Premier League: Derby County 0 - 2 Chelsea

I agree with your Man Of The Match. I think Mikel is getting better and better. I am so dissapointed with Essien's red card. Now people are gonna talk about that and it will overshadow our comfortable win. Hate the booing. Altough it's understandable, I think it is just so pathetic for people to do that. Love the standing ovation from the visiting fans to Lampard. He played very well, had a say for the second goal and I thought it was very brave for him to take the penalty in the midweek. Too bad with the result though.......

He played very well, had a say for the second goal and I thought it was very brave OF him to take the penalty in the midweek.

Just one question to you Nick.
How would you feel about the prospect of Jose Mourinho become the next England manager. It seems that all those press including those who always criticised him are championing that prospect.

Sound performance against rubbish opposition. I'm a bit worried about January now though when the Africans leave for the ANC.

Sheva just doesn't seem upto the job upfront and without Drogba, I believe we do need to strengthen if we are going to score the goals we need to challenge in the league.

Midfield should be ok however with Makalele and Ballack back, to cover for Mikel and Essien. Just hope we don't get injuries.

I loved the way Frank Lampard clapped the fans as he came off for the substitution.... He knows where he is appreciated and I don't think he will be leaving in a hurry.


And in regards to Fariza's question, it would be great to see Jose take the England job. What England patently need is somebody able to instill confidence in the side and have them learn how to play football the Continental way, controlling the game and playing to win first and entertain second.

Unfortunately, I think he is too smart to take the job... It is potentially career suicide to have a shot at it these days.... McLaren , Sven (got lucky with the Thai), Hoddle, Keegan, Venables are all seen as damaged goods by just about everyone.

I’m not sure if it was or wasn’t a “Stroll in the Park”. I was at the game, immediately behind the goal in row 4. What I saw of the game behind the goal posts, net supports, TV camera and the endless stewards walking backwards and forwards it was a stroll. When I got back and saw the game on MOTD had a couple of decisions gone the other way, their goal and Scheva’s tackle from behind, it could have been a miserable drive home down the M1.

On the negative side playing with Schevchenko is like playing with 10 men, So from this perspective, 10 v 11, a 2-0 away is a great result. Sidwell was disappointing. Against rubbish like Derby I was hoping he would shine. Ok, a great pass for the first goal but aside from that didn’t do much. Also would have hoped he’d have stayed on for 90 minutes; he doesn’t play too often so when he does he should get a full game.

On the positive side SWP didn’t over hit one cross and made some good contributions.

Mikel was definitely our man of the match. He looked imperious and for him it really was a stroll in the park, almost Beckenbauer-esque

i saw the game. to say the least we do not look like a title contender the way we are going. i am using the game as a yardstick. we were bad, very bad. i cannot count the number of passes from front to back we made. i would have expected a brutally efficient approach. something like, score four in the first 25 minutes, out in the reserves and cruise through the thing, but we made derby look decent. had they got a few decisions their side (the Miller offside which was not) and the tackle from behind, which led to our second goal, we could be singing a much sadder song.

lets not kid ourselves comrades, we do not look like we could cut it. we are shambolic. had that team been Arsnl or Man U or even the incosistent Liverpool, they would have slain Derby in the first 30 minutes of the game.

i was not happy. i am sorry comrades, but i was not impressed. we lacked penetrative power. we looked tired and despondent. thats not good enough if we want to compete like we have done for the last few seasons. i wont pour praise on my team just for the hell of it.

Not a brilliant performance I will agree but what would one say about Manure being stuck 1 where it hurts most????

We played badly and yet made Derby look worse than bad...in my opinion that is a title challenging team... had we played badly and lost then we would be ranked with the likes of derby...

On the shevy displays...I think for a player who has been out for so long it is only expected that he plays that way. I also noted that our midfielders have purposed not to pass the ball to shevy even when he is in a better position.

Sidwell did make a killer pass for the first goal...my opinion is that this guy does not qualify to wear the chelsea blue. He is just not that good for what we are pushing for.

