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22 Sep 2026 12:18:40
Following on from my post yesterday (name the players you would like Leeds to have signed over the years - simple rules: must be realistic, you can only sign people we could have afforded at the time and, must be in the time period you've been following Leeds) .
You are allowed to choose players we were linked with, on the verge of signing but didn't or simply someone you wish we'd signed.
Here's my X1:
1- Peter Shilton (if Cloughie had remained, he would have signed him)
2 - John Gidman (we should have signed him around 77/78, excellent full back at the Villa at the time)
3 - Ben Chilwell (a lot of us were calling for cover at left back - he's an excellent player. Wages would be an issue though)
Centre backs - Bobby Moore (wanted to sign for Leeds according to his wife Tina) and Kevin Beattie (not aware of him being linked with us but he would have made a brilliant replacement for Norman Hunter)
Midfield -
Graeme Souness (we were in discussions in the mid 70s - direct replacement for King Billy)
James Garner (we should have beaten Everton for his signature!)
Gerrie Muhren (a bit left field this one - Arnold Muhren's older brother. Ipswich went for Arnold in the late 70s. Pity we didn't go for this brilliant playmaker a couple of years earlier)
Upfront -
Andy Gray (Villa took the chance on the Scot and he proved to be an out and out goalscorer - if only we had gone for him when big Joe Jordan went)
Trevor Francis (another we would have got had Cloughie remained - Francis always said that he wanted to play for Leeds)
Jared Bowen (could/should have signed him during Bielsa's reign, and should have had another go this summer)
Your turn guys - Baz mentioned Pat Jennings yesterday, an excellent choice.
JR also suggested 'your worst X1', those we should never have signed!
I'm going to add Roque Junior to his list!
Fire away with your choices guys - you've got a couple of weeks to kill before we play again: (.
1.) 22 Sep 2026 12:35:38
Great selection choices there Cleggy
My list so far.
Pat Jennings 1967
Frank Lampard 2000
Alan Shearer 1992
Be interested Cleggy if you have any suggestions for a pacy supreme defender LB in the DOL era 1997 to 2002.
Although Ian Harte was supreme on free kicks.against good teams he was a weak defensive link imo
Ashley Cole comes to mind but he was firmly a Gooner in that period.
2.) 22 Sep 2026 12:58:38
Glenn Hoddle 1979.
When our creative talisman Tony Currie very regettably left.I would have loved Leeds to have signed Glenn Hoddle from Spuds.
Leeds unwisely failed to sign a creative midfielder in any of the next 3 seasons and it played a huge part in their eventual relegation in 82.
3.) 22 Sep 2026 20:39:25
Ooof a full XL or as close as I can get (I'm 32 for the era context) .
GK - Dominik Livakovic. He's come up a few times over the years before we finally signed Trafford. Was always very cheap in the rumours weirdly for a class keeper.
LB - Josko Gvardiol. We were linked with him the summer before he moved to City. Not sure how close we were genuinely for him or was it one of Victor's long shots. Nevertheless it was reported.
CB - Joel Ward. Was a swiss army knife for Portsmouth right around the time we came up from the Championship and signed for Palace. They went up that same season. We got Jason Pearce instead. Safe to say who won that pick of Pompey defenders. They paid 400k for him and got a decade. Sure he came up as linked with us once or twice.
CB - Help!
RB - Resigning Denis Irwin - apparently we tried to, Ferguson turned the same phone call into asking the price for Cantona. if that had turned into Irwin for Cantona would have been more palatable than what actually transpired. Cheating slightly as before I was born but i've read enough about this story.
Midfield. Lampard and Rodrigo De Paul. Honourable mention for CAM for Charles De Ketelaere.
Wing - Cody Gakpo, Again it was the year before Liverpool signed him I think and he was rumoured to be the marquee signing of the window.
Wing - Kharavetskhalia when he was at Rubin Kazan as we were looking to replace Raphinha.
Forwards - Jonas Wind from the most recent window. He was a free agent target man who moved from Wolfsburg to Braga. Don't know if we were ever strictly linked but I'll maintain we should have done that one.
Erling Haaland - toured the club so I guess we had a shot when he was still at Molde in 2018.
11 I wish we hadn't signed. Imposed rule - its a combo of in some cases because they were terrible full stop or terrible for the money spent, context to the season.
Paul Rachubka - His mistakes vs Blackpool saw Alex Cairns get a debut.
