James

Looking at his goals for West Ham, they got much further up the pitch before playing him in. He is going to struggle with Barton preferring to play the early ball and Jonas not playing any ball.

Good positive stuff, writing off a new signing within the space of 45 minutes. Not bothered Korea. Have harboured doubts from day one - he's a freebie, signed for that reason alone. Look forward to him proving me wrong. Think he'll be on the wrong end of some s*** at the end of this season but hope I've misjudged him. Calling me "Korea" Not the brightest are you? He isn't very bright South Korea

Ba is at his best arriving late after good forward play by others, but there has been no situation where he could arrive late as he is in front of everyone else.

Anyone see that phenomenal touch by Shola where he brought down that high and long free kick by Ryan Taylor by the touchline despite pressure from two players?

Hate Taylor.

Not broken. Just badly bruised.

Defence so much worse with Taylor in it. He has no composure and unsettles others.

Raylor

I don't want a poll where people can anonymously answer. I don't want a ranged response. I don't want a response based on what may or may not happen in the transfer market. I want people to commit to a very simple opinion.

To be bumped at end of the season to see who had unwarranted pessimism, deluded optimism and/or a a good know-how 8th.

Can't Pieters play in other defensive positions? If we can't have two players for each defensive position we could do with someone like that.

I don't have a squad number.

I think the real question is whether we'd rather turn to Lovenkrands or a kid during the inevitable injury crisis. I suppose the benefits of keeping Lovenkrands is that he is cheap, different to the other strikers, will chip in with goals, and according to Pardew is making runs for 90 mins that are unsettling markers and drawing away defenders.

He has wicked hair.

For who, the reserves? Fuck me. This is Newcastle. Lovenkrands will get at least 5 games this season.

Don't really see the point of selling Lovenkrands. He is cheap, won't kick up a fuss when inevitably not playing, but will score some important goals when called on in an emergency.

There are some interesting anagrams for Gabriel Obertan Real Gibe Barton - A cryptic dig at Joey Barton signing him? A genital robber - a pervert? A aborting rebel - a trouble maker? Area Belting Orb - Man with strange head belts crosses into penalty area. Banal Ogre Biter - Bit of a hard man? No treble airbag - Injury prone? Treble Orb Again - Wins a lot of trophies? A granite lobber - Will lob goalkeeper rooted to the spot? A rabbiting role - Runs around pitch tenaciously? A terrain gobble - Covers a lot of ground? But the winner: Bargain Bolt Ere - Pacy and cheap. Why we signed him.

We need to pay significant money for a player that would do better than Shola. A lot better. Exactly. So why waste money trying to replace Shola? As by not wanting him, that is what we'd need to do.

Gabriel Obertan is an anagram for Real Gibe Barton

People need to get a grip. Can this club afford to sustain four top strikers? No. Is the club going to find another striker better than Shola but prepared to be fourth choice? No. Is another fourth choice striker going to be as motivated as Shola when he gets a chance? No. Is another fourth choice striker going to deliver the occasional matchwinner like Shola can? No. Is another fourth choice striker going to count towards a required home grown quota if we get into Europe over the next few years? No. So why pay significant money, on a player that wouldn't do better than Shola?

Great news. Those who don't think he makes decent affordable backup are delusional.

Getting Shola to see out his career here is the correct decision. As a backup strikers he is cheaper than other options and is an occasional match winner which is important. Besides, seeing him in a Stoke shirt did not feel right. He is shit, but he is our shit.

Slightly more tenuous, but a friend of a friend is Tim Krul's best mate. My Dad went to the same school as Ben Tozer, albeit 20 years before. A school friend was neighbours with the England U19 coach.

My Dad was a schoolmate/played on the same team as Trevor Francis. I went to school with a former Exeter City goalkeeper. My Uncle was a youth player at Bristol Rovers. My housemate's Dad played for Stoke.

The French trialist is called Edrem Adaola