toontownman

We can but hope it is the end of an era for shola. Bent would be a fantastic upgrade. New striker, Cisse, Bent, Gouffran, campbell is a good pool to choose from.

And spurs and everton.. Plus any Spanish club that comes in for him. He said Spain was best suited to his playing style a few months back.

Could have had him for free a couple of years back. Absolutely gutted we didn't take him. One of Swanseas best players, already negotiating to go back there. We missed out there.

Just read the above... Was going to post that marv was our most creative too, but thought better of it. I completely agree.

Let's hope this "exclusive" is a pile of poop. Marveaux is easily one of my favorite players. We have no player like him, his calm and precision is a joy to watch. On the upside marv is always injured. We won't replace him with anyone of similar skill and flair. Too bad if true.

Was ruined here by the common Newcastle guaranteed starting spot. Made a ton of progress until he had no competition for RB. Wish him all the best, pivotal in our promotion.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Wait a minute, who?

could have bony and belhanda.. We go for bent and spearing instead.

Agree..will be absolutely fuming if we end up with Bent and Tompkins only.. Mackem worthy signings..

Would be delighted with bent. Providing we sign one or remy, aubermayeng or bony aswell.

obviously mixed up Sammy and Shola with Bigi and Tiotes with his quotes.

Meh.. he has pretty much always said he would sell if the right offer comes in. Maybe all this nonsense was about hoping a knight in shining armor would come in and bid for the club to save the day... unlikely though, he will want to recoup cost..even though he has lowered the market value with the recent shenanigans.

It is too bad.. he had so much potential at Everton. Looked like we had bagged a potential start and future England international. He has had a horrible run with injuries which is a shame for the lad. Looks like it has wasted any potential he had. Championship fodder is what looks likely...but to be honest its hard to make that assessment when he has only appeared a handful of times in between injuries.

Wow and I thought we were only after one striker.. now we have bid for three!

Ince has proven himself in the championship and looks a great prospect. Ferguson and Sammy look like they might have something but are far from proven in the championship or anywhere else. Both can afford another year on loan to truly test them. If they don't excel there then they never will here.

Sissoko is a Box to Box CM, we need someone through the middle that can score and create goals. I would like Ince, Remy and an experienced CB.

Was ruled out before.. totally different ball game now Kinnear is running the show. Exactly the type of player we need imo. Would be delighted if we get him. Can play through the middle as well as the wing. Does sound about right though, we declare interest in a player, just after he is set to sign for someone else.

How can you compare results in the Premiership to results in the 2nd division? I’m sure that we were 18th in the league when Shearer was appointed and 18th after his last game. Exactly, and don't forget that it even took KK 8 games to sort us out after Allardyce had been fired. Keegan returned in January with half a season left - Shearer only had a couple of months and the damage was well and truly done by then. Not saying Shearer is going to be a top manager, but the period he had with us was not a fair guide of his abilities in that direction. Nobody is blemish-free, but for Kinnear to call Shearer a c--- is plainly pot and kettle if not worse. Well, I agree, it absolutely can't be a definitive judgement on Shearer's managerial ability. It is the only time we have to judge but its certainly not fair to assume that's all he had to offer. However, there is a difference between Keegan taking 8 games after Allardyce when there were plenty of games left to play for and no real perceived danger of relegation then Shearer when we absolutely desperately needed something. He was the absolute obvious choice to dig us out by galvanizing the players, staff and fans. The latter clearly happened, unfortunately the gamble and the former never happened. - Maybe it was the hype and expectation, as mentioned both Hughton/Di Canio relatively unpopular decisions amongst fans/media worked for the good of the club, siege mentality and proving people wrong is a strong motivator (that we can bloody pray to god is true about the current state of our management). - Maybe it was Shearers abilities, the players should have respected him, there would surely be no lack of passion and reality about the situation they were in, yet players didn't play for Shearer or the shirt, if anything things went down hill despite probably the best backing of fans in recent times..(12th man my ass). - Quite possible and especially fashionable, it was the disgusting state of the club, the downward spiral was created long before the Kinnear appointment, two many managers and disruption with a sprinkling of overpaid mercenaries with talents and passion that had been long surpassed by an easy job with great pay. We can't know for sure. Certainly its a blotch on Shearers coaching career but I don't think anyone in their right mind should hold that fully against him. His consequent career path and lack of interest in getting back on the horse and proving doubters wrong however could certainly be more telling. *for what is worth, Kinnear is entitled to call Shearer what he wants, I know a few people have eluded to the fact Shearer didn't even name Kinnear but it is blatant what he is talking about. I just wish it could be explained to Joe what taking the high ground means and how important it could be in trying to mend the structurally sound bridges he ripped down in his self indulged egotistical rants. I don't doubt we will hear from himself that "the club is bigger than any one person" I doubt however he can actually understand the meaning especially relate the fact that he is not excused from that statement.

