dont_do_it_doug.

Oh yeah i do, i understand how it might come across but its not that i dont want us to sign these players i would love it. I just think if they are linked with any clubs that are in a better position than us then they will choose them. If that club doesn't have a bid accepted then a spurious link in one of the daily rags is irrelevant. So just because a player is linked with Spurs, it doesn't automaticaly mean we have no chance.

Think you have a point there Patrick, it is obviously an area MON is looking at players who can play wide and in the middle hmmm. Maybe. Or it could just be a concidence that the players he's looking at can play multiple positions. I'm going to assume we're after a center mid in the Reo-Coker mould. If that's a case, I'd hazzard a guess we'll be looking at bringing in a left winger. I'm not sure MON will care much if they can play central too.

Alberto Gilardino? I'm not sure, I haven't seen him play enough to be honest. He has a big reputation and a great goalscoring record over the last 5 or 6 years. Would there be bigger clubs than us interested? I'd take a guess at yes, but with all the 'big' name strikers set for moves this summer, he might be worth a look.

It was the 05/06 season he was at Cardiff after he fell out with Robson. Worth noting that he was voted into the Championship tam of the season that year while at Cardiff. In 04/05 he was WBA player of the season, this year he is again. I'd say he is to WBA what Barry is to us. I see a pattern emerging here. 03/04 - WBA player of the year (Championship team of the year) 04/05 - Bryan Robson 05/06 - Cardiff player of the year (Championship team of the year) 06/07 - Championship player of the year

Probably. However I do I find it interesting that our link with him isn't going away.

What if we get Barton or NRC or Parker AND Koumas?

The reasons are Bryan Robson, West Broms ridiculous valuation and an alleged attitude problem. IMO. Koumas and Davis are completely different types of footballer. Can't see the correlation.

£6m may be a bit steep, I agree with you there. But a wise man once said if the manager wants him enough then I couldn't give a stuff about the fee. Are there better players out there at the same cost (or cheaper) with European experience? Proven at the premier league level?? Surely that's only an opinion......

Oh yes. Please please please....... But isn't he 34? :winkold:

..... That's not writing him off that's fact. Some would argue he was never given a chance in the Premier League.

25 he is.... it's not 26, then again nor is Koumas he is 27... 28 in September. Not sure if you're making a serious point or not! You're right about Koumas, my mistake. Makes no difference to me, either way he's at his 'peak'. No arguing from me, just discussion. Nowt better to do.

I never said that. They were both at the time the best midfielders at that level before they moved up (assuming Koumas does move up) and neither player could be classed as a 'youngster'. You seem to have skipped over my point about Koumas's premiership experience under Robson. You seem to insinuate that he is medicocre, with little evidence to prove your point. That's why I say you don't seem open to discussion. I don't mean that in an offensive way, I just have this feeling you are against any signing that comes from a lower level. FWIW, which is probably nothing, I can't see a great deal of difference between the quality of leagues like Holland and the Scandanavian leagues and that of the Championship. Yet you seem quite open to suggestions of players from those leagues.

But you're not willing to listen to any arguments that may shed some light on those 'facts'? Like Tim Cahill, who was snatched up at the ripe old age of 24 after 7 years at Milwall. If Koumas was our ONLY singing this summer then I'd agree. But that's not what is being suggested. He'd come here as a squad player fighting for a spot. Competition for places. I know it's a novel idea at a club that in the past couldn't afford to take risks, but it's something we need if we're going to take the next step. He might turn out to be cack, but from watching him play I seriously doubt it.

Honestly, did anyone actualy think we were interested in Shamble? I mean, seriously? There's realistic and there's idiotic. That spurious link definitely fell in the latter camp.

First part I agree with. He'd be a gamble. Thing is I keep being told we can't compete with the likes of Spurs, so any players they're linked with is surely out of our range? Can't have it both ways. Second part I'm not so sure. He had a torrid time under Robson, he spent most of that season on the transfer list, he only took part in 10 games. So either Koumas isn't cut out for the premier league or Bryan Robson is a shite football manager. Or maybe a little bit of both. He's won Championship player of the year twice by the way, there's no question in my mind he's earned a real chance at this level.

How old is he though? For some reason I hve the idea he is 30, in which case I stand by my diagnosis but if he is younger and has the potential to improve I think he could become Premiership quality. He's 26. Why buy potential when the quality is available? We're oozing potential IMO, we need ready made premiership footballers.

Jez - It also depends on who you concider to be a 'dream player'. Players like Sneijder are worth discussing because they are within our reach, even if the are on the outskirts. What I'm trying to say is we don't need to be bought down to earth everytime players such as that are mentioned, most of us are already fairly realistic in our ambition. 306 - Koumas would be a solid signing under any regime IMO. There's absolutely no question he's premiership quality. If he went somewhere like Everton or Newcastle we'd all be wondering why we didn't take the risk, I guarantee it. Another Tim Cahill in the making.

Why would we? That isn't how statistical odds work. Besides which, the 1 in 10 claim is tosh, every players situation is different. If we take Sneijder as an example, from what we can gather he wants out from Ajax and wants a fresh challenge in a top league. We're in a top league, have great facillities a decent manager and lots of hard cash. Plenty of potential and ambition to boot. Now unfortunately none of us know him personaly, so who are we to say we aren't the type of club he's looking for? Maybe in Sneijders case the chances are 1 in 5 rather than 1 in 10? How have you come up with that random number?

Ah, but by your own logic 1 time out of 10 they would. So it isn't unrealistic to expect a player(s) like Sneijder after all. Or at the very least it makes them valid for discussion.

General, no thoughts on the impending cold war?

You can be yawn as much as you like, it isn't going to make things move any faster.

General, those pesky Russians are trying to arm themselves with frickin lazers again, in your opinon are we heading for Cold War II?

Unless they get Alvez that is.

Really?when and with whom?I hope he tries to replace him again then.Finnan would solve our RB problems for this season at least. You know, i can't for the life of me remember the blokes name. it was after the Champions league victory. The bloke turned out to be shit.

This may be totaly irrelevant, but Rafa Benitez has tried to replace Finnan before...... If they (liverpool) are after Alvez, Finnan is a realistic target IMO.