TS

I remember going to the City Ground last year to watch Forest beat Newcastle. Carroll looked so out of sorts that day he barely looked like a Championship player, never mind Premier League quality. I'm surprised how well he's done this year but I do think he has a touch of the one season wonder about him. Anybody paying £20m+ for him are being foolhardy with their cash to say the least. Give him another season in the Prem before judging whether he's worth such a huge amount because I'd wager he's at the peak of his value at the moment.

What the hell has Qatar ever done sports wise to deserve this? **** ridiculous.

To be fair we could win the Premiership with 3 new signings, assuming those signings were Messi, Kaka and Ronaldo. Although I'd say the chances of them joining are "quite slim." Harry spouting hot air as usual.

I've had a similar thought about a potential wage cap for a while. Introduce a system resembling the MLS, where there is a set limit for wages over a week/month/season and possibly with the ability to sign one "star" player who can be paid outside this wage structure. I believe if you introduced this it would mean talent was spread more fairly, like in the late 90s when you saw players like Ravienelli at Boro and Di Canio at Wet Spam. These days top players seem happy to sit on the bench if they're paid enough; if you introduce a system where there's no limit on the individuals wages but a limit on the teams then you could still see Man U with Ronaldo/Rooney but there'd also have to be more Wes Browns and John O'Shea's. Realistically though this would never work without it being introduced at UEFA/FIFA level though as all the talent would go elsewhere. It has its flaws but it would go someway towards giving lower Prem teams the capability to sign talent players.

Good thing Redscouse are playing shit too.

Y'know, I found out today that Pompey spent more in bonuses after their FA Cup run than they gained through the whole FA Cup run. That's pretty bad financial management by anyone's stretch and I'm guessing that Redknapp would've had as much if not more imput into levels of bonuses etc. than upstairs. He won't do the same at Spurs due to their never ending pot of Gold but I wouldn't be surprised to see him out on his ear in the next 12-18 months when he gets found out at the top level. And the day he becomes England manager is the day I stop caring about international football.

Have to disagree with you there. He played some nice intricate through balls during the first half and kept popping up in space. He's coming along nicely. I reckon this time next year he'll be starting to become a major player for us.

Won't be an easy draw away. They've already scalped Liverpool, lets hope we don't underestimate them in the same way, although I doubt MON will let that happen.

I believe I said the best right winger in the Prem (or if I didn't that's what I meant since he is mainly right-footed even if he sometimes switches to the left). The evidence comes mainly from just seeing him play in comparison to others. Defences are more scared of him down the right than any other player, because no-one else can go past defenders as easily as he does and no-one panics defences as much he does. If you look at opposition message boards just before they play Spurs, usually the main worry they have is Lennon, or else relief if he is not fit to play. His combination of blinding pace, devasting acceleration, change of direction on a sixpence, trickery and close ball-control at speed makes him mostly unstoppable except by conceding a corner (if the defender manages to get that close to him) or fouling (which of course comes at the expense of free-kicks in usually dangerous areas). According to ESPN's stats, he has been fouled 46 times in 20 appearances, whilst committing just 6 fouls himself. His crossing ability has improved a lot (10 assists this season, in just 19 games started and 1 sub appearance) and he also does his fair share of tracking back and defensive duties. He also rarely loses the ball or gives it away from a bad pass. I don't see any right winger who is as good in the Prem, far less better. To be fair though, to say he is the most feared team on opposition forums prior to the game is a flawed argument, because all that shows is that he is the best player in your team rather than the best in the Prem. While he has undoubtedly been on form this season and is most likely in Capello's WC11 unless of injury or a dramatic drop in form (and even then he'll likely make the squad), he is not the best right winger in the Premiership. I'd say Valencia, Young, Milner, Rosicky, maybe even Bentley are all equal to Lennon. Maybe even better on their top form. And that's not to account for all the players who can play right midfield who are just as effective in wearing down defences, such as Arteta, J. Cole, Ireland etc. While Lennon is undoubtedly on form this season it's a bit too soon to be calling him the best RW in the Premiership. Let's see if he keeps this form up for another 2/3 seasons and then we can start the discussion.

I hope so too! I think this game might have just won me over to watching American Football.

Cheers. Well if it's similar to Man U-Villa then I'm solidified in my support for New Orleans. I gather this is the first time they've got to the final, have Indianapolis been regular contenders/winners at the SuperBowl? I watched the game last year, although I can't remember who was in it now I thought it was an interesting game, good finish. Though that's about as much exposure as I've had to watching the game. Enjoyed it though. Just a shame about all the advert breaks!

