I don't think any of us are unable to accept the possibility of a 16 year old being good enough to play for his national team, but I'm also not being sold into thinking he's the complete package because he's been sold for X million. I'm sure he'll play for England someday, who knows, maybe he'll be the best player in the world, but as of yet he's made a handful of appearances in the championship, scoring only a couple of goals, and hasn't even made it onto the pitch for a premiership. Come June, at best, we could be looking at a player who's played in 10-15 games for Arsenal, I can't even see that being true, does that really make you deserve a place in the world cup?

It's entirely possible, so I'm just wondering what will happen if they do.

What happens if England win the world cup?

The Duff money didn't pay for Reid. Hadn't we already bought Reid at that point?

Mahon played quite a bit for us while on loan during the promotion campaign and was unlucky that he was here while Duff was. He has done quite well for Wigan this season. Also think Amoruso is always given a lot more flack than he deserves. Not saying he is quality, but he was at times our best player.

Also it has to be remembered that this battle isn't limited simply to consoles but is much bigger than that. Several companies are battling over the future of all dvds. The xbox 360 is a good console, it's out and when I've played it I've been really impressed, that is really all that I care about.

I see what you're getting at there and I do hope the luck stays but I can see this going the same way as our last semi-final.

If need then im sure hddvd technology will be used. For the time being it simply isn't needed though. By the time it really is we'll probably be talking about a new console anyway.

One reason that it is slightly easier for them is that there are fewer "dominant" teams in Spain.

Don't have a great feeling about this game, but just have to hope, please please please.

I think a lot of people are doing the trust and the board a major injustice by being so critical. We are now coming to a period where, after showing some good potential, investment could bring great rewards. However, this has not been true for a couple of seasons so it is not surprising that in recent times there hasn't been a major amount of invesmtment. In recent seasons whenever we have needed money (Cole being the perfect example and even in the Bellamy deal this summer) the trust and board have come up trumps. I fully expect that if we finish in the top 8 this summer we will see Hughe given enough money to do what he needs to secure that position and even make us into a team that can really consider itself a top 6 side. We can't be critical of a board that has shown little ambition when the club is struggling at the bottom of the table and losing money, they have kept the club running and in a great financial state, given the situation that is more than we could have ever asked for and something that about 15 premiership clubs are probably jealous of. If in a year we find that little transfer funds have been made available and that the club has gone backwards again then I think we'll have to really be looking for a new source of investment (something I'm sure is already being done and that would be more than welcome) but until then we can't be critical of the trust.

Agree with you Tango. Didn't think he meant to do it, but I really don't care, lady luck was on our side today.

Anyone else getting tired of Harry Redknapp constantly saying the squad isn't strong enough after he loses? Already he has spent more than most clubs since he's joined, most of the squad is the one he used to have (those who left were usually taken by him) and yet he says they aren't even good enough to make 17th? Guy really gets on my nerves.

Yes, but it has been mentioned recently that Hughes' balance is -900k or so. Now that isn't that much spending for a premiership side doing fairly well. I would expect us to keep our cash in our pockets for now and spend in the summer unless we see someone who we have to get. I'm not having a go at the board, but I do think there should be money made available because there is the potential for it to bring huge rewards on the pitch. That hasn't really been true for a long time.

I'd be up for a trip into london if there were a few meeting up to watch the game.

Gray probably just thinks some positive press might help Souness keep his job for a bit longer and as a Sunderland fan that probably makes him a bit happier.

I'd rather have someone who I think can handle the pressure. Why compare Hargreaves and Walcott? They aren't similar types of players so for that situation, yes, I want an attacking player.

Are you seriously comparing the Walcott and Jansen situation? Walcott has scored something like 4 goals for a first team, having not even made an appearance in the premiership. Jansen had years of experience and had scored goals in the top league and also had a season of excellent form behind him. I don't know if Walcott will turn into the next big thing, but he just might, but right now he's simply a talented youngster, no more, no less and should be playing youth games and games for his club until he has proven he can make it at this level. England caps shouldn't just be handed out because one day you might be good, or because it might work out, you earn them, especially when you're talking about sending them to a World Cup that the squad has a serious chance of winning.

Not too bad considering there's 5 days to go.

The ps3 isn't going to be any cheaper when it first comes out.

Sorry...I'll put more effort in next time.

and he always scores against us.

Tugay's shooting is pretty awful, he's just always good for one cracker a season. He's met his quota this year so he may as well stop shooting now. Reid hasn't scored many but Tugay isn't exactly streets ahead of him. Tugay has only scored 7 in 178 appearances while Reid has 3 from 74. So in terms of ratios Tugay is fairing slightly worse, especially when you consider that 22 of Reid's appearances have been from the bench while of the 178 games Tugay has played he has only come off of the bench 24 times. This season they both have one from 21 starts, though Reid has come on as a substitute 5 times while Tugay has only done this twice. In his entire career Tugay has scored 50 goals in 478 appearances, 51 of those being substitute appearances. Steven Reid has scored 22 in 241 appearances with 49 of those being as a substitute. So even overall they are fairing just about the same, though given the number of times he comes on as a substitute you'd have to say Steven Reid is probably doing just a bit better. I know most of this was pretty pointless but I was bored with nothing to do so thought I'd clear up the Tugay versus Reid shooting debate. The real answer to the question though would be in seeing number of shots and how many of those are on target. Steven Reid has a better shots on target percentage at 24%, which isn't too bad, total number of shots I can't be bothered to find.

1. Pearce - nowhere near enough experience. He's done a pretty good job with City but really gets more praise than he should because of his overall popularity and the media attention both he and City get. They are afterall only just above us and we have a game in hand, a good position, but given the cost that the city squad was assembled at not an amazing achievement. Maybe a future England manager but he has a while to go yet and a lot still to prove. 2. Curbishley - In my opinion of the five he's the best bet, but it's a poor bunch. Turning Charlton into a secure premiership side was an amazing achievement, but then since then where is the progression? They promise so much at the start of each season and then simply fade away, perhaps not a characteristic we want the England team to have. 3. Allardyce -No, just no. Couldn't stand the man though he does have an eye for a good deal and the ability to bring the best out of his side. However, his success at Bolton hasn't shown he can either handle the pressure of a big job or manage a talented side. Do we really want to see England with Davies up front and 11 men behind the ball just hoping someone will fall over in the penalty area and we scrape an ugly 1-0? 4 and 5 - One is probably a great coach, the other, well, disloyal moaner pretty much sums him up. Neither have the ability to manage a national side. England would be forced into picking a foreign coach, not that there is anything wrong with that. The failure of the English leagues to produce top quality managers who get the chance to test themselves at the highest level has left the FA with little choice. While the fact that the England set-up doesn't allow there to be coaching staff surrounding the current manager and having a great deal of input and involvement in a way that could lead them to be potential candidates for the role of manager when the current one leaves has meant there is simply no option but to look abroad. Then again, I don't think sven has done all too much wrong other than the fact that he made a few mistakes in Euro 2004 in the Portugal game and then had a bit of bad luck to be knocked out and also lost in a close match to a Brazil side that just seemed to have the mental edge over England.

Agree Neill probably is the best vote, not a chance I'd vote for Gray, there are a few that would come before him in my book, including Nelsen, Tugay, MGP and Friedel. I don't actually believe MGP should win it, having said that, there's a long way left to go so who knows what I'll think after Todd has scored the winners in two cup finals and captained the team to a European spot.