Theregulars

His niece works for sky so he gives them a lot of soundbytes/access to players/for interviews etc. Their higher-ups are very clear about not criticising him. Really ? So pundits go against what they believe because of that (if they really think he's rubbish of course). That's just ridiculous if true. Any of them who give them access and stories get an easy ride. Note the lack of criticism for Allardyce, for example. Their production team is full of family members/friends of players/managers/ex-players. You are told in production meetings who can't be criticised/about whom criticism cannot be aired. They don't mind letting people question Wenger on air because, amongst other reasons, they think he never does anything for them above the bare contractual minimum. It's the same across so many of their departments - there are children of former England Cricket players in the Cricket production team, for example, because in return daddy tells the ECB to grant them first-rate access and first option on everything. It's a really despicable organisation to be frank.

His niece works for sky so he gives them a lot of soundbytes/access to players/for interviews etc. Their higher-ups are very clear about not criticising him.

Win's a win but that sounded dogshit from here. Unless we deliberately didn't get out of second gear because we didn't feel the need to, we were just mopping up pressure all game.

He's been told he won't be given the game time he needs. The move makes perfect sense for him and the club. This. Not this. Read Tron's post above. Rafa has invited him to battle for a place and prove himself.

Honestly, I know there's no concept of loyalty, but show some spine and repay some of the wages that you hoovered while contributing barely anything. It's just a bit lame.

Ask them; for only they have the answer.

But he's shit tho Rafa out boooo no number 9 my knee has hit my face

Lets also try get Shola and Obertan back on loans for cover Careful now.

15th or 5th it is then The sound of fear emanates from your keyboard.

I can only do sat 22nd; super keen to participate in one of these as I've been living in Asia for 3 years and I'll have moved home by then. The other two dates I'm abroad. MAKE IT HAPPEN NEESY

When you are playing footy and someone on your team misses a sitter/makes the wrong pass/tries a skill and fails/somehow cocks up; but you think "be the bigger man" and say "unlucky" or just don't say anything. The moment you then make a mistake or don't pass to him in space and he audibly moans/hurls abuse at you. Boils my piss. Playing this evening, some absolute schmuck misses an open goal from 5 yards. I pat him on the back and say "unlucky mate, you'll get the next one". Not 5 minutes later I shoot (on target, saved) instead of passing to him (he's marked), and he yells "for fuck's sake, you cunt!" Like I know I'm a cunt, but the principle.

Surprised he could pronounce tiki taka. "Wot's that 5-a-side stuff that lot from Barseloner play? tic-tac-toe isn't it? Just like the king can steal your lunch, he'll also nick your playing style".

Literally bought a Muangthong jersey in Bangkok last weekend. Getting the shit numbered out of that.

Can't wait to order my TBC - DIAME shirt.

Honestly, fuck him. What an absolute scrotum.

You can play attacking football with a DM in place. Learn to tactics mate. I can literally imagine Pardew sitting Ben Arfa down on the bench and saying "learn to tactics, Hattam".

I think if you gave me the choice I'd genuinely take Gayle.

Hopefully he's diametrically opposite to sissoko in terms of effort put in.

In the same way that some posters say Mitrovic should be given a chance because he played in a shit team/under shit management last year, perhaps Clark has played a significant portion of his young career in a shit team/under shit management. Perhaps Rafa - a notoriously arduous scout and student of the game - sees attributes to Clark's game that make him a valuable addition for a promotion push and consolidation thereafter.

Twossa Sissoko.

He's not as good as Sissoko - that's why we can buy him when we're in the Championship and it is likely that Sissoko will go to a club in a superior league. I don't think the difference between them is astronomical, but bear in mind during his entire time with us bar 10 games at the end of last year Sissoko worked under a shit manager.

Fits into the description I'd use for all our signings made this summer: "astute".

Not that fussed as he can be a bit of liability both in relation to temperament and the occasional hospital pass, and his injury record is poor. I think he would be pretty good in the Championship though. As long he's replaced it's fine by me.

Aside from Colback, none of the players you quoted "stunk up the Premier League". Elliott had a pretty good season, in reality. Janmaat was not as effective as in his first season but was still a serviceable, if flawed, right back. Anita was useful at full back and average to below average in midfield. Tiote actually had one of his better years. Dummett was fine defensively but poor going forward. Perez had a difficult second season but looked useful in parts, overmatched in others. Mitrovic had what was completely to be expected for a 21 year old in his first season in English football, albeit he missed too many sitters. With the chances he had, he should have scored 15 goals. Colback was unfettered, flame-tipped garbage. I certainly don't expect us to walk the league but I'd be extremely surprised if we didn't secure automatic promotion.

I am very much in the camp that putting him or Sissoko in a side where they aren't surrounded by dross and expected to be the sole creative outlets will end up being beneficial to the purchasing team. It's all too tempting to just say "he's a bottler"; he's just not the kind of player who turns a game round single handedly. He's very useful in a fluid passing/counter-attacking system. I think he'll be decent for Liverpool and it will piss me off a lot. With that said, there's a slight part of me that thinks he's a 7-a-side player.