Lb - Federico Bessone
CB - yeah Roque Junior gets the nod here.
CB - Max Wober.
RB - ermm.
LM - Cameron Stewart
CDM - Michael Brown - useless If you want a CAM instead, Adryan.
CM - Seth Johnson - if we dont sign him its because we signed Lampard.
RM - Jimmy Kebe (gosh that was a good window)
RS - Noel Hunt - Just didn't deliver and was a marquee free agent who took a hefty wage for nothing.
LS - Billy Paynter - see above. Between him and Bessone if just one of them had panned out we'd have made the play-offs first year back instead of 7th.
Honourable mentions for: Steve Morison in exchange for Becchio, Weston McKennie, Luke Varney, Robbie Fowler, Lonergan (second spell - first was decent) , Higgs, Casilla, Buononotte.
4.) 22 Sep 2026 23:58:04
Pretty good selections young Ealing
Very good picks on gk Livakovic ( much prefer we signed him this summer than the high budget Trafford and spent wedge in forward positions )
and Gvardiol ( if only)
As for the waste of moneys. no way Robbie Fowler ( say instead of the humungous waste of money JKA lol ) .Fowler was class his goals got Leeds into Europe.
5.) 23 Sep 2026 07:36:04
Good shouts there, Ealing!
Add Paul Okon as the replacement for
Olivier Dacourt!
Peter Barnes never delivered on his hype and price.
Ian Rush, Mark Hateley, and Lee Sharpe.
I'd add a question mark over Michael Brown; at least he got stuck in and battled, when that tenacity was severely lacking in the team.
6.) 23 Sep 2026 10:35:05
Brown I just remember as being a half step slow every game.
Fowler I thought was one of the hall marks of the overspend. We got half a good season for £12m that delivered uefa cup. It's not his fault but we didn't need another forward with smith viduka and Keane at the time. I can't remember if bridges was fit too or if the injuries had started. So less reflection on his abilities but I just wish we hadn't signed him.
7.) 23 Sep 2026 10:49:15
Leeds spent a sizeable whack on Lee Sharpe £4.5 million but Ian Rush was a free transfer and Mark Hateley merely a short term loan
The caveats to all three perfomances were that they all played in just the 1996/97 seez where George Graham perhaps rightly focused on Leeds being just uber defensive thst seez
conceding very few goals to defo avoid a R battle. but hardly scoring any either
most of our matches were nil nil or 1 nil in 96/97.
8.) 23 Sep 2026 10:57:09
Ealing.Bridges picked up what became a career ending injury in 2000.way before Fowler was signed.
Contrary to some peeps mistaken opinions we actually needed Fowler because we continually had lenghty injuries to not just Bridges who never played again.but also to Smith, Keane and Kewell
Fowler scored 1 goal every 2 games. a goodish signing imo
JKA and others on the list but not Fowler.
04 Jul 2026 09:48:57
I must say, apart from the obvious (Haaland, Messi, Mbappe and Kane) , I've been struggling to spot anyone who has really stood out for me at the World Cup - or should I say, anyone that we could afford!
I'm rather more optimistic that our recruitment team have been turning their attention away from the American continent and focusing on Europe in an attempt to snaffle up a few more top signings like last season.
Another Bijol, Stach and DCL would do very nicely, thank you.
Must add, delighted with Harry Wilson - excellent signing.
And here's one from left field (and will take cover immediately after mentioning him) - Mason Mount.
Yes, he is from the dark side (but then so were Johnny Giles and Gordon Strachan, and they certainly never let us down) .
Yes, he'll be on big money but how ambitious are we? He might want to renew his partnership with Wilson?
And yes, his injury record is abysmal (but then so was DCL's until he came to us) .
As I say, very left field but if all of the above reasons turned from negative to positive you've got a top drawer player who on his day can produce the goods at the highest level.
Off to put on the tin hat!
1.) 04 Jul 2026 14:22:28
You must be being selective in your World Cup viewing. I can proudly announce I've watched every single game in some format, and there are heaps better than we have at available price. Just need to look at less popular teams to get value.
Austria. Kongo. Switzerland varde nz. Aus. Pretty much, every nation has better than we have in all positions. Affordable too. Our recruitment is not up to it.
09 May 2023 21:06:55
Does anyone know if we are allowed to pick any of the returning loanees for the final three games?
