BottledDog

I've a vague feeling that this has come out before, or at least Sir John Hall saying they were honest and he thought they were a good fit. The next couple of lines of that interview balance it out a bit - I think the most important bit regarding the sale though, is that a large part of the reason for selling to Ashley rather than the Malasians was that apart from offering more, Ashley was willing to risk pushing the deal through quickly rather than be thorough - Something that clearly appealed to Hall an Shepherd considering the state of the clubs finances.

Replacement for Enrique: Cheikh M'Bengue. Also, we should've had a contingency plan in place a long long time ago. How much have you watched Cheikh M'Bengue? How much have you watched Erik Pieters?

Can't disagree, not that Chelsea would entertain the idea, but a Paddy Van and Sturridge double deal would be perfect for us.

Should have a target painted on his forehead Almost looks like he enjoyed signing a player. You'd hope so considering he has signed fair few of them in his time.

A happy chairman is not a cash strappy chairman? Kinda adorable without his glasses.

In other words, no real replacement for Enrique? At best, a back-up? Yes, I can imagine we might sign a Dutch international as, at the very best, a back up player.

Less concerned about left back, but to see Pardew in his interview today looking like they are genuinely still struggling to get a striker in is a real worry.

By lad, you're on form today.

“I had a chat with the manager about his plans and he gave me a great speech which pleased me a lot. “There is a lot of ambition here and it is a great challenge for me.” MORE LIES!!1!!1!

eh? 2/3 nights of bellends kicking off and a major sporting event has been pulled. I know it's just a friendly but there will have to be some serious thinking done if something similar isn't going to disrupt the games next year. Spot on. Disgrace that this hasn't been nipped in the bud and that a sporting event that millions would have watched has been cancelled. Saves millions of people a great deal of boredom if previous in-ger-land friendlies have been anything to go on. Sadly sounds like it could cost us millions in compensation to the Dutch FA.

Is that what you can see them saying or God forbid have they said that?! Just Colocho being a helpless troll. Pardew's been interviewed on sky and says we'll need to bring in players if any more leave (presumably Enrique/Barton) but the priority is to get the striker in.

Like a Wes Brown or a Crouch? Aye, exactly like that. For fucks sake man just because I'd like someone a bit more proven it doesn't mean they have to be old and average. Has this lad ever found the net on a regular basis? Name someone realistic then. The only experienced strikers on the radar seem to be the likes of Crouch and Pav who as you say, don't excite. /we have a proven striker in Ba.

Like a Wes Brown or a Crouch?

Fkn 'el.

Fantastic Apart from it's missing this photo. http://sportige.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Joe-Cole-e1298806834889.jpg (copyright Scott Parker)

Bollocks! Bollocks?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Doesn't even feel like he plays for us anymore it's been so long. :-[ I will be beyond happy if he ever gets a good run of games for us.

he hasn't actually said he'll be definately playing though. looking forward to Arsenal sat, ill be playing That's not exactly confirmation that he actually will be playing, considering he's having a go at journos who sit behind their desks and pass judgement all day. Reads to me that maybe he's been told that he'll be involved somehow. What other activities constitute 'playing'? You know what I mean. I think he was using it to make his dig at the journos. Not neccessarily meaning that he definitely will be playing. Fair enough. I'd be enourmously surprised if he had any chance of actually playing all things considered.

he hasn't actually said he'll be definately playing though. looking forward to Arsenal sat, ill be playing That's not exactly confirmation that he actually will be playing, considering he's having a go at journos who sit behind their desks and pass judgement all day. Reads to me that maybe he's been told that he'll be involved somehow. What other activities constitute 'playing'?

We're way past E already to be fair.

Glad to see that Pardew disagrees with you. It may be tough to break into the top 4, but refering to Enrique he said - “Unless we can become more competitive, finish in the top eight in the Premier League and, eventually, qualify for Europe, this will keep on happening. “It is extremely hard to keep hold of your best players without that status. “In the next two or three years we have to get back into that sort of position and then we can keep the best players and attract even better ones. “That is the challenge we have ahead of us. I don’t want to be in a position as manager where this keeps happening year after year – so we have to progress, and we have to improve."