Hypothetical question....

[Craig_H]

A bit like yours then.
I see you have dug yourself in and am still in the trenches on this.

Mine isnt the "He's a good player, so he MUST fit into our system and we must never look beyond him playing all the time" viewpoint...

What have i dug myself into? I have my opinion and you have yours. Does you posting yours mean you've 'dug yourself in' ?

[Svennis]

If a bid came in for Alonso of say £20m, and 3 quarters of the cash was then used to sign Tim Cahill, would you be happy with that?

I wouldn't be happy. I would be angry.

Only way i would accept selling Alonso, that we'd get another top class defensive midfielder like Mascherano and still would have some money left to spend.

[Fiddy]

I could understand people maybe calling Mascherano 'top class' before he went to West Ham, even though he patently wasn't, he just looked quite good, but after he's gone there and been absolute pony the whole time????

[El Jefecito]

I could understand people maybe calling Mascherano 'top class' before he went to West Ham, even though he patently wasn't, he just looked quite good, but after he's gone there and been absolute pony the whole time????

He's class and it will take time for him to adapt.

[Harv]

it would be a very silly move to sell Xabi...he is a class act and will only get better.

I can see your point however DJ.

We have knowone arriving late in the box like Scholes and Cahill do, Stevie should do this for us...but for some reason he doesnt. He prefers to score long range goals.

I just dont see how we could fit in a player of this type into our current system, unless we play a 3-5-2 or 4-5-1. But as someone has already stated, that totally relies on having good wingbacks, Riise and Aurelio will do the job on the left.....but Finnan has very little attacking quality, and no pace. Alves would be a must for this to work.

[Fiddy]

He's class and it will take time for him to adapt.

I'm tempted to think the same given time, but so many on here don't give any of our new players a chance and he really has been pretty ****e for West Ham so far, so for people to be salivating over signing the guy (in the other thread) makes me laugh. He looked decent, if unspectacular, in the World Cup, and I'm too lazy to find out but didn't Cambiasso take his starting place after a few games? I think too many remember him fondly from Football Manager & Pro Evo

IMO he wouldn't be a bad signing, but not for any more than about £6m MAX

[El Jefecito]

it would be a very silly move to sell Xabi...he is a class act and will only get better.

I can see your point however DJ.

We have knowone arriving late in the box like Scholes and Cahill do, Stevie should do this for us...but for some reason he doesnt. He prefers to score long range goals.

I just dont see how we could fit in a player of this type into our current system, unless we play a 3-5-2 or 4-5-1. But as someone has already stated, that totally relies on having good wingbacks, Riise and Aurelio will do the job on the left.....but Finnan has very little attacking quality, and no pace. Alves would be a must for this to work.

Stevie does arrive late pretty well, he's just been restricted this last year or so due to being out on the right. You are right about the formation though we need to find a way to get Xabi, Momo and SG all playing at the same time. I like 352 but I'm not sure if we have the pace to track sideways effectively when the wing backs are caught forward.

BTW Some make it sound like Xabi has not contributed this year, admittedly his long range passing has been off, but his tackles pass% interceptions etc are all still way up there. I think Xabi and Momo can work in the same way as Pirlo & Gattuso do. It's not a bad comparison except I think in a couple of years or so Xabi and Momo will exceed anything those two have.

[Fiddy]

Great comparison actually - Xabi = Pirlo - classy, not the most mobile, passing main strength; Momo = Gattuso - full of energy, nasty tackler, all over the place.


So does Stevie = Kaka then...

[El Jefecito]

Hah, first thing you've got wrong.

Stevie = (Pirlo + Gattuso + Kaka ) ** 2

[Harv]

Great comparison actually - Xabi = Pirlo - classy, not the most mobile, passing main strength; Momo = Gattuso - full of energy, nasty tackler, all over the place.


So does Stevie = Kaka then...

oh what i would give to have Kaka in our side...he is what we lack. Genuine creativity inside.

if all this investment comes to a head by January what would the odds be that our side consists of Richards on the right side of defense and SWP on the wing?

that would really sort us out

[Fiddy]

Nah, Stevie's far too 'industrial' to be that similar to Pirlo & Kaka. They just ooze class, he relies more on his physical abilities. Plus they're both pussies

[Fiddy]

oh what i would give to have Kaka in our side...he is what we lack. Genuine creativity inside.

if all this investment comes to a head by January what would the odds be that our side consists of Richards on the right side of defense and SWP on the wing?

that would really sort us out

Kaka would be great....if he brought his Milan form with him. But whether he'd adapt to the Prem is another matter.

Richards and SWP would do me very nicely

Can't really see any of those coming off though

[El Jefecito]

oh what i would give to have Kaka in our side...he is what we lack. Genuine creativity inside.

if all this investment comes to a head by January what would the odds be that our side consists of Richards on the right side of defense and SWP on the wing?

that would really sort us out

Kaka wouldn't make it in the premiership. Like Luis he needs time and space, the two things you don't get in the PL. Add to that Didi has already shown the world how to shut him out!!!

[Fiddy]

Welcome to the Prem Kaka,



with love and hugs from,

Papa Dioup, Robbie Savage, Joey Barton, Hayden Mullins and Lee Carsley


Merry Xmas

[El Jefecito]

Exactly And on a wet cold and windy night in Jan