Cizzler

Could we create a decent team out of currently playing ex-players? -------------------------------------------Freidel-------------------------------------------------- Walker---------------------Cahill----------------------Mellberg---------------------------L.Young Young---------------------Barry-----------------------Milner----------------------------Downing -------------------------------Crouch----------------Maloney----------------------------------- Subs: Sorensen, Hughes, Knight, Reo-Coker, Sidwell, Routledge, Carlton Cole? Meh. Bench is weak. But I think that team beats our current mess.

Why do you think Rodgers did a poor job at Watford? Watford are hardly one of the power-houses of the Championship and he finished mid-table. Admittedly he had a shakey start - but he must have been doing something right for Reading to poach him in the first place. Additionally, Lambert quite clearly failed in his first job at Livingstone as he resigned after 5 wins in 32 games. For what it's worth, I think either would be a marked improvement on the dross we have seen this season. I also echo the respect for Martinez. Although I do think Martinez and Rodgers would find instant success harder, which is why Lambert is a slight preference. Moreover, those who are criticising Coyle via Lambert's record in the lower leagues would do well to note that Coyle made a half-decent effort of things at little old Burnley.

Carragher has made 18 appearances? I think that's plenty to judge a player on. He has been an absolute liability when he's played this season as well (even more so than usual!). Surprised you think Evra has been worse. I know he had a rocky spell during United's mid-season blip - but I think he's played some decent stuff in their recent run. I know Gabby has been awful recently too, but Sammon has made 23 appearances and hasn't scored. At least Gabby had the decency to start the season well. I'll accept O'Hara to keep you happy.

------------------------------Doni------------------------------------------ Hutton------------Savic--------------Stearman------------Carragher -----------Adam---------------Derry----------Albrighton---------------- -----------Sammon---------Carroll--------Torres---------------------- A bit of a mix of bad players (Derry and Sammon), players desperately out of form (Torres, Carroll, maybe Marc?) and the stupid (Doni. Causing your third choice keeper to play the FA Cup semi with a totally avoidable red card is reason enough).

------------------------------Szczesny------------------------------------- Hibbert---------Richards-------------------Terry----------------Gibbs -------------Joe Allen------Scholes-----Osman---------------------------- Hoillet-----------------------Welbeck-------------------------Agbonlahor Scholes again . Think I've taken liberty with the 'don't have to be promoted this season rule'. If I was required to bring down the average age I guess I could substitute Hibbert, Terry and Scholes for Shotton, Hanley and Herd.

Fair enough. I agree with the notion. To be honest I thought Scholes had played a bit more than he actually has (only 931 minutes) and I thought Yaya had missed more with ACON etc (but he's played 2425 minutes).

3 outstanding strikers means 3-4-3. Evra/Richards and Baines are worthy mentions though. ----------------------------Hart----------------------------------- -----------Kompany---Koscielny----Evans--------------------- Valencia--------Silva-----------Scholes-----Dempsey--------- -------------Aguero------Rooney-----Van Persie--------------- Evans and Scholes are the two probably most open to ridicule. But I honestly believe the media hype is (almost! it is quite sickening) justified - Scholes has been instrumental. As far as Evans goes, I didn't want to pick Lescott or Vermaelen as I'd picked their partners and I really think he's come on a lot this season. Probably a sentimental pick as he's bagged me loads of fantasy football points! Unfortunately can't mock the Cisse shout, as I've picked Scholes. Vidic is a strange choice though. Jelavic, Sigurdsson, Sessengon, Toure and Mata have all had patches of great form too.

Head to head, his short time in England stacks up fairly well compared to Fergie: Mourinho (2004-2007) Premier League: (2) 2004–05, 2005–06 FA Cup : (1) 2006–07 Football League Cup: (2) 2004–05, 2006–07 Alex Ferguson (2004-2007) Premier League (1) 2006–07, League Cup (1) 2005–06,

Could get a decent England team out of the top two teams in the 'best league in the world' this year, yet we'll stick **** the Euro's. -----------------------------Hart--------------------------------- Richards---------Ferdinand------Smalling/Jones---------Lescott Johnson/Milner-------Scholes----Carrick/Barry---------------Young ---------------------------Rooney-------------------------------- --------------------------Welbeck-------------------------------- Even a little bit of depth there. Phelan/Platt for England !

If we can't get 7 points against Bolton, West Brom, Norwich and Stoke - let alone two home games Sunderland and Spurs and a slim chance against an out of sorts Liverpool then we deserve to go down. West Brom's run in is quite interesting. Playing 4 of the bottom 5 (excluding Wolves) and then Liverpool, Arsenal and City. Everyone of those games is going to be a battle as their opponent's will have so much to play for. Only 3 points ahead of us after playing a game extra too..

What makes you think Rodgers failed at Watford :? ?