Man of the Match...Spot on ...Obi is going to be King of the Bridge at this rate... He is the only midfielder that managed to pass above 60% acurrately.

tshireletso - I kind of have some empathy with your view. But looking at it from the other side we're only 2 points behind the great UTD (joke), which according to Fergie, is the best UTD team ever including Cantonoa, Hughes, Beckham bla bla

Typical Chelsea away performance - controlled the game, didn't get the second goal we needed until very late, but weren't really in any trouble. With Rosenborg coming up and internationals just gone, it's understandable we chose to play in third gear.

Mikel is such a fantastic player, I just want to see him adding the killer pass or occasional goal to his repertoire.

Harsh red for Essien I thought. JT was straight in the face of the ref like he'd never been away!

Shevchenko might as well have not bothered.

Let's start by emphasising that Derby are / were / will be awful.

We weren't great, but can't ask any more than picking up 3 points on the road.

Some average performances, but a good game for JT and Ashley to come back in and get some playing time under their belt.

We do look devoid of real quality up front. DD will be a huge miss in January, but it's interesting to read that he fully intends to captain Ivory Coast at the Olympics in the summer as well, meaning he'll have little rest at the end of the season - surely a new striker (or 2 based on Shevchenko's non-appearance Saturday) is our priority, possibly in January but definitely at the end of the season.

No complaints with Essien's red card - you raise your arms and you get what you deserve. Stupid, simple as.

All seems to be ticking along reasonably well without any major ups and downs at present; Arsenal at the Emirates will be a big test for us and how we react to that will be an important pointer for the season. Will be a big blow if Essien misses that (as he probably will). Like Nick says, watching that vermin Hunt on Saturday does rather make a mockery of it all.

Derby show to an extent how ridiculous the play-offs can be; they were arguably pretty lucky to beat West Brom (a far better side) in the final but are so clearly not ready for the Premier Legaue. A truly dreadful side that bring bugger all to the party.

I'd have described it as workmanlike at best, but if that's what it takes. Essien's absence doesn't worry me that much either as he hasn't been anywhere near the player of the last season, most noticeably since TSO got his coat. Having said that, I still think a straight red is harsh but that does seem to be the way ref's treat some of our players.

As for the booing - I never countenance booing at our players but I am always happy to jeer opposition players. The fact remains that collectively the players let their country down and I think it's understandable that the booing on Saturday and Sunday was going on. Especially from those fans who's teams contribute bugger all to the England setup. What really galls me is my increasingly most hated player, Steven "We're so disappointed" Gerrard apparently having a stormer against Newcastle but being a total Captain Fuckwit at the international level and playing like a schoolboy. So yes, he more than any of the others deserved to be booed. Sorry Nick, but he deserves everything he gets because he is a vile, underperforming, uninspiring, unmotivating international level spanner.

On your other point though, Wrighty made a superb point on his Talksport drivetime show (compelling listening because he is so passionate) when Scotland played Italy last week and Wales played Germany the Scots and Welsh fans respected the national anthems of the opposition. Unfortunately England fans seem composed of idiots supporting lower league clubs, without a brain cell amongst them (why else sing God Save the Queen during the match - what the fuck has that to do with football?) who still think we're in the 1970's . They really are an embarassment to the nation. Do they REALLY think the booing will distract the opposition? I can imagine the Croatians thinking to themselves "Yeah, boo our song, but we'll have you booing your own side by the end". Unfortunately the arrogance of the players wearing white reflects the arrogance of the fans who believe we're a football nation to be feared.

Which we all know is bollocks.

Roll on West Ham...anyone else think this is a potential banana skin?

Just when things are nice and steady, Michael Ballack will rear his ugly german mug...

Not really--- although it wold be interesting to see how the midfield shapes up with him in the picture.

On the performance, we barely created ay chances. They had a validgoal dissallowed and we scored by getting away with a foul.

True, Derby sitting back had me screaming till I was blue in the face, but we still shld have created more for all that possession.

Tony.. I think most games are potential banana skins these days. There you are I've admitted it I'm a "pessimist"

Shevchenko was poor again, but he had absolutely no service whatsoever.

