Friedel for sure with me, he has so much presence. I did like Flowers as well though- that game against Newcastle in 94/95 will surely have to go down as the best performance ever by a Rovers keeper.

Guys I think that its a win win situation regardless if the big clubs get Buffon/Nesta/Kaka etc etc. Think about it say Chelsea and Utd sign t6hese three players then their current players position becomes difficult therefore meaning that they'll be unwanted by the two clubs. Perhaps we could then pick up the likes of Geremi/Carvalho etc...or maybe even the likes of Crespo and Van Nistelrooy. Hughes and the board are quite right not to go panic buying quite yet because were going to be in the position of being able to get some quality players later this summer.

Guys I think that talk of another 2 sdtrikers is a little off target. Believe me if we just get Mido now or something then i wont be over the moon but i think its the best we can hope for. how can we now sign 2 more strikers and have roberts/kuqi/gallagher/derbyshire/jeffers all on the bench or in reserve? Players want and need to play. Fair enough if gally and dervyshire go on loan and kuqi goes but until then talk of another two strikers is ludacris. for what its worth i remember a commentator saying last year "pitty jason roberts isnt english as hes given sol campbell the worst night of his life"..cant be bad. But please hughes and the board we HAVE to sign one big name striker otherwiseyou can see the crowds drop by at least another 1k next season. And also, how annoying would it be with another big name big money departure if the walkers just keep the money to themselves. Until that happens lets try and keep the faith...me included. Sadly Phil if these donkeys do put in 8 each it wont be enough to put bums on seats...exciting players do that. At current we dont have one player (pedersen perhaps) who can produce the unthinkable that atttracts people.

Good news. If he ever does want to go back down south, we can get a realistic fee for him, ie what's happening with Petrov and Celtic.

Like all the other one's that he seems to be making week in week out. I've backed Lucas more than most on this messageboard but its getting to the stage where we cannot keep coming up with excuses for him. He blatantly wants to move unless we pay him some ridiculous wage, so I say lets get rid of the playboy after he hopefuly has a great world cup. Very good player, but a bit of a "speak before you think" person as somebody else said who thinks that he's way above the rest of the sqaud. He's best mates with Harry Kewell...enough said!!!

Your making me feel average now guys!

http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/greece...8150193110.html Brett Emerton supposedly the 'best athlete' in the squad and won the Ozzie bleep test along with Mark Bresciano. Pitty he never uses his speed and stamina to take on a man.

good player for us, but think it was his time to leave. At least it's one more player gone that other fans hate us for...cue a move for Bowyer/Diouf

On the latest update, Maurcus Berg and Ibrahim Affellay (PSV guy touted as the new clarence Seedorf) seem to do a good job at any level. I started a Spurs career-I know, cynical-and won the league 1st season . I didn't even sign hardly any players apart from Anelka, then sold him to Chelski in Jan for 30 million and brought in Fred from Lyon for 25 mill. Anyone won the league 1st season with a similar/worse team?

Good game, but Lehmann had to go once the ref had blown up for a foul. After the Thierry interview I don't think that he'l be a Gooner next season...Barca awaits. Ronaldinho didn't have his best game, but nobody can say that the guy's overated. All match n*** head Arsenal fans were going "and he's supposed to be the best player in the world"...uh yes he is mate. They only need to look back at the Madrid game at the Bernabeau earlier in the year for confirmation of this. Finally I thought that Larsson looked quality when he came on-setting up both goals...are you sure you want to retire in Sweden Henrik?

You could write an autobiography Waggy.

I like the simple 4-4-2 aswell. Usually it does the job-whatever league or team. On the old Champ Manager games 4-1-3-2 used to be the best formation. It seemed however that it was a kind of 'rigged' formation and thus doesnt really work now.

What a game! Europe here we come. Here's to Mark Hughes and the boys! Get in.

Good shout, I forgot about him. For a few million off Spuds he looks a snip.

Just say if and it's a big if that Owen and Rooney did miss the world cup, then there's no doubt that we'd be screwed. I suppose our best option then would be Crouch and Defoe, but I've never really rated the latter at International level, and Crouch is also unproven at the top level. What other strikers are there? Beattie/Johnson, Ashton/ Bent? They hardly wet the appetite do they?

Looking through the topics guys, I found this one. Yesterday reminded me how much we miss Tugs when he's out. I know he's signed a new deal, which is great, but it got me thinking what players were about who are similar to him for when we finally do have to replace him? I can think of Carrick and Rosicky who do similar jobs, but who we could probably not get. Any others?

I thought Pedersen had quite a good game? Better than he's been recently anyway.

Great performance and result, which takes us nearer to Europe. Memo to Hughesey: Rap Tugs up in cotton wool prior to every game. He was immense.

You know I was joking right? I'm pretty pants to be honest, only play the odd game with a mate. I can get the odd 20-30 but anything over that is a pipe dream!

comon Gazsimm it really isn't a hard sport at all once you try it...honest

Ronnie doesn't have to be bothered in order to play well though! Fair point on the sportmanship point though-seems to be happening more and more in sport.

I wouldn't be too hasty in letting him go. Provided we can get in a quality centre half to replace him then I think it would be okay. Off the top of my head I can only think of Lescott and Curtis Davies who could be available and do a steady job.

I too am confident of a Barca win against the Arse, but providing that they can get a few of their key injured players back for the game. Messi, Deco, Xavi et al. have been missing of late so it's important they get them back, although they did make Chelski look pathetic with one and a half of those players! Edit: Just seen that Deco is back for tonight, and Messi and Xavi not too far behind.

If Pongy is deemed to much of a trouble maker, then give Gally a go up with Bellers I reckon. Couldn't do much worse than Kuqi or Dickov? Failing that for those advocating that MGP is given a rest in the team, then he could have a go on the left.

As people have said 5 million plus would be a bare minimum for any midfielder who can bag you over 10 goals a season. As for Andy Reid, he's a fat man who cant even get into spurs team when they have no other natural left sided midfielders. He was good at Div 1 level, and not too bad for Ireland, but I'd expect somebody a little better than him if we were even contemplating selling MGP.