Amo69

What happened to the days when you wanted your defenders to be able to defend first and foremost?

Cafu. It's more complicated than that, but the game moved on from defenders only being defenders some time in the early to mid 1990s.

I'm not saying they should only be able to defend but I'm a firm believer that a defenders main qualities should be to be able to defend.

I am still confident that a takeover will be announced before September.

Confident? Do you know something or just a feeling?

We really, really need an experienced & strong defensive midfielder. We are so easy to overrun in midfield.

Esteban Cambiasso

Yes please. Would have to break the bank wages wise though.

Have we signed him?

I think he's ok but it's a bit worrying we will have 2 defenders that played for a team that got relegated last season, Although I know Senderos left in Jan.

Too many midfielders. Some will have to go, maybe we can be in for them

That reminds me. Remember Sammer!

What happened to the days when you wanted your defenders to be able to defend first and foremost?

TV deals happened. Millions of people don't want to watch Chris Morgan's disfigured face headbutt someone's shoe off, they want to see David Luiz try and skin 3 people when he's last man. I certainly do anyway.

I bet you he ends up as a midfielder.

I think he's better than what we have, so if it's not happening it's a shame.

Unless my sarcasm detector is way off here, but what you're saying is that Bendtner is better than Benteke?

Nobody is better than Bentake. That goes without saying.

What happened to the days when you wanted your defenders to be able to defend first and foremost?

He's been very clever, playing average for us for years, running his contract down, then going to the world cup on a global stage and doing an impression of our lord McGrath to put himself in the shop window for one last big money move. And I thought footballers were thick!!

So you think he has preciously been offered a new contract and turned it down?

Marcello had a shocking WC. He can't defend. Stats wise the best left back in Europe last season was Felipe Luis and he didn't even make the Brazil squad. I think even Maxwell would have been a better choice at LB.

Keep watching the ball. It very nearly spun back into the goal. It would have been amazing if it had gone in.

What that have counted? It wouldn't would it?

Lol dont remember to be honest Amo69 but by all accounts at the time he was fairly highly rated. Went tits up when Bruce called him insomnia

He was highly rated when he played for Wigan too. Almost single handedly kept them up.

Just never seem to happen for us.

I've seen a few potential starting 11s floating around with him as a Wing back. Has he ever played there in his career? Can't really see him coming back to defend.

He used to play there for Newcastle!

Is that the year they got relegated?

Brazil 2 - 1 Netherlands

Germany 0 - 1 Argentina

I've seen a few potential starting 11s floating around with him as a Wing back. Has he ever played there in his career? Can't really see him coming back to defend.

If we played that team and formation we would get ripped apart down our Right. Okore would have a very busy game.

What's your vice if you don't mind me asking.

Just seen this now. Mainly gambling and drinking to problem levels. Never seem to learn from mistakes.

I still think we will lose Vlaar and the way he performed in the WC has confirmed that thought. Even though I reckon he would have gone anyway but maybe we can bump up the asking pricing now.

I just hope we are able to get decent money for him and all of it is spent on a direct replacement.

I don't actually think he is a bad player. It's his attitude that stinks. Ability wise I honestly think he is above the calibre we are able to attract at present and I would have been very surprised had he joined us.

Guzan

Hutton Senderos Baker Richardson

N Zogbia El Ahmadi Westwood Cole

Bent Bendtner

The potential of lining up like this makes me feel a little bit sick.

I would say we have fielded worse teams than that last season.

Although I'm not inspired by our signings at least they all experienced. They would never lose 8-0 once 4 or 5-0 down.

What car is it again? What model and engine exactly?

It's Astra CDTI 1.9

the 1.9cdti engine is notorious for power issues. Its actually a Fiat engine but used in Vauxhall, Saab, Alfa and of course Vauxhall.

Common problems, in order of likelhood... 1) EGR block/stuck (easy bolt on / off part, cost about £120 from dealer). 2) Boost sensor clogged with carbon (really easy to remove and clean if you google it), vacuum pipes split (check all the rubber pipes under the engine bay, they are prone to splitting and leaking air), full DPF (a pain if this is the problem, dealer can replace at 000's or you can get it removed by a third part company), turbo on it s last legs (bad news)...

