Cronky

Kane seems to be growing into the hype. As others have said, he seems to have the same skill-set as Shearer. Even the hairline looks similar. He's also pretty good at conning refs.

Last week's result should have given the team some confidence, so I fancy us for a win.

This does expose the problems in this kind of step. A club loans out a player on the expectation that they will get first-team experience. I daresay that would be in the form of a verbal assurance on the part of the receiving club. With the current situation between us and Rangers, that can easily be read as an instruction. It's not clear exactly what McDowall said. I've seen two different quotes, and both look out of context.

That's actually correct, although I know you're being sarcastic. Yeah like you and stifler Cronky, Stifler and that new bloke. Wonderful endorsement The new bloke is talking a lot of sense. He probably won't stay long.

That's actually correct, although I know you're being sarcastic.

This is fact, is it? I dunno. seems that way.. Assume you have some detailed information to discredit my glib off the cuff statement? I did say - It seems ever since.... Excuse my being a bit snappy. Are we really the compulsive sellers that the current cliché suggests? The club is committed to balancing the books, yes, but how many times have the club cashed in on a player who we'd otherwise have really wanted to keep in the first team? I can't see beyond Carroll, Cabaye and Debuchy. We were offered silly money for Carroll, and in the case of Cabaye and Debuchy, the players were determined to leave and we got a fair price. Demba Ba? Not much effort made to replace him other then a loan of Remy and no real intent to keep him. So really we still haven't replaced Caroll, unless Cisse was that replacement? I'd forgotten about Ba, but I seem to recall that there was a buy-out clause in his contract and we had no choice but to sell him for a set fee.

This is fact, is it? I dunno. seems that way.. Assume you have some detailed information to discredit my glib off the cuff statement? I did say - It seems ever since.... Excuse my being a bit snappy. Are we really the compulsive sellers that the current cliché suggests? The club is committed to balancing the books, yes, but how many times have the club cashed in on a player who we'd otherwise have really wanted to keep in the first team? I can't see beyond Carroll, Cabaye and Debuchy. We were offered silly money for Carroll, and in the case of Cabaye and Debuchy, the players were determined to leave and we got a fair price.

This is fact, is it?

He's a bit like Rooney, in that he can do a decent job in any attacking position, wide or central, forward or withdrawn. At the moment, I'd keep playing him as lead striker, because that's where he's most needed. Ultimately, where you play him really depends on who else we have around. I could see him doing well with a similar player, like the partnership that Yorke and Cole once had. That might well be better than playing him around a big centre forward. In assessing him, you just have to ignore his physique. He's far stronger than he looks.

He was anything but solid. He has his good and bad points, but in his time here, I didn't see much sign of improvement. Unlike Dummett and Haidara.

Santon has always looked dodgy defensively, and seeing that we've got two promising left backs it makes sense to let him go. It'll also free up a place for a player coming in. Cue barrage of cynical responses.

They might be figuring that if they get the money in now, and reinvest it in some other areas of the side, they can secure promotion.

Looks like deadline day brinkmanship on the part of MK Dons and the player's agent, to maximise returns. I wouldn't have thought he'd get much opportunity at Spurs.

The worry is that was borne from panic. He has the technique to do better, and in any case he should have left it for Krul. For an experienced player, he often loses composure.

Not necessarily - we know Pardew loved him like a son but there's always a chance Carver might have a different opinion. I doubt it. Colback didn't have a good game yesterday, but of our midfield players, he is the best distributor of the ball. The competition for that isn't great, but there it is.

I think 'good' is a bit of an exaggeration. He did okay, but long-term he doesn't look the answer for that position. Not at all.

Not that great a performance, but Hull didn't have much luck in the first half and in the second lost heart. Krul looked to have recovered his form, but the back four looked really weak. Two new CBs please.

Definitely. It bothers me that we haven't signed him up yet.

We look very exposed down the flanks. Cabella and Sammy aren't great in defence and it looks like a bit of a risk playing both.

That's a team with attacking intent. Should be interesting. Good to see Ayoze leading the line. Maybe not his best position, but he's the best we have for that job at the moment.

He phoned me up for some advice just before the move.

A man's reach should exceed his grasp or what's a heaven for etc etc Given the opportunity, he must have felt he had to take it, but he's reached the limits of his potential. I don't think he has the strength and athletic qualities to really impose himself at the very top level.

God thats grim Don't panic. He did look a bit of a nothing player at first, but has actually improved a lot since his spell in Greece.

A bad outcome all round, because it’s clear from the way it’s been handled that the Board were hoping not to appoint Carver. I’m not sure how well he’s going to be able to motivate the team. Still, it was always going to be difficult to get the best possible long-term candidate half way through the season. This idea of hounding Pardew out of his job as soon as possible looks even worse than it did at the time.

If the offer was right then they would want to come now, Palace wanted a manager and paid what was needed to get him and we could and should do the same. It wasn't just a matter of paying money though. Pardew was eager to leave and the Palace job had particular attractions from a personal point of view. He didn't want to miss the chance.