Mrmojo

The doom mongering isn't really justified just yet. Yes, the result was worrying but there is so much left to play for this season and a few bad results should be taken as reminders that we don't somehow have a divine right to win the league this year as some may have thought. It still takes bottle to win it, and we are definitely capable, all we need is a run of a couple of victories and this game will be quickly forgotten, starting at Bolton.

I think for a good attack there needs to be a balance of flair and discipline, with work rate thrown in to play a high pressure game in the opposition half. Our current front four have discipline, each of them knows their jobs, but is perhaps lacking the flair required to break down tight defences, so we look to players like Silva to strengthen our attack. The Barcelona strikeforce excels in terms of flair and creativity with players like Iniesta and Messi, but they also have a workhorse in Eto'o and a player with huge experience in Henry to remain disciplined, which is why they scored in excess of 100 goals last season. Looking at the new Real Madrid frontline, there appears to be a lot of flair, in Ronaldo and Kaka and maybe Ribery, but I'm not certain if they would be prepared to hold their positions for the sake of their team mates. Ronaldo will certainly see less of the ball than at Utd so maybe he will get frustrated and roam around and try to be the hero with no-one to cover his position without the presence of a Kuyt or Eto'o, leading to a disjointed attack, easy pickings for defenders. With none of them prepared to do legwork, you will lose some of those defender-drawing runs that people like Kuyt makes, and defences will be able to shut them out. I can also see ego getting in the way of team play, with everyone trying to win each game on their own - would Kaka always give the ball to Ronaldo like Carrick and Anderson? Whether their frontline works remains to be seen but big names do not equal success.

Hmm I wonder what happened to the career of the last Liverpool player who joined Real... Allow me to be the first to piss myself laughing when Real end up languishing 3rd, 4th with their third new manager by Christmas.

Not too bothered about him going there. He burnt his bridges with Rafa and Liverpool years ago. It's not like he'll win them the league, more likely that he's there to test the durability of their bench.

He's a bit tactically inept to win a Grand Slam in my opinion. He seems to throw in a drop shot or a lob occasionally, but doesn't really focus on a particular game plan for each match, rather swing and hope. Today he got found out by a player who in all fairness is inferior, but had a tactic and played the right shots at the right moments. As long as Nadal and Federer are around, I wouldn't expect to see him win a Grand Slam. Also, he comes across as a bit of a miserable twat in interviews.

Clubs would then just give bigger signing on bonuses, appearance fees etc.

There's probably a lack of football culture in the US. The youth in America are much less exposed to real quality football on TV, or to go to watch. Added to the fact that most of their best talents ply their trade abroad, the kids end up with limited role-models, and are less inclined to follow football when they are older. You could probably make an analogous comparison with other sports, for example, baseball, which is largely ignored in Britain. There surely could be many talented British baseball players, but there is no culture to nurture them in.

A very entertaining game of tennis, even though the quality was up and down from both players. Winka's energy was gradually fading after he first set and allowed Murray to take control. Still don't think he has what it takes to get to the final, seems to lose concentration too frequently.

Can't see them anywhere near the top four. Can't see where the desire to win is going to come from in that team. When a bunch of mercenaries get put together i just feel they wouldn't be that bothered if they lost as long as they picked up their wages.

I would honestly be highly surprised if we began next season without Xabi or Masch. We have never really been a so-called "selling" club. In fact i'm pretty sure the last time we sold a key player was Owen, some five-six year ago. I'd like to think that our players at least show loyalty enough to not bail out on a team that's on the verge of Premiership triumph, and i would imagine that unless they're forced out of the club, they'd be reluctant to leave a club that is on the cusp of glory.