alexthegreat

The following 9 have got to start for me: Krul Simpson Santon Tiote Coloccini Taylor Marveaux Cabaye Best Santon has got to come in for Taylor, thats obvious. Might just be me but I was not at all impressed with Obertan - seems to disappear for half an hour at a time, and I didn't think he tracked back well enough either, which isnt really on. Seen enough from Marveaux to want to see him start. Best is our form striker - also thought he was also our best player in the first half v QPR (not saying a great deal though) would start ahead of Ba imo. After that its two from Ba / Gosling / Jonas / Obertan. I'd go with Jonas and Gosling. Don't think he'll go with 2 strikers after Monday so not Ba. Gosling is needed to beef up the midfield after Tiote's slightly concerning performances and its Jonas ahead of Obertan for me. So: Krul Simpson Taylor Coloccini Santon Marveaux Tiote Cabaye Gosling Jonas Best is my line up. Mightn't be that exciting but can add a bit to the attack after the hour mark with Obertan, Ba, and Sammy if neccessary and shouldnt get pummelled in midfield like we did on Monday night.

"We played with two strikers, it's a small pitch and we took a bit of a gamble that we might be able to boss the two centre-backs, but we didn't really. That extra midfield players that they had allowed them to control the game, I tried to stay with that system, but really it was only my confidence in the back four and the goalkeeper that allowed me to do that. "I thought our flair players were all a bit off their best and that's always going to have an impact. ""I've no intention of bringing a free agent in. I'll go with the group. I think you have to remember I've got Hatem Ben Arfa training now. His imagination and flair on that pitch would have been a big asset for us - hopefully, fingers crossed, in two weeks' time he'll be on that pitch for us." Think he'll change to 4-5-1 this weekend after reading that.

Good post

Was hoping Tiote and Cabaye would go there and run the game. Instead they got absolutely steamrollered by QPRs midfield. We just could not get a foothold in the game. Think Cabaye will come good - he has shown he has the quality and doesnt mind the physical side, it might take time though. Tiote really struggled when under pressure with the ball at his feet. Would like to think its just a bad patch but suspect its something teams have latched onto. Ever so slightly worried about him so far this season, not going to say anything drastic yet though. Seriously need more from those 2 as soon as possible, especially since Gosling looked like someone who'd never played football before at Scunthorpe.

My thoughts exactly, hes been with his team mates for nearly 2 weeks now. Time to stick him in. A match v QPR is as good a starting point as any.

On tonights performance so far alone, I would say that the three weakest players in the side are Cole, Terry and Lampard. Terry doesn't look any better than Williamson Lampard's performance isnt much different to what you'd get from Nolan on one of his poorer days. And Ashley Cole's performance is below what I'd expect from Danny Simpson. Great players in their day but if this is all they are now then Chelsea haven't a hope of winning the league if they still rely on these 3, and it wouldn't matter who the manager is.

Quite alot of unknowns in the squad at the moment. The following players are either new signings or have barely featured for one reason and another: Marveaux, Obertan, Santon, Cabaye, Ba, Gosling, Ben Arfa Then theres Vuckic, Ameobi, Ferguson, and possibly Abeid - would hope that this lot could make a decent contribution this season. Early signs are good for the first 3. I'm under the impression that its probably going to be a year to early for Tavernier, and I'm not really bothered about Elliot, although if hes ahead of Harper then he could end up getting quite a few games. Thats up to 13 players who we've barely seen play for us who are in the first team squad this year. Very difficult to predict how we're going to do - anything from 7th to all out disaster still looks a possibility to me even though we're 3 games in.