Thinking of Cresswell, Shacks and Hjelde as they won't be involved in the play-offs.
{Ed002's Note - No, they are not available.}
Cleggy's banter posts with other poster's replies to Cleggy's banter posts
31 Oct 2026 22:12:04
I'm lost.
We turned things around last season by throwing the two big men up front. Now I know Nmecha isn't the best but his partnership with DCL worked - two big units coming at you are hard to defend against.
Yet here we are yet again leaving DCL on his own - it's not working! We appear toothless, especially in the second half of the games.
The sooner we get back to the 5/3/2, 3/5/2 formation the better.
1.) 31 Oct 2026 22:30:29
We need to do something, that's for sure Cleggy. A few more performances like today and we will be in trouble. A win next Saturday is vital before the IB.
2.) 31 Oct 2026 23:21:13
I hear ya Cleggy but I'm pretty sure we only played two strikers twice last season.
30 Oct 2026 21:31:54
As much as we want/need a win tomorrow, I would definitely settle for a draw away to Bournemouth!
Although a curling 20 yarder from Harry Wilson, or an Anton Stach direct free kick certainly wouldn't go a miss!
1.) 30 Oct 2026 22:30:16
Indeed Cleggy,given the Cherries form and firepower I would take a draw.
For this particular match, I would select the following team :
GK Jimmy Trafford
RWB Bogle
RCB Elvidi
CB Bijol
LCB Tarik
LwB JJ ( I would drop Gabi.JJ has scored and assisted from LWB and is by far better defensively
CDM Ampadu
CMS Tanaka Longstaff and Stach ( all 3 to be instructed to get forward to support DCL and shoot from in and just outside box )
CF DCL
For this particular match I defo would not start any of Okafor, Wilson, BA
And. Leeds really need to start scoring more from corners and freekicks like they were doing fairly effectively so last seez.
2.) 30 Oct 2026 23:38:47
As feath quite rightly said yesterday. If we play to the standard we got to for first 55 min or so v Arsenal. We might get something out of it.
If we play to recent form I can only see a drubbing.
Agree with that Baz. But it won't happen.
3.) 31 Oct 2026 02:31:19
I hope it does happen Aus; both out of form BA and HW need benching for this Bournemouth match.
4.) 31 Oct 2026 08:02:00
Well that settles it then, Wilson will score his first goal and Okafor and Aaronson a goal a piece to win the game.
Thank you for that Baz, I'm off to the bookies with that bit of information.
5.) 31 Oct 2026 08:47:25
Can we have a private bet opti of 50p that won't happen.
6.) 31 Oct 2026 10:04:00
Hehe OP.so you are predicting Farke's Leeds United some how
score 3
and away
and vs in form Bournemouth of all teams ?!
.more chance of me receiving a lordship ole chap
Cheers Lord Baz.
7.) 31 Oct 2026 10:26:03
Baz, fairly sure, no 100% sure, OP was being sarcastic.
8.) 31 Oct 2026 10:56:51
I'm pretty sure he knows that 1970, he's just trying to commit me to a match score prediction. I don't do score predictions but I do think there'll be goals in this game.
It's not going to be a nil nil draw thats for sure.
9.) 31 Oct 2026 11:10:46
I don't know how you'll get that 50p to me Aus. You can do a bank transfer if you want.
10.) 31 Oct 2026 12:09:18
Well peeps there is no doubt in my mind this is our toughest assignment to date, horrible time to go to Bournemouth, they are flying. Its gonna take a performance like the one at the Etihad when Stuarty D sent us into raptures.
Having said that the bookies have them at 11/10 so some respect for our boys there. Think its a behind the sofa watch coming up, but we are a match for anyone on our day, just hope its one of those days ?.
11.) 31 Oct 2026 12:23:45
I love it, just love it when we are being made clear underdogs.
12.) 31 Oct 2026 12:25:08
Very obviously 1970
So OP predicts ' it definitely wont be nil nil '.
Thank you very much for that OP. I'm off to the bookies with that bit of information.
13.) 31 Oct 2026 12:35:45
It's indeed Davey a very tough time to play very inform Bournemouth ; but we defo wont be routed by 4 goals like we were in 2023
But Bournemouth eventually winning 2 nil.
14.) 31 Oct 2026 12:42:42
I will say it WIN for Leeds there you got it ????.
