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[Christy]

Tremendous news about Zander. We need to keep our best players, and he falls into that category. Sorting out Lee Miller's new deal should be the next priority. The much-maligned Chris Clark will not be a big loss - we've already got Derek Young to cover. I feel a bit sorry for Michael Hart, he's a good player and clearly feels undervalued. This Plymouth/preston situation seems to make it clear that he's being pushed out the door so JC can secure a bit of cash for Diamond and Miller's new contracts.

As for Barry Nicholson - he's had a good season and will be missed. I get the feeling that if he and Seve actually liked each other, then JC might push the boat out for him a bit more. However, it seems as if he'll be on his bike in the summer rather than this month, which is good news.

Lovell should be pimped about like Hart and Clark are, maybe we could get a bit of do-re-mi for him this month.

Calderwood must stay. I can't believe that there are Dons fans who still doubt him. The job he has done at Todders has been absolutely superb, and a lot of good work will be undone if he is allowed to leave.

Love from Christy

[idol_wild]

Originally Posted by Stichman

Almost flawless? Really?
There's not a chance he's as good as Makelele. He's not the best tackler in the world and he's pretty poor on the ball.
Sure, he's pretty solid, but he definetely lacks consistency. He's basically a poor man's Gattusso.
That said, he's a lot better than Carrick...

Yes. Flawless. He has no weaknesses in my book. And as for his ability on the ball, he's as composed as they come. I don't think I've ever seen him lose the ball.

Poor man's Gattusso? Hargreaves isn't a terrier of a midfielder - he's a composed, intelligent reader of the game. He knows where to be and when to be there.

[Stichman]

Originally Posted by Alkaline

No, Demichelis couldn't get a game in midfield past Hargreaves and Ballack. Hargreaves, after he recovered from his injury, directly replaced Ballack in midfield. Ballack played a holding role for Bayern, not as far forward as he plays for Chelsea.

Fair enough, Demichelis plays at centre-back too doesn't he?

So would you say 17million is a fair price for the lad? He's pretty unspectacular - which I know is what holding midfielders usually are - but I think paying that sort of money for him is madness.

[idol_wild]

Originally Posted by Stichman

So would you say 17million is a fair price for the lad? He's pretty unspectacular - which I know is what holding midfielders usually are - but I think paying that sort of money for him is madness.

Supply and demand though, innit.

[Stichman]

Originally Posted by idol_wild

Yes. Flawless. He has no weaknesses in my book. And as for his ability on the ball, he's as composed as they come. I don't think I've ever seen him lose the ball.

Poor man's Gattusso? Hargreaves isn't a terrier of a midfielder - he's a composed, intelligent reader of the game. He knows where to be and when to be there.

No weaknesses? Come on.

Having composure and not losing possesion doesn't mean you have ability on the ball. Sure, when he gets possesion he can pass it short quite effectively, but I don't think he has any particular skill on the ball.

And no, he isn't a terrier of midfield, you're right. Which I think is a weakness. Reading the game is hugely useful up to a point, but there are times when you've got to roll your sleeves up and fight for the ball - that's not something he's particularly effective at.

Don't get me wrong, he does what he does well. But he's far from the complete player.

[Christy]

Newcastle crack me up. Why can't their fans see that this is their level? They are not a top team, and haven't been for a mighty long time. Allardyce was the best available man for the job, and now what are they going to do? Hire Shearer? McLaren? Harry Redknapp has built a good squad at Pompey, so I can't see him taking a sideways step. Give Gary Megson a call!

The Scotsman printed the Scotland managerial shortlist as follows: Tommy Burns, Mark McGhee, George Burley, Graeme Souness. McGhee and Burley are the outstanding candidates, but Burns and Penis would cost less. At least there's a wee bit of competition for the job this time, unlike when Smith and McLeish were hired.

Love from Christy

[Murrr]

Originally Posted by Christy

Newcastle crack me up. Why can't their fans see that this is their level? They are not a top team, and haven't been for a mighty long time. Allardyce was the best available man for the job, and now what are they going to do? Hire Shearer? McLaren? Harry Redknapp has built a good squad at Pompey, so I can't see him taking a sideways step. Give Gary Megson a call!

Sammy Lee tbh.

[Christy]

Originally Posted by idol_wild

Supply and demand though, innit.

....which brings us neatly back to Alan Hutton. Tottenham and (apparently) Man U are willing to pay over the odds for him because good young fullbacks are hard to come by. Look at the inflated fees paid for Ashley Cole and Gareth Bale recently. Rangers are eager to sell because they've already got an able replacement (Steven Whittaker) sitting on the bench.

Love from Christy

[calum]

Originally Posted by Stichman

No weaknesses? Come on.

Having composure and not losing possesion doesn't mean you have ability on the ball. Sure, when he gets possesion he can pass it short quite effectively, but I don't think he has any particular skill on the ball.

And no, he isn't a terrier of midfield, you're right. Which I think is a weakness. Reading the game is hugely useful up to a point, but there are times when you've got to roll your sleeves up and fight for the ball - that's not something he's particularly effective at.

Don't get me wrong, he does what he does well. But he's far from the complete player.

This just backs up my argument for having two defensive midfielders in the side

To really cut it at the highest level, unless you have the complete package like Makelele or maybe even Mascherano, given a couple of years, you need two to properly balance out the midfield. You need somebody who, like Gattuso, will rampage around and win the ball and who's capable of man-marking, but you also need somebody who'll just stand exactly where you want them all game and who, ideally, has a good range of passing, e.g. Xavi Alonso, Daniele de Rossi (who will be the best midfielder in the world) or whoever you care to name.

Or you could just go for two out and out brutes like Juventus this season

[calum]

Originally Posted by Christy

Rangers are eager to sell because they've already got an able replacement (Steven Whittaker) sitting on the bench.

Able in as much as he's not disabled as such, yes?