d.k.E.

This may seem a daft question, but it is a long time since I had a season ticket and regularly went to games (pre-Sky, pre-all seater, pre rip-off prices), but how can I, as normal Joe Bloggs without membership card, season ticket, priority thingymajig, get a ticket for an away game? Is that still possible in this day-and-age or do I have to sign up for something which will cost me extra money (as if the ticket prices weren't bad enough)

Might not count as speculation, but I had a dream last night that Owen joined with Morientes going the other way - a sort of step back in time so to say - could this happen, or has it got something to do with the recent arguements with the wife and that I should get back with my ex...any dream readers out there?

Deutsch...

What? Do you mean Everton have brought out a Champions League shirt? That'll be almost as short-lived as the Soouthampton one for the UEFA cup they brought out a couple of years ago after losing the cup final (but Arsenal already in Champs League). I think that did one tie as well!!

How times have changed, we are even ahead of Real Madrid: PA feed... Made me chuckle... :smile:

...like Dave Galley! Gutted to see him go? Can we close the gap without a physio, and one that is so used to dealing with our injuries crisis. (this is my attempt to beat my previous thread record with another contentious issue).

Well excuse the innaccuracy that for four of those seasons he was either 1 or 2 goals off 20!!!! (despite injuries). What I am appealing for is one, or why not two strikers if Cisse is going to be such a success, that give the consisent goal return (plus those in cups and Europe) you describe above...

Hey, this is great - an almost debut of 223 posts on a thread! The kevin Peterson of posting is me!

You mean like Thierry Henry - who get the goals as well!! So, bearing in mind your description above, whic of our forwards is a rounded footballer,with a consistently great first touch, brings in players around him and holds the ball up? What I saw last night was one guy whose first touch was 50/50 (as commented in the match), is caught offside and seemed too rushed, another who despite having some nice touches 30 yards from goal (for a big lad) didnt muster a shot on goal, a Spaniard who I didnt notice at all, and no-one in the box for a series of crosses...so as I see it we have neither the goal-hanger nor the well-rounded footballer...so lets buy one!

Good points and nothing to argue with there - and also a reason why I didnt slag off the Crouch move (it was almost so absurd there had to be a reason for it!). But notwithstanding the above, you would like to have a striker, a 'fox in the box' to quote Arsene, a one-on-oner who you would put your mortgage on, a goal-hanger a la Lineker, a predator a la Aldridge, who just by playing like that will get to 15+ goals however one plays...the guy that wins not only the cup finals in the last minute despite inferiority in the rest of the match, but also the ones against a shitty side which you expect to win against (where we have dropped too many points in recent months!)..and we dont have one at the moment (I dont think Cisse's most ardent fans would describe him as such!)

I thank you Drewy - dead easy this posting lark, all you need is the contentious issue of an ex-Liverpool player coming back to his former club OR a lanky ex-Southampton, QPR, Portsmouth, Aston Villa player to join the club OR an ageing ex-Galactico desparate for a last payday in the Mecca that is the Premier league (as created by Sky) who "loves" our club, and there you have it - over 100 posts. My next post will be: Nick Barmby's contribution to our Treble winning season was under-rated and as significant as Gary McAllister's...

Assume you meant me? Nothing would please me more to lose this bet, but you're on for 20 goals in the Premiership from Cisse. As this is such a fine board, the £10 goes to supporting this site...agreed? But did he look like that kind of player last night? Good he scored one, but should/ would have got another (when played in by Gerrard) if he is a 20+ man, and could have got two last week as well. Like I say, there is nothing like hindsight and we will have to wait and see, but when it gets to those long winter nights of despair in Jan/Feb and we are still only doing 1-1's with Charlton/ Bolton/ Wigan at home despite hogging possession, screaming out for someone to snatch a goal in the 89th minute, it may be too late for us to get Owen and we may regret missing this opportunity...(god I am pessimistic arent I?? :sniff: )

Hey, this is great. One of my first posts and is has already generated some of the characteristic postings that make this forum what it is: 4 pages of posts, abuse, arguements on positions, and gossip and rumour... Whilst I value the debate on Garcia's position, can I remind you of my original point - that we need a 20 goals a season player (in the prem) to close the gap. Now I dont care if Garcia play in his hole, up a mound or up his arse if he gets them, but he wont. Neither will Crouch, Morientes and nor, although this is more contentious, will Cisse. There are only a few players who do now: van Horseface (probably), Henry (consistently), A.N. Other who takes penalties from some bottom-half team that is probably relegated but will be hailed as the great white hope for the national team before disappearing (Andy Johnson)....and Michael Owen. Who buys him will get this return (IMHO)

