ozvillafan

Gotta go on form. That means Angel warms the bench....

... not that we've seen much of Milan, but Angel needs a kick in the A to get his game going again.

The fact that he got shitfaced, climbed on cars and vomited explosively only means there are problems with his private life that need addressing. Perhaps the FA should be offering counselling, rather than probing...

... or is that what they are doing?

We need Baros (or another quality striker) and 1 other - preferrably a Central defender. If so then yes - it's been a good summer.

However, "I voted it could have been worse". After all, IF we sign Baros (which is the premise of this poll) then DOL would have spent more this summer than any other summer while he has been in charge.

White. Absolutely.

If not white, then blue.

I agree with eston - the claret ones look like you are wearing "ones-ies".

Did we buy someone and not tell anyone?

You'd think so by some of the posts.

Mine's a hypothetical to prove a point. Take Milan out of the equation and it's just more compelling to NOT sell Vassell.

Former.

I posted the following on the front page... figure it fits here too, so here goes;

I'm a bit surprised that people are ready to wave goodbye to Vassell.

Remember last year when we only had 3 strikers (including Cole) and a youth player and we sold Crouch? Vassell got injured and Cole struggled for form... as did Angel. We ended up midtable... just!

Now what are the odds of Angel redoing his knee injury? Phillip's age catching up with him and seeing a lot of the bench? Or Milan getting chopped? Too high, for mine, to risk selling Vassell.

And as for his finishing - yes, he needs to be more lethal. But we are talking about the player who broke all youth goal scoring records and an international who is, what? 24?

Sell him at your peril. With Phillips to teach him to finish and Baros/Moore to keep him keen I reckon we will see the best out of Vassell this season (barring injuries).

He is an average headless chicken who had a good Euro 2004. As has been said no better than our headless chicken Vassell.

Add Hendrie to the mix and over one quarter of the team are now headless chickens....

... and all 3 have represented their country. Give me a full team of 'em, I say. :winkold:

No surprises here....

... I side with Blandy.

Davis, Berger, Meh. Hendrie is still the best creative central midfielder we have. With a fit McCann or Gem doing the dirty work for him, he'll shine - as he did when McCann was in the team last season and he was banging them in for fun. No surprise, then, that his influence waned when McCann was injured.....

.....Nah. Must have been contract time. :roll:

I'm currently inbetween jobs...

... which means I'm contracting to 2 different companies and split the week inbetween the 2. Fun is going to start when both want me for more than 2.5 days a week..... which will be soon, methinks.

But, then, that's the nature of contracting.

I'm a programmer (which explains the amount of time I spend on here :wink:)

REM == Oasis. One good song (Losing my Religion/Wonderwall) and the rest range from me wanting to rip my ears off to "meh"..

Meh.

Phillips is better value short term, Beattie (potentially) better long term.....

... but neither player "blows my skirt up", so to speak.

Voted Ranson.

I live in hope.

Blur V Oasis? I don't know who's better....

.... but am happy so long as they beat the ever-loving snot out of each other. :wink:

Aussie Craig Moore has left Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany. He's long in the tooth but has CL and international experience (he's captain), is decent backup for our central defenders and would come cheap.

Worth the gamble?

I don't know my left from my right. You'd have to explain what they mean...

.... since politics bores me, for the most part.

Delaney? Heh heh heh.

Mellberg? Hahahahahaha!

Hitzlsperger? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

*wipes tears from eyes*

Now that I've finished laughing, the only real candidate is Solano. UDLC and Barry a tie for second.

One season wonder? How about rumoured Villa target Phillips? 30 league goals in 99/00 and only averaging less than half that since.

So back to JPA - he's not had the best season, but outside of the top 4 clubs in the Premier League, which striker would you replace him with?

Yakubu? Is there any more overrated player in the Premier League? Yes - Malbranque!!

Keane? He has a smaller goal return (and, I'll wager, similar "Stats")

Beattie? PL-EASE! Not buying him was a great decision (in hindsight)

Crouch? He's obviously a class player.... as many seem to think now (but not when he left).

Defoe? Great player - but not a straight replacement for Angel, more a replacement for Vassell.

Kluivert? Not showing fantastic form for a forward that has performed at the highest level.

Baros? Again, more a replacement for Vassell than Angel.

Righto - there may be better forwards abroad.... but then they will need time to settle.

So - is there any Premier League forward we could/should replace him with that would do a better job?

Didn't think so.

JPA's form has been poor this season, no question. But then, so has the form of many in the squad - Mellberg, Samuel, Delaney, Hitz, Cole (not to mention Barry early in the season, or Hendrie's hot and cold run).

He's clearly down on confidence - I hope the summer break will help restore him to his best.

And as for being offside because of his knee - garbage. How many times was he offside last year? And the year before that? He often strays in the hope of getting an extra yard. Doesn't seem to work too often though, does it?

Let me see....

Lee Hendrie is hated by (at a rough guesstimate) about 50% of posters here, mostly for being a prat off the field and not being our saviour on it, despite his loyalty to the club and giving 100% each game.

So then Bowyer would be an obvious good buy because (delete as appropriate):

- He's never in trouble off the pitch?

- He's never in trouble on the pitch?

- He's always in good form?

- He'd be the fan's darling?

- H'ed be a good influence on Ridgewell, Moore and Davis?

- He'd beat up Hendrie?

Quite taken by the Newcastle Brown myself... as well as Caffreys.

From the local stock, I'm partial to Coopers Pale Ale and James Squire Amber Ale.

1971. Clockwork Orange. :wink:

Snap.

T'was a great year. :wink:

Sorenson!!

No... seriously!

Ok - I'm kidding. :wink:

How's about Luke Moore? He was poor at the beginning of the season, but has come on well of late. Outside of that, are there any players that played last year that are either in good form or remained injury free?

new idea: bring back Merson! i don't care how old he is!

How about Alpay? Merson was quoted as saying he should have the armband when Graham Taylor took over.

Other.

We don't currently have that "on-the-pitch leader" type we so desperately need and acquiring one should be a majory priority over summer, IMO.

Coulda sworn I said as much in another thread..... :wink:

Oh, and Lee Hendrie? I'm a big fan, but he is not captain material. Period.

No.

He has a penchant for spectacular goals... but then so does fellow midfielders Hendrie and Solano.

He has some potential... but then so does Davis (if not more).

He is good at dead ball situations... but then so is Solano (who took all the frees and corners V Everton? Solano and Barry)

He has never been a regular first teamer, he offers nothing that is not already available on the pitch other than going missing when needed.

So how does all this add up to an improved contract? That's right - it doesn't.