Castiel

Just not sure about this guy. His antics and such. Its one of those deals that could turn out great or could backfire horribly. And we're talking about a lot of money here. With the FFPR coming in we need to spend it wisely.

Well my speculation is of course dependant on how our rivals consolidate next season. Spurs could end up selling their stars and become significantly weaker and its likely that Liverpool's late form was just a flash in the pan, at least for now. City all depends on who they bring in and who they lose. Losing Tevez would cost them dearly, because he's simply in another league to Balotelli/Dezko and whoever else they may bring in (assuming they can't get your Ronaldo's and Messi's). Also if they bring in too many new players they'll be back at square 1 and could destroy all this seasons efforts over vanity for star names. One thing is for certain, Chelsea and United are still the sides to beat. As for our rivals, we could end up with 6 teams going for the title, or the dust could settle and we end up with what we have now with City replacing Liverpools spot in the top 4. Liverpool could even break back in if the CL proves too much for City like it did Spurs. Really none of us know but we're in a pretty safe position for the time being.

I think the reality of life now is that we're at the end of the "Sky 4" era. Qualification for the CL is no longer a given. We have 6 teams legitimately staking their claims on those 4 golden places and we're just as vulnerable as anyone else to lose our status if we don't get our act together. Next season we may have 4 teams moving on the title, ending the grip we've shared on it with Man United since 2005. The season after we could have all 6 making a title challenge. I feel this evolution of the league will be good for our sport in the long term, as we wont end up with a situation they have in Spain with only 2 teams capable of making any progress. Having better opponents will force us to be a better team, but we cannot be complacent. Ferguson said in an interview that he was going through the motions until Mourinho's Chelsea rose, and had been doing the same since he left. Now we shouldn't overreact. Look at Arsenal, they're in far worse danger of being the next heavyweight to take a KO punch. Man United are about to lose a fair number of their veterans and Ferguson can't possible go on for much longer. We need to capitalise and solidify ourselves or we could end up in Arsenal's position next season. But I'm optimistic. Considering we're clearly in squad transition, we haven't done so badly. If we're to get more new signings in the summer I feel we'll be in a very strong position next season.

Looks like City take 3rd then. Arsenal

Some people on this board seriously need to get over themselves...

No I'm just saying we don't play to any of his strengths. We have at least 3 people in the space he likes to use, plus opposition defenders. We don't attempt to stretch defenders to open gaps and we don't have a playmaker. We have a very smash and grab attack and that just doesn't suite Torres, it suites Drogba. To say he's been completely useless is also unfair, he's worked hard since he's been here. Against Newcastle he was bad, but so was the entire team. They're on their holidays now. You can't expect Torres to do what Drogba does any more than you can expect the opposite. It'd be wise to wait until he's had a real season with us, in a system that favours even a few of his strengths before judging him.

I think you're being very harsh on Torres. Our team doesn't play to any of his strengths. We have no playmaker, no width and attack very narrowly which ends up packing the space Torres likes to use. If you go find any video of Torres' goals with Spain and Liverpool you find him alone in or around the box capitalising on either a cross from the flanks or a throughball. Gerrard used to do this for him in Liverpool and it worked a treat. We have no such player and as a result his hands are pretty much tied. Look at his first goal for us, what happened? Anelka played him a throughball into space! Low and behold, Torres scored!

But the very act of planning new signings and searching for a new manager indicates that Carlo isn't who the board want in charge. Should he end up staying now he'll have been completely undermined in the knowledge that he's only here because who we really want couldn't be obtained for whatever reason. This is also going on before his final debrief which I think was discussed earlier in this thread. I don't think this is a respectful way to threat him, whether thats just how I personally like to be treated or if its really the right way to go about things isn't something I can fairly judge. I do know that if I was in his position, and ended up here next season, I'd have the worry in the back of my mind that at any moment the guy they really want in charge could become available at any moment and I could be sacked on the spot the moment it becomes convenient. There is also the possibility that these ITK's are completely making it up, which isn't unlikely, just to destabilise the situation further and we're arguing about nothing. Since nobody here works for the board, we can't even be sure what is going on in there.

Well then clearly I'll have to be much more pedantic in future or you'll jump on my next innocuous comment citing an incident from the 50's. Because I in no way intended to draw any connotations with O'Neill or the saga West Ham have undergone this season. All I was describing was Grant's immediate sacking (which was justified and handled promptly to nobody's surprise) compared to Carlo kept in the dark with potential new signings going on behind his back and new managers being discussed by the board before his fate has even been clarified. All this after his first extremely successful season and managing to salvage his second season to a respectable end whilst competing with issues beyond his control. If he's deemed to have failed by the owner/board, then tell him and sack him, like what West Ham did. Its the skulking around that I have issue with.