It's more or less the movement by the offense up the field. Cheers. In terms of Premier League comparison what sort of difference in quality are we talking about between the Colts/Saints? Are we talking Man U-Hull or something a bit more even? I gather the Colts are the favourites.

I'm a bit naive about the terms of American Football, although I think I've just about got the rules. What exactly is a 'drive'? I'm gathering it's when the player runs through the opposition to gain however many yards the drive is? Or something like that :?

It seems clear that some people decide transfer targets by playing FM.

Probably because I'm guessing most people have seen him play for West Brom rather than Ireland, where he tends to play on the right.

He's better than McShane, but he's also older. I think Martin is looking to buy youth. Then again we do need experience too. Saying that, I doubt he'd be sold. And if he was it'd be at an overinflated price. A big price tag doesn't make a player. The more I think about it, the more I'd be willing to gamble with McShane. I genuinly can't think of anybody else avaliable at a reasonable price who would improve the team. I don't think McShane is good enough for a top 4 team, which is where we aim to be, but I can't think of anybody avaliable who is. I mean, Finnan plays right back for Liverpool, that says in itself how much the position lacks star players. Don't get me wrong, he's a good player, but he's far from world class.

Just because he was released from Man U doesn't mean he's not a good player though. They have arguably one of the finest right backs in the game in Neville, and McShane was getting to the age where it was clear he wasn't going to uproot Neville. This is speculation, but you can see why he would want to move away to have first team football. It's quite possible that Bardsley will do the same thing in a couple of years time. All I'm trying to point out is that because McShane was released, it doesn't necessarily mean he's not a good player. He was simply surplus to requirements in one of the best teams in the country, And at this point in time, the idea that Man Utd rejects aren't good enough for Villa is a bit unrealistic. Admittedly a lot of them I wouldn't put in the squad, but we can't realistically compete with Man Utd in terms of transfers.

For a start who is there who's proven at this level and avaliable? Apart from Luke Young that is, because McShane is as good as Young is at this moment in time and has the potential there. O'Neill is a manager who doesn't go splashing money around for the sake of it. If he sees something in McShane it won't bother him if he's from West Brom or Barcelona. Also lets not forget, Carew, Maloney, and Young to an extent weren't proven at this level. We've got to be realistic. Just because we have money, it doesn't mean that after one season we have the pulling power for the best players in Europe. We have to build it up there. Chelsea were a consistent top 6 team before Abramovich's millions. Back on topic, McShane is worth a gamble in my humble opinion.

I saw him play against Middlesbrough. He got the man of the match award that night and deserved it. He was certainly one of the most impressive West Brom players on the pitch. However I'm not sure how well he'd cope in the Premiership. That'd be a case of wait and see. He'd be a much better back up than Hughes, but not sure if I'd want to stick him straight into the first team. Depends who else we can realistically get. But I'd say yes for the right price. Then again, I have only seen him play the once.

General, I've got to admit that when Randy's takeover was first announced I was a bit sceptical. Some unknown yank coming in to buy OUR club? I was imagining another Man Utd scenario, or being used as a business opportunity. Now after admitting my original disloyalty, I'd just like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you, Randy and all the background staff have done for the club, not to mention Martin O'Neill. All my doubts have been put to ease, and I'm more passionate than I have been in years. There's finally the belief that the club is going places, and not only that, but the fans matter. I wasn't even born until a good few years after Villa won the European Cup, and all I've really watched is the slow demise of the club. I genuinly belive that the players, the manager and the staff can and will lead us back to the heights of '82, and I'm so glad that I'll be around to see it this time. I probably rambled a bit there, but hopefully you've got my point. I'd send a Hallmark, but I don't think they make saying "Thank you for buying Villa." Going to stop rambling now.

Old Guardian Article Goes into a bit more detail.

He has an FA Diploma, same as Fergie. Thing is that by a certain date (I think it's by 2010 or something like that) they'll no longer be valid and you've gotta have these badges. Guess he's just getting them out of the way or something.

Toni?! Jesus Christ. If you're gonna talk out your arse at least make it somewhat believable.

I wouldn't be surprised if they did. As much as Baros's shots today were awful, it was also his goalkeeping that played a factor in why we had to wait so long for a goal. He's too good to play for Watford.

True. You can see why they're loaning him out though. He's too good a keeper to be happy with third place at Man U. He'd definitely be a good addition, but I can't see it happening.