Gribz

Thats after Boyd and who else?? Havent seen too much of him TBH though. Ronaldo, Kaka and Messi (not in any order) are the current top 3 for me. Id maybe have Henry ahead of Eto'o. As Gav said, that Ibrahimovic goal when at Ajax was something else! One of the best goals Iver ever seen.

Guardiola mentioned something about the time being right and something about him being a problem in the dressing room. But to pay 38m and hand out Hleb is nuts. Man City were going to pay 25m for Eto so if you take that as his value then Imrahimovic' value is that plus 38m = 68m plus Hleb for a season. Thats bigger than the Kaka value!

I wonder when was the last time we had no new signings over a summer to make a debut! I certainly cant remember any in 20+ years supporting Rangers.

Interesting to see Gow in there, I wouldnt mind seeing him get a chance in the first team. Despite trimming the squad by 4 or 5 we still have plenty of numbers.

Squad numbers dont actually mean that much, just 10 years ago the 1-11 was still in place and nobody had a squad number, they just fought for a starting jersey. McCulloch at 6 is concerning. I see that as a natural centre half number!

Adam made the trip to Germany so I dont think he is going to Blackpool.

Ibrahimovic goes to Barca but Inter receive Eto'o, 38 million and Hleb on loan! How does that deal work out!! Inter must be laughing! http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8159267.stm

They dont seem to be turning up in the 1st legs but doing the biz in the 2nd. Now they have Steau Burchaest, but i cant see them getting past that tie!

Ferguson wasnt the average school kid. He was club and country Captain and supposedly a mature man who should have known better. I agree on the booze especially if they have been given the green light from the management (albeit it a FEW drinks). But it comes down to behaviour. Everyone can act the goat with drink but you look at the circumstances of this one - they were in a public hotel at breakfast time for the other guest and despite not getting in trouble they were noisey. They should have moved upstairs to the rooms and carried on the drinking there - although thats easier said than done with the booze inside you. Yes I agree again its over the top the way footballers must now act like angels. Brian Clough forced the non-drinkers in to a bar on a friday night before a match to drink a pint with the rest of the team and it didnt do them harm. I wouldnt say they were set up by the press - nobody from the press forced them to stick the fingers up. But after this act the press jumped on the bandwagon and accused the 2 of sticking it to the public.

Wasnt Celtic were looking at the option of putting a reserve team in Division 3? IMO the whole scottish set up needs restructured from the Premier league to Division 3 including all reserve sides. 2 top divisions would be enough then there should be regional leagues with the winners from each league playing off at the end of the season for promotion to the SFL. The OF could put teams in the regional leagues, but if they got promoted it might cause a bit of a problem with the first team.

Obviously still 3 full weekends away from the Premier League starting but just wondered who the current favourites will be for winning and relegation. Man U start as favourites and are going for a first ever 4 in a row. Losing Ronaldo and Tevez means they are 50+ goals a season down (in all comps) and to lose that has to have an effect. They will still likely bring in a new face or 2 but so far I cant see Owen being a goalscoring replacement. I wonder how Chelsea will do under Anchelotti. This time last year everyone was raving about Scolari and they would be favourites but I said he wouldnt last the full season. They will be there or there abouts. I dont like to say it but I fancy Liverpool to be one step stronger this season and push Utd all the way. One of the positions they struggled to compare with the others was full backs and signing Glen Johnson certainly improves them. I still think their squad players arent as strong as Man U and chelsea but if they hold onto Alonso and get a partner for Torres then their first XI will be as good. A lot of people are writing off Arsenal but I think they will be stronger also IF they get luckier with injuries, but already Nasri has a broken leg!!! They signed a centre half from Ajax (?) which was badly needed. But if Rosicky gets fit then it will be like a new signing. I still think Wenger needs a quality keeper and a midfielder now that Narsi is out. Upfront Van Persie will be awesome and if Eduardo gets fit then they could have some pairing. Man City: They will certainly be a top 8 side but Hughes is going to have to keep a lot of ego's happy and gel the team quickly. He still needs better defensive players to give them a chance of making the top 4. If he gets Terry (no chance IMO) and Lescott then they will be in with a shout of top 4. Winners: Im going to say either Arsenal or Liverpool will win it!! Relegation: It will be 3 from Burnley, Birmingham, Wolves, Stoke, Hull, Wigan, Bolton and Portsmouth to go down. Id guess Burnley, Wigan and Portsmouth at the moment.

Unbelievable! When will Wenger ever get the chance to start the season with a full squad!! They have just been so unlucky with injuries in the last 2 years.

I see Gav's point, many of our youngsters who do play either a) sign after being first team regulars at the previous club or b) have been out on loan to gain first team experience (nothing wrong with that though). Its more of the young players who havent had first team sniff that dont get a game with us. - Obviously not EVERY player is like that. but the recent few are Efrem, Furman, Aaron and Fleck. Only Fleck has managed to get into the first team but was played out of position and thrown into a OF derby away iin his first match. He ended up struggling which could dent the lads future. At the same time it could give the guy an advantage if he uses the experience correctly - its all about the personality of the player and his management.