15.) 31 Oct 2026 13:58:18
Can I have a private 60p on that 4
Prediction Baz? Check opti bank account. I will bank the difference.
On a diff note. Devon done and with very very hard fixtures coming lol. So funny. What to do.
11 Oct 2026 17:25:48
A friend of mine came up with the best suggestion I've heard so far re a suitable punishment for Man City.
No demotion to a lower league - it's the Premier Leagues problem, not the EFL
10 year ban from European competition.
50 point penalty every season for the next 10 seasons.
No inward transfers for the next 10 years.
Now whilst some will say that's too draconian no doubt City will appeal and given that the footballing authorities have the backbone of a jelly it's bound to be reduced - let's say by half.
But 5 years and say 30 points is enough.
Think about it - let's say they get 90/95 points this season. Take away 30 and they are down to 60/65 points (that's top half of the table but no europe next year or any new faces coming in)
By the summer break the vultures will be circling and at least 2 maybe 3 of the big stars will be lured away (they are not going to get champions league for another 4/5 years and no chance of winning the Premier league) .
Therefore in the 2nd year without the likes of Haaland or Cherki for example, their points tally is going to be potentially down to 70/75 - which goes down to 40/45 after the deduction.
By year 3, at least a couple more stars will want out, and therefore the likelihood of reaching safety (which has to be a minimum of 65 points) starts to become increasingly unlikely and therefore by such time you could see them being relegated. That's important because demotion shifts the problem to the EFL whereas relegation is the 'normal' way of things.
By season 4 they will have lost nearly all their current squad, can only replace with their own academy players, are now in the championship, no champions league money and facing at least 2 more seasons of a 30 point deduction.
Finally, any money they receive from the sale of their star players must be used to pay off any of the claims other clubs may bring against them.
It's not perfect, but nothing ever will be, but at least this way it's a Premier league problem not an EFL one, and it punishes City over a period of time - in the same way that they cheated over a period of years.
Thoughts guys?
1.) 11 Oct 2026 18:57:17
If only Cleggy, but it's an interesting set of sanctions
For me my main wish is for :
1) The disciplinary commission impose the sanction of stripping Citeh of the numerous trophies they won between 2009 -2018.karma!
And
2) This process is expedited asap
However, very unsatisfactory for the sport's integrity, I think it is likely imo, that Citeh will get off very lightly with
nothing more than a one off points deduction, that wont be large enough to relegate them
plus a ( meaningless ) fine.
2.) 11 Oct 2026 20:14:28
To me the one overriding sanction that must, must, MUST be imposed is a compulsory change of ownership, and a ban on the existing owners owning any English football club ever again, and if 10 Downing St doesn't like then tough sh#t.
Then having cheated their way to multiple titles, they must be expelled from the PL, and whilst it's true it's not an EFL problem, it does partly work to their advantage in that reducing the PL to 19 teams creates an additional spot in the top tier of the football hierarchy and effectively an additional promotion spot in each of the lower divisions.
If the EFL re-admits them to League 2, that problem stops there. Points deductions, transfer bans and Euro bans would be irrelevant for at least 4 years, and fines or reparations could be considered separately.
3.) 11 Oct 2026 22:51:45
I'm not so sure Baz, I think the authorities have to be seen to hit them hard otherwise you are opening the door for other billionaire owned clubs to do exactly the same.
Only time will tell - let's hope they get a move on with it regardless, as they cannot keep on kicking this can down the road. It's gone on far too long already!
4.) 11 Oct 2026 23:21:25
Definitely concur with JR that there must be a change of ownership; but will there be ?
It's a good follow up point Cleggy
Well if you fancy a flutter on a more harsher punishment, current odds for Citeh to be relegated for the 26/27 season range from 5/4 to 9/4.
5.) 12 Oct 2026 03:02:13
But relegated where to Baz? Relegation to the Champo would be far too lenient, if that were all the punishment they got, they'd hold on to enough of their stars to virtually guarantee promotion back to the PL after just one season, then they'd be back shiny and new like nothing had happened. If they were sent to league 2 on the other hand, I can't see Haarland & co being prepared to put up with a minimum of 3 years out of the top flight, so they really would have to start again from scratch, but this time not with owners with bottomless pockets.
We were out for 16 years, Coventry 25, Forest 23, and Ipswich 22, that's what I think they should have to look forward to.
