by ivor_the_injun » Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:40 pm
1. On their day, Alonso, Beckham and Gerrard have a frankly eye-popping range of passing. Gerrard's unfortunately been a bit slack with some of his distribution of late, but he's still up there.
2. To be honest, Morientes. I was extremely excited about his arrival, but he's shown next to nothing for us.
For me, Diouf was moved out to the right far too soon, and once his disciplinary problems started, he looked like a guy waiting to be sold. That said, I think his failure to explode for us was more the fault of the manager than the player. He was appallingly mis-managed.
Also, I was very, very disappointed with Le Tallec after all the talk of these little "gems" that Houllier blinded us with. A few years on, he still looks like a streak of p*ss that wouldn't last two minutes in a vaguely physical game.
Last but not least, I think I have to mention Heskey. I must admit I wasn't happy with him being signed in the first place, but then I saw one of his barnstorming MOM performances and changed my mind completely. Next game, however, he was the worst player on the pitch by a mile. And the week after, and the week after that. Every time he seemed to take a step forward, he'd take 5 steps back.
Honorary mentions to Cheyrou, Diao and Kirkland as well.
3. Wenger. In their unbeaten season, they were utterly frightening. If he manages to turn his current crop of players into a team even remotely as capable as that team, I think he'll have earned everybody's respect.
You can't knock Fergie's record, but he's such an unpleasant b*stard that you can't help but knock him as a person.
Can't even be bothered getting into Maureen. He's a talented guy, but he doesn't half know it, and it'll ultimately prove to be his downfall.
4. Robbie. In an era of incredibly dull sportsmen generally, he's always come across as one of the lads.
5. I hope Anderson gets a run out, as he's still at that age where he doesn't give a sh*t about reputations, and he'll carve defences up as a result.
As for a new signing, I do think Yakubu would be an inspired choice up front. Everything Heskey should have been, and more besides. On the wing, SWP would be nice, but won't happen.