TRon

He might just fancy seeing out the last year of his contract then taking his pick of clubs when he walks a way on a free.

For the same reason the Enrique sale isn't going to go through in a hurry, this one won't either. No club is going to panic and throw more money than is needed at a player who can walk away for free in 12 months. Frustrating but it works both ways.

Spot on. The thought of him and Ba as our strikeforce is worrying (for us) though. Why? Is it not a massive improvement on what we had year? Especially with HBA being back too? I rarely watch PSG matches, but from what I've seen of him - he (Erdinc) just seems to be a run of the mill, average striker. I just don't see what his oustanding attribute(s) are meant to be. Scores a few goals from crosses and works like Tevez used to, but hope he doesn't end up as a lone-striker for us, not sure he'll score enough goals... He looks fairly quick and direct from the YT video. I know you can't gauge much off that but from the way he took some of the goals I wouldn't be too disappointed if we got him.

We'll sell him to the club her wants to go to for a compromise fee, probably £6-8million. It won't happen till the season's about to start though.

That Mevlut Erding looks like a little powerhouse. I could see him getting goals in the premier.

Eh? What have (ridiculously inflated) transfer fees got to do with it? Ba will be on high wages (higher than Carroll was, I'd wager) and has a goal scoring record that more than matches anything Carroll has produced in his career to date... If he's leading the line next season it will be his responsibility to replace Carroll's goals if he starts the majority of our matches, and rightly so. No, not rightly so. We need a top class player to replace Andy Carroll. It's as simple at that. Ba is a good player with significant injury problems. Andy Carroll wasn't considered top class until he'd played 3 months in the premier league. He's hardly got off Liverpool's bench since moving.

He looks class mind.

he looks more of a Ben Arfa type not a striker.

what a sad prick.

I would quite possibly laugh myself to death His reception in the derby at the SOL would be magical. If he scored for us, the place would quite possibly fall down. Ex-Mackem, Black, Now playing for us, scores at the SOL.... Dooms day scenario that one

Would prefer Ba as I think he's better. Not to mention £8million cheaper.

Glad he hasn't gone to another premier club in any case. Next.

I still think we won't buy another left back. Enrique's looking to leave but it might be that he just sees his contract out and Taylor is probably cover in case he leaves at the last minute.

when it makes you a millionaire.

Agree with it more or less word for word.

He didn't keep that in his belly for very long. Llambias will be pissed.

I'm going to wait and see who we actually bring in before getting too excited. The talk of top strikers and Pardew aiming for a mid table finish doesn't really gel for me.

meh.

I think he looked better last season because he was played in the only position where he should be asked to play ie leading the line as a traditional number 9. He can't drop deeper or play wide, which was what was happening when he had to play with another similar striker. It's also helped his reputation that he bagged a few goals, but that can happen with any striker who hits a good streak. If we're going to play better football, we need attacking players with a bit more in their armoury. In a 4-3-3 he would mostly be required to lead the line, you would expect Ben Arfa or Zog/other to be providing the width. As a squad player he's adequate imo.

Especially since you were advising we hold on to him. Maybe Everton are ready to move in?

I'm still flabbergasted by the fact we have a striker who is even worse at playing the offside trap than Shola. What strikes me more is that he gets into goal scoring areas and then has converted with left foot, right foot and his head.

I could see Ranger being a player Martinez would quite fancy at £1million. Very much his type of player.

Nowt against the rest of what you said but i remember saying the same on here in that he is a good footballer but just not an out and out goalscorer. A lot of the work he put in even early on was good, always prepared to run and work the line. I'm pretty sure Cajun was one of the few who didn't lay into Best during the early days though and he hadn't scored any goals then.

I want to support them but until we land another really big one like Cabaye I still wonder. Demba Ba is a good signing but he's still a come down from Gameiro, and to get him we've exploited a release clause. Likewise, I'm concerned that we might go from M'Bengue to Neil Taylor exploiting yet another clause. There's been big talk this summer but I just wonder what it will look like by September?

Me too, but he needs to go through a sustained period without injuries.