TRon

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.

what value would the club have if he pissed all the fans off? If we don't make a couple of signings before the deadline I think he'll struggle to get those fans back. Everyone's cash is precious, if he wants best value for his money so do the fans.

The Robinho comparison was only brought up to show there's still plenty of time to get deals done. If we are serious about doing them time isn't the issue. If the striker and left back aren't here by Wednesday it's because we didn't want them enough plain and simple. If by want them you mean pay the going rate then yeah, I agree. Perhaps more than the going rate since the fannying around has left the other team with no time to find a replacement and most clubs aren't as reckless as us in that situation. Well we've gambled on brinkmanship, if it hasn't worked we'll just have to pay what it takes to get the deals done. When you leave it late there isn't a plan B and that's the option we took so suck it up and pay the money.

If he was a direct replacement for Routledge I would have no complaints, but it looks like he's replacing Barton as things stand.

The Robinho comparison was only brought up to show there's still plenty of time to get deals done. If we are serious about doing them time isn't the issue. If the striker and left back aren't here by Wednesday it's because we didn't want them enough plain and simple.

He's more or less exactly what I thought he would be from the description given by Froggy the Man U fan. I'm never convinced it's a good idea to buy someone without a good football brain and a possibly dodgy temperament, no matter how much ability they've got. Still, he's young and maybe he could develop under the right guidance.

Aye, no doubt some will still be saying that seriously, though. In relative terms there is still ages left. When the arabs bought Man City they signed Robinho more or less the day they took over in the last few days of the window. It's all about Ashley's intent and that's what we'll find out over the next three days.

Having that gimp Merson sat next to him doesn't do him any harm but yeah it's been good listening.

He's pretty good at harrying the opposition as well. Looks like a better player than Ramsay to me. don't recall him being that good at Wigan last season though, how the hell does Fergie do it so consistently I think it helps having Rooney, Anderson and Nani next to him.

He's pretty good at harrying the opposition as well. Looks like a better player than Ramsay to me.

Better late than never? Not really.

Just thinking how well we have done with our results, luck or otherwise. Arsenal and Spurs have been similarly fannying about in the transfer market and are already out of the title race after three games.

Both London clubs have taken a pounding today. There will be national outrage in the press tomorrow.