Unbelievable

To be fair on the little I've seen his strongest attributes seem to be tackling, staying cool under pressure and playing a simple ball forward to people in space, which pretty much makes him a good prospect for a defensive midfield position. Aye that's what I thought on today's showing, but the Cov fans all said he looked better for them when he was allowed to get forward and that his passing range was excellent. Fair enough. Time will tell. Looks a good prospect either way!

He's staying in Germany!?

He's definitely better central. Another player more suited to a 4-3-3. I would sort of agree that he's given off a bit of a playmaker vibe so far, but he's only played like half a dozen games sporadically for us, it's hardly enough to start pigeonholing him into positions. He was only on for 15 minutes tonight, but he oozed class and confidence every time he touched the ball. I'd really like us to find a place for him. I'd agree that he'd be better suited to 4-3-3. I would like too but where ? I'd try him somewhere like this - Carroll ......Cisse ^ | Marveaux..|.Cabaye.....Ben Arfa | .......Tiote..|....Jonas | | | | | Williamson FYP If HBA is dropped for Caroll ever sold and we play hoofball, I feel like I will LOVE this season I will support his new club and not give a s*** about NUFC no more. FYP Bad words. See Newcastle play even when he doesn't play. Good on you. It's just you only ever seem to comment on HBA and have suddenly gone haywire today with the Carroll = long ball argument. Reminded me of somebody else who used to post on here (note to older forum members: guess who?) It's because of him I know the club. Bad from me xD Fair play! Is it fair to say you haven't seen us play that much before he really got into our first team then, i.e. when Carroll played for us and his form earned him a 35 million pound move?

To be fair on the little I've seen his strongest attributes seem to be tackling, staying cool under pressure and playing a simple ball forward to people in space, which pretty much makes him a good prospect for a defensive midfield position.

He's definitely better central. Another player more suited to a 4-3-3. I would sort of agree that he's given off a bit of a playmaker vibe so far, but he's only played like half a dozen games sporadically for us, it's hardly enough to start pigeonholing him into positions. He was only on for 15 minutes tonight, but he oozed class and confidence every time he touched the ball. I'd really like us to find a place for him. I'd agree that he'd be better suited to 4-3-3. I would like too but where ? I'd try him somewhere like this - Carroll ......Cisse ^ | Marveaux..|.Cabaye.....Ben Arfa | .......Tiote..|....Jonas | | | | | Williamson FYP If HBA is dropped for Caroll ever sold and we play hoofball, I feel like I will LOVE this season I will support his new club and not give a s*** about NUFC no more. FYP Bad words. See Newcastle play even when he doesn't play. Good on you. It's just you only ever seem to comment on HBA and have suddenly gone haywire today with the Carroll = long ball argument. Reminded me of somebody else who used to post on here (note to older forum members: guess who?)

Thought the complete opposite. To me he was in stark contrast to Amalfitano who did look nervous. Bigi looked composed and willing to be a little ambitious. Impressed. Agreed. Strange comment to make as he looked extremely confident for an 18 year old who's only just joined his new club a week or so ago.

Hope you've all checked your January 2010 deadline day posts in the Carroll thread..? I don't remember it being a particularly festive atmosphere on here that day as events unfolded.

WTF

He's definitely better central. Another player more suited to a 4-3-3. I would sort of agree that he's given off a bit of a playmaker vibe so far, but he's only played like half a dozen games sporadically for us, it's hardly enough to start pigeonholing him into positions. He was only on for 15 minutes tonight, but he oozed class and confidence every time he touched the ball. I'd really like us to find a place for him. I'd agree that he'd be better suited to 4-3-3. I would like too but where ? I'd try him somewhere like this - Carroll ......Cisse ^ | Marveaux..|.Cabaye.....Ben Arfa | .......Tiote..|....Jonas | | | | | Williamson FYP If HBA is dropped for Caroll ever sold and we play hoofball, I feel like I will LOVE this season I will support his new club and not give a shit about NUFC no more. FYP

Bet the Spurs ITK's didn't see that coming.. Chelsea are spending like it's going out of fashion this summer. F*** Financial Policing more like.

