Maverick

Personally I'd like to see either Milner/ Rodwell coming, though having seen Cork play for Burnley in the last few weeks I am sure he can be a part of the first team in the coming season.

My interpretation of those stats is that we have won at OT (unlike others) and its not a fortress to us if we decide to go for it. The only selection issue as I see it is whether we play Deco/ Ballack. Given that its Mike Dean and Ballack's tendency to give silly fouls I'd like Deco to step in. Ballack can always come in if we are leading and trying to run down the clock. I sense we will nick this one by a solitary goal and it could be the same scoreline and boy would that be "sweet".

Sounds like a kid that has his feet on the ground and has faith in our setup and personnel. We were short on the goal keeping front, I hope he solves most of the issues.

I hope your right. He's been awesome for most parts of this season and it was Hiddink who had said that Malouda's game sense is as good as any in our squad - we now know what he was referring to. Its him and Lampard that hold the key to our success at OT and the remaining of the season.

I hope you have been seeing him play in the past few matches, you still believes he is not good anymore?

Looks like you dint enjoy it :lol:

Just to add on - those two seem to have regained their form at their respective clubs. Infact Robben is easily the most destructive winger in Europe today, he has single handedly led Bayern's resurgence.

World Class!! If thats the case why does he struggle to make it to the starting 11 when Essien is fit ?

Man of the match in the game against West Ham playing in the defensive mid role. Mick had expressed earlier in one of his interviews that Mancienne is at his best when he plays in a central position (CB/CDM) and I would agree to it completely. He has been exemplary in playing the sweeper role and its not just one game he had Gerrard in his pocket. His ability to break up play and anticipate things sets him apart from the other defenders. He is more in the Carvalho/ Baressi/ Cannavaro mould and these defenders tend to blossom late in their careers.

Very impressed with his performance in the reserves. By far the best player in terms of consistency and looks the most likely player to break into the first team. He may have an outside chance to make it to the world cup, that would do his confidence and chances a world of good.

In absolute contradiction to that post I recall the game against Sunderland and he was up against Kenwyne Jones. Jones is fairly physical and good in the air, I recall Mancienne winning pretty much every thing in the air and holding his own against a fairly physical striker.

Really? As far as my memory serves me right - It is Alex that has been out injured right through this season. So if Alex indeed wants to gain the #1 pairing with JT he needs to be fit. Praising a player does not mean he believes that the other man next to him is inferior. As far as our defence is concerned its JT's form that is of concern to me when compared to Ricardo. As far as Bruma is concerned - are you serious ? I mean would you place him ahead of Hutchinson and Mancienne ? I still believe that Ricardo will be here in the coming season because from what I have known of Carlo he prefers experience in defence.

Its strange to see these reactions on Riccy, he is the preffered partner to JT and Carlo plays him ahead of Alex in most games. I dont think he will be sold in the summer considering Carlo prefers experiece over potential in defence.

Sam is getting back to fitness and should be available in a few weeks. What I saw of Van Aanholt was very encouraging indeed and we can look at him/ Bertrand to play the role of 2nd choice LB in the coming season.

I suggest you pick the latest version of Football Manager because what you are suggesting is absolute fantasy stuff.

Florent Malouda

Can you share the basis on which you have passed this verdict ?

We are associated to any player that is on the transfer window and thats not funny to me anymore. Whatever the media thinks I am not sure but they continue to prove they are a bunch of jokers.

We saw what Sneijder did to us in the game against Inter, you play these guys to make that one pass/ defence splitting move - thats what the creative player are for. Is Van Der Vaart good enough? Yes he is. Does he suit our system? I think he'll walk into the tip of the diamond. If we are looking at someone younger then I'd go for Dzagoev but he may prove to be costlier than Van Der Vaart.

The fans in the stands watch out !! ;)

This season has been one of his better ones in terms of contribution to the team. Though he continues to remain inconsistent and having seen Sturridge in action indications are that he will have to vacate the place (3rd striker) he currently holds. So it looks like the best thing to do would be let him go, though none of us are sure about what are Carlo's plans for next season.

I dont have second thoughts on this one - it has to be Drogba. Its his goals that have kept us alive and we need to give him credit. Ivanovic, Ashley and Malouda have been great this season but I dont think its a match.

By far the best player at Villa Park today and thats not an exaggeration. He is putting in consistent performance week in and week out, he's got a great engine, he's versatile and at the same time gets his share of goals. He is the kind of player that we need to buy in the summer. He wont come cheap but the risk factor is far less as compared to someone coming from another league.

Ofcourse its not the manager's fault that the game was not dead and buried in the first half. The mistake he did was let Blackburn dominate for majority of the second half and let them claw their way back into the game. He should have seen what was pretty obvious - "we were losing our hold on the game". Thats when the great managers ring the changes and have a go at the ones that are'nt giving it their best.

I don't think we should have let him go in the first place but that's a topic for another day.