Summer transfer rumours, speculation and out-and-out b*ll*cks.

[dave.woodhall]

Palacious never really got a chance in CM. First the HUD was picked ahead of him and then Sandro became flavour of the month (understandable he looks awesome). Modric has the deep lying playmaker role tied up.

He was certainly promising at Wigan so it could be a good deal. If he can provide the destruction tat would allow Makoun/Bannan/Ireland to play their natural game then it'd bf a hood signing.

Anyone remember what he cost spurs?

Think Spurs paid £14 or £15 million for him from Wigan, who in turn only paid £1m from Small Heath, another great bit of business by SHA.

Not even that. Small Heath's new manager decided he hadn't seen enough of him to warrant spending the million it would have cost to buy him so Wigan snapped him up.

Don't know what became of the manager in question...

He went to Wigan.

No he didn't Steve Bruce went to Wigan who had him on loan at Blues. It was our very own AM who didn't sign him!

Only technically. Fuckin' (see!!!!) didn't see enough of him because he was away following his brother's kidnapping and Palacios didn't want another loan, apparently.

[PaulTheVillan]

Correct Dave, was just about to post the same thing.

[Guy M]

SWP is a typical product of the english youth system.  Has 1-2 tricks and is very quick so at 14-15 he looked like a wonderkid and was fast tracked into the first team by 18-19.  He then had a couple of years looking like a good player until defenders figured out his tricks, after that the lack of coaching to teach him how to be a better player kicks in and his career goes backwards.

He'll still have the odd game where the tricks all work and he looks world class but the reality is there's not enough coached technique there for him to ever make it at the top level.  His crossing is incredibly inconsistent, he has no eye for a short pass and his shooting is hit and hope.

If we want to develop a side from the youth and reserves the only value he would bring is as a showcase of why relying on a couple of tricks is the worst thing a youngster can possibly do.

The one truly world class player to come out of England in the last 15-20 years is Beckham and he did it by hard work on the training pitch, perfecting his technique to make the best of the talent he had.  Unless you're on the level of Messi (who is apparently a great trainer anyway and when you watch him works his bollocks off for the team) you need that commitment to improving.  That's why Gabby has England caps and Luke Moore is playing lower league football.

SWP is just the latest in a long list of players whose career is technically over by 24 but that keeps getting contracts on the back of 'maybe getting back to that level'.  How many players has that actually happened for?

Read this first thing this morning on a basic WAP version of the site on my budget Nokia 6500 Slide but only just managed to get online now to say...

THIS.

[Slaphead]

Beckham is a myth that lived off his own hype, he was a good player who scored important goals but we have seen better English players in the last 10 years.

[ozzjim]

Beckham is a myth that lived off his own hype, he was a good player who scored important goals but we have seen better English players in the last 10 years.

Really? Consistency wise, and ability to execute telling moments in a match, I don't think we have. I don't see Real Madrid or AC Milan coveting many English players, even at 34-35 knowing that they will do a job and perform.

[Mazrim]

I havent seen an english player better than Beckham in the last 10 years. From club football through to the national side, none of them are worthy to lace his boots.

[cdbearsfan]

I havent seen an english player better than Beckham in the last 10 years. From club football through to the national side, none of them are worthy to lace his boots.

I'd say Gerrard, Lampard, Ferdinand, Rooney, Terry and Ashley Cole have all been better than him in the last ten years, at least for their club sides. He was excellent from 1995 to about 2004 but faded after a decent start at Real. I can't think of too many better crossers or set-piece takers than him but for all round game, I'd say they're better.

[Mazrim]

And I wouldn't. But never mind. It's all about opinions.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Palacious never really got a chance in CM. First the HUD was picked ahead of him and then Sandro became flavour of the month (understandable he looks awesome). Modric has the deep lying playmaker role tied up.

He was certainly promising at Wigan so it could be a good deal. If he can provide the destruction tat would allow Makoun/Bannan/Ireland to play their natural game then it'd bf a hood signing.

Anyone remember what he cost spurs?

Think Spurs paid £14 or £15 million for him from Wigan, who in turn only paid £1m from Small Heath, another great bit of business by SHA.

Not even that. Small Heath's new manager decided he hadn't seen enough of him to warrant spending the million it would have cost to buy him so Wigan snapped him up.

Don't know what became of the manager in question...

I remember reading a scathing article about them at the time that said something along the lines of 'and with the money they would have made from the sale of Palacios to Tottenham could have been used to install undersoil heating'. This was after they'd had games called off, whilst no one else in the Prem had.

[boboonthecorner]

Palacios has never been my favourite player but it was clear that Tottenham were lightweight until Redknapp signed him up. Looking at our midfield, I reckon he'd be a great addition.

He'd be a great addition. Stoke are building a very tidy team there and with if they do sign those two they should be pushing for 6th place. With our losses this summer it's another team who have probably passed us, there squad is without doubt stronger than ours in every area now.

Edit: Sorry looking at the squad maybe that comment about the squad is inaccurate. There first XI is as good as, arguably stronger than ours. In fact N'Zogbia and Bent are probably the only areas we are stronger.

[Mazrim]

No it isnt. They have no forwards of the class of Bent and N'Zogbia for one thing.
Their full backs arent up to much either, or their central midfielders. And we have a better goalkeeper.

[boboonthecorner]

No it isnt. They have no forwards of the class of Bent and N'Zogbia for one thing.
Their full backs arent up to much either, or their central midfielders. And we have a better goalkeeper.

I've amended my comment.

[willywombat]

Not sure about that bobo but there's no doubt that Pulis is doing a great job up there

[boboonthecorner]

Our fullbacks are shit, our central midfielders are average at best and our goalie didn't play a league game last season. Whereas Begovic had a decent season......

[KRS]

Pretty sure Palacios declined a move to Stoke (or Sunderland?) a couple of weeks back as they wouldnt meet his £60k/week wage demands and were only prepared to go to £40k/week.