Did he even have a chance the entire game?

So much for AVram Grant and his 'attacking football'. It wasn't a surprise he didn't mention those words he's been using for every game up until th everton one in his PM interviews.

Is there nayone else here who thinks we should have Pizarro playing as part of a front 2 against some of the lesser teams at least.

Everytime I've seen him so far, his touch has looked far better than our other strikers. He stays pretty deep a lot of the time but he can link up play and slot people in.

Anyone else calling for Pizarro to start?

'Roll on WestHam'

Something tells me we might be in for a nasty little surprise with our wasted young prospect begining to shine for the hammers.

Not sure that Cole (of the Carlton variety) is really 'shining' for the Hammers as such; he's playing OK and has scored against some pretty rank opposition in Sunderland, Coventry and Spurs (!), so I'd hope our defence should be able to deal with him.

Cue his inevitable goal at the Bridge then... ;-)

We shouldn't play shevy is he gets no service. Either we play with three midfielders upfront or a striker and give him the ball when he's in position! It was an ok performance no need to over exert ourselves with rosenberg on the horizon. twas pretty boring though.

Why don't we play six attacking midfielders then my per tortoise could score!

Let's be honest - Sheva's legs have gone.

Where's the proof of that? The man doesn't get the ball period! He got into good positions on sat but no one thought to pass him the ball. Stop channeling Mourinho and be fair to shevy.

Blue joy - watch Sheva 'run' and then work out why no-one passes to him; he is a busted flush, simple as. He's been allowed the 'sprint training' he was supposedly denied under JM which appears to have made f*ck all difference. It's almost painful to watch him now.

You'll also note that despite the alleged problem with his Chelsea career was his relationship with Mourinho, Grant only plays him when he has little option but to do so. Wonder why?

I personally think steve sidwell had a wonderful game, he's the ginger roy keane. Essien's suspension will give him his proper chance to shine. Reading fans would give their left testicles to have him back.

Jonathan: i'd like to see him play alongside Pizarro and see how that works out. But i insist that his position and speed are not why he isn't getting the ball. There's no reason for me to defend a player that's not scoring for us but it's important to maintain some perspective. I feel that some people are channeling Mour's sentiments. Please don't start on Mour again, i brought him up strictly because i had to.

Who said it's all about pace though? I reckon he could beat Hernan Crespo in a race even now.

Crespo's as slow as constipated shit but he scored buckets of goals. Didn't do too bad for us eitha even though some might disagree.

Al we need form him is to have someone laying it off to him, or picking him out in the area and we will get him scoring.

Agsnst Derby the only balls that came to him were at real pace with a couple of defenders lunging in after him making hi mnface our own goal.

Him taking on two big movvaafukas
in the Derby defence... wasn't expecting him to score when I saw it had dSheva playing the lone sriker role.


On ething I will say about Sheva is that his firs touch seems to be off as well. Compare it to pizarro's.

The guy came on had a ball fizzed in at him, the kind sheva was getting , and he cushioned it perfectly, held it for a while but was smacked in the face by a derby player before going down...

It is painful watching him, partly because he tries so hard and just looks out of his depth. And partly because he doesn't really get any decent service which is scandalous with all the players we have in the team.

Watching sheva is a bit like watching Jimmy White in snooker... or when Mike Tyson had that fight with Lennox Lewis...

BTW - I know Salomon Kalou missed the easisest chance he'll have in his career, but what about that finish!!

The run, the first touch and split second top flick the same boot out again and slot it in. CLINICAL!!!

Cashif: i agree with you entirely. Sheva got the ball when he was surrounded by derby players, but not much when he was alone. Pizzaro's first touch is fantastic. I think he and Sheva could make a great partnership. AG please read this!! Could we start a campaign for that? Do you think AG has thought of that partnership? He might as well try it, the nation's cup draws ever closer.

Sheva's finished.

Our problem is we've only got one reliable striker - if Drogba aint scoring no other striker takes on the mantle. We need a partnership where if one doesn't scose the other is likely to and they both make goals for each other e.g.

