George Bailey

Not sure quite how it's a funny that our best CB and captain doesn't compete in the air, like. Amazed that anyone would want Haidara ahead of Santon. The kid's years off being a PL defender. I think years is a bit harsh. Lad has real promise if handled correctly imo. Difficult position to learn FB. I think with a good bit of coaching, gentle easing into the side at the right moments/games and a little bit of time this lad can be very good. Agree he isn't ready yet mind.

Agreed. Rather like an injured player, his "stock" has risen during his absence. Just by not being involved he looks better and more appealing....urgh Silence is exactly the right tactic in the wake of sheer fuck wittery going on with Joe the Liar. Maybe he will have learnt something? Maybe we can expect a reinvigorated AP.... I'm trying the all improved Ian positivity here!

http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/Palace-play-Cole-talks-set-announce-Thomas-deal/story-19478815-detail/story.html#axzz2Y7062Syp Had hoped he had signed for them. Saw him linked yesterday....we wouldn't.....would we??

Exactly the same, really want him out of the country ASAP. Unless he fancied a trip a bit across country and north a bit.....? Top player: despicable human being, by most reports . Oddly what we need in terms of quick thinking, link up style of forward.

FYP

Deep, deep joy.

That's unfair. He hasn't bitched or moaned whilst here, not at all. What's he likely on money wise?? 50-60k a week??

Check your wallet. And your wife's purse...her money purse not her "lady purse"......

consistent if nowt else!

ugh.

Any reason apart from blind pessimism? I can't remember much of a sniff of Cisse leaving. How's that showing blind pessimism? The players are far too similar to play alongside each other, if we really are looking at Bent, it won't be so he can come and sit on our bench will it, so buy Bent, sell Cisse at a profit and money in the bank, plus Pardew gets the "premiership experience" he is craving. It was when the Wonga stories came out regarding Cisse (true or not) that I thought we would look to replace him. I was wondering about Sissoko. Could he be the second "striker" in Pardews mind? Didn't he say he saw him as a no 10? Jans spending was this summers brought forward? So Bent in (experienced/proven PL player and speaks English). Cisse out for profit. Sissoko alongside Bent?? In APs mind?? Something along the lines of : Bent. Sissoko (Shola/Campbell) Jonas/Marveaux/Fergie Gouff/HBA/Obertan Tiote/Anita HBA?/New signing Santon/Haidara MYM . Colo (Taylor/Williamson) Debuchy/Taylor Krul (Elliott) In APs world??

Jesus christ No. I think its Eyeore.

I would think because he is, most probably, looking like being our major summer signing.Maybe?

We've gone through a total change in our purchasing policy. We're now actually doing some proper scouting, and buying young, promising players, and not just from the UK. At the same time, we're moving out massive waged dross and players who don't really contribute what they cost (Stephen Ireland, Bent, Given, Dunne etc etc). Something had got very wrong when, shortly after MON left, our wage bill was £10m more than Spurs, and about £20m more than Everton's. OK spill the beans on our big summer signing See the Bent thread. Cheers......................... Part ex with Shola??? maybe???....

Someone is going to get a bargain with Bent. He's a brilliant finisher, and I can't really remember seeing many strikers so good at reading the offside rule - that's something Benteke could learn from him on, he's so good at it. There are two issues, though. Firstly, if you don't give him the ball where he wants it, he's not going to score. So, with Ashley Young and Downing whipping balls in for him, he scored lots of goals. Under McLeish, where there was not enough attacking intent, he was a waste of space. Secondly, he applies the finish, but that is quite literally all he does. Benteke, by comparison, is a totally different kettle of fish - he offers so much for the team, he works hard, he is an intelligent player who knows how to use space. Bent doesn't do anything like that, and it is anathema to what Lambert wants from his players. There aren't that many strikers of Bent's type around these days, and it's for a reason. If he goes to a team who can guarantee getting the ball to him a fair bit, and who are willing to work around the fact that he doesn't do anything else, someone will get a bargain. Obertan and Jonas the time is yours.

Play him wide.

We've gone through a total change in our purchasing policy. We're now actually doing some proper scouting, and buying young, promising players, and not just from the UK. At the same time, we're moving out massive waged dross and players who don't really contribute what they cost (Stephen Ireland, Bent, Given, Dunne etc etc). Something had got very wrong when, shortly after MON left, our wage bill was £10m more than Spurs, and about £20m more than Everton's. OK spill the beans on our big summer signing

Time to lock the thread tbh. Should have ended on p45.

Better than pretty bad imo. A decent and honest player, who as 4th choice is more than competent. I agree about the limitations, but at least he appears to be aware of them and performs more than competently imo. Unlike Tiote who is incompetent, limited but doesn't have the intelligence to know it. Hope the lad does well at wherever he goes. Lets hope we replace with better. I'm sure many of us have utter faith in the current regime to do so. Uncle Joe will sort it obviously.

Couldn't disagree more about him. I think as a central defensive midfielder he's not too bad an option. Not 1st or 2nsd choice no, but a good cover option. As a CH he again is good for 3rd/4th cover imo. RB well he isn't any great shakes ok, but as a last gasp option the lad gives us cover in 3 positions. On a small wage, with no trouble or dramas (fairly rare for young British players) Anita: Isnt a DM. imo. Tiote shouldn't be starting full stop. He's a liability. Cabaye. well he wont be starting: cos he's off. We are light in cover. Seems an odd decision.

As ever the voice of sense and reason. He's a decent squad player. Versatile and dependable. Daft to shift him for such a low fee.

One of em is. imo. Well crap may be a bit harsh. Certainly not anyone we should be basing a midfield around at any rate.

One of our teachers/assistants (think it was a woodwork or metalwork guy iirc) was a scout for Cambridge at the time.

The 4-3-3's he figured in last season saw him playing in front of the defenders. If that's where he's going to play then you could play Anita or Tiote in those areas. Which is why it wouldn't be the end of the world if Cabaye was sold. Anita/Tiote Sissoko Marveaux ^ Still a very tasty midfield. Cabaye was wasted in our midfield for the most part of last season. Played far too far back. Was starting to get a bit nasty with the tackle, too. Mind you, I'd much prefer to see him stay, and be used more efficiently. Dear god I hope Tiote aint first choice. Limited for me this guy. Not sure we need a "DM" anyway, not in the traditional sense. I personally don't see Anita as a DM either myself. If he was used as distributor of the ball from a deep position then I can see that. Wouldnt want Sissoko wasted out too wide or too far forward. Want to see him driving forward as box to box type, probs centrally imo If Marveaux can stay fit he could be pivotal, provide the creative link to Sissy and HBA....and Bent