Park Life

That is kinda where I am on him as well.

Competition for places is important. Lot of supposition in this thread. Given is good but he certainly isn't world class IMO. Cech and Buffon are world class unreservedly. Petr 'Uncharacteristic Mistake' Cech is overrated IMO. On his day there's no one better but he's prone to making some fairly costly errors. I think its unfair he has to wear that downs syndrome hat tbf. He doesn't have to, he chooses to ....I heard it has an antenne woven in so he can get signals from the bench...

Women don't die they just start moaning.

With their track record of one dreadful film after another I don't think anyone outside of Hollowintheheadwood gives a fuck.

Competition for places is important. Lot of supposition in this thread. Given is good but he certainly isn't world class IMO. Cech and Buffon are world class unreservedly. Petr 'Uncharacteristic Mistake' Cech is overrated IMO. On his day there's no one better but he's prone to making some fairly costly errors. I think its unfair he has to wear that downs syndrome hat tbf.

Henry Miller Martin Amis Nabakov Kafka Koestler Orwell Vonnegut Hemingway Conrad Huxley Irving Modern americans avoid Mailer, Carver and Roth. go with Bukowsky Burroughs Don Delillo Brett Easton Ellis

Perhaps you could illuminate me? 3 games, no service and scored a goal of the month contender. It'll do me. Could say exactly the same about Martins, plus has scored 3 goals, Viduka has the work ethic of a McDonalds trainee. Never mentioned Martins as he wasn't left out in the original post. Viduka is a top player and I'm sure will be a top player for us. Give him the ball to his feet and he'll do the business. No good pumping long balls up to him. I mentioned Martins thanks, and the thread is questioning Martins not starting alongside Owen, if it wasn't for Martins perfectly weighted cross on Saturday we wouldn't have scored. With his right foot as well.

I don't think I'll even bother replying to your "fairy tale" comment. As for Dawkins, he's just a scientist who is a little bitter maybe because he had a prayer not answered as a kid. His attempts at being a philosopher are terrible and I don't think I've seen him say anything groundbreaking with regards to his points about there being almost certainly no God. So no, he is not "right". Dawkins is highly irritating tbh. The way he seems to sneer at others beliefs isn't becoming of an educated man.

"First I was alone...then I was petrifyied..." or summat....

That Massive attack track with the woman walking...

Perhaps you could illuminate me?

I see the assist at the end of the Wigan game as somewhat of an omen for these two. We have to start matches with these two forwards, Viduka probably needs a long rest and doesn't really seem upto speed. We can still play SA's beloved 433 if he so chooses with Oba as the left forward attacking the box and Owen in the center. 433 properly played isn't really about having a big target wallah (courts backlash) but more about having mobile and interchanging forward and midfield play. ..................Geremi............ ........Barton...........Zoggy......... Milner..........................Oba.... .................Owen.........

Agree Rob it is of much mirth that Liv bought him and that the Rafa values him so highly...

I think SA is aware of this and once things are stabalised creativity will be added. Jose might have run out of road though. an unfortunate choice of words there Parky............ shurely you're not suggesting any connection bewteen Roman's HR policies, Kerr-Mcgee and the unfortunate Ms Karen Silkwood? I infer nothing of the kind dear fellow and further I would like to add that my interaction with reps of Mr Abramovitch has been wholly delightful and constructive at every turn. On another note this is perhaps a moment where one might step back and pause for thought at the generous philanthropy Mr Abramovitch has displayed in Chakotka province.

I think SA is aware of this and once things are stabalised creativity will be added. Jose might have run out of road though.

They need to build an interesting side. It is generally agreed they are very boring to watch.

Competition for places is important. Lot of supposition in this thread. Given is good but he certainly isn't world class IMO. Cech and Buffon are world class unreservedly. Cech is certainly a better keeper than Given and I haven't seen much of Buffon for a while but I would say he was a better keeper a few years ago. But beyond those two I can't really think of much better. Look at all of the major footballing nations (England, Spain, France, Germany, Holland, Argentina, Brazil and so on) and non of them have a keeper to match Given. So in that respect I would have to class him as world class even if he's not the very best in the world. And as Craig says, his importance has become even more apparent when we became a much poorer side! He is very good don't get me wrong but he also has serious flaws, he doesn't come for crosses well and his communication with the def is also poor at times. As a shot stopper he is world class imo. These two also are as good and better in some dept than Given.. Iker Casillias (can't remember how old he is).. Reina And the point is they're all a level above Harper. It's a no-brainer for me. I accept your points but personally for me I like to encourage the squad by showing it that people who come in and do well won't be dropped lightly. TBf there is a case to be made for both our standpoints.

Competition for places is important. Lot of supposition in this thread. Given is good but he certainly isn't world class IMO. Cech and Buffon are world class unreservedly. Cech is certainly a better keeper than Given and I haven't seen much of Buffon for a while but I would say he was a better keeper a few years ago. But beyond those two I can't really think of much better. Look at all of the major footballing nations (England, Spain, France, Germany, Holland, Argentina, Brazil and so on) and non of them have a keeper to match Given. So in that respect I would have to class him as world class even if he's not the very best in the world. And as Craig says, his importance has become even more apparent when we became a much poorer side! He is very good don't get me wrong but he also has serious flaws, he doesn't come for crosses well and his communication with the def is also poor at times. As a shot stopper he is world class imo. These two also are as good and better in some dept than Given.. Iker Casillias (can't remember how old he is).. Reina

Competition for places is important. Lot of supposition in this thread. Given is good but he certainly isn't world class IMO. Cech and Buffon are world class unreservedly.

You don't win anything with sexy football anymore, Jose is just doing what you need to do to win. They should put it back to 2 points for a win, making it less costly to concede Oh but how wrong you are. Man Utd won the league last year with such football.

You're on my wavelength when it matters Rob....

Can't think of many famous Russian poets tbh, Keatski? Betjaminolovski? More to do with the tortured Russian soul and the huge sacrifices of the people in modern history etc...

Savage, Keane, RVN, Viera, Adams.

Given is the better keeper though so it can hardly be irrelevant. Harsh but true, if the better player is available then he should be back in the team. He is the better keeper. But football isn't played on paper. No, it's played on the pitch, where Harper is more liable to make an error than Given is. Your initial post bore the caveat he should keep his place if he continues to do well, meaning he should replaced when he does not. I simply take the view that you don't wait for that error to occur. Top keepers (ie Schmeichel) always came straight back in when they were properly fit and weren't made to wait simply because their replacement had deputised well in the meantime. Ferguson was always ruthless with this. Harsh choices but great management imho. Take your views onboard. But in this particular management choices area I have to stand by my earlier comment. Signals to the squad as a whole are important and people fighting for shirts is nearly always a good thing. Of course if it was Schemichel then I would put him straight back in.

Barton will play this hunting and late arriving stuff when he gets back. What we are missing in mf is real creativity, not even the wingers we have (Zoggy has his moments but he's still learning) really understand how to change the patterns and tempo of a game. Emre can do it. Whether he will is another story. I have a feeling SA will take a long hard look at Emre with the Jan window in mind.