Osgood and Hutchinson
Dixon and Speedie
Hasselbaink and Gudjohnsen
Drogba and [tbc]

Blue joy - I simply bought JM up to highlight the point that even though Sheva has now got the help and training he claims he was denied under Mourinho, Grant is ultimately treating him in exactly the same way - i.e. like a player who can't cut it at this level any more.

Two managers seem to have looked upon him in the same way now - maybe time Sheva started to ask himself a few questions now his Mourinho excuse has gone?

As for the fact people don't pass to him - his team-mates spend enough time with the guy - maybe they've see enough to know that 9 times out of 10 it would be a waste of a pass?

And it is still about pace to an extent Cashif; Crespo's excellent positional sense and movement coupled with the fact that he was quick enough over the first couple of yards to get away from his marker made him a great player - Sheva probably still has the brain, but he couldn't get away from a heavily laden fridge in leg irons nowadays.

(although Blue joy I'd agree he'd probably fare better as part of a front pairing, but why change a generally successful system to suit one badly misfiring player on so clearly on a downward spiral at the arse-end of his career?)

Even if the guy does have some ability left, mentally he just doesn't appear to want to be here now - it really is time to cut our substantial losses and look elsewhere.

I'm pretty sure someone said that about Forlan, Crespe.... But you are right, we do need to get a decent partnership going.

Drogba and Joe Cole perhaps - sorry to be a bit of a misery but Joe's lack of goals is deeply frustrating - he is a skilful player and yet he seems scared to have a go. Someone with his ability should be scoring more than 3 or 4 a year.

I think we'll see some activity in January maybe around Anelka perhaps with Sheva finally being shown the door, and then come the summer there will be some clearing out of a few players whilst the like of Villa coming in.

More likely we'll loan him(Sheva) to AC! Pity really, i think we've not gotten the best out of him. He's a victim of expectations, Mour, and RA's clashes...

I think the sad truth is that AC got the very best out of him and cashed in when they got an offer they couldn't refuse (for which you can't really blame them).

I heard, a while back, that they wanted to relieve us of him but for a lower price? Now i wonder why they'd want him back. Who sold us Crespo? I bet they'd also gotten the best of him!

Blue joy - frankly, let's see the colour of their money and let 'em take the f*cker back then - if he goes and bangs in goal after goal, I'll happily admit I've been proven utterly wrong about his demise; but either way, the simple fact is the guy is never going to do it for Chelsea.

As for Crespo, look at the context; similar scenario with a different outcome really. He was out with a bad knee ligament injury for 4-5 months in 2002-03 with Inter and only came back for the last couple of weeks of the Serie A season; we offered them the best part of £17m for him that summer. They may well have been wrong about his longer term prospects, but given the injury, our offer and the fact that Massimo Moratti goes through transfer fees and star strikers even quicker than Roman, it's hardly surprising that they took it, was it?!

Jonathan, he'll come thru for us, you'll see. And i won't have to say i told you so - my faith is never misplaced.

I totally agree with Pizzaro getting more games ASAP.
I saw him playing Brazil the last week, and he was dreadfully SLOW.

What will RA and AG do about this?

Chelsea have appealed against the Essien red card LINK

Joe Cole commented "From what I saw, it did not look like he really got him. He does that every day in training. It is just the way he is."

This has confirmed something for me. I won't be using Joe Cole as my defence lawyer!

I agree with Pizarro getting more games when I have seen him he has played very well for us! Mikel looked great, We have a perfect replacement for Maka when he retires. As for Sheva yeah Grant is treating him the same as Mourinho and its a real pity because he could become great again given time. We will need to bring some world class players brought in when the ANC starts eg Riquelme, Bliyetdinov possibly!

Sheva has had 18 months and frankly has shown nothing.... The reason he is surrounded by defenders when he receives the ball is because he seems incapable of losing them.

Perhaps try him with Pizarro when he has to start, because as a lone striker, he'd make a lamp-post look useful!

