BigJim

OZ, it's not necessarily a question of a permanent replacement. If JPA hits last season's form again, everybody will be quite happy with him. What we desperately need is someone to take over when he's not fit / jaded/ off form /tired or whatever other reason stops him from playing to his potential. Almost anybody would fit the bill.

This gets more ridiculous by the minute. Now you're saying that there was not going to be a straight swap deal (because DOL didn't want Joey - OK that part is right as I remember), so Villa were going to let him go on a free transfer? Do me a bloody favour! And yes, DOL persuaded him he had a future at VP. Nobody's arguing otherwise. I just don't believe he was ever on his way to Betis in the first place, because they wanted a straight swap and Villa placed a higher value on Angel. Betis were never going to pay any money (they didn't have any) and as soon as DOL sent Joey back the whole thing was scuppered.

Pablo, I feel sorry for JPA & JLloyd, and one or two others, but most of all I feel sorry for the supporters who pay their wages. Not me especially, I'm too far away these days, but those of you that pay your hard earned to follow the team home and away. You don't want to go around apologising for the players every other week. That's why I refuse to wrap the players in cotton wool. I fully expect anyone who's not at his best to be kept out of the way next season until such time as he can earn his place back. Let's switch to feeling sorry for the guys in the reserves.

Very interesting, Gareth. And your source is..?

I think we all know he has been injured, and hasn't had a good partner, and he's getting marked, and is off form, etc. ad infinitum. I have every sympathy with him, I just want somone else to take his place until he remembers how to play sparkling football again.

Agreed it's not his fault. I'm not blaming him. I'm just pointing up certain deficiencies in his game. With what we all hope will be a different squad situation next season, I won't be expecting to see so much of him. But when he does make an appearance, I will be expecting much better from him than we have enjoyed of late. As DOL has said, we are entitled to expect quality from him, he cost us a lot of money.

Funny how people remember things differently. I seem to remember Villa holding out for a couple of million + Joey for JPA. I certainly never read anything in the press, Spanish or otherwise, reporting the swap as a done deal, much less with details of wages. The Betis coach said he liked the look of him, and that was about that. Hang on a minute, weren't you suggesting earlier that Juan had turned down the move to Betis because he was so loyal? Now you're saying DOL had to persuade him to stay? Which was it?

Ryu, you have made many eloquent defences of JPA on here. You are obviously a keen admirer and have seen JPA play in more games than most. I have to respect that, and I am quite prepared to accept he was an outstanding contributor at River. I can then agree that his performance this season cannot "discount" that contribution, but even you must agree that the guy cannot live on reputation for ever. Believe it or not, I have desperately wanted him to succeed since he came to us. He has an undeniable charisma which has captured the imagination of us all. But having finally decided to look at his play objectively, I stick to my analysis and I have had to admit to myself that much of it has applied since he came here. The fact that he scored a fair few goals last season has clouded that. Now to detail "may not be fast, but he is certainly one of the best leapers" What has leaping to do with speed? He is not fast. Period. I have acknowledged his heading ability. "the Pompey defenders he skipped around" That stands out in my mind too, as one of the RARE flashes of genius he has shown this season. I stick to my point - he rarely tries it and is easily dispossessed. "You don't consider his passing at all, or his build up play" A lot of his passing this season has been downright atrocious. He is quite good at one touch layoffs, but too rarely makes a decisive touch in dangerous situations, preferring the easy ball sideways or backwards. " he has consistently been double teamed by centrebacks" I have noticed this comment elsewhere in his defence. What, the opposition are daring to mark him? Didn't they do that at River Plate? "an exceptional football player" A little bit over the top, I feel. Still, it's your opinion. I have tried to be brutally honest about a player who was and is a hero for me, and I suspect others here are coming aroud to the same conclusions.

Absolutely. There was no way a straight swap would have been approved. But I don't think Angel would have hesitated to move, and why should he, as GT didn't want him.

