Give a Yiti

...Amazing. The feeling of winning the league just seems to get better. United have won by playing the most attractive football with the greatest flair, backed up by real steel in defence. SAF's best team ever? Not sure. Cantona, Keane, Robson, Kanchelskis, Irwin, Schmeichel and a young Giggs might have something to say about that. Best squad? Undoubtedly. Never have we had so many options, or such strength in depth. One man team? Ronaldo is an exceptional p_layer_. But United have quite a few at the moment. Tevez and Rooney got 19 and 18 goals, an exceptional return, but it was the defence that did as much as anyone to win the league. This season United conceeded fewer goals than any other United side in history. In the unlikely event that Ronaldo left United, I think we would still challenge strongly for the _title_. A word on our rivals: Arse - a stunning season for them to be honest. I had totally written them off with such a young side. They exceeded all expectations and finished only 4 points behind. All credit to Wenger for fashioning a challenge out of nothing. A great manager in anyone's book. I'll never underestimate them again but arse fans have to be worried for the future. It seems p_layer_s want to leave and is there money to replace them? Another strong challenge from them next season would surely elevate him to genius levels. Chelsea - Have to respect their strong challenge this season, always over our shoulder, never giving up. Grant has done unbelievably well and they will be the team to beat again next season. Drogba will be a loss to them. But they could well replace him with Kaka, Messi and Eto'o so they shouldn't feel it too badly. Sorry they beat us to Bosingwa (sp?). We need an attacking right back from somewhere. Liverpool - Hard to know what to make of Rafa. As soon as they look like putting a run together he'll field a bizarre side or come up with some weird substitutions - taking Torres off against Chelsea in the CL must be one of the worst decisions ever - there was no 'tweaked hamstring' as Torres's bewildered look will show you. It seems he doesn't want to play the percentage game, make the changes other managers would make, it's as though he wants to be seen as a genius, to do only things no one else would think of. If he can get over this, and make 3 or 4 'top-quality' signings, then they could get close. I think they will at least overtake arse for 3rd next season. I think the days of any team winning the league by ten or more points are over. It's going to get closer and closer. Teams from mid-table are improving. Everton could break into the top 4 if they can add a couple of p_layer_s. I would say that Chelsea and United are neck and neck for next season. The _title_ may be won and lost during the summer transfer window. Which side will strengthen most effectively. Where Liverpool and arse finish will be really interesting. Can arse exceed expectations again with another challenge? Or is it Liverpool's turn. Football, bloody hell. I hate the close season. Wishing you all a great summer. A. Dieu.

The feeling of winning the league just seems to get better. United have won by playing the most attractive football with the greatest flair, backed up by real steel in defence. SAF's best team ever? Not sure. Cantona, Keane, Robson, Kanchelskis, Irwin, Schmeichel and a young Giggs might have something to say about that. Best squad? Undoubtedly. Never have we had so many options, or such strength in depth. One man team? Ronaldo is an exceptional p_layer_. But United have quite a few at the moment. Tevez and Rooney got 19 and 18 goals, an exceptional return, but it was the defence that did as much as anyone to win the league. This season United conceeded fewer goals than any other United side in history. In the unlikely event that Ronaldo left United, I think we would still challenge strongly for the _title_. A word on our rivals: Arse - a stunning season for them to be honest. I had totally written them off with such a young side. They exceeded all expectations and finished only 4 points behind. All credit to Wenger for fashioning a challenge out of nothing. A great manager in anyone's book. I'll never underestimate them again but arse fans have to be worried for the future. It seems p_layer_s want to leave and is there money to replace them? Another strong challenge from them next season would surely elevate him to genius levels. Chelsea - Have to respect their strong challenge this season, always over our shoulder, never giving up. Grant has done unbelievably well and they will be the team to beat again next season. Drogba will be a loss to them. But they could well replace him with Kaka, Messi and Eto'o so they shouldn't feel it too badly. Sorry they beat us to