I agree with Sheva being given a role alongside another striker, on his own he is completely useless and to be fair, he works hard but he has lost the pace he once had and defenders are no longer afraid of him which I believe is a bigger factor than is realised.
When he plays alongside Drogba the guy doesn't look too bad and that is because Dids has two defenders surrounding him constantly.
Shevchenko doesn't score enough goals, hardly ever creates and is frankly taking up a spot in the side a far better striker could fill.
Either he goes or we will struggle to lift trophies this year and for one, I wouldn't be against Roman going if it meant the club could regain a little bit of sanity.

I'm looking forward to the West Ham game, they've been very obliging in recent years. Who can forget their performance against a ten man Chelsea team when, a goal up, they bent over, parted their cheeks and gave a come hither wink.

Pretty much sealed the Premiership for us that year.

LINK

Time to say goodbye to Mr Malouda? Discuss.

Personally I think we have had enough of stroppy Frenchman.... Willie Gallas was bad enough, but at least he had talent!

Still, he probably has a point about the club bending over backwards for Sheva.

Shev is particularly rubbish in a front three, but with Pizarro knackered after his Latin America experience he couldn't be played. But I'd def like to see more of him - he's a canny player, with a good touch and could get the most out of someone like Kalou (who I still believe has a lot to offer).

But that would mean Grant ditching the safety blanket of 4-3-3. I'm horribly intrigued to see what he is going to do with Ballack.

It doesn't look good if he has been mouthing off, but things could be worse! Look at the mess the tubby one has got into at Liverpool, and we really shouldn't laugh guys, or should we?

Nick - one of my all time favourite Chelsea games, that West Ham 4-1 with 10 men; Makelele gave one of the best individual performances I've ever seen that day - superb stuff.

Is Benitez waving the white flag to the Yankee paymasters now? Do feel some sympathy for him (a rare event), albeit that he didn't seem to go about his request in the most tactful way; they'd be mad to get rid of him now though - if he pulls off their usual Champions League miracle and gets them through to the knockout stages it'll leave them looking pretty daft.

Afternoon,

Pizza Boy should be played with Drogs until the ANC to get him some competitive games, then pair him with Anelka. Kalou is a bit more miss then hit, but at leaset he can skin defenders, oh and he'll be at ANC an'alll.

As for Grandpa Shevy he should be sold or loaned out. Whet ever happens Chelsea should wriggle free of the wages we're paying him. It's disgusting to think he doesn't put in any effort and still picks up £120k per week.

Hopefully Ballacks will have some starts before Essien is off to the ANC.

K/T/B/F/F/H

You're going soft in your old age JD with any sympathy for Mr Tubby. Unless of course the underlying reason and fear you have is.. that if he is dispatched, how long before we see our worse case scenario of JM sitting in the hot seat?

Certainly would give me a few sleepless nights.

'Horribly intrigued' indeed.
This 4-3-3 gives security but why won't we bend it a little to add a liitle more attacking zest.

Mikel Lampard and Joe Cole as the midfield 3. Then pick any three of , sheva, drogba, kalou, pizarro Malouda, SWP up front.

We'd still have the bodies in mifield ,and Joe Cole in a more central role offering a little more than he does out wide.

Cech

A.Cole
Terry
Carvalho
Beletti / Feriera

Essien
Lampard
Joe Cole

Malouda / Kalou / SWP
Drogba
Pizarro / Sheva

IOW an interchangeable 4-4-2/4-3-3.

Clive - if Benitez did leave, I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see them try to get JM (next season). But whatever the rights and wrongs of foreign ownership, it does seem to me that there are a couple of guys who perhaps don't wholly understand the system sitting a few thousand miles away and passing judgement which a) isn't a great situation in terms of how club ownership is developing and b) could well be repeated more and more often as time goes on. On a similar note, I'm still amazed that Derby ditched Billy Davies - surely they weren't so naive as to believe they'd be anything other than whipping boys this season? The guy worked miracles getting them out of the Championship, got them their lovely Premiership windfall and parachute payments and gets the boot a few months later when the inevitable happens. Crazy situation.

