Kanj

Payet? Sweet lord that would be amazing: (HBA - Cisse - Payet) On the topic of Douglas; I'll welcome any top strong CB - be it Sakho or Douglas. If that means we have a real competition for the role next to Colo then that would be fantastic. If Colo was to leave then I'd say Mapou would have to step up into that roll for Colo and Sakho/Douglas/Taylor would need to be the strength next to Mapou. Personally, Taylor, and I really do like the guy - seems like the junior yet he's actually 27 now. Shame some of the mistakes he makes and the lack of discipline he shows at times given he should be entering the better part of his career as a CB. Hopefully our issue we end up having is Willo is sold and we have a real battle between Sakho/Douglas, Taylor, Yanga Mbiwa, and Colo. Be a great problem to have and we'd easily have a strength at CB.

Sissoko is far from a holding midfielder. Go back and watch him play when we are defending - he doesn't really even go in for a tackle, just shadows the player and covers an area. When we signed him, it was said multiple times by a few on here and some French football scouts/analysts that he had to have a DM behind him to do that work for him as he was quite lazy defensively. He's a fantastic talent, he's strong & pacy and has a few things he needs to realize about his own skillset which is release the ball a bit quicker etc. If we sign some wide players, our man behind Cisse should be HBA, free to drift about - if we don't, then I'd play Marv there as he's the only player we've got besides Hatem with real talent in tight spaces and has proven he has the killer pass in him.

Shearer had the armband and no doubt commanded respect but everyone who's said anything has always pointed at Gary Speed being the glue that kept everyone together and was the true leader in the changing room. Its Colos captaincy until someone else steps up to be that person for us as far as I'm concerned. I do however, see someone like Mapou (who was captain of Montpellier) possibly growing into that role. His quotes from when he signed showed a very, very mature young man with tremendous self confidence and leadership.

Deuce man, Monty the Magpie! Don't "f***ing yanks" me man, I knew very well we had one Monty's twitter account if hilarious (if real) b/c he randomly posts pics of the Mackem cat and talks s*** about him.

I love mascots man, they all are fucking hilarious

Remy would be excellent signing, and yes I'd still go for him. He made some quick cash with QPR; now join our project. He's the pace, the movement and ability on the ball to fit exactly well wide on a front 3 or up top on his own in the middle.

Pav is absolutely killing us right now with his interviews. Saying the same many of us on here have for quite some time and most importantly, last week or so. Had we held off Man Utd and won the title, KK would have never walked and the landscape of our club could have very well been completely different. I hate what-if discussions like this when it involves something as coveted like a PL trophy, but my goodness Pav - way to kick us while we are down!

Agree with all this. Debuchy Mapou Colo Santon is easily our best back 4 on paper. mapou should be our first chocie cb of all our options imo. If Colo stays it's him hands down IMO. We would need someone better in the air and stronger shoulder to shoulder to complement either of them imo. As a pair they'd be awesome against Shane Long. Mapou would be awesome against Shane Long - Colo seems to have issues with the most random of strikers. Shane Long and that Swedish bloke who played at Bolton.

Harry would have leaked it

Would be quite the turn around if a group of random investors and money men somehow cough up 7-10M. I really think its on the verge of collapse and he'll be back with the armband ready to lead our back line.

Its been reported in the local papers that he does not have a release clause mate. Not that it confirms its 100% true or not, but just thought it should be noted.

You're right. If we didn't sign anyone else to play CB and Colo stays; I'd like to see him develop next to Colo and hopefully learn how to handle some of the bigger strikers by using some of his technique and reading of the game to snuff things out before they happen.

Back to topic, I really don't see anyone offering +20M for Cabaye. I really rate him as a player, he's one of our best and one of my favorites - I just don't think he's going to command a fee that is going to make our board want to sell him ala Big Andy. Personally, I hope he gets a really good time off with his family on holiday and comes back reenergized, fit, and ready to show the player he was. He hasn't been himself for quite some time.

I honestly couldn't imagine we'd sign Sakho if Colo stays, unless we flog Willo/Saylor. Which I really don't see both going. Personally, would love Sakho here, he's ACTUALLY a beast of a CB in terms of his strength vs what people said about Mapou. Mapou is your Colo style smooth ball player and Sakho is a your all around monster in the backline. Not sure how we'd have Mapou, Sakho, Colo, Saylor competing for 2 CB roles; I'd love that selection headache mind you. I'd actually drool over Debuchy - Sakho - Colo - Mapou (sorry Santon) But essentially you could play the best out of Debuchy/Santon/Haidara/Mapou at the back position and Mapou would be fighting for a position with Sakho/Colo.

France love a hoof ball too.

Had he never resigned....oh fuck, I'm not even going to go there for the sheer sake of going into an unnecessary depression.

I miss Ba, to be honest. I thought he was one of the best strikers we've had in recent memory.

The same guy who tweeted congratulating Man Utd on winning the title and then saying one day we'll be there. He loves this place, no doubt in my mind. If there is an issue, there will be a compromise. And fuck Wonga.

This story sounds like some random rehash of a story that never picked up much steam when the club announced the Wonga deal to be honest. And many discussing the morality of the man, religion etc are wasting their own time as well. Wait for some quotes or a real announcement I guess?

This is what happens when you're trying to kill an hour or so.... I love Cisse, but fuck he should have won this for Senegal.

Man he totally should have scored that diving header earlier....but mind you it was a tough angle

Cisse scores. Offsides. It continues.

Cisse man

BTW - somebody has edited Demba Ba's name on the Senegal wiki page as "Batman"