Alex

The Leidseplein can be quite nice on sunny day but it's very touristy. It's got Irish Bars, a massive Bulldog Coffeeshop and a Hard Rock Cafe ffs. Agree re: visiting Anne Frank's House too. Ask about the drumkit.

He might do a charidee gig once he hangs his boots up. Owt else would be a bit of a pisstake.

You cunterhead

Tbf it's probably the league that offers the best 'finishing school' and best value for teams looking for players for the top European leagues.

The Dam is mint but it's fucking dear these days. If you do go the Old Centre is basically the Red Light District which is fine through the day but full of stag dos and worse after dark. I'd try and stay in the Southern / Western Canal belt or somewhere like the Pijp. The big advantage of the place is that it's easy walking around the place as it's very compact. The Rijksmuseum is quality, as is the Van Gogh Musuem. The latter in particular gets very busy though. I'd consider a mid-week break rather than a weekend one too. Kadinsky Coffeeshop just off Spuistraat does nice space cake if you / your lass doesn't shmoke.

He's a modern central playmaker in the Fabregas / Lampard / Gerrard - type mould. Rather than a Bergkamp / Baggio / Pedro type 'no. 10'. I realise the latter wore '8' before anyone points that out

DEFCON Marmite

Aye, although while I thought starting him in the middle against Everton was ridiculous, when you look at the bench....frightening.

I take it that's what you meant by taking a chance on him and I agree. As I said earlier I don't blame him but all this wishing him well bollocks? Fuck right off man

Aye, howay though man. It's proper last throw of the dice stuff when Shola comes on when you need a goal. As others have said, he was no. 4 choice here when he was at his physical peak. The fact his brother is nowhere near the finished article is neither here nor there. I'd say the only time he's looked effective in the last 5 or 6 seasons (bar in the Championship) is holding the ball up last year when we were already winning and he'd come on to retain a bit of possession. I don't actually mind Shola either.

They claimed it cost £500k a week last time (or thereabouts). If it had cost more I don't see them spinning it to hide that, given the crack then was all about how much 'Mike' was putting into the club out of his own pocket etc. Having said that, I'm not suggesting we won't bring more players in because I think they realise we need another striker at least and they won't want to risk relegation. I don't see us spending £30m net (or £20m for that matter) though.

Sunderland apart of course and generally speaking, he hasn't got what it takes to change a game in which you're trailing imo. I'm fairly confident there's many more examples where it hasn't worked out

Like I said earlier and like DK just said, he's only a decent option to defend a lead or perhaps a draw. To call him an impact sub is a bit misleading because he's not going to get something for you when you're chasing the game. I don't buy into the notion he's lazy but he's never been able to play more than 60 mins and he's about two stone of muscle heavier than he was a few years back.

Had a bit too much over Xmas but I'm not too bad at 12st 10. Should probably be half a stone lighter (or a couple of inches taller).

I don't see Cabaye as a 'classic no. 10' although the role has virtually died out anyway. If he's playing the furthest forward in a 3 along with 2 of Tiote, Anita and Gutierrez then I could see it working. Especially if it's HBA, Cisse and the new striker / wide man (e.g. Remy) playing ahead of them.

Or Brazil. He's fucking brill.

Relegation cost c. £25m iirc. so he's not going to spend £30m when we have a lower wage bill this time around.

Get some Cuban heels and a gastric band.

Nice one, ta. If not, our lass if on facebook anyway.

He's definitely predominantly right-footed on the evidence I've seen. Didn't he play left-back at Inter (and here I suppose) due to circumstances rather than his preference though?

I'm surprised he even mentioned it

Was 13 out of our 26 before last night for Ba, which was 50%. But RVP has 16 out of their 54. Suarez is probably not far off 50% of Liverpool's league goals though.

Sorry if it's already been mentioned earlier in the thread but in terms of goals / team ratio, no other top flight side has relied on one single player than we have with Ba. When you take his goals out of a side 2 points above the relegation zone it a bit of a sphincter twitcher.

Getting off track like but there are ancient burial grounds and cup and ring markings found around the Cheviots / Simonside Hills. Simonside Hill was considered sacred. I love it up there. Julian Cope has a website and book about all that sort of thing.

Just to be clear, I was taking the piss