JD - I agree with you to a point, but Utd also have US owners and there doesn't appear to be a problem there with the day to day running of the club. I admit their brand generates more cash, but they are hugely in debt, but still spent £50 million this season.

As far as Derby goes, I thought it was really unfair to dump him considering he did get them into the big time. Looks like the owner wants to keep all that money that came with the promotion and certainly not spend, as they probably felt that they wouldn't survive.

I'm not sure it's fair to say Sheva isn't putting in the effort. I thinks he's trying. It's just he can't reach the standard required.

True enough Clive, but with Fergie's track record maybe the Glaziers know to leave well alone; and you'd wonder if he made a similar request after a couple of trophy free years whether the response might be different.

For Liverpool's owners, I suppose the new stadium bill has them wincing a bit. Depends on the individuals concerned and the circumstances at the time I guess, but whatever anyone says about Roman, he does appear to have a genuine affection for the club and a thirst for knowledge about the game which is good; certainly better than someone with the club as part of their 'sporting portfolio' sitting in judgement 3,000 miles away.

You may well be right with the Glaziers approach as far as Fergie is concerned JD, but it does seems that G&H have a slightly different agenda.
Whatever they have in mind only they know, but perhaps they feel that Rafa isn't the man to give them the quick success they really want.
I've never doubted Roman's affection for the club, or the game, but that does come with it's downside, with his interfering if it's to be believed in team matters.

Yes more acurate Mark. Not his effort but his ability is waining.

As for having owners who are strictly after the money rather then their passion/hobby; i think the it being a hobby can allow more room for error and less longgevity. Whereas if your in it for profit your going to strive for the best possible outcome every time.

Offing JM has raised the stakes for EVERYONE (except the immune Fergie and Wenger).

To be fair to Sheva, not only did he make a very good tackle for the second goal, he was also in the box waiting for the rebound by the time Lampard's shot had hit the post, so he wasn't just sitting back admiring his handiwork. His celebration when SWP got there first was just slightly muted (reminded me of one by Di Matteo when he was on a hat-trick but Mark Hughes got to the ball first to score - think it was a 6-2 against either Sunderland or Palace).

But seriously, what is the point in my remembering that?

For me Sheva is another (whisper his name quietly) Robert Fleck. A man with a big reputation who we've caught at the wrong point of his career. I've said it before, his close control is still great and he can hold the ball up so in my view if he is to stay then it should be in a Sparky Hughes type role and NOT, DEFINITELY NOT as a main striker. It's his only hope...if we persevere with him as the main man then we will suffer goals wise. I'd try the Pizzaro/Sheva routine using Sheva as I just said but to be honest Pizzaro has been underwhelming for me as well.

In my sad deluded world I'd throw one away and bring in Anelka and Defoe for the remainder of the season whilst stalking David Villa for next season. When Drogs leave (which he will) that would leave us with Anelka, Villa, Pizarro and/or Sheva and Defoe with Kalou, Cole and SWP supplying from the flanks.

Am I the only one who doesn't want Anelka? Where are all the Anelka assumptions coming from anyway? He's not that old but he's been around long enough to count as an ageing star -- just what we don't need.

Of course, to concentrate on bringing good young players through, we'd need a manager who we knew was going to be around for a few years, and who has a demonstrated ability to mould a team. Oops, I brought it up again.

Peter,

LOL

I'm not sure where the Anelka talk came from but i think he's at a good point in his career and would be a decent signing for two-three seasons.

Defoe? Give over!

Luca Toni from Bayern Munchen maybe?

Surely, above them all, we're most likely to sign Huntelaar, utilising Henk Ten Cate's Ajax connection.

I'd be happy with him if we couldn't get Villa. Valencia are abysmal at the moment, but he'll be wanted by a host of clubs in the summer. I reckon he'd stay in Spain.

What's wrong with giving Sinclair and Sahar a chance ??

Anelka would be o.k, certainly an improvement on Sheva, but not Defoe.

LINK

Latest to belinked with us is Daniel Carvalho. CSKA's Brazilian playmaker.

