James

Nethertheless it will take an absolute fuckwit of a chairman to bring him to their club on the wage Smith will demand. We are in a very bad negotiating position with the 25 man rule in that we already have 24 players and want to sign more, but to do that Smith is out of the 25. Come August/September, clubs that can't afford his wages are going to be able to negotiate their wage contribution as low as possible and we'll be right over the barrel. Or alternatively we will miss out on at least one transfer target because Smith is still here.

I do kind of feel sorry for Smith as there was a player (striker) there before his leg break, not world class or anything but generally good. Since then he's admitted that he can't play up front any more as he can't do certain things with his leg. He's tried to change position but just doesn't have the mindset for it. He's been a really good professional. So while I want to see the back of him from a purely financial/playing strength perspective, I won't boo him.

Some people just need a scapegoat tbh.

Surprised Paul Stretford took him on, that is way below his usual level.

Wasn't one of the France managers never arsed to come to SJP, and only watched us away in London when we kept losing?

In fact Robert was probably the best ever footballer from the Indian Ocean.

Forgot about him. I'll give you that.

French born XI Perez Beye Goma Bassong Bernard Cabaye Dumas N'Zogbia Ben Arfa Ginola Ba Subs: Robert, Domi, Charvet, Boumsong, Marveaux, Abeid, Saha

We'd be relegated.

Incidentally we can only sign one more over-21 now before we have players who would be earning but unable to play. I'd imagine then that soon Pardew will be expected to shift a player before he can bring a new one in. Hence Smith and Best being made available.

And David28

I see The Prophet is as ever incapable of reading.

Depending on formations we either need to get two more strikers, or one striker and one wide striker/inside forward. Then a centre back. Then a central midfielder, preferably a non-African due to the ANC. Then if still plush a right back.

We signed a wide player, and we signed a proven Premier League striker. We've also signed a central midfielder, an 18 year old attacking midfielder, and we expect to sign a back up left back. Putting all that into the mix, where do we now need to look at improving? An overview of our squad looking at who can play there rather than who is good at playing there: Goalkeeper Harper Krul Forster Soderberg That Very Tall Serbian Centre Back Coloccini Williamson Steven Taylor Perch Kadar Tavernier Right Back Simpson Perch Steven Taylor Ryan Taylor Gosling Tavernier Left Back Enrique Ferguson Perch Kadar Neil Taylor Central Midfield Tiote Cabaye Barton Ben Arfa Marveaux Smith Guthrie Gosling Coloccini Perch Abeid Donaldson Vuckic Ryan Taylor Richardson Right Midfield Ben Arfa Barton Gosling Routledge Ryan Taylor Lovenkrands Guthrie Abeid Gutierrez Ranger LuaLua Left Midfield Marveaux Gutierrez Ben Arfa Ferguson Lovenkrands Abeid Vuckic Guthrie Barton Lua Lua Neil Taylor Wide striker/Inside Forward Ben Arfa Marveaux Lovenkrands Ranger Routledge Abeid Ba Xisco Lua Lua Sammy Ameobi Donaldson Striker Ba Shola Ameobi Best Lovenkrands Ranger Xisco Sammy Ameobi Donalson Airey

I would have Hargreaves if the deal was right. He could even play at right back.

I have perfected my earlier attempt (see Ba thread) Ba Ba Demba have you any goals? Yes sir, yes sir, loads and loads One for the Arsenal and one at White Hart Lane and three against the Mackems who live down the drain.

I can see Liverpool negotiations going something like this: Dalglish: Nae jo hpa aye um ooh badda tigh but hadda it. Marveaux: Fuck that I'm signing for NUFC.

Out of our price range IMO. Not that I'll care if this guy is any good. Why? We still've got every penny of the Carroll deal left, haven't we? Don't forget Pardew said it would include wages.

N'Zogbia is a right-sided inside forward.

Sell him. Nah I like the sound of him, sounds like Dyer. I liked Dyer.

Worth noting that that French guy said that Marveux doesn't really cross or get to the byline at all.

We will sign everyone in the world and then sell everyone in the world, and then end up with the same squad we had in the 96/97 season with Keegan as manager.

So next season, opposition on ball. Tiote BOOM! Short pass to Cabaye. Through ball down the left BOOM! Marveux BOOM!ing down the left cuts inside like he prefers, and lays ball off for Ben Arfa. BOOM! Ben Arfa has ghosted inside the full back and into the penalty area and slid the ball across the six yard box. Ba. BOOM!