The funny thing is that yes, Fabrizio Miccoli has actually always been a bit chunky, but he has also been a truly fantastic player. Got more talent in his right foot than the entire West Ham playing staff put together.
He also consorts with the Sicilian mafia, rather than the Spammers who prefer to consort with the sort of crooks who scam a stadium they have no chance of filling out of the British taxpayer for a greatly reduced cost.
I thought that was all 'alleged' hbic, and although he certainly seemed to have been enough of an idiot to associate with people linked to the Mafia there seems to be nothing concrete to directly tie him in. Last I heard of it he issued a public apology and that was that, no charges or anything. Hopefully there was nothing sinister there to tarnish the memory of the footballer, and he was just a bit stupid in who he associated with, which is hardly a first for a footballer.
Southampton are taking Caulker on loan from QPR. Bit of a reverse of the usual way of things, with them going after one of our former youth players. Does that mean we'll sign him back if he does well?
Given the way he performed last season, Caulker is a very lucky man to get such a good move. I was always one of his biggest fans for many years, but frankly his performances over the past 12 months were very poor.
In his defence, he was playing for a thoroughly inept team. But yes, Southampton is a massive step up for him. With Toby at us are they seriously looking to use him as a first team player?!
Yeah, QPR were just awful last season, especially in defence. I think he's a good signing for Southampton as they defend so deep and the midfield shields the defence so well. Basically all you've got to be able to do it is defend crosses and you're golden.
Caulker was pretty poor with us, was very poor in the second half of the season cardiff were relegated and was piss poor last season when qpr went down...maybe he needs to play in a confident team to show his best form...not really a good thing for a professional imo
He really was an enigma. Immense for Yeovil and Bristol City and more than impressive for Swansea. He put in a couple of outstanding performances for us, especially in the 3-2 and 1-1 games against United. I for one thought he'd really kick on in the 2013-14 season but then he was suddenly sold to Cardiff supposedly for something disciplinary and it all went downhill from there. I think a major factor of his time with us was that he was at his best playing next to an experienced partner who could coach him through a game. I remember Gallas talking to him constantly through that famous Old Trafford win. Even though Bill was on his last legs, that day he was immense and it showed in Caulker's performance. The 1-1 was a real blood and guts result in awful conditions: that time it was Dawson coaching him through the heart-on-sleeve display needed when you're up against SAF in a blizzard. I think he sorely lacked that kind of influence at Cardiff and QPR and it caused him to come off the rails a bit. But like Kaboul at Sunderland, if Southampton get him firing on all cylinders they've got a heck of a player on their hands. Best of luck to him.
Think that's a fair summary CK...was disappointed he didn't work out for us but hope he does well...needs a good season after the last 2 yrs or he could find himself dropping down the leagues
Spurcat said something along the lines of several senior players were happy to see the back of Caulker when he was sold a couple of summers back.
I’m usually--well, occasionally--above Schadenfreude, but due to all the merry Kane-and-Lloris-to-Man-U talk earlier, I found the quotes below to be interesting reading. "We have a situation that is not favourable for David De Gea, neither for us and neither for the club that, maybe, he wants to go," said Van Gaal. The manager blamed De Gea for the French club’s opening goal... “Poor I cannot say but he made a mistake. That’s not poor. Everybody can make mistakes but when a goalkeeper makes a mistake it is mostly a goal and that’s the difference.” Spain goalkeeper De Gea was replaced at half-time as United slipped to a 2-0 defeat by Paris St-Germain in Wednesday night's International Champions Cup game in Chicago. Meanwhile, the Dutch boss admits he has "no idea" of the whereabouts of club-record signing Angel Di Maria. Argentina midfielder Di Maria, a £59.7m buy from Real Madrid last summer, failed to return for pre-season training on Saturday as scheduled and it is understood talks are ongoing with PSG about a move to the French champions. Asked if he knew where the 27-year-old was, Van Gaal said: "Maybe you know."
There's an ongoing rumour about Man Utd going in for Cillessen from Ajax with some sections of the media claiming that he's already signed. Given the van Gaal quote, perhaps they're keeping it under wraps until they agree a fee for De Gea with Real?
Wouldn't it be funny if Factitious got wind of this so made a lowball offer that Van Galling has no hope of inflating? It'd make his grandstanding for Ramos look even more feeble.
Aberdeen have just started their game in the Europa League against Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan. 3.45pm kick-off on a Thursday? How **** is that? It's 8.45pm local time, admittedly.
Almaty is one of the potential host cities for the 2022 Winter Olympics, so that means the events will either be taking place at lunchtime over here - or at 3am over there in order to be prime time over here.
