STM

Shola brace.

Although it was David Craig and he did say "french sources". Been at the mustard again i think.

I can't believe Sturridge used the word "humongous". What a turd.

SSN: Reckons he has travelled here today.

Oh great David Craig, thought we'd got rid of that cunt.

That's been mentioned in loads of places. Sure he's on around 30k basic and 30k for each appearance or something similar. So not pay as you play then? Na, i get what you mean now.

Ba's on pay as you play, with us? I doubt that very much.

I think people long for loyalty, it's part of the "romance" of the game. The problem is that there aren't enough local players coming into their repective teams and the best ones get thrown stupid money at a young age. I truly believe it will change someday and players will find loyalty towards their clubs again but we are a long way off that now. In short, Ba has no reason to stick around.

At least Chelsea won't be in for him.

Bored are we?

Could have been brinksmanship on Chelsea's part. I can't imagine Ba turning down the chance to move to Chelsea. The second he was pulled from a matchday squad, that's it.

Any word on this deal. Is he expected at the match tonight? Reckon we will find out something, since Pardew struggles to keep his gob shut.

Krul Perch Williamson Coloccini Santon Anita Tiote Bigi Marveaux Cisse Obertan

I'm very suprised that people are confident of doing a deal for Remy. We don't care about time, we will wait 12 months to replace Ba if we have to, in order to get the right price. I'd be shocked if we act quickly after losing Ba.

By the way, Mike and Dekka will still see this as 4m (or whatever the final slice) profit on him.

Obviously, we dont want to lose players of Ba's talent but this really is the best solution all round considering the circumstances. He's been touting himself around for 12 months and he's a potential firecracker in the dressing room, regardless of Pardew's nice quotes about him yesterday. He's also making Cisse's situation tricky, since Cisse isn't suited to that wide role. At least we can wash our hands of the situation now, hopefully we can find a suitable replacement for him before the window closes and one who fits the team we have and doesn't have a release clause. I know Remy's name has been mentioned countless times but expect Andy Carroll's name to dominate the back pages if Remy doesn't happen.

Harrys comments on Remy "trific, trific".

We won't bring in another striker until Ba has gone, I'm certain of that. Which is worrying.

The thought of the right back trying to play football is mouthwatering. I think I will cry if it turns out he can't cross.

Confirmed my suspicions about Ba. Remember this time two years ago? Walking the streets of london and stoke looking for a job. Sooner this is over, the better.

Thinking more, its a good deal all round. It should please Cabaye and convince more players to join.

Seems quite a clear policy to spread our transfers out over the summer and january. Most clubs virtually shut shop during january. Desperate for defenders like. A lot of talk around Debuchy, will be nice to actually watch him play. That's Simpson gone. Centre half next please. However I can see us signing an attacking mid.

Don't concede early, pleaseandthankyou.

Footballing version of a dictatorship. For years he created a surpressive regime built on bulling his staff players and refs into submission. Look at some of the great players whom he's kicked out for having a voice, Beckham, Ronaldo, keane and the quiet ones who have stayed on, Scholes, Giggs. It all works as a fantastic motivation tool but ultimately its a flaw in his personality, he's a bully and acts like a child when anyone stands up to him. Take the bbc incident, or barring sky on wednesday. Don't fight the regime or it will destroy you. Its not the same as Mourinho who calculates his controvesy. Its not genius mind games, its bitching. There's no question of Fergys success, he's done remarkable things. Had he not had his first premierleague title he would gone down in history like all the other scottish dinosaurs, dalglish, mcleish etc, for being a bully who's motivation outweighs his tactical nouse.

Mackem logic: the graph is upside down.