STM

With our regime, its safe to assume that we won't be fleeced on wages and fees. The one thing I like about Pardew is that he gets players working for their place in the side. I'd take a guess and say Carroll will take wage cut to return. Biggest mistake of his life.

It seems that our club have once again made the right choice... Well unless he turns out to be Messi. 16m is half a squad for us.

Since we have been linked with Carroll again, its natural for people to start justifying the move. However I really don't think its needed. Carrolls a good young player, a priority? No, but a good player. I certainly won't turn my nose up if we resign him.

I've never seen this as a likely transfer TBH, i think he's a player whom we have bid for and moved on. He's a young talent, who is clearly rated by our scouting team, that's why we are/were after him. I'm not convinced his position on the pitch matters as much as his potential.

Yeah even the most negative inside me can't deny it now. Wonder where they all get their leaks from, must be from the club.

There's every possibility that we are not trying to spend any money on a right back and that we will use the money from Simpson to pay for Debuchy (or at worst some of the best/forster money). Keeping our powder dry for a striker, I reckon.

Didn't we enter negotiations ages ago, if we have already had a bid rejected?

Pardew has always played things down. He wouldn't accept we were in a battle for fourth until the three games.

All depends on the system Pardew wants to play. If he wants to ply with 2 strikers, then Carroll might be worth a punt but he won't fit into our system otherwise. I'd probably wait until the last minute to strike deal, perhaps to take him back on loan.

Not bothered about Hoillet in the slightest. I doubt we were ever interested in him TBH.

I should get excited about good young players joining the club but because i know that they probably won't play alot in their first season i find it very difficult.

I feel it's the right time to get rid of the last of the dead wood at the club. Sign two or three (depending on who leaves) top quality players and start using some of the younger players in our squad as back up. The likes of Vuckic, Abeid, Sammy, Amalfitano etc should play a stronger role next year, behind better players. We are a squad improving all of the time and if we are to maintain the position of last year (which won't be easy), players like Simpson clearly aren't up to it. We could keep him as a back up but we don't really have that luxury, we need the transfer fee return in order to strengthen the squad. If we sign Debuchy, selling Simpson is a no-brainer, especially with Tavernier as back up.

This thread still going? He won't be signing for us IMO.

It was said as a joke. I'm sure Carr doesn't even scout keepers full stop.

Perhaps our scouts weak point is goalkeepers. I don't think the problem is finding a decent second choice keeper. Its keeping them happy that is the problem. Its quite hard finding good keepers with no ambition, that's why we should be looking to our youth ranks for back ups.

There's actually quite a few brazilians who play in Russia, don't think race will make a difference. I'm sure if a Russian club waves loads of money in his face he might be tempted.

When two papers run identical stories is does make you wonder whether something may be happening. I sometimes suspect that the papers know more than they are letting on, probably because they have been promised an exclusive. I think Debuchy will be the most important piece of the jigsaw this summer.

I hope the rumours about Santon are just lazy Italian journalism. Would be very annoyed if he left.

As long as we replace him then its a good move. Ronaldos concerns are well founded but Best would always be a squad player for us.

Suprised nobody has linked the timing of us trying to sign De Jong, along with us selling Best. It's either an attempt at one in, one out or its us being "open for business" now that we are in July. I'd take a guess and say its the latter rather than the former since Forster in on his way to Celtic this week too.

Hmm, sceptical about any article without quotes. It could all be guesswork IMO. However, IMO the Northern Echo often seem to be ahead of the Journal and Ronny. That's the second article to have mentioned a 5m fee for Douglas too.

I thought we might have been playing against him in a friendly. One thing is for sure, he will drop his arse at SJP next season.

In California they have just managed to put out one wildfire. They might want to bring their water-helicopters over here, to help put out this transfer window.

I'm gutted, really hoped we might sign Cuellar. Debuchy really didn't convince me during the Euro's, plus there is no chance in him joining us.

Its never true that the decision will lie with the selling club. Luuk De Jong will decide where he ends up, regardless of who initially bids the most. Therefore the idea of a race to sign him is irrelevant.