High Street Ken

If you know Arsenal fans who don't hate Spurs I'd question if they were real fans. If it happened that Fabregas was to be sold to either Chelsea or Spurs, I think you'd see who they hate the most.

I thought John Sparrow was quite promising at the time. It may be some sort of false memory syndrome though.

I seem to recall him scoring a blinder against Peter Shilton at the Shed End.

Since I was exiled from Notting Hill to the Yorkshire Dales, my local team is Guiseley AFC of the Blue Square League (I think). Never been and can't see myself ever doing so.

Emerson Thome Casiraghi

Do you mean the one with dreadlcocks who was meant to be the next Cristiano Ronaldo? He disappeared without trace.

Mikel's still a liability in terms of his temperament. I can see him getting booked inside the first 5 minutes.

Just as Ramires is showing real form. He doesn't look like he needs a rest.

The man who composed for the James Bond theme has sadly passed away, aged 77. I can't imagine a time without the Bond theme.

Thanks for the interesting info. Probably just paper talk but he sounds like a winner.

http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/football-hotline/2011/01/30/carlo-ancelotti-in-shock-move-for-latics-youngster-james-mccarthy-102039-22884862/ Can't say I've really noticed him.

This is starting to get boring.

This is a quandary for me. Do we pitch young Josh in and hope it's not too early in his development or give Ramires the game time he clearly needs?

Actually he has tremendous control. Joe Cole once said that Kalou is the most skilful player at the club. But, I agree that we need to upgrade him next season. His decision making and finishing are both erratic. He's a "head down" player and always will be. Lately it seems Malouda's trying to copy that style!

Josh, of course, but he's wasted in such a deep role. He can turn on half a sixpence and that ability would be invaluable further forward when combined with his innate passing ability. I also thought he showed remarkable strength for a littlun. I think this is almost like the martial artist, who turns a larger opponent's force against him.

If Carlo didn't rate Bruma, why would the club offer him a new deal? If he's good enough for the Dutch team he should be good enough for us. He's not going to get any better if he's wrapped in cotton wool. He needs to get used to Premiership pace and get battle-hardened. The only way to do that is to play him. In this crisis, cosseting him and easing him onto the team isn't an option. As to who we sign in the transfer window, I doubt any top players will be available. I can't even think of an old stalwart with CL experience who's available and might be able to do a job.

What if Ferreira and Bruma are the only CB options for the next game? Will Carlo eat humble pie and play the youngster or persist with Paulo? I dread to think what Carroll would do to us.

That's the most sense I've read in this thread! People have short memories. I can't recall one poster in favour of Butch's original appointment. He's never set the world alight as a coach and I doubt he's had much to do with the style revolution under Carlo. I would trust Ancelotti's instincts on whoever he brings in. So far the guy's hardly put a foot wrong. It wouldn't do to turn back the clock to Clark or Zola, however romantic the notion. I don't want a return to the sort of successful but prosaic football we played during Clark's tenure and I'm just not convinced that Franco's got what it takes as a coach.

Worst case scenario would be for L'pool to poach an early goal through Torres then park the hubcapless bus. Best case would be for us to score early and repeatedly hit them on the break with our pace and power. I thought Kalou looked sharp and hungry midweek, and a resurgent Yuri may take more working out by the opposition than a Malouda with whom all defences are now very familiar. Kakuta's latest cameo was his best yet. He was clearly told to go out and express himself. More of that against a tiring defence would be fun to watch.

Makes me miss Jody.

Robert Fleck is higher up the standby list.

The Guardian has been running a poll on the world's greatest strikers ever (results below). Given that David Villa, Lineker and Inzaghi are on the list, surely Drogs should've featured. He's terrified defences at every level for may years and won the golden boot in the greatest league in the world. Certain names below have a mystique about them but I doubt many on this list wreaked such consistent havoc as Drogs. 23% Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima 17.8% Diego Maradona 15% Pelé 1% Jimmy Greaves 0.3% Hugo Sanchez 2.8% Ferenc Puskás 0.7% George Weah 7.5% Marco van Basten 4.3% Gerd Müller 0.3% Just Fontaine 0.3% Jean-Pierre Papin 1.4% Eusebio 8.4% Dixie Dean 4.6% Dennis Bergkamp 2.1% Alfredo Di Stéfano 0.7% Samuel Eto'o 2% Gabriel Batistuta 1.1% Bobby Charlton 0.7% David Villa 1.5% Gary Lineker 0.7% Filippo Inzaghi 0.9% John Charles 0.2% Nándor Hidegkuti 2.3% Romário 0.2% Emilio Butragueño

Based on what exactly?

George Weah?!

Can't see how Ramires gets any votes. My heart was in my mouth on the many occasions when he dawdled on the ball in his own half. Granted, he grew into the game but Mikel was a colossus in comparison. Anyway, I don't care about much today...too busy laughing at the Scousers!