Moschops II

I think most of us saw what we were missing throughout the second half of last season.

Maybe we're looking at Alves for the whole of that side – principally as RM but stepping in for Finnan as and when?

What he said. I'd imagine if and when we get an alternative back-up for Finnan that Josemi will be waved off too.

You could always go and support them - Birmingham's got a lot to offer as a city.

mo·ron P Pronunciation Key (môrn, mr-) noun. A stupid person; a dolt. Psychology. A person of mild mental retardation having a mental age of from 7 to 12 years and generally having minimally functional communication and social skills. Do I need to define "stinks of piss" for you too?

You're a moron, and you stink of piss. There's no reasoning with you, so there's no point trying to.

And I, of course, just replied to the wrong post... ;)

The reason the Heskey comparison is so bogus is that no-one ever said Heskey didn't have talent - on his (incredibly infrequent) day, he could be unplayable. The problem with him was his gutless atittude. So to slag off Crouch in terms of being another Heskey is just daft, because: a) In football terms, a (proper, self-resepcting, on-form) Heskey would have been a very useful member of the squad and b) Not even Crouch's harshest critic could accuse him of lacking heart - the one thing that Heskey lacked above all others, and which capsized his whole career.

I see what you're getting at too ;)... I just think that the argument that Crouch has "only had 6 good months" or whatever is actually a bit of a fig leaf to cover up the fact the person using it simply doesn't like him – and that you can use these kind of arguments for and against anyone. This time last year, SWP had had one good season in the Premiership, but I'm sure lots of people would NOW say they were desperate for us to sign him at that point. Andy Johnson's just had one good season in the Premiership, but is his one good season not the same as SWP's? Or how about Dirk Kuyt, who I've seen more than one person say we should have signed instead of Crouch, but who's had one good season in Holland? All I'm saying is that if you don't rate a player, you'll find reasons for slagging them - even if they don't stand up to closer examination.

I'm not sure it will, though - if the lad has one below-par performance all season, that'll be enough for Rashid to pop up out of his grubby little hole and start foaming at the mouth. (Whereas, of course, if Kewell so much as steps on the pitch without bursting into tears and limping straight off again, he'll be the "quality Premiership proven super-duper sexy yummy Aussie superstar" or whatever the fuck it is Rashid call him).

But if we'd bought SWP last summer, would he be taking the same criticism from the same people as Crouch is now?

Swap Defoe for Johnson and I'd imagine that IS Eriksson's preferred squad at the moment. Actually.

Did you, actually? Actually, that makes all the difference.

It was just 2 last time - maybe by your next post he'll have had 15 unbroken seasons of excellence behind him. Personally, I think even the 2 was a touch generous.

It's directly above your last post.

Or the "proven Premiership talent" of, er, Joaquin...

Most of the criticisms that are being levelled at Crouch (that he's had a limited period of success in the Premiership, that he's only played for smaller, less pressurised clubs, etc) could just as easily be applied to Wright-Phillips... but somehow one of them is a waste of money at £7 million, while the other is worth three times that.

Not really - we can bring in Stelios for a million and once you factor in wages, we'd probably end up spending less. I'm not sure where this supposed bid for Alves comes into it all though.

No, but seeing what he actually does or doesn't do in the shirt might be an idea.

What the fuck are you on about? Slating a player before they've actually played for the club doesn't make you a big, brave independent thinker, particularly when I'd imagine the forums of KopTalk et al have been full of such courageous, well-informed opinions. Oh, and you know nothing about my opinions on the manager or anything else, so keep your internet buzzword attempted put-downs to yourself.

He hasn't been bought as a goal-scorer alone, although his record last season was better than any of our other strikers. Baros isn't being slaughtered by anyone - the only person who keep bringing him into this is Rashid (and you). The Southampton team wasn't "set up" for Crouch at all - unless, as you seem to be implying, getting in the team ahead of other players means that team is being "set up" around you. (THough I'm sure Kevin Phillips would be touched that you feel his treatment by Redknapp was so shoddy). I very much doubt the plan is to build the team around Crouch, because I very much doubt the plan is to build it around ANY player. Different players offer different qualities in different circumstances. Or maybe not - after all, you and Rashid do have the inside track on what the manager is intending to do with the player... don't you?

The only "reasons" I've seen given for slagging off Crouch thus far are: a) That he's a "freak" b) That he's a "lanky streak of piss" c) That you and Rashid "just don't rate him"

No. Next?

He certainly might be, but Crouch played well. Definitely one of our better performances tonight.

Any guidance for the non-Spanish speakers among us? I take it it's saying Milito is staying put? And what's that about Galletti at the end? The same?