Sifu

Ashley isn't particularly keen on loans though. (I know Ben Arfa was signed on loan initially but he was an exceptional talent!). Pretty much safe to say this will never materialise, be it a loan or permanent transfer. Have to pursue other targets now.

Christ....

Mid-January I think.

Who will go you ask? No-one (in January anyway).

Liking the sound of this view. It actually puts me at ease now. Really? In the summer everyone on here were saying how there were no excuses and the investment of the Carroll money directly into the first team would prove how committed the club was to pushing for more than just survival. As it happens we're doing really well anyway, but it may be that Coloccini wants to know that the money we still have available will be spent to ensure we push on from this position, like many of us do. I'm unconvinced anything will change this January. Well your post actually put me at ease in that it was an alternative to Colo leaving/being sold in January. Just to clarify my actual view: Of course, the Carroll money has not been fully reinvested in the team and yes that is a possible indication of a lack of ambition. As you've implied, further signs of a lack of ambition (such as sales of key players [which is something which I'm still sure won't happen in January]; no new signings as such) could p*ss off Colo who would then probably decide that his future doesn't lie here. If the latter part of my last sentence actually happens, I'm hoping Pardew will play a key role in encouraging Colo to stay. Hopefully Pardew will sell his vision of the next 4 years or so and if it's positive enough, it could be enough to persuade Colo to commit his future. As it stands though, I pretty sure we won't sell anyone in January - this could prove to be a massive indicator of "ambition" which could ultimately result in Colo committing.

Liking the sound of this view. It actually puts me at ease now.

I hope so. (Ben Arfa was properly back and ready to play in September when he came on against Blackburn/made his comeback at Forest, wasn't really match fit until October/November).

Yeah, fair enough comments from Pardew tbh. Ben Arfa still should have come on though. I seem to remember Pardew saying a couple of months ago that Sammy was "defensively naive". This still seems to be case with Sammy so aye, pretty much agree with the latter part of your post, Ben Arfa would have been no different to Sammy (defensively anyway).

What's the transfer window got to do with it? Pardew should have said "we hope he signs by the end of next month". Pardew has come out with weird stuff before, I'm hoping this is just one of those kind of comments.

I'm still confident he won't leave in January.

Well it's his own fault.

Indeed, your team isn't winning (while he's on the bench) and moreover the players on the pitch (aside defenders and Krul) don't really play very well. I really wonder what Obertan and Jonas have shown (which was that good) recently to deserve a start in every game... Whilst Jonas has admittedly been off form recently, he's still quite a key player for us. We don't really have anyone else who could play on the left wing at the moment either (we have Sammy Ameobi and of course Ben Arfa can play there too but Pardew seems really reluctant to play him there). Before your edit, I was going to say that Ben arfa could easily play on the left wing... He's played there the majority of his career. The point of your coach here is very strange. I'm practically sure Ben arfa would like to play in this position (and everywhere) at least if it meant to not be on the bench... Trust me, HBA has been too much on the bench during his career and out of football to like to be there again. Pardew seems quite narow-minded tbh. Bringing Sammy Ameobi when you need to win the game is rather strange, but I know he should have his reasons... But the most annoying thing is all the stories he made and told to the fans and journalists just before Ben arfa came back after his injury : telling he was very good, special, blah, blah, blah... Someone is just lying in this story. It is a weird situation

That's really embarrassing. The headline is absolutely un-necessary.

I don't think Obertan is that bad either. I'm definitely giving him a full season to prove himself. Though he really does need a kick up the backside imo.

Indeed, your team isn't winning (while he's on the bench) and moreover the players on the pitch (aside defenders and Krul) don't really play very well. I really wonder what Obertan and Jonas have shown (which was that good) recently to deserve a start in every game... Whilst Jonas has admittedly been off form recently, he's still quite a key player for us. We don't really have anyone else who could play on the left wing at the moment either (we have Sammy Ameobi and of course Ben Arfa can play there too but Pardew seems really reluctant to play him there).

Some stats...in french http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur20478.html He's a 9 since the start of his carreer, but when Blanc was Bordeaux manager, he played as an outwide midfielder. Tigana benched him a lot last season The current manager, Gillot, gave him his previous post. Completely different type of striker (comparing to Ba or Maïga) : smaller, he's very fast and sharp with a decent technique. He's also mentally vulnerable, needs a lot of confidence from his manager etc. A decent ligue 1 player, not more... Sounds a bit like Obertan From what I've seen him, he really is

Best's contribution in terms of his hold up play, strength and sheer determination (always giving his all) has proved to be very important for us in the past, most notably our unbeaten run/start this season. Best has been able to bring others into play via his hold up play and flicking on headers and he has proven to be decent partner for Ba really. Whether he's a long term solution remains to be seen tbh. If we want to "go places", guess Best isn't one player we should rely on too heavily. I wouldn't by any means let him go to another club - he's great for the squad and seems to be a good lad. As it stands though, I would continue to start Best upfront alongside Ba (with Ben Arfa preferably on the wing).

Hope this happens. That would be a brilliant idea actually

We're linked with everyone from France Personally think Gouffran is rubbish though.

They'd be f***ed without NUFC tbh. Pretty much. From my understanding, newspaper sales are probably declining really (most likely due to the free availability of the Journal/Chronicle/Sunday Sun online). So NCJ need all the stories they can get from the club so that they can still advertise "exclusives" for the afternoon sale of the Chronicle. I imagine quite a lot of people, after seeing these adverts, buy the Chronicle from the stands outside Eldon Square/Monument etc after finishing work. They simply can't afford being banned from St. James' Park. sure publishing controversial views against the club will always risk the job or future access afforded to the publisher and the writer. but that doesn't give the articles or stories being published anymore credit or truth does it? Guess that really depends on what the article is about. If something is published and the club takes measures to ban the offending publisher and writer, then there may be some substance to it

I'm more than confident that we'll see Santon starting at LB. Raylor is rumoured to be back for the WBA game but like I've said before, surely Pardew has seen the light now - Santon > Raylor.

They'd be f***ed without NUFC tbh. Pretty much. From my understanding, newspaper sales are probably declining really (most likely due to the free availability of the Journal/Chronicle/Sunday Sun online). So NCJ need all the stories they can get from the club so that they can still advertise "exclusives" for the afternoon sale of the Chronicle. I imagine quite a lot of people, after seeing these adverts, buy the Chronicle from the stands outside Eldon Square/Monument etc after finishing work. They simply can't afford being banned from St. James' Park.

You can still join the league if you want