6.) 12 Oct 2026 08:40:16
I think they can only apply to join the football league at the bottom. So would have to start at league 2. That's what I read anyway.
7.) 12 Oct 2026 12:34:30
If that was Leeds I would be hoping for a lot less, it's the first of such incidents as with other incidents recently fine may be points ban on recruitment for 5 years, books done every six months. End of move on. ( good job I am not on the panel??)
8.) 12 Oct 2026 12:47:48
If it were Leeds Whiteman we'd probably be playing on the local parks pitch next Sunday - you know how much the authorities love us!
9.) 12 Oct 2026 15:21:31
Cleggy I do unfortunately,we would still be calling for less,as I am now.
10.) 12 Oct 2026 15:23:57
If another club does it again they will be hit very hard just like Southampton has been,
11.) 13 Oct 2026 11:49:57
If relegated it wouldn't be possible to impose any points deduction in the following season's so maybe those deductions would have to wait until such a time they were back in the EPL.
Overall I think that's a big too harsh and can't see it being implemented but interesting thoughts certainly.
27 Sep 2026 09:23:52
If you could be bothered with watching the England game last night at least you witnessed a cracking game of football.
Trafford did himself no harm but was appallingly let down by awful defending.
DCL only got a few minutes after coming on for Kane - and herein lies England's biggest problem, Harry Kane!
I know this isn't going to be popular with everyone but whilst he remains in that starting X1 England will never win anything.
Don't get me wrong, a club level he's lethal, against Latvia, Lithuania and Wales he's brilliant.
But the moment he's up against the likes of Spain or France, and especially in the latter stages of a big tournament, he disappears!
You could argue that he scored last night - questionable! That header may well have hit the post until Sideshow Bob deflected it. Not only did he miss yet another penalty for England he also had a brilliant opportunity to play through a totally unmarked Anthony Gordon but chose to shoot himself and miss.
The Anthony Gordon goal was a thing of beauty, tearing the world champions to pieces with a few slick passes - none of which Kane had a hand in.
I'm sorry Harry, you've done your bit for England but it's time to look to the future with a far quicker and more fluid forward line.
And also time for Trafford to step up and replace and less than secure Pickford between the sticks.
There we go, I feel a lot better for saying that now:) ) )
1.) 27 Sep 2026 10:04:37
Never rated Kane regardless of his success. Thats why he went to Germany. Without son feeding him gimmees not good enough for prem.
2.) 27 Sep 2026 11:20:39
I noted two points regarding our players.
1 - Trafford did not dilly dally on the ball like we've seen him do occasionally in PL games, and his distribution was by and large quite good. He was totally blameless for goals 1 and 2, both of which came from errors by Man City players, I wonder if they were in quite the right state of mind for such a big game after recent events. It would be very hard to blame for goal 3, but he may think he could have stopped it if he'd been a fraction quicker off his line, but that's being very picky.
2 - DCL didn't have any real scoring opportunities, but I did see he was always finding the right positions, and only needed a good final ball from a teammate.
England were rocked a bit by the early 1st Spanish goal, but after that it was a close contest, and on another day the result could have been different.
3.) 27 Sep 2026 12:52:42
Never rated Harry Kane ?
Harry Kane's pro career with England, Spuds and Bayern Munich
537 matches 400 goals
Would have loved him at Leeds.
4.) 27 Sep 2026 12:58:54
Cleggy.Harry's more than done his bit. he is England's record scorer.
a record that is extremely unlikely to ever be beaten.
Harry is 33, not getting any younger and he himself at end of World Cup suggested this was his last WC
So yes a pacy, younger genuine goalscoring striker to replace Harry the Great is preferable at some point.
But whom ?
England dont exactly have a plethora of them ; if any genuinely at all!
5.) 27 Sep 2026 13:10:26
To be honest, I have Kane as possibly the best CF in the world, definitely one of them.
I think at an England level, we would have struggled to get anywhere in any tournament because I don't think we have had any decent CF's in England (until now DCL is bang on form) .
However, I do agree that Kane can also be a huge problem, when he drops deep, he wipes away any positivity and attacking threat, and he does have a tendency to shoot when better options are available (but sometime he scores) .
It's basically time for another prolific English goal scorer to challenge/replace him, but not sure that will happen, the FA love him.
6.) 27 Sep 2026 13:56:13
I agree Baz, he's more than does his bit for England but everyone has a sell by date.
