Mr Logic

Can we lock this now? Just so Hatem Ben Arfa is the largest current thread on the board like.

Was just thinking that myself. #timetoshutupjoey

Might start deleting posts that contain this. Getting beyond a joke. The thread is basically called 'Bollocks', how much more beyond a joke can it get?

Gardener is definitely a decent player, not sure he's good enough to make a difference though.

He could easily score more goals than that, if he'll "re-find" his self confidence ! I agree, but the British bookmakers may not be expecting it - I'll wait to see what price they offer me.

Pretty sure Pardew plans to play him in a 4-4-1-1, and I'm seriously considering £100 on him getting 10 goals in the coming season.

This is of concern to me also. If our squad is thin (outside a good 1st 11) and the bench weak how long do they keep buying, 'next transfer window/next season' stories. Doubly worse if we sell the likes of Tiote as soon as a 15m bid comes in.

I'm laughing, but then decided it wasn't funny really.

Brazil vs Australia (women) in 5 minutes or so on Fifa.com

You don't class Yohan Cabaye as a major signing?

Anagram acronym ffs, ESPN - pisstake

Funny you mention that because that's how a West Ham supporter who is a client of ours speaks of pardew. Said he was a patter merchant who will eventually either piss the fans off with his patter, the board, the media, the players or all of them together. I think I've posted about this already in this thread. I get the impression Pardew will always say what he thinks is right without really having the conviction all the time. For example he could have told Nolan how much he rated him, wanted him in his starting lineup etc. but behind his back was probably thinking he'd be second choice and if a decent bid came in he'd accept it. I guess most managers can be like that or have to be but I remember what Gary Speed said about Sir Bobby's best trait and it was his honesty. He'd tell you it straight. I'm probably biased like because I don't rate him at all and don't like the fact he was somewhat linked to the departure of Hughton, but what I do like is his positivity and opstimism. As long as he can keep that going he'll get players performing and results but I worry about when he can no longer patter people, be it the players, the fans, media or even the board. I'm a believer that most people eventually see the woods for the trees and I think that will be Pardew's downfall especially where the players are concerned. That's pretty much the feeling I'm getting, he considers what is the most appropriate response and goes with it irrespective of the actual picture.

Do you think a similar situation could have been developing with Nolan?

This place is lacking something the last few days, time for a contentious post to stir things up a bit I think. Just musing on Pardew the other day and I came to the conclusion he was worryingly similar to Souness in at least one respect. He deals badly with personality clashes. We all remember how Souness dealt with Bellamy, and on reflection, Gullit was no better with Rob Lee. Ranger hasn't been given much of a chance by Pardew, a few appearances as sub and it looks like he couldn't wait to get rid. Hughton had time for him and was bringing him along gently, and can you imagine how Bobby Robson may have put an arm over the shoulder and encouraged him? Ranger has personality problems no doubt, and if he fails as a footballer it will most likely be because of off-field issues interfering with his development rather than his talent wasting away. Without any current Newcastle games to watch I've recently been re-watching some of last seasons games. In particular the sub appearances against Liverpool and Arsenal at home, he really changed the games. It's not all about scoring goals, his overall contribution was far more important - the constant harrying of defenders, the hold up play, the strength and pace. All were there. Now Nolan, I suspected before the seasons end that Pardew wanted rid if possible. It was Nolan's dressing room. He had too much influence and it had to be curtailed if Pardew was going to be in control. I'm not actually trying to paint Pardew as some heinous Bond villian here. Just a different take on his soundbytes, he's a bit of a spin doctor/politician type as far as I can tell. He'll build his own team spirit and win a lot of friends superficially, but my guess is you don't want to get on the wrong side of him. He would be smiling as he slides the knife in.

This will drag on and on, they want more money, Ashley won't want to pay much more. £2m seals a deal?

Can I just point out, regardless of right or wrong, that that article is as one-sided as can be. The accused hasn't been given a voice in it. The mother tells her story, and it's unpleasant reading no doubt, but how many times have we discovered later that people have cried 'wolf' or 'rape' when there was no such thing. Just suggesting I wouldn't be in such a rush to condemn when I don't know all the facts of the matter. (And I'm a father too.)

Ah ok, That fucking website.

Don't get what's so funny. We're speculating about it, they're speculating about it.

Just a small point to pick up on which probably doesn't mean anything, a misunderstanding of translations or something. But, he said he would only move for a football project. Didn't both Cabaye and Ba say they had been impressed with the project sold to them by Pardew Pardieu. He's coming here..

The attitude of some to our ex-players, purely because they are ex-players, is astounding. Beye was a class RB for us and still speaks well of the club to others, end of.

I think, with a degree of certainty, that we are in the market for a right sided midfielder. Be that Zog, Barnetta or some other. Barton is surplus to requirements, they want him gone one way or another. Not necessarilly a position I agree with but I do see their reasoning to a degree. Barton was immense in many of the games we played, more so than Nolan in my opinion.. but of all the players that could drop a wrench in the works you have to have Barton near the top of the list, even if he didn't meant to.

Ba \ | / _ Ben Arfa _ Marveaux ? \ Tiote Cabaye \ Enrique Colo Williamson Simpson

Don't think anyone could understand the transfer of Duff at the time, might have been 1 in 20 were for it.

Indeed, pretty much any winger should be capable of carrying the ball. Hopefully we'll get one that can also spot a pass, go past a man and some much needed final product.