Football Focus

[Annasfield]

Do you remember a few weeks ago, we were dscussing whether or not Ronaldo was/is a team player?

This interiew says it all:

"Guillem Balague: What feeling have you got after the defeat to Germany?

Cristiano Ronaldo: What feeling?

Guillem: The one after being knocked out

Ronaldo: We didn?t expect this. We wanted to continue in the tournament, but we didn?t do enough. We weren?t strong enough

Guillem: The little details were won by Germany. You didn?t seem concentrated enough

Ronaldo: I didn?t do anything wrong. I did what I had to do but the team made mistakes and that is why we lost"

What an outstanding sportsman. (td)

[Ladygooner]

Steve McLaren off to FC Twente in Holland - thats a relief! Hopefully no more punditing from him on the telly!

[Keef]

Liverpool trying to buy Robbie Keane. Never expected that. Apparently Croutch could go the other way as part of the deal, but can't see spurs fans being too happy.

Could see Keane and Torres being a pretty interesting partnership!

[Jah Lush]

No, we bloody well wouldn't to happy about that at all. Grrrr!! Hands off. Keano's ours.

[Ladygooner]

Jah - do you think Andrei Arshavin has the look of Gareth Bale about him?

[ratty]

Keef Wrote:

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> Liverpool trying to buy Robbie Keane. Never

> expected that. Apparently Croutch could go the

> other way as part of the deal, but can't see spurs

> fans being too happy.

>

> Could see Keane and Torres being a pretty

> interesting partnership!

Old news and not happening Keef. Discredited by Spuds yesterday. Now the Pool have put in another ?17m bid for Barry they must have got the extra sponds somewhere........ reckon Crouch to Pompey will complete early next week when PFC go back to training.

Oooh and we signed Ben Saha on loan too - that should signal the end of Nugent.

[Keef]

So how much do you think Pompey will pay for Croutch then? Must admit I thought we'd take ?9m, but happy to get more.

[Annasfield]

9 mill?!! You're having a laugh! We've already told Pompey we want more than 10.

[ratty]

It'll be undisclosed to save face. Rafa knows he can go for fook all in January. He was lined up on 31st Jan and Rafa pulled out last minute (after we had already offloaded Benjani)

My reckon is ?5-?7m but the fee will be undisclosed when the deal formally goes through!

Personally I'd wait til Jan and take him for fook all on a pre-contract and sign Gudjonseen for this season!!

[Annasfield]

Blinkin' Bosmans. Liverpool offered Crouch a contract last February & he refused to sign. Will be very disappointed if he goes on a freebie.

[ratty]

Don't think he will personally but would not be too surprised. Think something will happen early next week!

[Keef]

ratty Wrote:

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> It'll be undisclosed to save face. Rafa knows he

> can go for fook all in January. He was lined up on

> 31st Jan and Rafa pulled out last minute (after we

> had already offloaded Benjani)

>

> My reckon is ?5-?7m but the fee will be

> undisclosed when the deal formally goes through!

>

> Personally I'd wait til Jan and take him for fook

> all on a pre-contract and sign Gudjonseen for this

> season!!

Which all begs the question, why did we turn down ?9m for him???

[Keef]

Barry transfer saga

Phil McNulty's take on it. Have to say I agree with most of what he says, except that Alonso is over rated, how very dare he! I think I would chose Barry if I had to chose one. Just think he's got something different to offer us.

[ratty]

Looks like Crouch will move tomorrow. This should kickstart the Barry transfer.

Prices mentioned range between ?7m and ?11m

[Jah Lush]

Ladygooner Wrote:

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> Jah - do you think Andrei Arshavin has the look of

> Gareth Bale about him?

I hadn't thought about that until you mentioned it, but yes they are alike aren't they. Same floppy hairstyle and a similar look in the eyes but Arshavin doesn't have the wand of a left foot like Bale has and where was Arshavin in the final against Spain? I barely remember him getting a touch of the ball. He all but disappeared from view.

[ratty]

LINES! Plese right 1000 times.

Gareth Bale is a scummer....

[Jah Lush]

Ahem! Correction ratty, seeing as you're a Pompeyite and obviously loath the Saints I have to tell you that Bale is a former scummer.

[ratty]

Dam - you're right of course, but then, once a scummer always a scummer has always been the rule.

(ratty reserves the right to break this rule once Peter Crouch signs back for Pompey later today)

[Sandperson]

What about ''appy' 'arry?

[mockney piers]

That's just what I was saying about Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson *spits on HK Kopavogur*

[Keef]

Love the way news stories hype stuff. Headline saying Liverpool interested in Villa. Of course they are interested, I'm sure a lot of clubs are. Read on slightly and Rafa says he's on the list but it would be difficult. Big story there then! You expect it on back pages, but I'd rather read facts on the bbc website.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I'm finding the summer transfer speculation more and more frustrating. Finding anything based on reality is like that bit at the end of the Crystal Maze where they had to grab hold of gold pieces of paper and not the other kind - or something.

The same names, and posturing by clubs' spokesperson, and denials which turn out to be the opposite - blah blah blah. A pox on all their houses

You finished 2nd, 5th, just above relegation - whatever - next season roll your sleeves up and improve the lot of the club who's badge you have been kissing everytime you scored last year - that's all I ask

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Don't believe you were saying that at all Mockney. Imagine trying it after a few pints.

[Annasfield]

Keef Wrote:

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> Love the way news stories hype stuff. Headline

> saying Liverpool interested in Villa. Of course

> they are interested, I'm sure a lot of clubs are.

> Read on slightly and Rafa says he's on the list

> but it would be difficult. Big story there then!

> You expect it on back pages, but I'd rather read

> facts on the bbc website.

T'was from an interview on LFC tv last night. Definitely stuff going on behind the scenes there, but I'm not sure a Torres/Villa partnership would work. Euro 2008 was proof that these two (under the Spanish formation anyway) do not work together. We need someone who Rafa can play when Torres can't. I think G&T relationship worked perfectly well last season and I would question the need to change that by spending ?30+ million on another striker.

Give me David Silva please. (tu)

[Keef]

I agree about G+T, and that is why I hope the Barry thing gets sorted, as I'd like to see him feeding that partnership.