Unbelievable

Shola

Only half watching this. Why is Santon still on!?

We're never going to score here. Look bereft of ideas.

Ranger

If that's what you think fine. Personally I believe him being a forward with a decent goalscoring record, Premiership experience and (especially) available on a free were far more important factors than some long term gameplan where he would feature wide left. We barely played 433 during his time here, and time and time again Pardew has proven to be a conservative, 442 man, so I think this is just hopeful thinking from your part.

Think it's a bit of a myth tbh.... we signed Ba on the basis he could play wide left and through the middle and he seems to want a player now to do similar. We wanted Matuidi in his first summer to perform a rock infront of the back 4 and let Cabaye do his thing. I think the long term plan has always been 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 with this management even if some circumstances meant it couldn't be used consistently until now. No we didn't. We signed Ba because we needed a striker after selling Carroll the window before and not replacing him and because he was available on a free after West Ham's relegation. I doubt his versatility even came into it.

No bigi

Who says we don't?

Fantastic finish tbf

Shite

Aye, Ferguson for Santon and that would have been reasonable. Then planned subs Anita <-> Amalfitano (with Abeid moving back to defensive mid) and Shola <-> Campbell to keep Anita and Shola fresh as much as possible.

At that price you would think there'd be huge add-ons..?

MON will be all over him

Santon? Why, he looks like he desperately needs a rest..

That's a very good point. It's not if Taylor picks up another injury, and if we don't bring in another defender during this window we'll be in the same position as we are now, having to bed a new player in at some time. Debuchy looks capable of fitting straight in anyway so I have few worries on that score, he's not a kid who is still learning the game. Where did I say we should not bring in another defender? My point was we should hope and pray Saylor can stay fit as we may well be in trouble if he isn't regardless if we need to bring in a new defender to a new team and competition under the pressure of a relegation scrap. Also, who would be the "new player we would have to bed in at some time" if "we don't bring in another defender during this window"?

That's today's investigative journalism for you..

Regarding Aubameyang, isn't he more a pure forward like Cisse, rather than somebody who can play wide? And whilst we're at playing wide, from what I've read Remy has either played right or central, do you think he could be effective on the left side of a front three with Cisse central and Ben Arfa right (with license to roam and swap positions)? Remy seems extremely right footed from the footage I've seen, which may not be the best combination with Santon on the left? Aubameyang at St-Étienne plays sometimes at a Lone striker and sometimes in a front 2. In the latter system, he's off the main striker, often in the left, but in a very mobile position. He's effective in both systems. I never saw Remy in the left. Just central or in the right. Do you think Remy could be effective on the left?

We have to hope Saylor comes back soon and can remain fit for the rest of the season first and foremost, unless we can get a central defender in on loan with Premiership experience. As much as I'm sick of the sight of Williamson, to bring in somebody like Douglas as well as Debuchy and expect it to click straight away with a completely renovated back four in the middle of a relegation struggle is not something I would see Pardew going for. He likes to bed in players, and whilst it's sometimes frustrating I also think it's understandable with players coming from a foreign competition to let them get used to their team mates and the pace of the Premiership.

Regarding Aubameyang, isn't he more a pure forward like Cisse, rather than somebody who can play wide? And whilst we're at playing wide, from what I've read Remy has either played right or central, do you think he could be effective on the left side of a front three with Cisse central and Ben Arfa right (with license to roam and swap positions)? Remy seems extremely right footed from the footage I've seen, which may not be the best combination with Santon on the left?

Should have got the lad to sign a new contract if it meant that much to him.

Nothing confirmed at our end, but we presume so. Fergie was apparently asking for 6M from us, to which we politely said no. Or something like that. It looks like Fergie said we did nothing wrong, but it was a blatant manipulation of the rules. Like I said, by the book but not entirely ethical. Unlike his systematic undermining of officials over the years of course - outside the rules and unethical, yet largely unpunished. Sounds like the sort of loophole wor lot would have come up with. Certainly expect them to use it in the future.

Frenchie: Uh excuse moi Loic, you can uh how you say double you little pay packeet at le Newcastle. On le mecredi we forget the anglais and do not talk to the anyone else bar le francais and then we have le fromage and vin. A haw he haw he haw. Loic: Bien, bien. I will uh hand in le transfer request mon ami Frenchie would be Hatem, seeing as they both spent their formative years at the OL academy both played for OM and lost their way a bit there. Here's hoping they like each other, although not necessarily in a Cabs-Debs way..

Seeing as l'OM are seemingly prepared to let him go and are just trying to maximise their fee, we need to do whatever we did to Ben Arfa that made him jump a plane to Newcastle and post his flag here, forcing his club (OM ) to play ball or be stuck with an unwanted player. Wouldn't surprise me if one or more of our French players are on the case already.

Wow, he's really settled in well.

That's the same article as yesterday evening on RMC with a additional few lines thrown in (mainly the 1 goal in 14 matches stuff).