On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[mockney piers]

A veritable natural Ted.

[red devil]

No, no, no Ted, Pennant is shit period, there's a subtle difference.

A bit of advice, you come across as being a bit on the posh side, try dropping the odd h every now and then, I find this goes down well with the locals...'ave it!

[matthew123]

mockney piers Wrote:

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

> I did suggest a day, a saturdY early august if i

> remember

Saturday, 1st August it is then - Hamlets v Sutton United.

Count me in. Who else is up for it?

So what is the plan Mockney?

[red devil]

If you're planning on taking a firm to an 'away day', I'm up for it, Carshalton High Street won't know what's hit it...

[matthew123]

Look the motivation is to have a drink rather than go on the rampage in some deprived Surrey town - besides this a home fixture. Maybe Mockney can secure the hospitality box for us so we can turn to the bar if it's a crap game.

[mockney piers]

I think the 'hospitality' bar is de rigeur frankly!!

I guess meet up in the bar, drink, watch outside for a bit, half time pints, followed by a couple more pints, then back outside for last 20 minutes.

Poifick.

[Keef]

Tevez move to Man City is a done deal apparently. Good signing for them, good financial move for him, but bad move if he wanted to win more things (in the immediate future anyway).

Sir Alex now saying his business is done for the summer. To be honest, I think their signings (Owen included) will prove successfull.

Would like to see the pool sign another couple, but both Rafa, and Sir Alex have talked about the inflated markets... Although unfortunately, we didn't benefit with ?80m from said market!

[Sandperson]

You'll be sad to know that I can't make the 1st. :'(

[Ladygooner]

Is it a 3pm kick off? I shall be there - unless Sky decide to move it to a later time for their viewers!

[red devil]

Looks like Alonso will be leaving, if he gets ?30M+ should Benitez get a like for like replacement, or go for a proven goalscorer and move Gerrard back into midfield?..decisions, decisions...

[Keef]

Or an out and out winger for the right side.

[Atila Reincarnate]

Is it too much to hope that Adebayor is really on his way!!

[ratty]

I have heard the same Atilla - off to Man Chitty?

[Keef]

Getting rid of him will be great for the Arsenal. He had one really good season, but since then, he's been a disgrace. Hopefully City will pay you well over the odds for him. From what Wenger has said though, I think he'd use the money to tighten up the back, rather than buying a replacement forward. Could be wrong though.

I honestly thought that it may be Wenger who offered Owen his shock return to a top 4 club, as he's been a long time admirer.

[red devil]

It's all making sense, Bellamy back to Liverpool...;-)

[Keef]

Feck off! Don't even say that as a joke please!

[matthew123]

Well I really tried to keep the pledge but there we are... bang!

I don't know what you are on about Keef. I think what you have to remember is that this isn't the Houllier days when at one time we had Owen, Heskey, Anelka, Baros and Litmannen all on our books.

Pre-season training has started and doubtless we'll see some run outs for Pacheco and Nemeth of which there are very high hopes but realistically it'll be a bonus if they make any impact this season. To win the title you need goalscorers and attitude and apart from Torres we only have Voronin and Ngog - both of whom are worse options than Bellamy.

Bellamy scored a cracker for City at Anfield last season, and also crashed the woodwork for West Ham at Anfield. Be good backup for Torres with his pace - if he was made available for reasonable price but seeing as Rafa turned down Owen on a freebie extremely unlikely as no one holds a grudge quite like Rafa (well apart from Ferguson).

Right back to no Big 4 talk from me unless provoked ;-)

[????]

Nothing wrong with talking about big 4 just all that utd v liverpool stuff!

My early observations - all the big 4 a bit worried about their finances, especially levels of debt and also scared that City may take one of their places (my view unlikely with Hughes in charge) with Arsenal the most vunerable.

There will be increased talk about a european super-league driven by money rather than demand this will eventually happen and fail

Upson will go to Arsenal

Portsmouth will implode

Champions League will not be won by an english team.

[Keef]

I don't know what you are on about Keef. I think what you have to remember is that this isn't the Houllier days when at one time we had Owen, Heskey, Anelka, Baros and Litmannen all on our books.

Yeah, and what a lot of good that did us.

You don't mention Kuyt, who is a striker, not a winger. I personally would like to see a winger brought in.

RE: Bellamy, he has talent, I don't think anyone would honestly question that. He has 2 major weaknesses however. 1. He is injuried a lot. And 2, which is much more important, he is only mildly less of a liability than Barton! He's a nasty piece of work, who even fights his own team. I hope he never ever gets the chance to pull on a Liverpool shirt again!

Oh, and he's bloody Welsh of all things! ;-)

[????]

oh, forgot, Beckham to Spuds

[red devil]

Always thought Spurs might be Becks last club, completes the circle as he had a trial with them when he was a nipper...

[????]

it's so Harry too

[red devil]

Do you think he's got an account on Betfair?!..

[????]

I dunno, I think he likes the phone- he used to be a big punter with a neighbour of mine in Spain who worked for a well known Gib based booky. I think even he realises a bet on betfair on this would maybe traced ;-)

[ratty]

Forget Mancini - just heard Redknapp is going back to Pompey. I will actually start supporting Southampton if this is true!