilfering other teams and ignoring his youth team. at least rafa is trying to do things the right way by maintaining a heart to the team