mad_mac

I can't say that I have been the biggest fan of anelka's and I really hope we are not signing him "just becasue>" Hte young Di Santos kid sounds promising, but not being an oficionado of Chellean soccer, I can't speak to much about him. ONly I hope that he gets a run of games and doesn't just warm the bench then mess off to Italy! However, Huntelaar I am excited about. He has said that one of the main things he works on is his physical fitness because he wants to be able to run and give it his all for 90 minutes, from the first whistle to the final one! That is a great attribute to have in a player, and very remniscent of Essien. He is the leading U21's scorer with something like 18 goals in 24 matches. Not a bad rate at all. he is an out and out striker though, so I am hoping that this di santos kid is somewhat of a flair player a la gudjohnsen so they would link up nicely together. It also means that he could be a great target man with players like joey, kalou, or malouda serving him up through balls! Either way, I really am looking forward to the summer if it means we go for Jans "the hunter" Huntelaar Scott

Never actually tried to get on Mate. TBH I don't know if I could get on there without having a go at these idiots; some stuff they say is good, but sometimes they are just so stuck in their ways that they don't ever give the callers a fair chance to put forward any objective reasoning. Have you ever tried to get on? Also, reading that blokes writing is laughable! He has never come out and said who he follows, but just from reading this post...I think it might be Man Utd. He does make some good points about Liverpool, but Vidic and Evra as the best centre Backs and Left backs in the league?? On Fox Football Fone-in, they were saying prett much more of the same about Terry. They recon that he used to be a great captain, and great leader, but then he has started to let it go to his head and become Billy Big Boots! They seem to love throwing that phrase about. However, they are one of the few pundits who I have watched who are pretty honest about the unnecessary hype surrounding Stevie Me

A decent read indeed, but I thik "wrestling" defenders to the ground (or whatever he said) I know he mentioned wrestling.... is a bit off. I don't see too much different between that goal being scored and our 4th against barca. I just think they are trying to come up with an excuse for Haim's poor playing!

Everyone fit: ..............................Cech Beletti..............carvs............Terry..............Cole .........................Essien ..........Ballack....................lamps ..........................Mikel .......................................Kalou/malouda .....................Drogba ACN ........................Cech Beletti............Carvs.....Terry......Cole ................Ballack.....Lampard ...J Cole....................................Malouda ...............Sheva......Pizarro

The american's pay him, and he works in the states...therefore, I belive he has to write a language familisr to the people who will read it; however, Iam lestening to him talk right now and he is very much english!

Is there an actual link to the story? At 6ft 4 it seems that we are looking to stay with the solitary striker?? I wouldn't mind if we had him and Hunterlaar.

back to the original statement: I think that the entire VISA processes are a farce; this is something close to my heart having been deported from the USA even after studying, thus contributing to their economy. Having worked whilest studying, then worked full time after studying, never claimed any benefit, never got in trouble Then some tosser who signed a visa for me ups and leaves. new bloke comes in, thinks I am doing a good job so wants to keep me on...immigration say "sorry mate, gotta go..you've got 30 days to elave the country!" I had to sell EVERYTHING I owned, give away clothes (could only bring back 2 cases), give away a tonne of other things. Then re-applied for a new visa to try and come back to my OLD job....and I was denied. Sorry, to turn this into an "all about me" post. But I feel this kids pain!!! They should look at each case individually, see what the person has or has not contributed to society, and decide. All regular health and background checks should still be done. Scott

Nick webster is actually from England

Sheva, for me. Lively and some great chances. I also think it should be between he and Alex as to who takes our free kicks anymore. Lamps just sin't cutting it on all levels; is he tired, is he thinking about elsewhere, is he about one more bad game away from being dropped? I think yes to all

I think Ricci is back soon enough, but still not soon enough! Ben Haim stood out in a Bolton side, but he isn't class enough to play for us. I don't know if a run of games would make him any better. I hope that Terry isn't out too long, but initial reports are 2 months (if it is a metatarsal break) Scott

I really hope that we go 442, because today it just showed how bad it was relying on Sheva as our lone striker. Not because Sheva wasn't trying, but just because he didn't get much service! We looked a lot better when we went 4-4-2, I hope that we start that way against the scum with essien and lamps in the middle, and kalou and J Cole on the flanks Scott

