Rich

I doff my cap to whoever matched my Waddle (vs. Villa) comment with one of their own. Loved it.

I'm laughing at it, but it's grinding my gears at the same time that they keep responding to him.

Whoever ryan NUFC! is, please go and die.

I'd love it if we could sign a defender or three like.

Howay the Goose, my last hope.

We can't come out of this window with a deficient squad arguing "well, we wanted to strengthen but no-one wanted to by James Perch". Don't let the soundbites gradually shift your expectations downwards, which is exactly what they are trying to do. Given the improvement in income and cash in from transfers, the club should be in a position to make some modest expenditure on transfers- but if they can avoid that and still keep the fans turning up- then that is exactly what they will do. Not spending money doesn't annoy me that much. The expectations management from the lips of Pardew does. I've never expected us not to sell players, though, that's the point. It's just taken a lot longer than I expected for us to start doing so. We have at least half-a-dozen players here who offer next to nothing and need to be shifted if possible. I can see why that might be holding up further moves in the transfer market, like it would at plenty of other clubs. My expectations from the start of the summer remain the same (on top of what we've done already): one more attacking player (depending on what formation we might actually be planning for), a central defender, right-back and left-back.

Aye, despite the Ronaldo-led myth that Barton "can't play central" (even in a three, ffs) he can't be discounted and that will probably be the case. Barton had a good few quality games in the middle of the park last season, which isn't bad for someone who played the vast majority wide.

Aye, that's where we differ then - I think he's absolutely fine as backup and it appears Pardew seems to agree for the time being, although I've no doubt it's helped by his low wages. One of the recent interviews on NUFC TV he was saying how his level had upped since Cabaye coming, particularly. He didn't let us down at the end of last season - but I haven't forgotten West Brom away - so I'm hoping he can kick-on again from there.

Ben Arfa was quality against Everton on the left, and has played wide the majority of his career, so I'm not having that like. The thing I don't get about this Hatem number ten stuff is why are we looking for another first-choice striker? When we were still rumoured to be after Barnetta/N'Zogbia I was convinced it was to look at a 4-2-3-1 with Ben Arfa in the hole, but now I'm becoming more certain we'll be going back to good old 4-4-2. You're correct, I just like the idea of him having more freedom and being allowed to do what he does best without having to track back etc.. Aye, the VDV role from last season in effect. I do think him and Ba together like that could be really exciting.

You lot are greedy buggers, btw. Get me a centre-half, right-back, left-back and a striker in and then we'll talk more midfielders.

Agree entirely, he was lively as anything every time I saw him. Certainly not questioning the shout from an ability perspective

I think we could do with cover while Ferguson's out so someone like Puncheon would do a job imo. Too FM-tastic for me in the "cover while other player out aspect" and by all accounts (first-hand) he's an arsehole of the highest order. Southampton couldn't wait to get shot of him on loan last season because of his attitude.

Ben Arfa was quality against Everton on the left, and has played wide the majority of his career, so I'm not having that like. The thing I don't get about this Hatem number ten stuff is why are we looking for another first-choice striker? When we were still rumoured to be after Barnetta/N'Zogbia I was convinced it was to look at a 4-2-3-1 with Ben Arfa in the hole, but now I'm becoming more certain we'll be going back to good old 4-4-2.

How many midfielders do you want, man?

David Nugent.

Aye Ian, I agree on R. Taylor as there's been no titters at all about him even looking close to leaving and as Pilko says he has proven himself to be adequate on a few occasions. As it stands it looks like he's backup RB to me, primarily, which is a bit of a worry - because otherwise you're looking to him as an emergency option in midfield behind at least 8 others, potentially 11 depending on how highly Pardew and Co. rate Abeid, Ferguson and Vuckic.

The problem for me is that none of the others are really right wingers but then I suppose Barton isn't either. Aye, but Carr was quite specific on Marveaux playing on either flank, and I'm sure Hatem could do the same to a very high level as well, Jonas has played there before (albeit less effectively than when he's on the left). We're fine. I'm not at all worried about the midfield as it stands, but we can't afford too many more long-term injuries - like any club, really. We have two senior players for each position, three exciting youngsters and then Routledge, Smith and R. Taylor as excess.

As with the last two you mention, I'm sure the first two would be sacrificed with any half-decent offer we may receive for them, and surely they're more likely to be in demand? It does seem Perch is actively seeking a move anyway, if the reports have been correct about him switching agent for that reason. I can't see why we'd be too averse to letting him go if we could replace him for someone on similar/less money, but with more potential/ability.

I do think it's at that point now where we really need to be offloading some of the chaff to allow us to strengthen in a couple of key areas. It's all well and good pursuing another striker and a left-back, but for me that still leaves us short in defence. I've posted similar earlier on in the window, but I must say I'm surprised there has been such little movement on that front. I know Lua Lua has now gone, but even that wasn't on a permanent transfer. I'd hope that we're doing everything possible to move Perch, Ryan Taylor, Smith, Routledge and Xisco at the very least. Harper, Lovenkrands and Ranger would be the three others I'd be perfectly happy to see bombed out if there were any takers at decent money, too. Although I'd be shocked if the first two left, as it seems both remain part of Pardew's plans.

Where does he fit in, as it stands? I agree that he has shown something when he has been given the chance in the first team, but the midfield is so heavily stocked at the moment - even taking the Ferguson/Guthrie injuries into account - that he would still struggle to be involved much at all. There's still 9 other players after those two that I'd be happy to see ahead of him in the mix for a first team spot (the senior midfield players, plus Abeid and Vuckic). The decision has obviously been made to put more stock into the other young midfielders that we have - all of which are younger than him, I think it's about two years or so for Abeid/Vuckic and around a year for Ferguson. There does come a point where you have too many players in a certain area and where it's more beneficial for the individual to loan them out/let them go.

Should add that we are definitely in the market for another striker as well, and at least one more defender if we were serious about getting cover for Jose. Still need another defender on top of that, I reckon, at the least.

Best, Ameobi, Lovenkrands and Ranger are currently still here as backup to Ba, although I appreciate that can and probably will change. Having those lot, plus Kuqi didn't see us "up the creek" last season - but did mean we didn't finish as high as we probably should have done. Agree on the defence issue, as currently we have 5 senior defenders who most on here consider to be good enough - Coloccini, Enrique, Williamson, S. Taylor and Simpson. Then there's Kadar and Ferguson who have shown promise, but who are unproven still and it moves onto Perch and R. Taylor after that, who aren't rated on here but may be considered adequate backup by Pardew (R. Taylor specifically, as it does appear Perch will be sold). As usual, things aren't as depressing as the OP made out, but they've fallen a long way since we woke up to find Marveaux had signed. Still need a few more bodies, undoubtedly.

That forum looks like 1999.

-1, surely?

And just on that last point; I may have had my expectations quashed by recent seasons (and some may attribute this as one of Mike's successes), but I'd be perfectly happy if Ba was Carroll's replacement if he did actually stay fit for the majority of the season (30 games+), but much more so if there is quality brought in elsewhere - at good cost if needs be.