Bosingwa (sp?). We need an attacking right back from somewhere. Liverpool - Hard to know what to make of Rafa. As soon as they look like putting a run together he'll field a bizarre side or come up with some weird substitutions - taking Torres off against Chelsea in the CL must be one of the worst decisions ever - there was no 'tweaked hamstring' as Torres's bewildered look will show you. It seems he doesn't want to play the percentage game, make the changes other managers would make, it's as though he wants to be seen as a genius, to do only things no one else would think of. If he can get over this, and make 3 or 4 'top-quality' signings, then they could get close. I think they will at least overtake arse for 3rd next season. I think the days of any team winning the league by ten or more points are over. It's going to get closer and closer. Teams from mid-table are improving. Everton could break into the top 4 if they can add a couple of p_layer_s. I would say that Chelsea and United are neck and neck for next season. The _title_ may be won and lost during the summer transfer window. Which side will strengthen most effectively. Where Liverpool and arse finish will be really interesting. Can arse exceed expectations again with another challenge? Or is it Liverpool's turn. Football, bloody hell. I hate the close season. Wishing you all a great summer. A. Dieu. The biggest question mark, in my opinion, is over what Chelsea do now. The Russian I think will want to rekindle his interest by buying p_layer_s that will make him want to attend games again. Their manager for next season is also an unknown. If they bring in a lot of exciting p_layer_s, the whole _style_ of play may need to change.

<snip inane drivel *yawn*

...Amazing. The feeling of winning the league just seems to get better. United have won by playing the most attractive football with the greatest flair, backed up by real steel in defence. SAF's best team ever? Not sure. Cantona, Keane, Robson, Kanchelskis, Irwin, Schmeichel and a young Giggs might have something to say about that. Best squad? Undoubtedly. Never have we had so many options, or such strength in depth. One man team? Ronaldo is an exceptional p_layer_. But United have quite a few at the moment. Tevez and Rooney got 19 and 18 goals, an exceptional return, but it was the defence that did as much as anyone to win the league. This season United conceeded fewer goals than any other United side in history. In the unlikely event that Ronaldo left United, I think we would still challenge strongly for the _title_. A word on our rivals: Arse - a stunning season for them to be honest. I had totally written them off with such a young side. They exceeded all expectations and finished only 4 points behind. All credit to Wenger for fashioning a challenge out of nothing. A great manager in anyone's book. I'll never underestimate them again but arse fans have to be worried for the future. It seems p_layer_s want to leave and is there money to replace them? Another strong challenge from them next season would surely elevate him to genius levels. Chelsea - Have to respect their strong challenge this season, always over our shoulder, never giving up. Grant has done unbelievably well and they will be the team to beat again next season. Drogba will be a loss to them. But they could well replace him with Kaka, Messi and Eto'o so they shouldn't feel it too badly. Sorry they beat us to Bosingwa (sp?). We need an attacking right back from somewhere. Liverpool - Hard to know what to make of Rafa. As soon as they look like putting a run together he'll field a bizarre side or come up with some weird substitutions - taking Torres off against Chelsea in the CL must be one of the worst decisions ever - there was no 'tweaked hamstring' as Torres's bewildered look will show you. It seems he doesn't want to play the percentage game, make the changes other managers would make, it's as though he wants to be seen as a genius, to do only things no one else would think of. If he can get over this, and make 3 or 4 'top-quality' signings, then they could get close. I think they will at least overtake arse for 3rd next season. I think the days of any team winning the league by ten or more points are over. It's going to get closer and closer. Teams from mid-table are improving. Everton could break into the top 4 if they can add a couple of p_layer_s. I would say that Chelsea and United are neck and neck for next season. The _title_ may be won and lost during the summer transfer window. Which side will strengthen most effectively. Where Liverpool and arse finish will be really interesting. Can arse exceed expectations again with another challenge? Or is it Liverpool's turn. Football, bloody hell. I hate the close season. Wishing you all a great summer. A. Dieu. All very reasonable.  