Anyone else seen any more of the "Cloverfield" film. I have seen a new clip and it looks like another "monster attacks Manhattan" movie. It seems that the monster also carries parasites that infect people. There is also a lot of people running about shouting "it's alive!" which, coincidentally, happens to be the tag line to an old movie called "The Beast from 20,000 leagues" which is also about a monster that comes and attackes manhattan and carries parasites! Honestly, Hollywood doesnt' do anything original anymore Scott

One mistake from us and it cost us. What is hardest to take is that they really didn't create much against us until the end when we were pushing up for the counter. And Gallas scoring makes it even harder! the loss of terry was tough to take, and it further shows that Ben Haim is an absollute waste of time, and SWP again showed that his class isn't quite there, plus he misses an open chance. One thing that was brought up in match chat, and I agree with, is that we have no real depth on our bench anymore. I remember thinking that our bench would all walk onto most other premiership teams, but now I dont know. Haim should still be at Bolton, Kalou i promising but lacks a finnish, and SWP has tricks, but is easily dispossesed and can't really cross. Lampard has not scored as much this season, and I feel that his heart isn't in the club anymore. I also get a feeling that in the summer we might have a bit of an overhaul. with players leaving, and a few coming in. Our system relies on Drogba so much, that we are really hurting when he is not in the team, to lose him would be tough to take. however, we don't have to rely on him if we would be more open to changing our tactics. honestly, if Drogs is out, why did we go out today in a formation suited entirely to Drogba, and Drogba alone? Sheva clearly doesn't fit the lone striker, and he looked lively today. Even better once Pizzaro came on, so why not play a 4-4-2? Anyway, I didn't expect us to get a win today, but I thought that we could have gotten a draw (and feel that would have been the fair result), but I have to give Almunia a nod, he should hvae been MOM. A couple great saves, and the one from Sheva's effort later Gutted, but I expected this to happen today. We need to be more willing to change it up and not rely on Drogs so much. Our best player? Mikel or Cole, even cashley did decent Scott

erm, i think he was at Milan for a few seasons in a row

No Zola in your team there Rob?

Is carvalho actually fit to play?

baby baby, you're the best!!

It will forever be remembered by the general public that Icke beat his wife, and he will not be recognized for his contributions to music, which is a shame. A great musician, not so great personal life...but you could make the same argument for/against James Brown Scott

They're going to make us play 2 teams. That will be a real test of Grant's abilities. they always like to make it hard on us Liam!

I doubt Carvs will be ready for this one, nor do i expect ballack to be ready either. Therefore, the back picks itself (paulo in for belletti, maybe) and the midfield 3 picks itself too. However, if ballack was ready, would you drop mikelor maka? Scott

I might be reading a little to much into this, but I can't re-call the article saying (although I only scanned the article once) that this is a 4 year contract as manager of the team. It merely states that he has signed a 4 year contract with the club...no mention of his role at the club. I think Mannyjello might be on to something in that, if we do get another manger in then Grant will stay with the club but not necessarily as the manager of the 1st team. If he doesn't like that, he can leave, and the club wouldn't need to pay him off if he chose to leave? Just my thoghts Scott

So eloquent for a 16 year old, but I think this is a great idea. The east Upper is a graveyard so any atmosphere up there would be great. Some of these 16 year olds just want to hang out and have a good old sing? I think the club should def do something to back this, these "kids" are the future of our club, so for them (the club) to get behind it, would be a great gesture Scott

Good point there Moos, it would be pointless to let him go in January. However, if Sunderland were to offer a "5mill now, or we go elsewhere" contract to us, we would be foolish to say no. Anyone in the ressies who would come into the side during the ACN, if we were to sell Sidwell, while Essien and Mikel are gone? Our startin midfield 3 (assuming we stay with the 4-3-3) during this time could be Maka, Lamps, Ballack? Not exactly hurting, but maka's pace is a concern. Not a major one, because he has always been a player who relies on technical ability over speed. Or, during the ACN will we switch to 4-4-2 and play with 2 wingers? We could see: Cole...Lamps...Ballack...Malouda ...........................Pizaarro........Sheva Again, barring any injuries, not a bad line up there. With SWP available to come on too Scott

Lyon and Fenerbache are the two teams I want us to avoid, and therefore will be the teams that we are inevitably drawn against Scott

Cektic would be great, one hell of an atmosphere. fenerbache or Lyon are who we're most likely to get because they will be ther hardest games for us