Cronky

I'd certainly see Kadar as a CB. The only reason he's more often played as a full back is there's less risk in putting an inexperienced player there. I agree about Campbell. We've underestimated the value of an experienced player in that position. A weakness at CB can undo all the strengths elsewhere in the side. I've often felt that the big missed chance was when Southgate became available from Villa a few years ago, but we didn't go for him because he was 30 and the club's policy was not to pay big money for older players. He signed for Boro for £6 million, and they reaped the benefits instead. Anyway, after this signing, I feel reasonably confident about staying up, for the first time.

People talk about pace, but I can't say with any certainty that our other options in Taylor and Williamson are any faster than Sol. Agreed. From what I saw last season, there's nothing wrong with Campbell's pace. However, at that age, pace can disappear quite quickly, after an injury. But he's well worth the risk. If I have a worry, it's over his state of mind. He's had a bit of a turbulent time over the last year or so. He seems a bit of a loner, but I actually think it's a good move for him, as well as for us.

What I think is happening is the Agent is trying to arrange a move to as big a club as possible. The likes of AC Milan are non-committal at the moment. 1) He phones NUFC and says his player may be looking for a new club, are we interested? Someone says, well okay, keep us in touch with what's going on. 2) He broadcasts to everyone in the media who's prepared to listen that NUFC are interested, as if a signing is imminent. He later embellishes this with a story, that he later has to retract, that a delegation from NUFC is on its way. This is in the hope that this will force AC Milan's hand. 3) A somewhat bewildered Chris Hughton says that they're aware of the player, but the club has not contacted Marseilles. Fits the picture.

Perhaps the English couldn't produce the document because they were completely unaware that any meeting was taking place, and indeed had no prior interest in the player. The whole story is a load of merde.

Was he the long haired one who played very similar to Jonas but with an end product. (i know ive just described most offensive south americans) Just seen his pic on the link. Aggressive centre midfielder, in the mould of Mascherano is a more apt description i think I hope this is true. He sounds far more like what we need than that French poser.

It sounds like Marseilles and / or his agent are only trying to bump other clubs to firm up their interest, by feeding the press these stories about how we're about to jet in and sign him etc etc. It's a common enough trick. I doubt that he's the right player for us, at this time, anyway.

Sorry to butt in, but controversial characters become much easier to handle when they're with a successful club. All of a sudden, these points of principle which they get very worked up about start to diminish in importance. Would Roy Keane have got quite so annoyed if he'd been playing for a team in contention for the World Cup? I doubt it.

Looking good on Youtube means nothing. He looked talented, but not exactly a team player.

It's certainly in our interests to sign Cleverley, for those kinds of reasons. But Gosling isn't out for the season, and so I wonder whether Cleverley and Man U may now have better options ie somewhere he's needed more. Natural pessimist me, though. Know what you are saying but with injuries like Goslings there will be a easing in period too so Cleverley should get nigh on 3/4 of the season ahead of him. Plus they are different players and Cleverley will offer a lot more in attacking situations from what i have seen which is what we need more. I can see Cleverley getting well over 30 appearances which is exactly what Fergie will want for him. Dont see any problem with this idea as its win-win for everyone. http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/sport/newcastle-utd/2010/07/25/nufc-in-four-way-fight-for-young-tom-cleverley-79310-26924469/ Might be speculation on the Sun's part, but they're saying that Ferguson is asking for assurances that Cleverley will feature regularly in the first team, which is fair enough, and that may cause us to lose out. Which would be a shame. Tbh I've got my doubts about Routledge having an impact in the Premiership, despite his playing a big part in the final promotion push. Playing with two out and out wingers is also a bit risky at this level, for us. I know we're probably only talking about a one season loan, but I'd really try and find room for Cleverley.

Their second goal bounced just before he got to it and was a bit of a stretch. Not exactly a Rob Green.

It's a bit worrying that he's only young, but this is the second club he's being moved on from, not because of his ability but because of his attitude. I doubt whether we'd be in with any kind of a shout if it wasn't for the disciplinary problem. I can see this lad getting on famously with Mr Barton. Or possibly not.

I was very surprised to see that he was picked at CB, and even more surprised to hear he did well. When I've seen him, he's never looked strong enough to be a defender of any sort. Neat, skilful player though.

He sounds like trouble. Maybe we should let him be someone else's problem.

It's certainly in our interests to sign Cleverley, for those kinds of reasons. But Gosling isn't out for the season, and so I wonder whether Cleverley and Man U may now have better options ie somewhere he's needed more. Natural pessimist me, though.

Intersting I don't know if Gosling's signing will affect this. It's hard to imagine us playing two such young players together in the midfield in the Premiership, and there'd be no point in Man U loaning Cleverley out if he wasn't going to get regular first team experience. Still, if there's one player I'd like to see come here, it's Cleverley.

One thing that the lad isn't being given credit for is a bit of ambition. He's moved from a successful club to one that's - let's say struggling to re-establish itself - because he wants first team action. And I don't believe we'd be paying him much more than Everton, because we're on a tight budget as well. He wants to get moving on his career and isn't prepared to wait in the queue at Everton. That's okay by me.

I find it very hard to believe that Everton relied on the word of an agent when it came to dealing with Rooney and Rodwell. With either player, they'd have stood to lose £20 million plus. They're not that stupid, surely. I suspect they were a bit slow in getting the paperwork out to Gosling, because they didn't consider him that important a player, or they wanted to see how his injury was progressing before committing themselves.

How do they know it really is Leon Knight? Or have I missed something?

I don't know the player, but there's talk that he signed for us for the chance to play centre mid. A lot of young players get put out wide in the early stages of their career, because they lack the experience for a more central role. If Gosling isn't that quick - as most seem to say - then playing wide won't have given him much chance to shine, and hence the poor opinion that the Everton fans seem to have of him. Hopefully Milner is a good comparison - a slow player who needed to play centrally before achieving his potential. Hughton's comments about him being a 'box to box' player suggests that's how he wants to use him.

I can't remember a close season where we've been linked with so many players. It passes the time, but unfortunately I think it's just down to internet speculation.

Certainly would Even IF we would and could... would he ? No.

Joey can talk about himself and his own ambitions if he wants. Where he's been stupid is in comparing his abilities to the players in the existing squad, and questioning the manager's judgement. He's crossed a boundary there.

Not me.

If you've got that right, as Andy Gray would say, take a bow son. Might be a wind-up though (covering himself)

Well, the debate is about whether in reality he would improve our chances of staying up. You only have to look at England's performances in the World Cup to see the effects of friction in the squad.