A very interesting closed season regarding buying p_layer_s. Fergie has been promised hefty funds, although he won't need to spend massive amounts. Grant has already filled his long term right back weakness, and there will be more to come, although the likely need to replace Drogba won't be easy. Anelka looks clever but lifeless most times I see him. No surprise if he continues on the next leg of his world tour. Both clubs will spend as required. Arsenal and Pool are the uncertainties. Wenger seems content with a self imposed spending restriction, and the financial situation at Liverpool doesn't suggest Rafa will get as much as he wants and needs. Of these two managers, Wenger seems better placed if money is tight. He has a good track record in getting top value for little outlay, but the same cannot be said about Rafa. He tends to pay top price for his buying successes, which is fine if your club can afford it, but a problem if cash is tight and you need 4 or 5 good new p_layer_s. But the most interesting aspect of the next few months is the outcome of this FIFA/Blatter idea of forcing clubs to play with 6 p_layer_s eligible to play for the country of the team they are in. This goes to the vote at the end of May despite the EU saying it would be illegal under Euro freedom of labour laws. If this does come about over the next couple of seasons it will have a dramatic effect. The media seem to have so far missed just how it would influence team selection. One of them lists Man U's and Chelsea's list of home grown p_layer_s available if the rule was imposed for next season ( which it won't be)  and both come out pretty well. Arsenal would be in an impossible position and even with a season or two to adapt, it would take a massive clear out to make them legal. Pool would be forced to field p_layer_s they would prefer to leave out. If we look closer at the implications of this Blatter idea things start to look chaotic.  It is fine to list a MU or Chelsea present first team to prove how easy the change would be, but imagine what happens when injuries occur to the English p_layer_s?  Ferdinand and Rooney and PS out with knocks. If their best replacements for a key league game are not English ( very likely) then how do the club fill the English p_layer_ quota?  If foreign p_layer_s are the best option to fill the vacant positions, what overseas first choice p_layer_s would have to be replaced by Englishmen.  The effect of injuries on a side makes selection difficult enough, but having to also drop star p_layer_s just to comply with the rules would be ridiculous, and not good for the quality of prem football. But what about the other factor. Who do you have on the bench? Managers already have to second guess, so how would they cope when they need 6 home grown p_layer_s on the pitch?  I can see some very strange late changes in matches with p_layer_s playing in unusual positions, not because of tactics but because of nationality. LC

...Amazing. The feeling of winning the league just seems to get better. United have won by playing the most attractive football with the greatest flair, backed up by real steel in defence. SAF's best team ever? Not sure. Cantona, Keane, Robson, Kanchelskis, Irwin, Schmeichel and a young Giggs might have something to say about that. Best squad? Undoubtedly. Never have we had so many options, or such strength in depth. One man team? Ronaldo is an exceptional p_layer_. But United have quite a few at the moment. Tevez and Rooney got 19 and 18 goals, an exceptional return, but it was the defence that did as much as anyone to win the league. This season United conceeded fewer goals than any other United side in history. In the unlikely event that Ronaldo left United, I think we would still challenge strongly for the _title_. A word on our rivals: Arse - a stunning season for them to be honest. I had totally written them off with such a young side. They exceeded all expectations and finished only 4 points behind. All credit to Wenger for fashioning a challenge out of nothing. A great manager in anyone's book. I'll never underestimate them again but arse fans have to be worried for the future. It seems p_layer_s want to leave and is there money to replace them? Another strong challenge from them next season would surely elevate him to genius levels. Chelsea - Have to respect their strong challenge this season, always over our shoulder, never giving up. Grant has done unbelievably well and they will be the team to beat again next season. Drogba will be a loss to them. But they could well replace him with Kaka, Messi and Eto'o so they shouldn't feel it too badly. Sorry they beat us to Bosingwa (sp?). We need an attacking right back from