Kinnear mentioned something about needing wingers..but I think it was more a hypothetical question about his role at the club assessing what we need. Desperately need on decent LW/Striker though. Remy would be good and Kinnear looked at getting him when he was manager.

That wouldn't just be a waste of his best attributes, it would also be asking him to do something he's not very good at (bit like Pardew does with absolutely everyone). Plus, chipped passes have never worked in this team. Especially with our total lack of wingers. Cabaye needs to be the furthest midfielder forward. Anita or Sissoko should be the deepest. Tiote should be nowhere near the side. Cabaye's best attributes are his vision and passing. The deeper midfield role is perfect for him in the PL - when (as you've alluded to) we find ourselves with 2 good wide players. Deepest yes but not an out and out defensive midfielder. Remains to be seen whether Anita can build up the strength needed to play as a DM. He is great for cleaning up, receiving and passing the ball over short spaces and at a decent tempo. Just fear he gets lost due to his size. Potentially Cabs, Anita and Sissoko could work. Still think we lack goals through the middle with that though. Anita, Cabs and Sissoko is our 2nd best combination behind Marveaux, Cabs and Sissoko. Definitely what I would like to see, in fact probably most on here would.. Will never happen with the gutless excuse for tacticians and coaches we have at the club though.

Well we needed another coach and Pardew asked for one.. seems the kind of thing our club would do in hiring Poyet over Pardews head to work as part of his coaching team.

That wouldn't just be a waste of his best attributes, it would also be asking him to do something he's not very good at (bit like Pardew does with absolutely everyone). Plus, chipped passes have never worked in this team. Especially with our total lack of wingers. Cabaye needs to be the furthest midfielder forward. Anita or Sissoko should be the deepest. Tiote should be nowhere near the side. Cabaye's best attributes are his vision and passing. The deeper midfield role is perfect for him in the PL - when (as you've alluded to) we find ourselves with 2 good wide players. Deepest yes but not an out and out defensive midfielder. Remains to be seen whether Anita can build up the strength needed to play as a DM. He is great for cleaning up, receiving and passing the ball over short spaces and at a decent tempo. Just fear he gets lost due to his size. Potentially Cabs, Anita and Sissoko could work. Still think we lack goals through the middle with that though.

Aye, with a great managers help he could be much better, and that's clutching at straws tbh. Watching him over the last 18 months or so it's become clear that his poor form isn't just down to Pardew, as much as i'd like it to be. He lacks the intelligence and common sense to be top drawer imo. It is total bull in a china shop with Tiote. Not saying he couldn't engage his brain and use it to improve himself..but you would think or hope that just has to be down to him. Unless our coaches are more brainless or shit scared to approach him about it.

I'm sure he will if he thinks he should, that is his job. I have absolutely no doubt that kinnear will throw everything into his Job and get alot done. My worry is the result, as like most I don't trust him or have reason to trust that his vision is close to what we would like to see or believe is needed for progress. And yes Joe if your reading we know your the paid professional and should know best. At least we know five a sides are out.

And Taylor is from London, granted he is an adopted Geordie now.