Vranny

Also known as a 'Half-Coleman'.

I'd say those 2 are clearly ahead of the rest in the PL, though my opinion of Courtois is mostly based on his Atletico days. They probably rank in the best 3-4 goalkeepers in the world currently.

I'll dob myself in and say that I've pretty much wanted every winger under the sun to sign for us after we've been linked to them (Adam Johnson, N'Zogbia, Moses and Scott Sinclair on loan). I'd even forgotten it until his recent move to Blackpool, but so keen was I for a wideman under Moyes I'd even hoped to sign Chris bloody Eagles!

He was on the last year of his contract when Spurs picked him up (as was Dembele coincidentally), but I'm still surprised that there wasn't more of a bidding war for him. The deal sort of reminded me of when they picked up Van der Vaart for £8M or something ridiculous! I don't know how they do some of these deals without more fuss...

Just didn't have enough options out wide while he and Moyes were at the club. Once Mirallas settled he only got chances there when Kev was injured. If it wasn't Naisy playing out there it would have been another makeshift option like Coleman or Barkley.
 
Not that I'm trying to give Moyes an out for doing it though. Mostly gave himself limited wide options by pretty much ignoring flair players or handling them poorly. I can't believe how quickly the squad has changed in that area with Martinez at the helm

Apparently he's looked out of form and out of place since returning from a decent spell out last season. With Gerrard moving deep, Henderson finding some form and Allen & Can providing cover I can understand wanting to get rid while he can still demand a decent fee.

Fernando Torres cost Chelsea £50 million though

Well, that's this season's goal from a corner.

Soft as butter that decision.

I'd still be wanting him to play the bulk of his football at left-back (depending on how he'd fair in the centre), but surely Oviedo deserves a decent chance at left-back himself next season following his performances in Baines' stead?
 
May as well find something else for Baines to do rather than benching him for Oviedo when he's one of our fittest players

Completely agree. Lukaku was definitely more important this season in my mind, but it was Barkley's first proper season for us in all reality. He should only be getting more consistent from here on in.
 
I'd back Barkley to be the better player over their careers, but that could be my bias talking...

I think the best way of saying it is that Rom is £20-25M striker, but not really worth £20M as a striker to us.
 
As a counter attacking forward, who's very lethal when given space, he'll bang in 20+ goals for at least the next 5-7 years for a team matching his style. But with our slow build up, high possession style there are plenty of strikers out there that are much more suited to us than Rom at the moment. Whether they're plausible signings for us is another matter.
 
I'd still be quite keen to get him on a permanent deal, but doubt we'll be able to afford him once the bidding war starts.

Completely agree. Lukaku was definitely more important this season in my mind, but it was Barkley's first proper season for us in all reality. He should only be getting more consistent from here on in.
 
I'd back Barkley to be the better player over their careers, but that could be my bias talking...

I think the best way of saying it is that Rom is £20-25M striker, but not really worth £20M as a striker to us.
 
As a counter attacking forward, who's very lethal when given space, he'll bang in 20+ goals for at least the next 5-7 years for a team matching his style. But with our slow build up, high possession style there are plenty of strikers out there that are much more suited to us than Rom at the moment. Whether they're plausible signings for us is another matter.
 
I'd still be quite keen to get him on a permanent deal, but doubt we'll be able to afford him once the bidding war starts.

Appreciate the work Steve The change in the rules for first goal scorer nominated also seems fine to me for next season.

Appreciate the work Steve The change in the rules for first goal scorer nominated also seems fine to me for next season.

Just to update this.....about two months post treatment and all is cautiously optimistic. Saw my oncologist a while back and my surgeon yesterday and they both agree that the treatment appears to have worked in destroying the primary cancer, though it's difficult to see too clearly as my throat is still badly swollen as a result of the radiotherapy. Still many more checks and scans over several years before they can say with any confidence that it's gone completely but it's as positive as it could be at the moment; I'm even eating the odd bit of solid food (though everything tastes pretty awful 'cos my taste buds don't work properly).

I'm also thinking of possibilities for our transfer dealings for the end of the season. I reckon if our funds need to be mostly saved for one big spend on a top quality striker in the summer I'd be quite content for these to be our transfer dealings:
 
Lukaku (or another top quality striker)
Barry on a permanent deal
Colback/Mutch/Cork
& Deulofeu on loan again.
 
Add in someone like a Roberto Firmino as a Pienaar long term replacement and I'd be absolutely chuffed too.

Fair play to Arteta for not celebrating his goal today!

also loving this tweet
 

Lallana would be the first name on the team sheet for me

Have we ever had a player from Kashyyyk before?

Went with Deul as well. Thought Stones, Osman and McCarthy were the other stars.

Really made up that the kid is doing brilliantly, but am I the only one that feels like he could be a victim of the death of 4-4-2 footfall? I feel like he'd do brilliantly next a big striker, but hasn't quite the physical presence to play up top on his own.