His record in the final stages and against the best sides isn't good, that's why it time to move on.
Listening to the radio just, and they were talking about having players who've got 70/80 caps in their position but their back-ups have only got 3 or 4 between them. Who replaces Kane if he gets injured, and who have we got who can step up at the next World Cup - now is the time to start looking for that person.
Another point to ponder on - Spain turned up last night with pretty much their World Cup winning team. England had half a dozen drop outs during the lead up to the game, how come?
What are Spain doing that we aren't?
You want to beat the best and become European or World Champions you have to study what they try and replicate it.
7.) 27 Sep 2026 14:06:11
It's definitely cocky and not the other.
Carry on and he will get caught hopefully not in one of our games.
Thats my opinion.
8.) 27 Sep 2026 15:35:20
If anyone thinks DCL would score more than Kane they need their head testing.
9.) 27 Sep 2026 16:29:42
Whiteman, if you think Trafford was "cocky" last night, you can't have been watching the same game as me. I commented above that last night, with the ball at his feet, he never let the Spanish players get too close before moving it on, and his distribution was generally good, I hope he starts playing like that for Leeds.
And Cleggy, if you thougt Harry Kane's headed goal was questionable, I recommend a visit to Specsavers, the camera behind the goal showed it was bang on target, which is why it was awarded to him pretty much straight away and no thought given to making it an OG for Cucurella.
His slip when taking the Pen was maybe down to the modern obsession with having the sprinklers on right up to kick off, and the surface being a little greasy. Yes he could have passed to Gordon instead of shooting himself, but most strikers in his position would've done likewise. HK is a top top striker, and I'd have him at Leeds like a shot.
10.) 27 Sep 2026 22:22:47
I rate Harry Kane. In terms of pure numbers they speak for themselves but I don't rate him as England's best ever striker. Not even England's best striker in my 32 yrs.
I look at the vast majority of his goals against weak teams and go if we really had Watkins/Toney/DCl/etc there instead of him do we really lose much.
I think he's an anti-Haaland - who some would call rigid. Others (like me) would call it tactical discipline. He stays where a striker should be. Kane wants to do everything and be everywhere against good teams, spreads himself too thin and ends up doing more harm than good.
Kane has rarely delivered in semis or finals or against big teams in three world cups. If you need someone to score against Panama or Senegal he's your man.
2018 no goals in QF Vs Sweden or SF vs. Croatia. Did turn a dour draw Vs. Tunisia for us.
2022 scored a penalty Vs France (also missed a penalty)
2026 group stage goals and yes dragged us through Vs Dr Congo. A. Penalty vs. Mexico. No goals in QF Vs Norway. No goals Vs Argentina. Kanes best non penalty tournament goal was Vs Germany in euro 2020 for me and though that's not to be sniffed at it's slim returns.
Prime Michael Owen (1998-2005) . Goal Vs a top romania team who beat us on the night. The Argentina goal and won a dubious penalty that shearer converted. The Germany hattrick (yes a qualifier) . Won a second game winning pen Vs Argentina in 2002. Scored against eventual champions Brazil in the quarters. Scored early Vs Portugal in euros quarterfinal.
In terms of pure numbers and longevity it belongs to Kane. In terms of my 32 years the peak and peak impact belong to Owen in an England shirt. Teams respect Kane. World class defenders feared prime Michael Owen because time and again he made impacts in matches that mattered. Maybe not enough to swing it. But not because he didn't deliver individually.
11.) 27 Sep 2026 23:10:53
Michael Owen very good player and at full pace before injuries for sure he scared the hell out of other players.
I'd still take Kane over Owen for England and my club Leeds ( if only).
Kane's 414 career goals scored are virtually double those of Owen 213.
12.) 28 Sep 2026 16:16:18
Fair baz.
At age 26 for both (which lets say was the end of Owen's peak) . Kane had a very slim lead in terms of pure goals.
Kane is a brilliant player. And his assist total far out weighs Owen.
But Kane just doesn't do it against the big countries for England for me.
For me id take a striker with lower totals against your Lithuania's and Panamas in exchange for a regular goal (or more) against the big teams.
But it's different views, always good. Id also argue prime Owen was world class not merely very good, certainly through 97-02 and arguably through 05. Think Owens peak ended with the ACL at the world cup and his last good game was that Argentina friendly.