somewhere. Liverpool - Hard to know what to make of Rafa. As soon as they look like putting a run together he'll field a bizarre side or come up with some weird substitutions - taking Torres off against Chelsea in the CL must be one of the worst decisions ever - there was no 'tweaked hamstring' as Torres's bewildered look will show you. It seems he doesn't want to play the percentage game, make the changes other managers would make, it's as though he wants to be seen as a genius, to do only things no one else would think of. If he can get over this, and make 3 or 4 'top-quality' signings, then they could get close. I think they will at least overtake arse for 3rd next season. I think the days of any team winning the league by ten or more points are over. It's going to get closer and closer. Teams from mid-table are improving. Everton could break into the top 4 if they can add a couple of p_layer_s. I would say that Chelsea and United are neck and neck for next season. The _title_ may be won and lost during the summer transfer window. Which side will strengthen most effectively. Where Liverpool and arse finish will be really interesting. Can arse exceed expectations again with another challenge? Or is it Liverpool's turn. Football, bloody hell. I hate the close season. Wishing you all a great summer. A. Dieu. All very reasonable.  A very interesting closed season regarding buying p_layer_s. Fergie has been promised hefty funds, although he won't need to spend massive amounts. Grant has already filled his long term right back weakness, and there will be more to come, although the likely need to replace Drogba won't be easy. Anelka looks clever but lifeless most times I see him. No surprise if he continues on the next leg of his world tour. Both clubs will spend as required. Arsenal and Pool are the uncertainties. Wenger seems content with a self imposed spending restriction, and the financial situation at Liverpool doesn't suggest Rafa will get as much as he wants and needs. Of these two managers, Wenger seems better placed if money is tight. He has a good track record in getting top value for little outlay, but the same cannot be said about Rafa. He tends to pay top price for his buying successes, which is fine if your club can afford it, but a problem if cash is tight and you need 4 or 5 good new p_layer_s. But the most interesting aspect of the next few months is the outcome of this FIFA/Blatter idea of forcing clubs to play with 6 p_layer_s eligible to play for the country of the team they are in. This goes to the vote at the end of May despite the EU saying it would be illegal under Euro freedom of labour laws. If this does come about over the next couple of seasons it will have a dramatic effect. The media seem to have so far missed just how it would influence team selection. One of them lists Man U's and Chelsea's list of home grown p_layer_s available if the rule was imposed for next season ( which it won't be)  and both come out pretty well. Arsenal would be in an impossible position and even with a season or two to adapt, it would take a massive clear out to make them legal. Pool would be forced to field p_layer_s they would prefer to leave out. If we look closer at the implications of this Blatter idea things start to look chaotic.  It is fine to list a MU or Chelsea present first team to prove how easy the change would be, but imagine what happens when injuries occur to the English p_layer_s?  Ferdinand and Rooney and PS out with knocks. If their best replacements for a key league game are not English ( very likely) then how do the club fill the English p_layer_ quota?  If foreign p_layer_s are the best option to fill the vacant positions, what overseas first choice p_layer_s would have to be replaced by Englishmen.  The effect of injuries on a side makes selection difficult enough, but having to also drop star p_layer_s just to comply with the rules would be ridiculous, and not good for the quality of prem football. But what about the other factor. Who do you have on the bench? Managers already have to second guess, so how would they cope when they need 6 home grown p_layer_s on the pitch?  I can see some very strange late changes in matches with p_layer_s playing in unusual positions, not because of tactics but because of nationality. LC- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - You see to be overlooking the fact that there opponents from all positions in the league will be weakened in the same way or maybe more so. I would be surprised if it weakened the top teams in comparison to the lower teams. In European games it should weaken English teams in comparison to teams from most other leagues. It should also help the English national side, eventually.

Wishing you all a great summer. Cheers.