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Those players had a lot of competition to face and mainly by players who were just plain better than them. Aquilani hardly played this season and Dossena never shined so they too weren't called up. It's not a coincidence that players who aren't the best the country has produced or have been hideously off-form are not called up to the national side.

Cannavaro certainly didn't play for Italy when he was at Real Madrid.... wait..

Cheers for the heads up Hierro. One thing I'm getting sick of is all this talk of 'showing ambition'. It's such a pointless thing to be going on about. We conduct business privately and professionally as a club and I far prefer this than having a manager who spouts to the media every couple of days about how we're going in for x, y and z - a la Redknapp.

Not a **** chance.

This is true. Can you give my boss a call please. I'm bored witless.... Which branch of McDonalds is it that you work at?

There'd still be complaints if we did. "We didn't get enough throw-ins" "We got booked 0.35 times more often this season, MON's obviously lost the dressing room" "Ash seemed to be a bit too nonchalant when he banged in 20 goals from 30 yards this year" "It would have been so much better if we hadn't have drawn against Man Utd at Old Trafford after we'd already won it " Etc.

How is that the worst we could do? :? The worst we COULD do is bottom, but that is highly unlikely to to happen. What pointless pedantry. He said it was in his opinion and all you need to do is to infer from that context that he means 'realistically'. You have too much time on your hands.

It's not way, way over the top - he was our best player last season and did incredibly well. If we weren't getting a figure like that then it would be a joke. By way of comparison, Milner got 7 goals and 12 assists in the league last year and Silva got 8 goals and 9 assists (playing a few less games, it should be noted) but regardless, these are very comparable figures and their values should be similar.

We won the league in a completely different era of football - the game has changed so much since then that it's not really the best idea to draw comparisons with our title winners back then. I quite like NRC and can see what he offers the team but he just isn't as good as Petrov. All the good defensive central mids these days at the top level have good technical ability too (Makelele, Essien etc) and NRC's touch and passing ability aren't up to it.

Reina was also a World Cup winner and he didn't play a single minute. It's a title that flatters to deceive.

Petrov for the short term because as a footballer he is lightyears ahead of NRC - he tackles, retains possession, slows down the play and then can pass fantastically well. NRC is a bit faster but with nowhere near the technical ability. Delph for the future.

What a surprising post Does anything you post not effectively start with "Www" and end with "ahhhh"?

MON's not really said anything there of any note. Personally I'd like him to make a call for them to put up or shut up but I feel that enjoys winding them up by being so coy.

Cole could be a good signing for us. On the other hand he could just be perpetually injured and a drain on resources. A risk worth taking? Hard to say. I think we need someone of his quality in the team but if we're going to be shelling out a lot of beans each week, I'd rather it went to a really good striker.

Wouldn't we all?

Where's the someone decent option?

The one thing Collins really has is his strength - he is an absolute monster and I reckon the strongest player we have.

There involved in the Virgin F1 team so a possibility, very simple logo too!! And rallying as well by the looks of things. I just read that info on another forum but their logo is dead basic so could look good on the kit. I'm guessing they'd use it in white.

It's FXPro apparently.

Alan Wright was 3'8" and it never stopped him from being brilliant! The Cannon isn't much taller than that either!

On the flank, no - wingers aren't really meant to be an aerial threat and it encourages players to get it to their feet. It is a bonus if you have someone in the middle of the park who is a big aerial presence because it's unexpected - like Fellaini at Everton

Just wanted to quote this incase we sign Doyle. The Doyle who actually does the Heskey job and basically kept Wolves up with his performances. You expect a manager who signed Emile Heskey not to be interested. Especially when he only likes players from the Premier League? You better go changing your mind quick sharp! Quote me all day, if you've got nothing better to do. As I've said before - I don't rate Doyle. Heskey is our 3rd choice striker and I think we need to replace him with Carew by getting someone better in than we currently have. Doyle is not better than Carew, in my opinion. I didn't rate Dunne either, so I'm not professing to be some sort of expert or modern day nostradamus. What I will do is keep an open mind. If we sign somebody and they do well for us, I don't give a **** who it is. I don't give a **** about 'being right' - all I want is for us to win. If Doyle comes, then fine, I'll support him and give him a fair crack of the whip before I form an opinion. It may pain you but you aren't going to be able to rub this or anything else in my face. But, by all means, keep trying

Fletcher has gone to Wolves. Thankfully. I can't believe people think that him or the likes of Doyle would be good enough for us, yet slag Petrov off. Ridiculous.

Did the people who say Milner is overrated actually watch any football this year? He's a fantastic player and the best we have at the club. We'd have a massive gap to fill without him but I've every faith that MON is able to do so - he managed to replace Laursen and Barry without really breaking a sweat, so we'll be ok but I don't want him to go.

Villa finishing top 4 for me.