TRon

I suppose the good thing if he's right footed is if Ferguson does hit it off at left back then we can just move Santon across to right back. Voila two cush full backs for the price of one. I can see Ashley loving that.

Yep, looks way off the pace. Gets caught in possession repeatedly, which is in stark contrast to last year when you couldn't get the ball off him. Hopefully it's been spotted and they're working on it, I think we're past the point where we can blame his naff pre-season. He's such an important player for us that we need him on form in the games he's available. I know this is getting chucked about every other post regarding Cheik, but isn't he fasting for Ramadan? Certainly isn't his usual self and I don't get how he can go from being so class to so naff. I think the lack of pre season plus Ramadan is the reason. Plus he might need to adapt to his new team mates so I am fairly confident he'll be back to his awesome best soon. EDIT: basically a repeat of what ausiemag said above. I'm not that concerned though. A player that good doesn't become shit overnight.

It says we are keeping a few options in the air so we have alternatives if our primary target doesn't come off. So if the Santon deal goes through then this will be dead IMO. I am pretty sure we won't sign two full backs permanently, best we can hope for is a loan bid for left back. It says that we had officials in France over the weekend so guess it's a bit more than keeping a few options open. How I read it is we we flew over there hoping to tie up a deal but it didn't go through. I'm guessing we've moved on to Santon since then but obviously I'll be chuffed if we are still in for both.

Llambias is from Lahndan innit?

It says we are keeping a few options in the air so we have alternatives if our primary target doesn't come off. So if the Santon deal goes through then this will be dead IMO. I am pretty sure we won't sign two full backs permanently, best we can hope for is a loan bid for left back.

I am about to put him in a 4- 2-1-1 formation with several wank smileys but I'm waiting to see if Inochi is online first.

Aye, not a bad shout in theory. My concern would be whether we're guaranteeing Bridge anything, if he's coming here prepared to try and win a spot on merit that'd be alright with me. Wouldn't want us making any guarantees to him, but I'd have him in to compete for a spot for the youngsters. If he kicks up any fuss, we'll set Pardew on his lass... http://i.imgur.com/bcxRe.png I doubt we'll get anybody else in if we do sign Santon tbh. It just seems a bit strange to buy a 20 year old right footed player to play at left back. Think I would have preferred Pieters or Cissokho if I'm honest.

Steady on there

If we get him in it's about the only circumstance I'd be happy to see Wayne Bridge arrive on a loan. Santon RB and Bridge LB - sorted. I like the idea of Ferguson there as well but I don't want to have only one LB, that too an untested youngster.

There are plenty of clueless ST holders at St James. That's why I check a few comments on here about players performances rather than take someone's word as gospel that such and such player was garbage.

If he's a headless chicken in the Dyer mode I'll take that for now. I know lots of our knowledgeable fans hated Dyer for his extreme pace and supposed brainless running but I sort of agreed with that clueless old buffoon SBR in that he was a key player for us in his heyday.

Eh? Care to expand on that point? It seems Santon is right footed and can play on either side so right back would probably be his more natural position. Just going by what people are saying in this thread.

If we sign Santon I would like to play him on the right and get Van Aanholt or Bridge in on loan for the left back position.

Barton's replacement?

I reckon it's us who have pulled out because we've moved on to another target.

But we're not looking like entertainers. With the players he had available yesterday I think it's a bit much to expect a swashbuckling style. If we added a couple of marauding full backs and a pacey forward I think you'd see something like the finished article. Yersterday was the first time I saw a glimpse of the team I expected this season, with Cabaye outstanding as the conductor in midfield.

We looke supremely well organised today against Fulham. Pardew is clearly smarter than we thought.

Colo was fucking immense tonight. Didn't just defend magnificently alongside Taylor and the rest but launched attacks as well when he had the opportunity.

Better than I expected tbh after watching the extended highlights. He must have been horrific in live play to justify some of the criticisms posted here by our members at the ground.

Looked liberated today without Barton operating in his space.

His scouting report sounds like crap. Pieters looks like he's quick enough to me, I'm sure sicko was saying he'd get done for pace in the premier. I don't think so.

He's done so almost every match since we've been linked to him. Dutch football is weird, everyone seems to pile forward apart from one or two defenders. They'd get raped on the break in a better league.

That description so fits Lovenkrands in a bizzaro world way.

That's me as well basically. Previously we've usually said we weren't going to make any more signings, and this time we've clearly got deals in the pipeline. It would be usual form for us to fail to deliver at the final hurdle though.

The PSV game is showing on ESP now. Got to say Pieters looks very impressive going forward, playing almost as a left midfielder in the opening 15 mins.