comeonblueboys

Yeah, one smacked in from the edge of the box, another a header. I thought we were gonna win the league at half time.

I've seen games where Ferguson has run himself into the ground for the team, but I've also seen many games where he's been the laziest player on the pitch and has seemed disinterested. Ferguson's main problems have always been fitness and consistency and they're precisely the problems we don't want Beattie to have. In my opinion, getting a tattoo on your arm shouldn't make you a legend - your performances should.

Madness? Or is it just that Walter Smith is Scotland manager? The man who thought that Naysmith was so good he could let Michael Ball go to Rangers.

What is there to prove? Unfortunately I don't see what's illegal in what the agent asked for - it's just the same as the player suddenly saying at the last minute that he wants a million extra signing on fee.

Not sure I agree with giving players a runout when the teams getting tonked. We've had a lot of talent come through in the last ten years or so, but most of it has disappeared (prime examples Branch and Cadamarteri). I think a big reason is them having to come into a (generally over the last ten years or so) struggling team and having all that pressure.

There's a story on the bbc about Man Utd's profits going down by £12m this year. One of the reasons mentioned is that they had to pay £1.5 to Stretford for the Rooney transfer. I wonder who was most agitating for a move, Rooney or Stretford......?

Moyes did want Stubbs last summer, he was offered a new contract. I'm not overjoyed with the signing either, but I'd rather have Stubbs in the team than Weir. As for losing money on Kroldrup, I wonder if we really have. I can't believe we paid £5m upfront for him, these payments are always staggered and dependent on other things (appearances etc.). Perhaps the £3.6m we're going to get is what we've already paid???? I think our priority is getting a new striker rather than having three top class centrebacks, so as long as we've got the money now and use it wisely, I don't think the situation is as bad as it seems.

Where the fuck is Brian Robson on that list? He'd get my vote any time.

A lot of positives from tonight. I think Villareal are gonna do well in the CL so we shouldn't have anyone to fear in the UEFA cup. I think we've seen that financially it probably won't make too much difference being in the UEFA cup. Forget the whole £15m thing all the commentators go on about. In the game I thought McFadden did pretty well when he came on - he was running at them and created a couple of chances. Davies did alright too, and what a cross that was for Ferguson - perfect from a deep position. Fergie did alright - I think a few of the freekicks he conceded were fair decisions, but there were too many bad decisions against him too. He got better as the game got on because I think the Villareal defence was getting tired. I thought Arteta was class from the start. Sometimes though I think he drops back too much, he starts moves from deep but then we need him near the box and he's not always there. Kilbane's not a leftback though, might have been better with Neville there. I know he's not the best either but he's got plenty of experience. Overall I'm really proud too. We were unlucky but perhaps we blew it at Goodison with a lack of concentration. This team's only gonna get better though, and I think there'll be a few more good signings to come, even if there's no really big names.

Still not even a mention of this on the official website. Still waiting...

Yeah, perhaps it would be better for us to be in a competition where we're more likely to be competitive rather than getting tonked every week in the CL (imagine how hard all the champions league group games would be with our tiny squad). Still wanna get through tonight though of course!! I'm sure that if we don't get past Villareal we'd be in the UEFA. It's logical when you think about it - entry is based on league position, and we're not actually in the CL yet because we haven't qualified. So if we don't qualify then we're in the UEFA, which we've definitely already qualified for based on our league position and the strength of the league

Quoted now as saying that he hopes to either get a transfer to Liverpool, or if that can't be sorted out in time would be willing to go on a season-long loan to Newcastle! For fuck's sake what is the attraction to Newcastle all of a sudden???!!! I mean I could understand it when they were finishing in the top five under Keagan, or had a manager with some kind of reputation and respect like Bobby Robson, but now?? Surely we'd be willing to put him on a higher wage package than normal.

And if he "could understand very little of it", how did he know he was getting sworn at? Fuckwit.

Funny how he doesn't seem to mind playing in Spain where it's ok to racially abuse black players, but a bit of swearing and "v-signs" gets him all upset!

Have to say it's really annoyed me the club coming out with this about Owen. It's just given the opportunity for the press to twist things a bit and make us look stupid. So the fact that me made a bid a while ago for Owen turns into "Everton fail to sign Owen" like it just happened today. Then we had a bid turned down for Kuyt and it gets twistsed that he turned us down, not that our bid was rejected. Players read newspapers and watch telly, so a prospective signing is hardly going to be persuaded to sign when they hear yet another twisted story about us being rejected again. Agree that it's basically a story to try and appease the fans. But a very misjudged one in my opinion.

It's a really crucial stage from about 18-22. I think if Jeffers had had a steady environment then he would still be doing well now. Remember Michael Branch? He had real ability, but so many injuries, in and out of a struggling team. I really think that had he been at a more stable club he would have made it. Anelka's another one - so many clubs, so many let-downs. Whatever the reason (i.e. self-inflicted like Jeffers/Anelka, or perhaps unlucky like Branch), a player needs a steady environment no matter how much ability he's got.

5000 quid from Dunc and a royal pidgeon! Can't hope for much more than that more an auction. Shows he definitely a top bloke, as long a you're not trying to break into his house that is.

Another important statistic: CH: took over championship-winning side DM: took over a Walter Smith side containing Paul Gascoigne and David Ginola, combined age 451

I think for England manager you've got to have a winner. Big Sam does a good job for Bolton without much money but you can't call him a winner. Maybe if he goes to a bigger club and really proves himself you could consider him. Sven has won things at the highest level and I think that's why there's noone else better who'd be willing to take the job. To all those who go on about passion, just look what happened under Keegan - all the enthusiasm in the world doesn't get you very far in international football.

Friendlies may be unimportant but that doesn't stop people complaining about players (e.g. Giggs, Smith) who pull out of their national squads for friendly games - then everyone's on about lack of pride for your country etc. etc! But I agree, friendlies are a fact of life. True you can get unlucky with injuries but so can any club - it's not like Newcastle are the only club with players who go on international duty.