I accept that Cahill may not have been quite as good as Davies or Knight at the time - but do you think it would have been worth us (and thus not Bolton) throwing him in at the deep end? Obviously he was good enough for Premiership football - he went straight into the mid-table Bolton team. So the risk wasn't humongous. In hindsight, in my opinion, it would seem O'Neill made that mistake. What would we have lost by playing him? Potentially a few more games. So we may not have finished 6th and bailed the Europa. Who knows. I don't even think he is that good a centre half. Comfortable on the ball, sure. But not the answer to England or Chelsea's defensive issues. However, he is better than the players we have at the moment and therein lies the reason for this debate.

I think England have a comparable list of young players to be honest. Players like Jones, Smalling, Wilshere, Cleverly, Sturridge, Welbeck, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kyle Walker are all good international prospects. Add Rooney and Hart who are 26 and 24 respectively. I think we are at a comparable level. Germany and Spain are clearly better than us. But I think the second tier consisting of us, France and the Netherlands is more competitive than most believe. Although if Pearce remains in charge perhaps not...

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I voted Ancelotti. The poll was who you'd 'want' after all. I think the posters questioning his experience in managing a club of our stature and problems have a valid point, but he is obviously a world class manager. What I don't understand are those expecting Wilkins as his number two. Ancelotti previously had a different assistants at Milan and Juventus and Wilkins was clearly chosen to be his assistant at Chelsea due to his previous connections with the club. If, amazingly, Ancelotti did join, I really doubt he'd bring Wilkins. Has he made comments that he'd like to bring Wilkins with him to his next managerial role? Why are people so sure they are a double act? Realistically, I think it will be Hughes. Which in my opinion is a solid choice. Moyes would probably be preferable and Deschamps perhaps more exciting. But I still believe Hughes has the credentials to be a success here. A post in the 'VT post of the year 2011' thread on Hughes made very persuading reading. Finally, I would like to question the clamouring for Rafa **** Benitez. I may have only seen a few of his Inter Milan games last season, but two of those games included some of the most incredible examples of tactical naivety I can remember. Maicon defending from inside his own half against Gareth Bale two games running beggars belief. A NO to Rafa. Oh, and a NO to Steve McClaren too.

Bit harsh cutting Terry Cooke out that photo, Rev!

Jordan Mutch was one of Watford's best players this (last?) season, so it is wrong to dismiss him like that. I don't know much about O'Shea/Valles though. Apart from didn't Valles come from Barca? I understand that blues won't be able to fill the void of the players they will lose with yoof, I just didn't understand why Kevin Phillips came out and said what you'd quoted as they seem to have their best crop of youngsters coming through. Definitely that I can remember, anyway.

Aren't Redmond/ Butland supposed to be decent?

U.S drop uranium bombs on Libya

providing he plays reo coker in both games and doesnt go gung ho 4-4-2 team selection should be fine i think he learnt from his mistake at newcastle Why do you think he's learnt from his mistake, when he tried the same midfield against Everton?

Fulfilling prior commitments is hardly what I'd call poor. At the end of the day they could have just delayed his appointment until he was 100% free but they didn't. (probably because all the fans are crying for a manager asap). He misses a game or 2 ? So what ? Crying for a manager who can make his first 2 games. Not poor on his part. If he isnt available to do the job full-time then he shouldnt have been employed. They should have waited imo. Poor from an Aston Vil;la point of view Imagine the outcry on here if we still hadn't appointed a manager by the Bolton game. It would have been melt-down. I think the board have struck the best possible balance between appeasing us and bringing in the best man for the job.

How did you work that out?! :?: Just the way he said joint management doesn't work as if that was one of the offers put to him and how he wanted Kevin Mac to assist him but Kevin Mac didn't want to,it was probably mainly in his body language. Surely he was talking about his time as co-manager of Liverpool with Roy Evans? It is well reported he hated the arrangement. I VERY much doubt it was offered to him or Kevin.

At the end of the day, we lost SIX nil to a newly promoted side and got dumped out of Europe. I would have been petrified if we had K Mac as full-time manager. Even the most naive football fan could see that our centre mids were destroyed by Newcastle's, yet he picked the same for Everton. Ireland's injury is one of the main reasons we scraped that win. Houllier has my backing. Let's not use his honesty as a stick to beat him with. He has a contract with the FFF and will see that out with integrity before fully sinking his teeth into this job. Good luck Gerard.

Why not???? He'll be in to meet the players tomorrow and oversee training Saturday and Sunday - I reckon he'll take guidance from KMac but essentially he'll get right down to the job in hand. I would imagine he'll know most of them, I'll be more interested in HOW he plays them and how that side compares with the team to play Bolton? I reckon he'll know most of the players. I remember reading in Carragher's autobiography (hoping this admittance doesn't ruin any credibility in the post ) that in the summer he was named Liverpool manager, but still during leave, he spoke to Carragher and Gerrard at the England camp and spoke to them about the youth at the club, including a young Steven Warnock!