sparrow1988

About 3 years too late

Sanchez is not as bad as he looks here. It's happened to many a player here over the last few years. Decent reputation or potentially decent signing and then they go and commit the ultimate sin as a football player - sign a contract with Aston Villa. Sanchez with Colombia looks good because he wins the ball and gives to the closest and most likely skillful team mate. Here he wins a ball and looks up to see statues and no movement in front of him so it's like he decides that he has to try to take on a man or try an audacious pass. That's not what he is made for. He's a ball winning midfielder and no more in my opinion. I'm not claiming that he is Claude Makalele or anything but he has strengths but as has been the case here over the last few years, we've put square pegs in round holes or round ones (Gabby - couldn't resist despite him looking trim recently) in square holes. Having said all that I wouldn't be fussed if he left but just think that we utilised him incorrectly.

No! We turned a striker with decent potential as a poacher type into a hard working but ultimately limited winger. Should have left him where he was good!

I suspect that this post is going to be greeted with derision.

Well Ciaran captained England underage (correct me if I'm wrong - probably am) and now plays for Ireland. Maybe Mitchell was born in Holyhead or Fishguard on the way back from a summer trip to the Emerald Isle.

But was he ever reliable? Always looked like he had a mistake in him. Although credit where it's due - he did have that very good season but it all just went a bit tits up in 2014/2015.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36745294 Talk about covering your arse.... Looks like Benteke won't be playing for the next 6 years.

Friedel was probably the last reliable one

Meanwhile in Austria. An attacking move has broken down during training. Richards busting a lung to track back as per usual... Richards busting a lung to track back as per usual...

Fully agree with this. Good post.

Haven't a clue. Wales went there before the rugby world cup for training and spent the time lifting tractor tires (although I suspect that they are available more locally) - maybe they're doing this. Maybe RDM decided there's no way anyone is going to touch some of the players that he wants rid of and some parts of Austria are pretty remote and Mountainous obviously so - easy to "lose" people. He could possibly have devised a mountaineering exercise where the players are split into groups and have to fend for themselves and find their way back to a base camp over a number of days. Gabby, Lescott, Richards, Bacuna and Guzan are all in the one group. And hey presto, we've "lost" a group of squad members who nobody wants. That's a shame..... More likely but less satisfactory: fitness, team building, and assess the current squad members as mentioned above.

Ah that much fabled ability - scoring. I know that it was only a few goals and it's youtube but there's no doubting that he has quality (at least at Championship level). I'd like him to get an extended run in the team even if it were only to prove he isn't good enough but there's no doubt that he deserves a chance at the very least.

Hardly much point in travelling to Austria with just the 4 or 5 players that weren't involved in the relegation....

Welcome back Remi!

Is he related to Ciaran?

VT would have been so much more fun had you not added this.

Because Pantilimon is a second choice goalkeeper.

There is actually some considerable doubt about who is the better player. I for one haven't a clue who is better but is it really worth debating?

I was going to say this is a pretty thinly veiled piss take but there is no veil at all!!

But would Guzan have caught it?

He would be gone a month before the OS confirms it....

Moneyball!!!!!!!!!!!

You wot bruv? innit!

We did at the end of 2011/2012 before Lambert came in but Lambert brought him back after watching Given at the 2012 euros