And a potential swap deal involving Fereira and Miguel of Valencia -- reports claim they are looking to snap up our right back, but we'll only deal if we get Miguel in return.

The one thing about Huntelaar is that he might not have the pace. Even thopugh he is good in the air, he probably doesn't have the physical strength either.

Having him as the lone man the way AG seems to prefer doesn't exactly assure me we'll be filling the hole if Drogba leaves.

David Villa would be good if there's another striker to partner him, and Anelka has a bit of everything but can only go downhill from here.

For the younger options I'd go for any two of:

Huntelaar
Villa
Benzema

But for the straight replacement probably Anelka.

@CheBeef there's no chance Luca Toni will be leaving Bayern any time soon. It's his first season, he's scoring goals, they're doing well.

Jermaine Defoe? Definietely a NO unless he comes at a super cheap price.

LINK

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA--
Check out the top goalscorers in the Budesgliga:

1)Klose 9
2)Toni 9
(Obviously a good partnership Bayern would be determined to keep)

3) Vandervaart 8
(a 'midfielder' we've been chasing)

4) Gekkas 7 (Was last year's top scorer if I'm not mistaken -- and that with Bochum)

5) M Gomez 7 (Been scoring for Stutgart all through last year and has carried on thi sseason as well)

6) Pantelic 7 (Interestingly this was the guy we were about to bring in at the start of the season. JM was keen on him and it looks like he's doing the job for Hertha)

A few others that might interest us are MLADAN PETRIC(6) the guy who knocked us out of teh Euros with that third goal for Croatia, and IVICA OLIC(6) The guy who scored the opener, for Croatia with some neat control to round Carson.

LALIGA--

LINK

No ttoo many viable options here.
Othe rtha nth eusual big names, VanNistelrooij, Messi, Raul, Morientez, Robinho, Henry, we've got:

1) Luis Fabiano 8
The Brazilian Man Utd were after a few years ago. Did nothing in Porto and then in Sspain for Sevilla until knocking in a few last year.

3) Aguero 7 (Supposedly a rising star Atletico bought from Argentinos for £16 million -- he's


SERIE A--

LINK

Trezeguet on fir with 11 goals, and Ibrahimovic on 7.

Most of the scorers in that list are in the Anelka age bracket and in any case there haven't been too many strikers from Italy who have made it in the Prem.

Other than Zola and Henry after some attention from Wenger...

We'at Chelsea have had Mutu, who scored a few in the first six or seven games then coked up and got kicked out.

Crespo who scored but was too homesick to stay.

and Sheva.

Can't see Villa coming to England, but then again I thought that about Torres.

Anelka would be a reasonably decent signing - seems to have become less of a difficult bugger as he's got older (still only 28 so we'd get a couple of years out of him). Have always been hugely underwhelmed by Defoe as a player - just can't see what he'd bring us that isn't available elsewhere without the inevitable inflated English price tag. If he isn't setting the world alight and/or starting regularly at Spurs, there's nothing to suggest he'd be any different here.

"If he isn’t setting the world alight and/or starting regularly at Spurs, there’s nothing to suggest he’d be any different here." (JD)

That's true but why is it every single pundit wants to see Defoe playing in the England team?
He hasn't really been doing anyhthing for a while now.
I'd rather have Darren Bent outthe two. At least he looks a threat with his directness.
Defoe looks busy on the ball and moves around without really being a threat-- that's the way he's been whwnevr I've seen him recently anyway.

> > That’s true but why is it every single pundit wants to see Defoe playing in the England team?

Quite a lot of pundits say any number of things; you don't win anything with kids etc. Many of them wanted Keegan as England manager not so long ago.

To be fair, he may be a player that would benefit from playing more regularly which he hasn't really done in recent years; Ramos might give him that chance, but he's unlikely to get it with us.

Sometimes the pundits and commentators just speak to fill the time; 'If that ball crossed the line it would have been a goal', 'if the goaly got his had it that he would have saved it'!

Sometimes they talk complete tosh. As it is Defoe is pants, owen does this job (when fit) and not even the spuds want him.