Rich

He's probably right about communication in the backline, in fairness to him. Not sure who else fits the bill apart from Campbell if Hyypia is staying put. Think that would be a few years too late if it happened...

Sorry, this is just the worst time for him to jump ship. It's one of two transfer windows in a season, it's not like he has that much say in the matter. Amazed he's hung about this long to be honest. Can't blame him at all. We've still got Harper, so it's not all doom and gloom.

Agree about the timing, fucking awful. Send everyone to the game in an even worse fettle. £8m is my guess.

Awful programme. Full of cunts.

82 games in a row, if Soccernet is right, since Feb18th 2007. Got subbed once on 83 minutes in all of that time (April 19th 2007). Insane. Defo getting injured now like, well done me.

He's a bit of a machine as far as appearances goes, like. Wonder how many consecutive games he's played now for his club sides - played every game last season for Deportivo as far as I'm aware. Cue a terrible injury tomorrow... He certainly hasn't hidden if you ask me, which is fairly admirable considering the circumstances and the fact that many have before him.

Filling my knickers now.

Fulop Bardsley Ferdinand Collins McCartney Malbranque Whitehead Reid Richardson Cisse Jones Leadbitter might come in to midfield for Richardson, if he's not fit enough to start, with Reid moving to the LM slot. I'd imagine the rest of the team is nailed-on though. Tainio has been playing but is doubtful, so maybe he'll slot in if he makes it (same as above for how they would switch).

A ring bearer. Hahahahaha.

We need a quality right-winger as well, IMO.

Exactly. He doesn't much like them quick OR muscular in general though.

Cisse will rape Coloccini while Bassong gets bashed around by Jones, unfortunately. Welcome back to pessimism!

These two for me as well. Have to admit Smith had been one prior to that as well.

Not necessarily.

Good attitude, seems intelligent enough, looks genuinely delighted to be here. Seems a bit overawed by the prospect of making his debut in one of the biggest league matches in our history but I actually like to see that. Impressed with all of that for starters, just hope he proves me wrong and impresses me where it matters as well. In the bedr... I mean on the pitch.

Always nice to have players who actually want to play for the club, an' all.

Will hopefully be a good signing. Think he's fairly average but like others have said it's an option from dead ball situations and when Beye is back and playing regularly he possibly won't be in the side anyway but he's definitely good enough as "back-up" to Prince Habib. Suppose despite my reservations about him and Nolan as far as pushing us on goes, they are better than what we have (i.e. no cover at right-back and the likes of Butt/Geremi in the centre of midfield.)

Rings a bell - see Joey Barton. Hope he will be a great signing but past experience tell me that playing for Newcastle usually means you become shit! How has Barton became shit? He's still a good player, he just never plays because he's either injured or in jail. He's been a fucking disaster. Hardly pulled up trees when on the pitch as well, although to be fair to the psychopath he's probably never been 100% fit.

Interesting I suppose. Can't help but feel these lads were well down our hitlist like. Pray to Jesus they do the business.

at the same time theyre not THAT much better are they? If we're talking purely league positions then no, they're not that much better off. But with all of the other stuff to take into account I think it's safe to say they are. Another £60k per week player who'll be a major waste of resources I'm guessing. Whos said he will get £60k a week? Read. Better. (That's if he agrees to join/the offer is accepted in the first place.)

Think the OP was asking if he's got the wealth available at the moment due to the financial climate. Surely fair enough?

at the same time theyre not THAT much better are they? If we're talking purely league positions then no, they're not that much better off. But with all of the other stuff to take into account I think it's safe to say they are. Another £60k per week player who'll be a major waste of resources I'm guessing.

He'll want a fucking bucket of cash to come here man. Bolton captain, Lancashire lad, offer from a team in a worse position than his current one... Dear me. Suppose all the other options will have been exhausted.

The bloke's a fucking cretin, but he's surely in charge of this club at it's worst point in recent history in terms of everything else. Obviously he knew what he was getting into and all that and some of our problems are probably of his own doing, but I can't see many excelling in the situation he's in. Dunno about worst in the Premiership, like, but there's not many that run him close if he isn't.