TRon

I have to say, some of the views on this forum are crazy if they don't think Keane would be a positive signing! Damien Duff was a positive signing at the time, doesn't always work out. But yeah I'd take him if it was on a loan, scores goals. No he wasn´t, he was an completely unnecessary signing by Roeder. We had a really upcoming Zog that played really well and Roeder just bought him because he was available Keane would be a perfect partner to Carroll or to take Nolans place. He would be a wonderful signing. Not saying he should play all the time because we now have the ability to play Ben Arfa in the same roll and Nolan as well that really has played well the last to games. I sort of agree with this. Keane will make a great partner for Carroll but it's difficult to see how Hughton can fit HBA into the same team unless he plays him on the wing. As far as I understand it, HBA was promised a central role by Hughton so I can see a potential flashpoint already for our young French hothead.

Hardly surprising since he probably lives here

Quite simply yes. We got a more than reasonable last couple of transfer windows so that'll do me. It's going to be worth going to games again.

We did everything right in that game but score the goals. Even the one we got was a fantastic header. Shame we didn't convert more chances because we were head and shoulders above Wolves considering it was their home game. Routledge was outstanding and Jonas did well on the other side.

Consider the cost of everyone else in the dressing room wanting parity with his wages / relative payrise. Exactly. Not to mention the fact that the term 'proven prem quality' isn't applicable here. He’s more proven at PL level than Coloccini and he’s our top earner isn’t he? Taylor's had 5 pretty poor seasons in my book. Makes him no more proven that someone with 1 'bad' season. Coloccini was still really poor and hasn’t proven himself to be a better PL defender than ST. He might over the course of this season, but right now he hasn’t. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Taylor’s wage exceptions have been driven upwards by Colo’s inflated pay packet. Taylor’s agent implied his client was looking for a staged salary increase. Presumably a sort of as the club makes progress back up the league his salary increases to reflect this. This would certainly fit in with Taylor’s previous comments about wanting assurances about the club’s ambition. The worry has to be (if the club aren’t prepared to go down this route) is that Ashley has no intention of ever paying the kind of wages needed to retain the services of players who perform well in the PL. What happens when Coloccini’s contract is nearly up if he can replicate last season’s form in the PL? Will the club offer him £35kpw and put him on the transfer list when he turns it down? I am pretty certain that if Coloccini doesn't fall in line with the reduced wage policy he will be sold or let go at the end of his contract. I don't know why there is much doubt about this.

Don't think anyone's saying it would be a poor signing as such, more the fact they're questioning why he would come in the first place. I could be making it up, but I'm sure in the not too distant past, a fair few on here turned their noses up at the idea of getting him. At paying £8m which was the going rate at the time. On loan would be a different matter.

A similar thought has been going through my head. We needed a couple of people to take their chance and (much as I hate using a baseballism) "step up". Hughton and Carroll both seem to be doing that. We needed to be phenomenally tricky in the transfer market. We appear to be pulling that off. Against all the odds, even with plenty of people still looking for things to moan about, there's a note of hard-win optimism and confidence in the air. A couple of crap results could change all that -- and there will be plenty of the usual moaners just gagging to pounce on them -- but right now, compared to 18 months ago? Yes, we are definitely on the up. Yes and for once Ossie I agree with you. up to a point We have a quietly effective manager and a few players who have demonstated promise and potential. Despite that I honestly believe we will achieve nothing more than mid table mediocrity in the next few years unless we have an owner who is prepared to invest significant amounts of money on players - Ashley had the chance to do that this season and has failed to do it. He still has the chance to do that but he won't. With our support we should be one of the powerhouses of the Premier League and Europe but until we have an owner who realises the massive potential of the Club then we will be destined to be one of the also rans, a Wigan or a Stoke if we are lucky If the Ben Arfa deal is done with a chance of Keane to come in as well - not to mention the signings of Tiote, Gosling and Perch - I am more than happy at that for now. Next season we will be able to build on that after consolidating in the premier, which I am now convinced we will do. Yes Ashley has been a tight arse but we should be one of the most financially healthy football clubs around in a year or two and that will put us in good stead to start challenging for honours again.

Lets hope it's not still going in 10 years time like Big Brother though. aye Fingers crossed! On a more serious note, IF we do sign Barfa I really hope he doesn't bring a bad attitude into the place. The team seem to have quite a bit of spirit going on atm and i would hate to see that wrecked. He looks like a proper headcase tbh. I reckon one year and he'll be gone, but it should be interesting.

This is getting insane.

The Ben Arfa deal plus the Robbie Keane stuff has me believing definitely, because now Ashley's come to the party by backing his manager I feel very optimistic we can have a good season. Adding a touch of flair is exactly what the doctor ordered and fans can look forward to going to watch matches live again.

The Ben Arfa v Diaby fight video....what an absolutely horrible little bastard HBA looks. He's about 15 and still giving Diaby an earful despite Diaby's mates stopping him from punching his lights out

Not if it's instead of Ben Arfa which I've a feeling it will be. But better than nothing.

I don't like agents as a rule but it's Deschamps so fair play.

I am pretty sure Hughton will wait until we have a bad result before introducing any new players into the team. Win win situation because it will keep those who are wearing the shirts fully motivated knowing we've got a bunch of talented signings just waiting for their chance.

Wonder if he'll be in the squad tomorrow?

It fucking is like

I'll give Ashley/Llambias credit when they get his signature on the contract. Even so I believe HBA's already said this moves not about the money so it shouldn't be a hard sell.

I think the biggest reason we have got Ben Arfa here is because for some insane reason he had his heart set on coming here. For our part we put in an offer and kept our fingers crossed he wouldn't go anywhere else. And what do you think was the insane reason he wanted to come here? Llambias and Hughton selling him the club, no? Hughton basically. I doubt he even knows who Llambias is.

Keane must be a loan deal only, unless Spurs are giving him away. No way would we pay £6m at his age.

I think the biggest reason we have got Ben Arfa here is because for some insane reason he had his heart set on coming here. For our part we put in an offer and kept our fingers crossed he wouldn't go anywhere else.

Apart from score with his head and feet and show some close control I suppose you're right. Yet you think Marlon Harewood is the bee's knees. Well at least he's not languid.

The Viduka/Owen partnership cost a lot more yet we got relegated.

Shola doesn't look fat, it's muscle and it seems to restrict his movement. Yet he's been described as too languid in this same thread. I think you need to look the word up, mate. I think you need to look up perspective in the same dictionary mate. Fail. Fail.

First decent post in the thread.

Shola doesn't look fat, it's muscle and it seems to restrict his movement. Yet he's been described as too languid in this same thread. I think you need to look the word up, mate. I think you need to look up perspective in the same dictionary mate.