OTF

There's plenty of worse players you could pick up for 1 million or more. Him with Anton Ferdinand would be... interesting though, with both prone to the odd error. Could be like a Boumsong Bramble reunion.

No thanks. Could never understand how he came to be valued so highly so quickly and all despite his advanced age.

Rozenhal looked a very composed and accomplished player in defense when there was no pressure on him. As soon as there was though he was lightweight and very ordinary. Did pretty well to get rid of him for essentially what we paid for him. Wasn't given a great chance to settle but I don't think he would have - not right for the English game, particularly at a side where you will be put under a lot of pressure. Completely off-topic sorry

Thought the same thing. Cahill isn't technically quick but he has great acceleration and certainly isn't weak. In terms of technical ability it really depends what you're talkingg about. Technically he's one of the best headers of the ball in the game, but isn't great with the ball at his feet. Completely agree about the general Everton consensus. I think they'd be pissed about him leaving (and not just about the money) if they didn't have a very strong midfield.

I dunno, his (lovelyhands) movement and pace is pretty good but he needs other players to bring the best out in him (ie. routledge and maybe guti). mind his finishing and hold up play is not great. His finishing is not bad I'd say. He makes the runs off the ball that other players don't, but you're correct in that he needs other players to play the right balls for him to take advantage of them, but that's necessary for someone playing in that role. Hold up play is not great because he doesn't have the physicality to match it with your average Premierleague defender.

The announcement isn't strange coming from the club. It's a deliberate act to distract us from the fact that there's very little movement in the transfer market. When you consider how many players were sold when we were relegated it doesn't make sense that they're not being replaced at all. Announcements like this are designed to draw our attention away from that kind of detail. Consider that in the season we were relegated we had - Given*, Owen, Viduka, Martins, Duff, N'Zogbia, Bassong, and Beye and they've been 'replaced' with Simpson, Routledge**, Best, Perch and Williamson. * - I realise he was sold halfway through the season, but that was because of the extenuating circumstances and mismanagement at the club. ** - I actually think Routledge is a good player who adds another dimension to our game.

Bramble's really not that bad. Maybe it's time wiping the bad memories, but he had some very good aspects to his game and on several occassions was able to mark good players out of the game. Horrible pairing with Boumsong brought out the worst in him. All said and done though, wouldn't have him back here.

Impossible to say right now, I'd say we need to give it a month or two once the league starts to see who stands up and deserves it. IN the meantime I guess give it to Harper under the provision that it's preferrable to have it with an outfield player.

10.1 metres per second. If they ran at that pace over 100 metres it would be done in 9.9 seconds. Of course the article is a load of crap so it means nothing at all. Discounting the fact that it's rubbish it's not really Campbell's top speed that's the issue, it's his acceleration and ability to change directions which I'd say he probably is comparable to the QE2 in that respect.

It all depends on the wages. On low wages it's a good signing, on high ones it's not. As simple as that for me. I fear that the club will have him on prety high wages using the fact that there was no transfer fee as justification. Given that there's no way we'll be able to sell him the high wages aren't really justified. The only time they would be with a player of that age is if they have an obvious affiliation with the club and a passion for wearing the shirt. With Campbell we have no idea how much he cares about the club, but chances are it's not enough to make him worth the wages that the club will like;y be playing him.

To worldwide 'fans' and to players Chelsea are by far a higher profile club. Things change.

Looking on an Everton forum there's a pretty huge thread with people mainly saying he's not that great. Bit of a contradiction really as they wouldn't be posting if they didn't care. Honestly I think they though he was a pretty good player, but was down the pecking order at Everton (they do have some very good midfielders there). I like the look of the signing (if it's done and no compensation is owed), but I don't know a great deal about him.

The average South African wasn't at the games unfortunately. Nice photos

Btw meant to say left footed for Lovenkrands

Lovenkrands sucks as a winger. He's lightweight and can't defend. Definitely a forward, best at making runs off the ball, decent finisher as well. Managers want to play him out wide because he's pretty quick and right footed, but when he is played there he goes missing. Up front or not at all for him IMO. May not sound like it, but I really like him as a player. He adds a different dimension to our attack up front as Carroll, Ameobi (and probably Best) all like the ball to come to them, whereas Lovenkrands likes to make runs onto through balls. At the very least he should create a bit more space for the other forward.

Certainly does look cheap and nasty in the pics. The shorts look ridiculous as well, is the Puma logo in the centre on the waistband supposed to look like a belt buckle? ..I just picked up a pair of last seasons home shorts in Rome Seem like good quality shorts (I'll be wearing them playing).

In the Premier League you need some attacking ability from your fullbacks, I don't think Perch has that in his game, plus I'm not sure how quick he is. With our slow central defense we need some pace at the back. Would rather the money not be spent on him and we promote someone from within. IMO 1 decent player is better than half a dozen poor-to-average ones. We had more games last season than we will this one, so in theory numbers shouldn't be an issue, it should all be about improving quality.

I'm not much of a fan of the German team but they've played well and they've played as a team here. Against Argentina they really showed up Maradonna's formation. With three forwards there was no midfielders directly protecting the fullbacks and consequently Germany ripped through them down the sides. It was the same against Australia, but against Argentina you expect a lot more. Even though they put 4 goals passed England, Australia and Argentina, England's wasn't as bad as the others because a few of them came very late in the game on the counter (even though England's defense was horrid in transition). Somehow I don't think Germany will win it, but as others have said if they do it will be well deserved. Spain vs Germany should be very interesting. Surely they will adjust to the wide play of the Germans and will try to prevent any counter attacking plays. At the bcak they're not that quick, so if Spain play their game of possession high up the pitch it could well hurt them as the German's have been quite clinical on the counter. If the Dutch don't choke they should get by Uruguay who are living proof that sometimes cheaters do prosper. Netherlands vs Spain in the final would be good as it would ensure a new World Cup winner.

Did he not take by far the most 'shots' in the tournament, and didn;t score a single goal? There was a Newcastle player there who scored and probably only took 1 shot

They can't sell him, it would make a mockery of their statement about local talent. We all know that this administration would never ever contradict themselves.

I would consider rape for £80k... It's not rape if you consent

Agree, he might well be a handy player for Everton but we certainly need someone with experience that he doens't have. If we did get him I'm sure Hughton would have him as the only new forward.

It will be down to three keepers for the final squad, but you're right that Pim Verbeek is killing the national team. Will only play one formation despite it not really fitting the players we have available. Pure stupidity in thinking that because we qualified by playing like that we should keep doing it in the finals. The only reason we qualified like that is because our players were better than those of the teams we polayed through qualifying. We qualified despite the formation and tactics of Verbeek not because of them.

If they're fake I pity the poor cunt who went to the bother of fabricating them.

Shorts being pulled up to the end of the sleeves is a great look.