I'd actually bet money, if you have not fault code it is probably 3) (split hose). If you start the car have and good look at all the rubber pipes. Ask someone to rev it and see if you can hear any air escaping.

Vac pipes probably is something they would have to have disconnected during dropping the gearbox. If there's a definite (not just 'this feels a bit different) noticeable power difference before and after, then I'd agree a split hose or something vac related is the cause. They can't claim they did nothing to any of that stuff as (I don't think) the CDTi with a DMF can have the DMF changed without splitting the engine and box, which is a fairly intrusive job (hence the labour cost).

The engine maintenance light came on and I've got it booked at the same

garage that changed DMF and clutch to look at it tomorrow. It's clearly been caused by something they done but there is just no way I can prove it.

You should invest in 2 things, 1) a Bluetooth OBD connector (less than £10) and 2) Torque Pro app (about £3).

Now whenever your car gets a fault you can scan the ecu for codes yourself and diagnose faults yourself saving a fortune.

Really? Thanks for that. First time ever seen engine light come on.

So took it back and mechanics spent 15 minutes on it. Pick up ok now and steering back to normal too. Not Sure what he done as my dad took car for me but he still reckons it nothing to do with the new clutch and gearbox job he did.

What car is it again? What model and engine exactly?

It's Astra CDTI 1.9

the 1.9cdti engine is notorious for power issues. Its actually a Fiat engine but used in Vauxhall, Saab, Alfa and of course Vauxhall.

Common problems, in order of likelhood... 1) EGR block/stuck (easy bolt on / off part, cost about £120 from dealer). 2) Boost sensor clogged with carbon (really easy to remove and clean if you google it), vacuum pipes split (check all the rubber pipes under the engine bay, they are prone to splitting and leaking air), full DPF (a pain if this is the problem, dealer can replace at 000's or you can get it removed by a third part company), turbo on it s last legs (bad news)...

I'd actually bet money, if you have not fault code it is probably 3) (split hose). If you start the car have and good look at all the rubber pipes. Ask someone to rev it and see if you can hear any air escaping.

Vac pipes probably is something they would have to have disconnected during dropping the gearbox. If there's a definite (not just 'this feels a bit different) noticeable power difference before and after, then I'd agree a split hose or something vac related is the cause. They can't claim they did nothing to any of that stuff as (I don't think) the CDTi with a DMF can have the DMF changed without splitting the engine and box, which is a fairly intrusive job (hence the labour cost).

The engine maintenance light came on and I've got it booked at the same

garage that changed DMF and clutch to look at it tomorrow. It's clearly been caused by something they done but there is just no way I can prove it.

You should invest in 2 things, 1) a Bluetooth OBD connector (less than £10) and 2) Torque Pro app (about £3).

Now whenever your car gets a fault you can scan the ecu for codes yourself and diagnose faults yourself saving a fortune.

^^^^^^ this ^^^^^^^

Oh look, someone very helpful has made an awesome blog post about this very thing http://wmdzone.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/torque-see-what-your-cars-really-doing.html

Legend!

I don't really care who wins, as long as it isn't Germany.........I think if they win then when we look back on the 2014 World Cup in 20-30 years time it will be remembered for a very controlled, sterile and solid Germany win, rather than the following-

Netherlands winning their first ever World Cup, destroying the current holders 5-1 in their first game, crazy penalty shoot-out keepers, and Villa having a World Cup winning captain in their ranks.

OR

Argentina winning the World Cup on their arch-enemies soil, with Lionel Messi proving once and for all he is the greatest player of all time (in my opinion) by dragging a weak Argentine team through the competition.

OR

Brazil winning their own World Cup, after losing their star man with a broken back in the quarter final, and battling through despite fielding arguably their weakest team in World Cup history

It might just be me, but I like a bit of 'romance' with my World Cup and it has definitely delivered so far, and any of the above happening will add to it. Germany winning it would take a lot of the romance out of the whole tournament,and make it less memorable as time goes on.