From the outside looking in you would be inclined to think so based on our recent transfer business. However, if the club is serious about getting Carroll back then it's clearly not proving to be so "easy". The fact we seem to have been completely priced out of a move for a promising Eredivisie striker who is unproven at the highest level is testament to this. I believe the technical staff have earned our trust in the transfer department. Whatever they do I now fully trust them (in huge contrast to only a year or so ago) that they have got their thinking hat on and are acting in the interest of the club in terms of how far it can stretch financially, whether it represents a good deal in terms of resale value and in their assessment of the on the pitch and off the pitch attributes of their transfer targets. Besides, we all know Ashley likes a gamble, and he's hit the jack pot before a few times, so why not trust him seeing as it will be Mike himself footing the bill if it all backfires. It's funny I should be the one stressing this as I've been more critical than most, but please everybody stop worrying FFS and give the men in charge some trust. They've more then earned it in the last couple of seasons.

Davide's been sloppy so far..

What an odd camera angle. Almost as if the camera man is playing right back.

How did that not go in..?

Insane money. Would rather have Carroll back for £12m. I'd rather pay 16m for De Jong than pay 12m for Carroll tbh. I wouldn't. The cheaper option is much more proven at this level. The point about bringing in players from leagues like the Eredivisie is that they provide better price vs quality. Luuk de Jong at 16 million doesn't quite frankly. While all that is true, at least De Jong has the versatility to fit different systems and actually has the potential to be worth that amount of money. While Carroll is just a huge waste at 12m especially when you consider he isn't much more than a rotation option. I wouldn't do either deals personally, but if i was backed into a corner and i had to make one of those deals i'd take the De Jong one. Carroll was worth 3 times that amount one and a half year ago man. That's not opinion, it's fact. And most of us on here thought we got the short straw in that deal too, at the time..

What does redcafe think? That Ba is leaving. What are the Spurs ITK's thinking?

Insane money. Would rather have Carroll back for £12m. I'd rather pay 16m for De Jong than pay 12m for Carroll tbh. I wouldn't. The cheaper option is much more proven at this level. The point about bringing in players from leagues like the Eredivisie is that they provide better price vs quality. Luuk de Jong at 16 million doesn't quite frankly.

Dave

So looking forward to another two hours of refreshing, black screens and error messages. Bring it on!

How about if they were available at approximately the same fee and wages (which I don't think is far from reality, and that's before even mentioning we're offering a loan, not a flat out transfer)?

How old is Dempsey? Not young, could be said to be at peak though - 29 Great little player. Can't see Fulham selling him for only 5 million though, and at that age he doesn't really fit our transfer policy.

How old is Dempsey?

I'd be worried if I was you. Very limited defender who will never make it in the PL. Think Bouma but worse.

Can't De Jong play wider though? That's what people like Mole would have you believe, but in reality he really is a central forward iyam. The Twente fan I asked said he can and has played wide of their front 3 frequently. That doesn't make him a wide player still. It is quite usual for young forwards trying to break into the team to first play wide of a front 3. It's how Van Persie started at Feyenoord for example. He may be able to play there yes, but it's certainly not his best or natural position. But it means we can accomodate him in the team either in that position or as a the middle player game to game etc. You couldn't do that with Carroll. True. I would have been happy with either to be fair, as long as it was to compliment Ba and Cisse. I'm happy we're looking at this calibre of striker and reasonable confident we'll get one.

Can't De Jong play wider though? That's what people like Mole would have you believe, but in reality he really is a central forward iyam. The Twente fan I asked said he can and has played wide of their front 3 frequently. That doesn't make him a wide player still. It is quite usual for young forwards trying to break into the team to first play wide of a front 3. It's how Van Persie started at Feyenoord for example. He may be able to play there yes, but it's certainly not his best or natural position.