Calico

Vogel is more versatile as he can play along the back line as well, so I'd prefer him. Plus, he would cost less, obviously.

Not sure if this Bayern team know each other well enough, and yes they have a season to do so, but there is also still the "Team Hollywood" atmosphere that seems to be there so I'm not sure they'd fancy it against our lads when we're up for it. Villareal... They could lose sight of this competition and concentrate on the league, plus their better players can be injury-prone over a season. Marseille... Not sure they have the quality to match our lads when we're having a good day. Saying all that, and despite the fact that we have put ourselves in an excellent position, it is still a knock-out competition either way so luck will be a major factor.

Looks like the Echo got it right; or at least, according to the official site... >LINK<

Hehe. Without him on the pitch calling Zidanes mother and sister all kinds then it wouldn't have happened.

Essien cost ten times more because his form for Lyon had been so impressive, whereas Mikel wasn't really pulling up any trees for Sociedad. Then you add the fact that moneybags Chelski and Arsenal and Man Utd were all bidding for Essien and the price inflates even further. Hell, most likely half of Europe was bidding for him, whereas not many - if any - of Europe's big guns would have been bidding for Arteta. Football is a supply and demand market, and it seems that players the ilk of Essien are in short supply. Arteta has been great for us, but even then not so much this year, whereas when most people look at Essien they realise this fella can be world class for most teams. Edit: I'm not saying that I think he is one of the top 50 transfers of all time btw, just that I can see why he would be called that. In fact, I'm more about saying that it doesn't make much sense to compare his and Arteta's transfers to each other. Perhaps compare Essien to Chelsea with Veron to Man Utd? That would seem a tad fairer based on the particular situations involved.

Well that's better, since the competition is in the summer

Yeah. Football is swings and roundabouts is what you mean?

There is nothing strange about Real Madrid sacking a successful manager. They do it on a whim, at times, and always have. And you missed my point; the youngsters took up the charge in the final weeks after Capello had purged the squad and directed the players into consistent, league-winning form. And you don't fluke a league. That's like saying Man Utd has fluked most of their Prems via late goals.

Great defender? More like great thug. Pathetic that Zidanes world cup the way it did ended thanks - in part - to some low-life.

If we got in someone like Appiah then I wouldn't be too bothered about Grav. Sad, but true.

Gotta make sure Vaughan is genuinely fit and ready to play a fair few games for when Yak disappears

I agree with Everton Lad on Essien. I also think it is difficult, if not impossible, to compare his and Arteta's transfers since Essien has been playing in a high pressure situation whereas Arts hasn't IMO

Yup... he clearly has little else to do, such as... oh I don't know... supporting his own team? Sad.

Madrid sacked him because they wanted a puppet, which Schuster was going to be since he had no experience in doing things "his way". The fans wanted Capello to stay even though his preferred style of football was the more defensive Italian style. In the closing weeks of the season there was very little actual coaching Capello was impressing upon the players; what had happened was that the younger players had spurred the older players into playing better football and so Capello just managed that until they won the league. Also, in terms of man management, and feuds etc.... well, he certainly got the best our of Beckham after dropping him. Even if he admitted he shouldn't have left him out, it was clear that being dropped spurred him on to such good form.

I was made up with the lad. Did us a big favour.

It's live on tv (channel 5 again) and I'll be watching it. Perhaps a chance for Moyes to play some of the fringe players? The likes of Grav, VDM, some youngsters??? Surely he should rest the likes of Yak, Ossie, Cahill, Cars, Pienaar, Arteta, and maybe even some of the back line??

It'd just be nice to see some English managers have the ability to think clearly even when emotions are running high. Never gonna happen, though.

I've never quoted myself before, buuuut...

Yup. Just look at the likes of Carboni, Ayala and Maldini.

Let me guess then... age-old excuse given in this country of "the passion of the match in a post-match interview" affected what he has been quoted as saying? Now of course, that article could have taken a quote from him and bent it any way they wanted to, but any suggestion that we rely on base tactics to win a match these days when we've got those footballers in the midfield I do take offence to, especially since they have actually been playing some pretty decent football of late.

Couldn't agree more, Josh.

Sounds like a sore loser.

I reckon we'll win again. 2-0.

Nigel de Jong was mentioned.... Damn, if he was over his injury problems then yes please! A quality RB with some versatility.

I don't know if anyone has already mentioned this (forgive lack of reading the topic), but Vogel can play CB and FB as well. Could be useful and hopefully either really cheap or on loan.