13.) 28 Sep 2026 17:24:04
Good follow up post Ealing.
Much as I dislike them players such as Maradona and Messi are world class because they were extraordinarily talented and the main reasons otherwise ordinary Argentinian sides won World Cups.
Owen not World Class imo
Defo incredibly fast in his early career but for me wasnt a better finisher than his Liverpool team mate Robbie Fowler for starters.
26 Sep 2026 09:52:22
Just thinking back to when we had our troubles - 15 point penalty being the worst part.
I suspect the City situation will be that multiplied by about 10 (it sounds as if it should be!)
I do have a lot of sympathy for the City fans though having been put through the mire ourselves.
Just throwing this in here; if they are punished severely, does that bring up the spectre of a European super league again? Will City with all their money want to languish down in Leagues 1 and 2 for a few seasons with run of the mill players? Or will they say sod this and approach the big boys of Europe (not Spurs) and try to form a league of their own where you can spend what you like, cheat as much as you want and nobody really cares?
1.) 26 Sep 2026 10:22:58
Don't think any other English clubs would join a super league really. It was severely opposed.
Think they in the poop though. They will have to accept their punishment. What ever league they go to.
Likely Champ. They will be promoted by Xmas. Keeping their players will be nigh impossible but their reserves good enough. Just need a 100mil fine too. And transfer ban for three windows.
2.) 26 Sep 2026 12:20:09
There already is a European Super League, not to mention European Leagues 1 and 2. The EPL has become stale and predicable. The last 33 years of the old division one was won by twice as many different teams than the EPL has been won by. MONEY MONEY MONEY -.
3.) 26 Sep 2026 13:21:57
Aus.they wouldn't have the players. Some will leave and they couldn't meet EFL rules with their wage bill.
I don't think its a given thst the EFL would accept them to be honest. Which EFL club wants them challenging them and would vote for it?
4.) 26 Sep 2026 15:04:12
Very true 1970.
When we were young, there's was a chance that anyone coukd in the league (although realistically it was probably 6 or 7 teams per season) .
Nowadays its 2 or 3 - usually 2 by the first international break!
5.) 26 Sep 2026 17:51:10
I don't feel sorry for their fans
We have all wandered how they get away with that carry on for so long
Even now Gallagher's maintains All the success was won on field
What a ridiculous thing to say from him, they won on field because the boardroom were cheating,
The boardroom is what brings the on field stars to camera Noel
So don't waste your breath trying to justify cheating,because that's what we all called for years
That's why Baldy left,He knew well.
6.) 26 Sep 2026 18:46:21
100% Chris.
7.) 27 Sep 2026 08:47:11
Super league thats the top of the PL they get away with anything look at Chelsea what ever they did they didn't get much so they should receive the same as they did we may not like it but it happens right or wrong, it's all down to the very people that run the PL they are as bent as Man City.
18 Aug 2026 16:34:45
My bad! Just realised it's Zetterer as opposed to Zetterstrom from Derby - I'd rather have him over both of the others.
18 Aug 2026 16:32:37
I wouldn't say no to either. Zetterstrom is excellent at penalties - could be very useful in any cup run.
26 Jun 2026 18:39:47
Please let it be true, Alf.
03 Jun 2026 18:42:22
Seen him a few times - he's got at least one mistake in him every game. We don't want another Pascal - we need an upgrade with every signing we make.
12 May 2025 14:55:05
Yes please - he'll do nicely.
04 Nov 2026 13:29:25
I fear you are right JR.
Be lovely to see them go though!
03 Nov 2026 22:20:34
Absolutely Feath. Couldn't believe what I was listening to when I heard it on the radio earlier today.
03 Nov 2026 22:19:39
Long may Carrick remain at Old Trafford - just long enough to take them to the point of no return in the Premiership. :) ) )
01 Nov 2026 18:14:06
Very well reasoned post Cheshire.
26 Oct 2026 13:53:47
We'll be fine Baz. Obviously disappointed that we keep drawing instead of claiming all three points but we will be fine.
Agree with your post yesterday though that we are crying out for a new Pablo - someone who can find the killer pass which opens up their defence, someone who can pop up with a goal when the games got nil/nil written all over it.
I was hoping that Wilson might fill that role but to date it hasn't happened (after all that's what he has done for Fulham the past couple of seasons) . Fingers crossed he finds form soon and both he and Leeds return to winning ways!