Momo Sissoko

[G_Man]

Id say, for the price he cost, he's Rafa's best signing...

Xabi would have to be in with a shout

[Ryan]

Manchester United's management/scouting network should be having a long hard look at themselves that Momo was allowed to be touted around the Premiership last year for

[univofchicago]

That transfer fee is ridiculous, a non goalscoring, non tackling central midfielder. Good passer mind but that''s.about.it.

It is ridiculous, but its the price you have to pay for being a "big" club. I was talking to some Manchester United fans the other day and they were lambasting Ferguson for his inability to do shrewd business in the transfer market: "Buys Michael Carrick for 20 million pounds but then sells Van Nistelrooy for 10 million pounds..." along those lines. Now, where have we heard THAT argument before?

Arsenal is a big exception I guess. They have made howlers, I'm sure, but their ability to buy top players at cheap prices and sell for a substantial profit is second to none.

[Rich]

Rafa's best signing? How about Pako?

Failing that, Xabi Alonso for me. Pure brilliance.

[montymole]

Is it just me who thinks Pako looks like a fooking madman?

[G_Man]

Rafa's best signing? How about Pako?

Failing that, Xabi Alonso for me. Pure brilliance.

and only twice the price of Momo. Xabi is almost irreplaceable.

[Rich]

...and I still have a sneaky feeling Xabi will be on the bench for the Sheff Utd game.....

[Ryan]

...and I still have a sneaky feeling Xabi will be on the bench for the Sheff Utd game.....

No chance.

Whilst it's all fair and well having a couple of big bruisers on the pitch to match their undoubted 'rough-em-up' tactics, we still need somebody there to open them up a bit.

Besides, wasn't Chabby one of the best tacklers in the Premiership last season? Or am I making that up?

[brendan]

...and I still have a sneaky feeling Xabi will be on the bench for the Sheff Utd game.....

Well, Pennant has been bough to play at RM, which means Stevie G won't play there as ofetn, so there is going to be more and more competition for a central berth this season.

Although I suppose SG could be allowed to roam around all over the place as part of a central three with Alonso and Sissoko.

It will be interesting to see how it pans out.

[montymole]

Yeah I think he was, like Didi he reads the opportunity to tackle well, rather than hurling himself into one like Momo.. I think he's more than used to the rough and tumble by now, I wish he wouldnt do those silly turns on the edge of the box though..

[Shaggy]

Besides, wasn't Chabby one of the best tacklers in the Premiership last season? Or am I making that up?

According to those often misleading OPTA stats, he was the best tackler. Well, he made the most tackles (I think) though I'm not sure if that's tackles won or merely tackles put in.

[dww]

If I remember he made the second higest number of tackles but recorded a sucess %age abot 10% better than anyone else in the top 10 in terms of numbers. I was pretty shocked by how good he was at this when I saw the stats.

[Rich]

I just think for the rough and tumble of Sheff Utd and their idiot of a manager, we will go with Zenden on the left, Sissoko and Gerrard in the middle and Pennant on the right.

Should the game change, and it becomes less of a fight out there, we can change things and bring Xabi on.

Xabi did make more tackles in than other players last year, but he's more likely to be bullied than Sissoko and Gerrard.

Warnock will be building his players up for the kick off now - he'll try anything to 'prove' to the SKY cameras that he's good enough for the Premier league.

[Mumsafan]

No chance.

Whilst it's all fair and well having a couple of big bruisers on the pitch to match their undoubted 'rough-em-up' tactics, we still need somebody there to open them up a bit.

Besides, wasn't Chabby one of the best tacklers in the Premiership last season? Or am I making that up?

He made the most tackles in the Prem last season. I saw the figures on YNWA. Quite a shock really.