Squad wise I actually think we have done the right thing this summer by trimming it. 28 players was far too many as you cant keep everyone happy. For me, we are a first choice centre half away from having a good team. We arent near the Man Utd's, Milans etc but we wouldnt be any worse than half the teams that will be in the CL Our problem isnt whether the squad is good enough, its all about WS getting a system right and knowing his first choice XI. For 2 seasons he has tinkered a bit much with both. So if we got a partner for Bougherra (Tonel would be nice, and the return of Hutton would be nicer!!!) and played a 4-3-3 then I cant see us getting any hidings in the CL especially at home. 4-4-2 may be the other option but id prefer to stop wasting Davis on the rgight, plus Im not sure who is going to be the regular on the left. So for a 4-3-3 we would look very offensive: ___________________Alexander________________ Whittaker______Bougherra____Tonel_______Papac ________Davis_______Thomson______Mendes____ ________Novo_______Boyd/Miller_____Lafferty____ Obviously when Edu is back its another option in midfield. Upfront Id choose Miller in the bigger matches but Boyd will score in the majority of matches against Falkirk and Co. That leaves the following players: Weir (Can fit it any ANY time) Broadfoot (Decent back up for SPL) S Smith (Depending on injuries) McCulloch (Hopefully is sold) Naismith (Has a lot to prove) Beasley (Could be decent LM if he gains muscle) Aaron (We need to see him first) Fleck (Needs to advance one step further) Velicka (Carbon replacement for Boyd)

I think his wife was the main player in the fame thing but he would have went along with the idea also. The second part is true, he wanted to improve 'soccer' in the US but surely he must have known it would take a huge committment and moving away to Milan on loan is a bit of a kick in the teeth to the Major League. It says to other players that they may lose their international place by going to that league and the UK media showed that league out to be Championship level at best. Beckham gained my respect when he came back from the death threats from his own England fans to be a key player for them. Would be interesting to see who thinks he is world class. Ive never thought he was a world class player, he is certainly a good player with a unique right foot but not world class. Im not just talking about free kicks (we've seen 100s of players hit free kicks as good), but his goal making passing is different class.

Phew....the other Danny Mills used to be a decent RB and broke into the England team. But ive no idea where he is now and he is a bit of a loose cannon. We do need Full back cover though.

Not surprised. He is talking the piss a bit and recently stated his wish to play again in Europe. But he only has himself to blame, he has to be committed when he makes such move, he went there for the money and fame more than anything else. He should just pack up and move back to Europe where he will easily find a club.

Yip I remembered about Smith after the post but totally forgot about Velicka. With Smith it depends on his injuries, time will tell if he can get a run. I wasnt comfortable with him moving into the left mid role last season, i felt there were better options. Who knows about Velicka! Seemed to start pre season with a bang then he made Hemdani look like a regular starter! but he came back towards the end with 4 goals in 4 games. So he is another option this season. Agree with Cotter: If we could sell off Gow and McCulloch then it rids more dead wood (although McCulloch seems to be a favourite of WS for some bizarre reason). Beasley could still play a part, he is just a bit lightweight and gets blown off the ball more so in away matches. If we got a bid for McGregor then its one we should look at. But Bougherra, Davis and Thomson are the 3 who must stay.

Thats not a bad shout Craig and it can easily be reshuffled with Mendes or Davis going into the role you have Fleck. I agree RE Lafferty, I can see him being key next season. He certainly came onto a game when he was played upfront rather than on the left. Also agree RE Novo and Miller. Novo must get more starts as he is the one player than will guarantee 110% in every game and he has the ability to make a difference. Miller can offer something also with his mobility and pace. The only thing about a diamond 4-4-2 is we are relying on the full backs for width. Whittaker gets forward but he tends to wonder anywhere. Papac doesnt venture into the final 3rd much.

I have to say stick what we have. Sometimes less is more and trimmimg the squad with Hemdani, Dailly, Ferguson, Adam and Smith away reduces the wage bill and is easier for WS to maintain. We still have a decent size squad once everyone is fit. It really depends on how the younger and fringe players come on. We need Aaron, Naismith and Fleck to advance this season. The likes of Beasley and McCulloch must improve but could still be important squad players. BTW is Gow still with us or did he move on? So the basis of the squad when everyone is fit will be: Keepers: Mcgregor Alexander Defenders: Bougherra Weir Broadfoot Papac Whittaker New?? Webster (on loan, can we recall?) Midfield: Thomson Edu Mendes Davis McCulloch (also roles all over the park) Beasley Aaron Naismith (also forward) Forwards: Lafferty Miller Boyd Fleck (also wide roles) Novo (also wide roles) Looking at that we are light at full back cover. We have numbers at centre half when everyones fit but only Bougherra gives me top confidence. i cant see Weir managing 30+ games. 2 keepers should be enough but you do need a 3rd keeper just incase. A older keeper just for cover could be what we need until we get a good youngster.

Id say we need right mid filled. Davis has been there out of position and Novo would probably be our other option there. If we go 4-4-2 then we need to decide who will be first pick on each side and stick with them. For too long we have had chopping and changed - especially on the left. Personally I think 4-3-3 could be the current answer and we put Thomson, Mendes and Davis in the midfield.

Then Gareth Barry on the left?? Bellamy is the one he is going to have to keep quiet, he will mump if he isnt playing regularly.

And they still own Jo who is on loan at Everton, and Everton wont pay 18 million that City paid for him as they dont have that cash. Robinho will play as a winger. But Im wondering what formation they will play next season.

Agreed, not near the team id pick! Even Ricksen being picked ahead of Hutton!?! Only Larsson and Ferguson would make my team from that pick. Gordon was good at Hearts but not a patch on Klos. Lennon and Ferguson together in the midfield would be strong though but Lennon still doesnt make it.

Man City fans put a banner up in the city centre saying Welcome to Manchester