Redrosetints - my points precisely - we can all express opinions on such-and-such a striker who has scored in this league and that (e.g. Kuyt), but what Owen represents is someone who WILL do it (I would go that far). With our current 3 (and I would dismiss Pongolle because he didnt show the signs when he was playing), they are too lightweight in goals/ minutes played ratio. In my opinion those kind of strikers, even if they endure lean patches, will deliver hat-tricks and braces, or will score for 6,7, 8 games in succession. Re. his desire, who knows? But I ask honestly, I think there is only one club he loves in England, whilst he has tried it abroad and has had to come back with his tail between his legs. If that doesn't create drive and ambition, then where else can he go? And what greater ambition than to score the goals that delivers the first championship in 16 years

Cheers for the responses from all. MLB, I think you are confirming what Ian says, yes we can debate parts of Owen's game, and he did look half-arsed near the end of his last season (as did Gerrard during the last one, but lets not open a new can of worms!!). But, as you say, he scored goals in and around the box. Of course if Cisse can do the same I am more than happy, but he has so far scored against non-Premiership (dare I say "conference-level) opposition, the goals I have seen from France seem also to be more "blasts" than placing of the ball, and he has missed the easier chances (as well as getting caught offside quite often, to the obvious irritation of Rafa). However, I dont want to be drawn into a too-previous debate of Cisse and whether he will score goals, I think he needs more time to be assessed - my real point is that the opportunity for us to buy Owen (who we know can do it) is now, and we should do so before it is too late...

...called Michael Owen. Hi all, relatively new poster on this site, although keen reader of the many informed comments. Native of the Wirral been a fan for best part of 34 years and was a season-ticket holder in the glory years of Barnes/ Beardsely/ Aldridge (and the mad Ronnie Whelan fan on the Kop, if anyone here remembers). Anyway, last night's match has compelled me to add my view on the Michael Owen debate (and forgive me for starting another thread but the other one seems to have degenerated into a discussion of Only Fools and Horses ;) ) Watching last night, it hit me hard that, with the probable exclusion of Baros, we do not have a striker who will score 20 league goals in a season: Cisse has an unpredictable first touch, likes blasting the ball but shows little composure when faced with one-on-ones etc, Crouch may prove to be flash in the pan and is at best likely to get into the teens in terms of goals (I am not going to slag him off because I think he serves a purpose, but he is not a 20-goal, predatorial striker a la Alrdridge, Rush etc) and Morientes has not impressed and does not have the goal-hanging/ first to the rebound/ playing on the shoulder of the last defender style that is needed for so many goals. On the other hand, for an investment which, if in a different situation would be more than acceptable (if he hadnt previously played for us and left us last season), we can acquire a players who has not only done it year in and out for us, but has done remarkably well in Spain and for England. Add that to the mix, and add another 20+ goals from him, then you would see draws becoming wins, defeats becoming draws and the points gap to the "top three" receeding. After reading the numerous posts on the same topic, I know that emotions run high at the mention of his acquisition - but I ask each of you honestly, if you were to take a step back for a moment and rationally assess our play over the last season and the few games so far, there has been an improvement, but no cutting edge. Now we have the opportunity to get a 25-year-old (forgive me if this is the incorrect age) goal-scoring guarantee, who maybe made a misjudgement, but loves this club, and will make a difference immediately (whereas with out other strikers you have to say the jury is still out, and is likely to stay out, on their goal return in the Premiership). Anyway, feel better for that...let the debate continue... :thumbsup:

Would agree completely on Didi - but signs not too good: my mum teaches his daughter in West Kirby and apparently both children are leaving the school end of term (told her to get a signed shirt before he leaves!)

...but what a time to post it. About to head home and enjoy/suffer/be thrilled/ be dejected/ be over the moon/ be sick as a parrot - but whatever I hope I and all of you enjoy it... All the best for tonight lads...it can happen :thumbsup: Andy in Arlesey - season ticket for the Kop 87-89 (the time of the mad Ronnie Whelan fan)