Football Focus

[Sandperson]

I got as far as good luck. I'll take that thanks Ratty.

[ratty]

Heh heh! :)

[Annasfield]

Yep - like Ratty says, perhaps you should try a Guildford or Surrey forum. :)) ;-)

[Keef]

Looks like Keane is coming to Liverpool. I'm surprised at Spurs letting him go, but apparently he's a lifelong Liverpool fan, so maybe a dream move. I like the idea of him and Torres up front!

Feel rather sorry for Gareth Barry who is now in a horrid situation.

[Jah Lush]

It's certainly looking that way and I suppose I should wish him luck. He's been a very good player for Spurs and has always put in 100-per-cent effort. I've read that Spurs are in for David Villa and if we get him that Dimitar Berbatov will stay. Bloody hope so. Losing the likes of Keane and Defoe is bad enough but to lose Berba as well would be sheer folly.

[Annasfield]

Well it's now official. Not sure how I feel about this one....

On one hand he's a proven Premiership player and will hopefully partner well with Torres. On the other side of the coin ?20 mill is a lot to be spending on a 28 year old player. I suppose we'll know more by next May.

[Jah Lush]

Although I hate to say it, it's good business for Spurs. Bring on David Villa now please.

[mockney piers]

Seems Spurs have given up with this one and David Villa joins the huge pantheon of Spurs' pre-season stratospheric 'almost-signings'.

Seriously though, Berbatov looking likely to go, you've got to get SOMEONE up front.

[SeanMacGabhann]

10-2 to the Arsenal last night. meaningless of course - but some of the kids do look very impressive. And Walcott looked like a senior when he came on...

[Keef]

Annasfield Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Well it's now official. Not sure how I feel about this one....

>

> On one hand he's a proven Premiership player and will hopefully partner well with Torres. On the other side of the coin > ?20 mill is a lot to be spending on a 28 year old player. I suppose we'll know more by next May.

Totally agree that it seems a lot of cash, but I do think he'll net a few and suit Torres well.

As for Spurs, what Piers said! Maybe Bent will start earning his money...

[Jah Lush]

Bent better start earning his money, he's been a total waste of it so far. If we don't get a big name signing to play up alongside Berba then he's definitely off to Man Utd. Along with Jermaine Defoe at the end of last season that'll be three top class proven goalscorers leaving the club and who have we got to replace them? Darren Bent who's still got a long way to go to proving he's not the one season wonder he was at Charlton, Dos Santos, a 19-year-old who's never played in the Premiership before and that's it. Players need time to get to know each other's play and form partnerships. Spurs are leaving things too late and I predict a poor start to the season for them and it could be too late for them to catch up before any new players start gelling.

[Keef]

I know Bent has been a let down thus far, but to be fair, he was coming in to a new club with 3 well established strikers, one of which (Defoe) could barely get a game, so I'm not really surprised he didn't set the world alight.

However, he is still young (what is he, 23 / 24?), and I saw him play several times for Charlton, and he has talent! I think he will grab his chance now, and I hope he does.

[Jah Lush]

I know it's only a pre-season friendly but Bent scored four against Norwich last night. I live in hope he'll come good.

[Keef]

Is that the end of that then???

Poor lad has done exactly what his agent, and most probably Liverpool have told him to do, and now he mat have to win back the love of a bunch of fans who should have been wishing him the best after the years of service he's given them.

Think Anna would disagree, but I am in the camp that would rather have Barry than Alonso at Liverpool (not that I am not an Alonso fan, but if I had to chose).

Everyone will get on with it and move on, but I do feel sorry for him.

[????]

And to think your poor neighbours out east only have Bellamy, Ashton, a revitalised Cole and one of England's brightest prospects (Sears) vying for playing up front......

[Jah Lush]

I'd say that was definitely it Keef. The Pool have done all their dough on Keano. 20 million quid on the transfer fee and another ?20 million in wages over the period of his contract. Nice work if you can get it for a 28-year-old.

[citizenED]

Jesus, we are top!

Barclays Premier League Table

01 July 2008 11:45

P GD PTS

1 Arsenal 0 0 0

2 Aston Villa 0 0 0

3 Blackburn 0 0 0

4 Bolton 0 0 0

5 Chelsea 0 0 0

6 Everton 0 0 0

7 Fulham 0 0 0

8 Hull 0 0 0

9 Liverpool 0 0 0

10 Man City 0 0 0

11 Man Utd 0 0 0

12 Middlesbrough 0 0 0

13 Newcastle 0 0 0

14 Portsmouth 0 0 0

15 Stoke 0 0 0

16 Sunderland 0 0 0

17 Tottenham 0 0 0

18 West Brom 0 0 0

19 West Ham 0 0 0

20 Wigan 0 0 0

[Annasfield]

Citizen you're daft ;-)

I wouldn't fret too much Jah, once one big signing takes place it then seems to set the ball rolling. Look at this way, we bought Keane, which gave your lot the cash for Bentley and so and so forth. Arse shaving for you next? ;-)

Reckon we'll see 3 or 4 big signings a week now and besides - that window is open for another month.

Hopefully Liverpool will have at least one more. Would love it if Rafa went for Silva, also heard that we're still on for Barry but who knows. If we sell Voronin and possibly Benayoun (would be very sad to see him go) that would give us a further ?9 mill to splash. Who also knows where Alonso will end up?! :-S

[mockney piers]

My God, all that talent and we're only 19th!!

Good game at the Hamlets last night. Dulwich really took Charlton to the wire, and might have done it too, only fitness levels really told and went from a thoroughly deserved 1-0 lead to a 3-1 defeat, but proud of the job they did.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Some dispute over the number of balls which left the groung - the "official" tally of 6 sounded high to me

Highlight of the game for me was the penalty save. Dulwich had a couple of tidy players on the efield last night - I wouldn't fancy my chances against our #2

[ratty]

Bloody jam packed with cars round my way last night - I nearly dropped me can!

Glad people had a good time!

Mate of mine is with Peter Crouch in Cape Town at the moment. Peter has said to him "expect a surprise from Pompey in the next week or two!"

Groundshare with Southampton it is then! :D

PUP!

[mockney piers]

match report

http://www.charlton-athletic.co.uk/newsview.ink?nid=32629

[SeanMacGabhann]

And player names!

[citizenED]

"Dulwich had a couple of tidy players on the efield last night" Piers, was it virtual football?

[Jah Lush]

Blimey another hat-trick for Darren Bent last night. Albeit against lowly Leyton Orient. Seven goals in two games. I just hope he can recreate that sort of goalscoring form in the Premiership as it looks like Dimitar Berbatov will sadly also be following Robbie Keane out the exit door.