You're arguing by selective observation. I compared Grant's sacking to Carlo's current situation. It has nothing to do with the business of Martin O'Neill or anything to have happened in his previous careers.

West Ham didn't mess around with him. Grant obviously screwed up and they sacked him after letting another 2-0 half time lead go costing them their last chance of staying up. Everyone knew it was coming, nobody was surprised. He blew his last chance and they showed him the door. Whereas nobody is sure what is going on with Carlo, even he isn't sure. Then if the club is going making new transfer plans without consulting him, and still not making it clear whether he's staying or going - its not how I'd like to be treated by my employers. This could easily turn into a circus while they try and find a replacement, afraid to let him go until they've found someone they're happy with. I'd rather be straight up sacked than put in the carousel.

Of course the good news is, if Roman intends to buy 5 new players, plus Luiz, Ramires and Torres. We're looking at a new Chelsea next season.

My thoughts exactly. Your potential replacements are the only 3 I'd accept replacing Carlo. Agree with this as well. West Ham treated Avram with more respect than this and he got them relegated. If these rumours are true then its just acting childish. Carlo deserves better.

How do you mess up all white? :P

I wasn't suggesting that the table is lying. I was saying that I expected that squad to do a lot better than they did. Friends of mine who are West Ham fans say the amount of half time leads they've squandered because of Avram's famous "team talks" is phenomenal, its like you can set your watch to it. My opinion was that they were easily strong enough to avoid relegation, and poor management sent them down (not that I'm shedding any tears over it). I always liked Avram, he's a nice guy, but a terrible, terrible manager.

Apparently a Spanish radio station are reporting that he's signed for Barcelona.

You guys realise that Spurs are talking about these players? They've given up on the fantasy signings we get. :P

Its dependent on how Torres turns out. I don't think its fair to judge him on his half season with us, not long ago he had his form at Liverpool (put 2 passed us starting our "bad moment"). Its reasonable to assume that the plans for our future attack revolve around him, he if he never regains form we'll have to write him off and use Danny and Drogs in attack. However, with a playmaker, wingers who can cross and a close season - I'm confident Torres will get back to his best.

This seasons West Ham side weren't as bad as the table suggests. How he managed to finish last with them is beyond me.

Sign him up Carlo!

Refined my approach a bit more since there isn't anything else to think about. Carlo is right when he says we don't need a complete overhaul, the new signings this season have been good. The most essential thing we have to do is clear out the old guard, keeping the best of them for squad roles and investing in a playmaker and some fricken wingers. We also need to adapt our tactical approach because its clear we don't have the flair for the 433 any more. Dream lineup: (4231) ------------ Cech ------------ Ivan - Alex - Terry - Cole ------ Ramires - Luiz ------ Sanchez - Sneijder - Robben ----------- Torres ----------- Variant: (winged 433) Against sides we can dominate. ------------ Cech ------------ Ivan - Alex - Terry - Cole ------------- Luiz ------------- --- Ramires - Sneijder --- Sanchez------------Robben ----------- Torres ----------- I'm just going to say it. We made a mistake in selling Robben. Real Madrid identified an issue with his balance which caused some injures and that has since been corrected. We should get him back, and buy another winger (Sanchez is my example but any good prospect like Mata will do). We just need some flair and speed on the wings. There is no surprise or urgency to our game any more. I like the idea of Robben and Sanchez/Mata because they can play on either wing so we can employ what Man United have been doing to immense effect with Nani and Valencia swapping their wings randomly which confuses the sh*t out of the opposition (including us). I've explained why I've put Luiz in the holding role before, some people like the idea and others don't. The youth can be promoted as bench warmers, injury cover and Carling Cup/easy FA cup ties. I think this season has done a lot of them some good even if it didn't go so well for us in the end. They've had a lot more first team experience than most other youth players. IN: Playmaker - Sneijder, Modric, Hamsik etc Wingers - Robben, Sanchez, Mata etc Out: Malouda Anelka Essien (If we got a substantial bid for him, otherwise he may just be in need of a close season) Drogba (If he can't accept a squad role) Bench: Turnbull Bertrand Essien Lampard Josh Mikel Kalou Benayoun Zhirkov Drogba (If he accepts squad role) Sturridge Perhaps other youth as appropriate. A flaw is still the issue of Right Back. It might be worth another signing to fill in there but I don't like the idea of leaving a fit Ivan or Alex out, they're both rocks and deserve to be in the first 11.

If Grant comes anywhere near this club again I will truly start worrying.

They can run around in pink tutu's for all I care, provided they win sh*t.

Why did you decide to play Josh so deep in a holding role? He's the best playmaker we currently have.

Liverpool fan said to me: