TRon

Simpson too, although he doesn't exactly use it in an attacking sense so he's a pointless addition One thing Simpson is not is quick Opta stats say he is actually the fastest player at the club. They are wrong. Had Campbell as the fastest as well iic, over Walcott Trust me he is very average pace wise. He knows this which is why he has the tendency to back off as he knows in most foot races he will come second to a premier league winger Simpson is more than quick enough stats or no stats. He might have other faults but pace isn't one of them.

Shola doesn't want to be anywhere else, if we didn't renew his contract he'd probably retire. If he's not on a big wage he's probably useful to have around as a reserve striker. For me it's not Shola that's the problem, it's that we haven't signed anyone better yet.

I don't know if he'll sink or swim here but one thing I like about this deal is he's young and hungry and after his Man U experience he'll probably be burning to prove a point. With the likes of HBA itching to get back and Vukic hovering around the first team squad I can see some energy and pace in this season's team. Reminds me a bit of Bobby Robson's team before fat Fred started interfering.

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01967/riots-london_1967142c.jpg http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LlyEfT7NFTA/S-Ray7tdImI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/AU2PQ_kuojc/s400/ve_day.jpg outstanding

He says he's ready to make his debut against Arsenal if picked so it seems not.

We'd get the £3m back just by finishing higher up the league. In fact I'd say that signing would give us a real shot of cracking the top 6. If we are too tight to pay the permanent fee then it's an option worth taking, assuming they will still release him. He's been banging in the goals pre season.

That this sort of myth has almost become taken for granted here says a lot tbh.

Someone confiscate his mobile for God's sake.

Pieters sounds like a mackem mutilation of Peters though.

One thing I don't really understand about Ashley. When he first arrived here he set down a marker with the Kieron Dyer deal by demanding an extra £2m from West Ham at the last minute because he was pissed at them sniggering they'd mugged us. While I understand he wants the club to be self-financing he's shown that he's perfectly capable of intervening with his money and clout. Cajun suggested we should keep hold of Enrique till the last day of the window, probably to fuck Liverpool off for not offering Enrique's value. If Ashley actually did this and wrote off the piddling fee they are offering and kept Enrique here just to show we won't be messed around, it would do more for his reputation and the club's than any amount of PR or favourable press leaks.

What does that even mean I'm glad I'm not the only one wondering

Aye. Liverpool will capitulate and offer £15m

In a nutshell.

Watch his price double after the game against England on Wednesday.

Now we know there's no strikers in that "influx of incoming signings this week" anyway.

One of the key signings if it happens, the striker being the other one. Let's face it we have known for some time Jose's going so at least it will put an end to the uncertainty.

but he's 29. I don't think anyone would pay more than half that for a player approaching 30.

Aye! I also see that the Mail are still mentioning Erdinç.... After being quoted £14m for Pav we've suddenly realised the agent's fee wasn't so high after all.

That stories either complete fabrication or Spurs don't want to sell. My money's on the former.

I just read that Bendtner's expected to move to Stoke for £9m. Incredible if true.

Be delighted with him or Defoe at this stage. Still, proper gutted if we ended up with Crouch. Always seems weird to me that Defoe and Pav are made available while Crouch is still there. He's the one I wouldn't want to touch with a barge pole...the lanky streak of piss.

Has anyone got any firm news on whether he's injured/out of Saturday's game for definite?

How? Liverpool would then know we would definitely sell as it would be unrealistic to keep both here for one spot. As it is they might be worried we will keep him here.

Although it looks like a false alarm, Pavlyuchenko is exactly the sort of player worth making an exception for re the resale value policy. We'd get a few good years from a striker who, while not top drawer, will get goals in the premier. Seeing as how strikers are such an expensive commodity it's probably worth writing off the resale value on a proven one who's got premier experience.

He'd be a good signing although I find it hard to believe Ashley would have sanctioned it.