I don't think he's had much of an opportunity to display his loyalty. If a Valencia or Real Betis had come in for him under GT, I think there's a good chance he would have left. But anyway, football isn't about being nice to nice guys like JPA. He's not firing for whatever reason, so we need someone else. Simple as. Like I said, I don't think we should sell him, we wouldn't get much and he may recapture some form next season. I hope as much as anyone else that he does.

Try the real world? Try it yourself. The simple fact is that he's not a saleable asset because he has not produced the goods and he is demosntrably lacking in skills.

Angel is an enigma. A top striker should have several of the following attributes: Speed: Nope, JPA is not in this category Power: Not part of his game either Heading ability: He's good in the air, wthout being as lethal as some. Close control/ shielding ball: Good touch, but he is easily dispossessed. Ability to go past defenders: He almost never even tries. Long range power shooting: Average at best Placed shooting: More his style, but rarely gets into shooting positions. Two footed: NO Killer instinct: Hardly. That really only leaves us with the knack of being in the right place at the right time: the poacher's instinct. He had it last season - it has deserted him this time round. Because he scores so low on the other attributes, I would be tempted to say we should sell him. But we would only get peanuts for him, so we should keep him, but he won't be first choice CF next season.

Hmm, I remember thinking when we bought Angel and then Bosko that the Eastern European game was likely to be a better preparation for the premiership than the South American! I still think people like Baros, Biscan, Smertin and Gera have shown us that Eastern Europeans can adapt well to the British game.

Aren't Cahill and Ridge the natural backups for CB? It's great that he's versatile enought to play in different positions, but we still need cover for RB as well. If you play your backup CB at RB, what happens when the CB goes down? (as in this season...)

I actually think BM has more tricks in his locker than Robben. I didn't suggest he was a better buy though - apart from anything else, Robben has more years ahead of him - and you're right, it wasn't fair to compare them at the weekend. Still BM was mightily impressive and I think he could do a great job for us. He's just as capable of tearing any defence apart as the flying Dutchman. The only doubt I would have is whether he has the temperament to sparkle every week.

Prepare to be less than delighted! It would be a minor miracle if we got Parker OR Van Bommel, never mind both. Boa Morte - Agree 100%, I'm a big fan. Outshone Robben last weekend IMO. "Yakubu or Alan Smith" don't quite see the connection - very different tyeps of player. I'd prefer the Yak. Philips - Can't see him taking us forward very far - surely there are better options out there somewhere.

Certainly sounds like he put in a lively performance today - trying to get back into DOLs good books? I think DOL will keep him in mind as backup if he fails to land a bigger fish in the summer.

Sven now sees Defoe ahead of Vassell as the backup for Owen. I don't like to admit it but you have to say that Defoe has looked sharper in front of goal. Still, if Vass can keep scoring the rest of the season, Sven will take notice again. I don't think Smith is in the picture at all, but as he plays a deeper game these days, he could conceivably be seen as backup for Rooney.

If we're talking strikers, You come back to the wages problem with people like Bellamy. Phillips is too old to be considered as anything but a plan B. Yakubu will be too expensive. I think a Euro import is the most likely for a striker, and as I've said before, Riki of Getafe would be high on my list.

You've got to imagine DOL bought Tommy on the strength of what he had seen in previous seasons. I imagine that was also the case with Laursen. I haven't really seen enough of Laursen to comment, but there are those on here who say he's not up to it either. I know people keep trotting out the cliche that form is temporary and class is permanent, but it makes you wonder if it's really valid to sign people based on what you've seen more than 1 season previously.

Me too, Mind you, I would think keeping goal for Sunderland that season was enough to shatter anybody's nerve.

I don't either, truth to tell, but I am assuming it's a confidence thing. If he's flustered by the cockups (real or threatened) in front of him I guess it could produce that effect.

I think nearly all keepers are subject to blunders which tend to detract from their all round performance. I was talking to a bluenose mate (yes I know, sorry) not long ago about keepers and I said I thought Maik Taylor had been a good acquisition for them, because I'd seen and read about him putting in excellent performances. He had just the opposite opinion of Taylor, then I saw for myself what he did against Charlton.... I think Tommy on balance is a fine keeper, and when we see a settled defence in front of him it will be a different story.