Tomo

Paq got a lot of stick for sayjng Costa is the second best striker in the world and while he may have exaggarted with second, there is a strong case for Diego being 4th behind Aguero, Suarez and Lewa.

Costa, Hazard and Cesc fired us to a title last season yet I didn't you passionately defending them when they were getting shit!!!

Of course their is, top players wont want to join a team that just avoided the drop, whereas a strong end to the season with a respectable finish and we can probably convince them that this year outside the CL is a one off and we will back, especially if Leicester and Spurs get in. I'm not saying it is an excuse not to play them because it aint, in my opinion we should be stating with Ruben at least now, but a strong second half season is very much needed in my opinion, not just for the reason I gave but to bring some sort of momentum and feel good factor back ready for next season. Because, in my opinion, he isn't good enough.

We still need to secure a respectable position in the league table, if we secure top 8 we could probably convince potential signings that this season was a one off, especially if we are in the top 4 or maybe even top of the "second half of the season table" but if we finish mid table then it will be hard to convince players. Although I do agree we need to play some young players, not Bamford.

Why wouldn't he? He was floating around in the bottom half of the French league not really going anywhere in his career at 26 years old and all of a sudden you are being offered the chance to join Chelsea. He had nothing to lose, if it went well he became member of the squad in one of the biggest clubs and if it didnt he leaves and probably gets a decent move on th back of being on Chelsea's books, which he has done.

Apart from 11/12 when has 87 points not won the title?

Problem is, who can we get on Costa's level or close? Aguero, Suarez and Lewa is no chance, Auba wants Spain, possibly Morata or if we push it Laccazette but beyond that I cant think of anyone who we could realostcially get.

Ramires at 28 its only a matter of time before his pace and athleticsm head south, and then when that does, he will be horrenously bad, Essien was ba enough when he lost his main assests Great servant all in all over five and a halfyear, but to get £25m for a 28 year old who's just losing pace and athleticm away from not even being PL level Is fantastic business.

Im not too big a fan but it is a bit harsh nailing him on a 20 minute appearance. However the critiscsm he has received since yesterday I've basically said since day one, he's a decent squad option but I laughed when so many thought he could compete with Costa, he is light years behind Diego.

Hes world class going forward and the fact he didn't make it here just goes to show how unbelievably bad a defender he is, in that regard he makes Danny Rose look like prime Ash.

One thing I got to say, that Flamini heel at the end that deflected off Mikel could have been a problem with another keeper, but his positioning was so good it wasn't even a remote issue. De Gea would probably have been standing closer to centre of goal and been forces into a world class save which triggered a wankfest but Tibo won't get credit for making it look so easy.

Whether he is or not is for another argument, but we sure won't lose to Arsenal/Wenger under his control.

World class forward, end off! Oh what I'll give for Paq to still be on this forum now!!!!!

Accidental quote don't know how to get rid on mobile without quote.

I know ive said this a trillion times but Arsenal have an awful inferiority complex against us, appoint Simeone this summer and we will slap them about for even longer.

Tbf he always performs against Arsenal. Apart from the 2-0 last season, something along them lines has been said at least once before every game vs Arsenal since Jose can back.

The same players last season minus Pedro got our higher points total than any of our seasons from 2006/7 onwards with that squad you mentioned, only our back to back winning sides got more points on the board than this group did last year. Despite this shit season we have a lot of quality in this squad, on top form the 2009 team had a clear advantage in leadership but in terms of footballing quality (on top form) I really don't think the difference is that huge.

When you create such a history at one club you don't join a rival, Mou at United, Cech at Arsenal and Lampard at City is like Ronald Mcdonald turning up on Burger King adverts, some things should just not happen. Why has only JT and Drogba from the 2005 onwards core got that?

In this game you need be more than just a scorer, Gomez netted almost a goal a game in 11/12 for Bayern yet got dropped for Manduzic following summer, Bas GPM ratio here was amazing but he was never warmed to here. Yes he scored at The Ehithad, but Hilario also kept a clean sheet vs Barca.

True but for every KDB there is Mancienne, Stoch, Van Aanholt, Di Santo, who fans wanted chances given too and since leaving have shown just why they didn't get them.

Fair enough, the reason I don't think he wont make it isn't just because of Palace, he was a decent scorer in the championship but often drifted out of games for long periods even at that level, a bit like what Bent did in PL. Jerome has a similar goal ratio to Bamford in the Championship but isn't good at this level. If I'm wrong (which believe it or not I hope I am as it would only benefit us) I will be the first to hold my hands up, but Bamford doesn't really excite me when I think of potentially making it here especially compared to say Traore.

Ok then, how do we know Michael Hector and Papy aren't good enough? How do we know Marco Amelia won't be good enough if we play him? Infact how do we know me and you aren't good enough for Chelsea? After all none of the names mentioned above have been tested in the PL. And I mention the likes of Powell because United have promoted the likes of him, McNair and Blackett despite the fact they aren't good enough, as frustrating as our youth policy can be atleast when a player does finally make it he will be quality.

One of this things being a forward scoring from open play, if the Sturridge that went to Bolton got sent to Palace on loan, he would not only have broke through but had the whole team built around him.

Falcao shouldn't have been signed, but if the basis of whether they should get chance is they are better than Falcao we might aswell bring the MK Dons strikers back with us after the FA Cup game. Ok if not Nick Powell, Henry Lansbury, an Arsenal youth product who looks great in the Championship but out of his depth further up. With Ake I'm glad you have mentioned him as its quite clear he can be competitive in PL level, so if there's not a plan for him next season I will be disappinted, Patrick, in my opinion, has found his level as a very good top end Championship level striker, nothing wrong with that.

He did do well, at a lower level, just like Michael Hector, whos signing caused this forum to combust almost. If Bamford was plying better or training better he would play, you mention the price tag but didn't Jose play a 33 year old free agent over a 50m signing? Pardrews also got form for ballsy decision maling ask Tevez and Masherano. I'm all for giving youth a shot, but playing Bamford would be like United playing Nick Powell, complete waste of time for both parties, in fact Bamford isn't even youth anymore, he's 23. The key question is, honestly,if instead of being on loan Bamford signed for MK then Derby then Boro then got a transfer to the top flight failed to break in and we were looking to buy him, can you imagine the reaction on here? Would be complete madness yet because he's on our books he's a potential saviour.