Shak

I'll be at the Villa game. I'll let you lot know how it compares to my trips over last season, which were drab to say the least.

Any transfer news like this seems to bring out this strange brain fuzz in people, when they seem to lose all logical sense and thought. "I don't know him, never seem him play, but it's a great signing, etc..." It's not my job to identify players abroad that I feel could benefit our team both in the short and long term. It is Sam Allardyce's job, however, and I'm willing to trust his judgement. If we were only signing players I'd heard of and seen in action plenty then I'd be a little worried as it would imply that our manager doesn't really know a whole lot more about footballers than me, which as manager of the club I'd expect him to. Is this guy a sure thing? No, far from it. But nobody we sign is. He's young and seems very highly rated by pretty much everyone who's able to from a proper opinion on him. Also a fairly big fella who will add some much needed height to our team as well as being an apparently solid ball player. So you'll have to forgive my brain fuzz on this one.

Brilliant news. Not seen him play a great deal if I'm being honest, but he's young and very highly rated in Spain and is a LEFT BACK~! that we'll be hoping becomes a staple of our back 4 for years to come. Delighted.

Good point. If he's a free agent and he's so good, how has it taken him until August to find a club? Genuine question. Viduka and Geremi were snapped up in no time when clubs found they were available. Hard to say. My bet is that he was waiting for a really big club to come in, and now sees that it's not going to happen and we're as good an option as he can expect. Or wage demands perhaps? Maybe he's just shit though, as I'm sure someone will soon suggest.

we paid £5m for Barton not 6 You really don't think Barton is good enough for our first team? both moraly and talent wise, hell no! who else wanted him? Everton wasn't it? West Ham I believe, though that doesn't strengthen my case at all to be fair. Morally perhaps, but in terms of talent he's streets ahead of the other CM's at the club. who was at the club shouldn't come into it. As Mortdyce said, we're looking to sign european football quality first teamers Probably should, to be fair. If we had Gerrard or someone that good at the club I wouldn't want Barton, but we don't and I'm struggling to think of many players we could have attracted better than Barton for the price paid. And Barton has never played European football as far as I know, so it's not like he's failed at that level or anything. Ignoring my proposition for a wager I see?

we paid £5m for Barton not 6 You really don't think Barton is good enough for our first team? both moraly and talent wise, hell no! who else wanted him? Everton wasn't it? West Ham I believe, though that doesn't strengthen my case at all to be fair. Morally perhaps, but in terms of talent he's streets ahead of the other CM's at the club.

Fancy a wager like?

we paid £5m for Barton not 6 You really don't think Barton is good enough for our first team?

Innit. Is he winging or in the centre then? Been in the middle, not at much. Reckon he could be a good player there, ultimately, but it's a waste.

N'ZOGBIA IS A WINGER!!

For those not watching, he was running down the wing with the ball and he basically just gradually lost balance and ended up falling on his face.

Pattison

damien duff is a pile of horse shat Nice use of tense. He's been shite, yeah. Was a massive critic of his last year. Doesn't mean he doesn't have pace though, and there's absolutely no reason we shouldn't be hoping he'll be decent for us next year. Allardyce's fitness things could be of gigantic help to Duff, whose always been a player who has looked best when he's fit and sharp. The fact that he got so many games at Chelsea shows he's a useful player, even if purchasing him when we did was a poor move, which is where most of the vitriol cast in his direction arises from.

Drab affair thus far, no pace out wide with Troisi and Pattison down the wings. Geremi solid again, N'Zogbia's wasted in the middle. Think Edgar has been good at the back. Can't see it being long before Huntington or Edgar displace Ramage as 4th choice (assuming we sign 1 more CB, which I expect will be the case) at the back. Ramage is so detremental to any attemps to play football. For a pro footballer it's bizarre how poor he looks on the ball, the other two seem at least assured on the ball. Martins looking the best bet of a goal, if only because we don't look like creating much as a team.

Good ball Geremi, fast becoming a cert to start in CM imo.

Martins playing with his head down a bit there, N'Zogbia could have been in.

Ramage has to be the worst player ever with the ball at his feet. Yet again just bulls it forward and ultimately out of throw while under no pressure whatsoever.

S-S-SETANTA!!

Great corner by Geremi that, could have been a goal with a bit of luck.

Pattison was the only option. Fuck that.

Ramage was a striker when he first joined the academy apparently. Bet that was an awkward conversation.

Harper in no man's land there, at least he didn't fall over this time. Zog through the middle and Pattison on the left, for some reason.

I had Setanta 1 on, sitting here waiting patiently for the match to start.

Lots of regular first team football?

Depends on who else is available though. Not really. £6m for Smith is still a gross waste of money. He's not top class, obviously. But he's vast improvement on the likes of Pattison. Considering we'll likely play 4-3-3 a fair bit next season we'll need extra bodies in the middle. One thing I feel Smith will give us is someone other than Barton who can provide a bit of penetration from midfield. A box-to-box player if you like, who will get beyond the strikers and can contribute goals from midfield. Runners from deep are imperative to stretching a defence. Can also do a job up front and as a DM, which is handy considering our thin squad. It's not the most exciting signing, but it does make sense. He's also nowhere near as bad as most people here seem to think.