captainhaircut

This is the problem with modern football though isn't it. He effectively is the club. He can do what he wants with it because he owns it and with the amount of money he has put in, he's well within his rights to manage it how he wants. I'm not agreeing with him or condoning it but with football clubs being bought as rich men's play things at the moment, that's the way it is.

Same ones who cheered Abidal so much last season I bet. Football fans are such idiots some times.

If it weren't for the fact we're screaming out elsewhere, no-one would give a monkeys and probably won't in retrospect if come September we have filled those positions. I think anyone can be forgiven for being jumpy given the circumstances. Yeah ok, but does anyone really think they're sitting there thinking 'drop everything we need to complete the Elliot deal, Pieters and Maiga can wait'. It'll be a two second job. This guy will sign whatever's put in front of him and it's done whilst we still probably negoatiate price for the other 2.

I can't see whats wrong with this. Harper and Forster don't want to sit on the bench but after looking at them all summer as he said he would, Pardew has picked Krul as his no.1 and he has to stick with him for a prolonged period now. Soderberg isn't ready so maybe he goes out on loan to get some games and Elliot sits happily on the bench until he is ready.

I don't see what the point of loaning Forster is if we've decided Krul is the better keeper. Forster would only come back from the loan even more desperate to be number 1 and would likely just request a transfer when this didn't happen. We need to back Krul, keep Harper as number 2 for a few years and then sign a reliable number 2 once Harps is done.

Anyone listened to Wille McKay on Talksport? Complaining that Barton wasn't taking the corners or free kicks yesterday. In all likelihood, that's what set Barton off yesterday. Baby.

I think the current situations with Nolan and Barton is actually what some people feared when we first heard of this senior player group. When they are all playing, getting what they want and wielding power, they will be positive. However, they'll try to use that power to get contracts, control things well out of their remit and at that point they will become a negative infiuence. I'm not saying that I agree or disagree with the concerns these players have, but either way, they shouldn't have the power to cause problems when they are unhappy about something- no matter what it is.

Enrique and Barton are unsettled. The rest are in long term contracts or not in the first team plans.

Just like when everyone said we'd go down at the start of last season, when Hughton got sacked and when Carroll left. 2 out of QPR, Swansea, Norwich, an N'Zogbia-less Wigan and a Steve Kean managed Blackburn are finishing above us then? Fuck off.

It's just means he's bottled going back to Leeds. Cowardly twat.

I'm going to go with Holliett from Blackburn.

He'll miss the first 3 games then. Not too bad. Definitely need Erdinc in though so we can go with him and Ba up top in Ben Arfa's absence.

Not if they've sent him home from the tour. Which they may have when you consider the Dummett call up.

In his defence, he broke Demba Ba whilst golden boy Mark Douglas was telling everyone there was no way we'd sign him.

So Moyo played left back and Richardson right back? Possible conversions full time?

Perch?

The sell to buy policy, after a striker and full back are brought in, may be more to do with wages then fees. We've still got Smith, Xisco and a few others in the squad taking out big wages and doing nothing. Sturridge on loan, Clyne for a few million and money made from Routledge, Ranger, Smith, Xisco and Perch will probably free up some money for another midfielder. Douglas was suggesting we still wanted Barnetta the other day.

Ferguson and Guthries injuries are serious according to Ryder on twitter. Hope not.

In a 3 on the right hand side, I'd be happy. Barton-Tiote-Cabaye with Zog and Ben Arfa off Ba looks good to me.

Their first team isn't stronger than last year though. Gordon, Onouha, Bramble, Mensah, Bardsley, Henderson, Cattermole, Richardson, Welbeck, Gyan and Bent is stronger than Westwood, Brown, Bramble, O'Shea, Bardsley, Larsson, Gardner, Cattermole, Sessagnon, Gyan and Wickham. Wickham and Sessagnon won't score half the goals Bent and Welbeck did/would. Did you even read my post? I didn't judge on whether or not they are stronger, just that they are generally getting shit done in time for pre-season let alone the first game. I think that's useful. It's only useful if they're any good though. What's the point in signing loads and loads of average players that don't improve you?

Their first team isn't stronger than last year though. Gordon, Onouha, Bramble, Mensah, Bardsley, Henderson, Cattermole, Richardson, Welbeck, Gyan and Bent is stronger than Westwood, Brown, Bramble, O'Shea, Bardsley, Larsson, Gardner, Cattermole, Sessagnon, Gyan and Wickham. Wickham and Sessagnon won't score half the goals Bent and Welbeck did/would.

Is Marveaux not his replacement?

It's a stronger squad but a weaker first 11. Losing Bent and Wellbeck means they lose most of their goals from last season. Onouha has not been replaced probably as Brown is a cripple as well.

I'm sure that's bollocks but that would be a good move. Chamakh probably didn't do himself justice and he just isn't cut out for their style of play.

That's true. Erdinc would just kick him in the knee. Fight over..