As if we could do any better than Pardew. Hes been strung along like the rest of us. He talks shite but on the whole hes done a very good job so far

Still a possibility in a weeks time?? "The fact is there are two types of loan deal. The first is known as a Standard Loan, which can be for a period of half a season or a full season. Such loans can only be made during the main transfer windows. Then there is an Emergency Loan. That's the one where clubs can borrow players from Premier League clubs (or other Football League clubs) outside of the normal transfer window. The first Emergency Loan window opens seven days after the main transfer window closes and remains open until 5pm on the fourth Thursday in November. However, an Emergency Loan can only be made for a maximum of 93 days." Man City of all clubs got Fulop on loan despite having a fit 3rd choice goalkeeper: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/apr/26/manchester-city-fulop-emergency-loan-given Surely we could still get Macheda? Can't believe I've just posted that, mind.

When was this? Can't flick through the pages to look In a frame of mind to believe the worst, but that would fully explain the days events. I really thought we'd get this bloke signed - NUFC and the player were definitely there - and quotes from the Sochaux chairman suggeted he wasn't immovable. If there was any accuracy in the afternoon / evening reports we were in a state of panic depsite having 7 months to set something up. Would not surprise me at all tbh

straw clutching exercise here, but presumably thats it for loan signings between Premiership clubs as well is it? No chance of Macheda coming in on loan?

went on his thread yesterday cos I thought he could be involved v QPR. According to someone on here hes out til the end of October and expecting to be rusty after that

Really the entire thing was about looking for bargains - buying players we could sign for less than what their future value may be after some Premiership football. Then selling them on for more at a later date. Look at when we tried to exploit a loop hole to buy a spare left back cheaply: when it didn't come off there was never even a suggestion of looking for a reserve left back again, in fact we were lucky to have a single left back at the club. Ba, Obertan, Cabaye, Marveaux, Santon all have every chance of being sold for more than we bought them for - I believe that is why they are here. But it is more difficult to play this game with strikers - every time anyone starts banging in goals anywhere they get noticed and (an often inflated) value is placed on their head. A value that we were not prepared to meet. I think that is the reason why that no matter what the asking price was, our valuation was consistently failed to meet what the club was asking for - we would not contemplate the deal if there was not a good prospect of selling at a profit. So I'll go for a 4. I think we've made a few good signings, we could even play some good football, but its confirmation (if any were needed) that long-term the strategy the board have is a long long way from where we want to be as a club.

Well that's what Craigy said. Don't believe it for a second. It would appear he'd agreed to sign for them already, they are in Europe, they have finished above us 3 times in a row, they are London based - its quite easy to believe really

could actually see this happening - hes been negotiating a new contract for months now. Would explain the Ridgewell link as well

4 hours to go - this is Shefki Kuqi type signings territory now

Gyan available for 2mil loan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coming on the Mirror website soon, according to craic on twitter. Read more: http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=623768#ixzz1Wcwd67S2 Thats rtg quoting twitter. Although if that was true we should definitely be in there.

Fulham have got their "european" football to offer him that we don't Aye, and they've had a better side than us for 3 years and are in London as well.

Hope so. Think we were linked to him last year?

Most Wigan fans seem to think hes got a good all round game but is a dreadful finisher. Got plenty of chances last season with N'Zogbia and Cleverley in the side, but missed the majority of them.

Go on Dekka you complete wanker - this sounds like a move that would be right up your ally

care to elaborate? Please

I see hes got 16 caps for France but all under Domenech

NUFC.COM update: Window latest #1: Trying to maintain forward momentum Deadline day transfer rumours involving NUFC: Andre-Pierre Gignac (Marseille) Linked with Newcastle by French newspapers but their English equivalents claim that a loan move to Fulham is almost a done deal. Papiss Demba Cisse (Freiburg) reports of a failed bid from Newcastle, Freiburg official claims to have received bids from three un-named clubs below their valuation. Marvin Ogunjimi (Genk) French media tale, no quotes. Eric Mouloungui (Nice) French media tale, no quotes. Federico Macheda (Manchester United) no updates since Tuesday on a loan deal to SJP or anywhere else. Nolan Roux (Brest) rubbished by the Brest chairman, who confirmed that his €8m buyout clause has now expired. Modibo Maiga (Sochaux) Having vowed to report us for an illegal approach, the Sochaux chairman said on Tuesday that the departure of Maiga to SJP was still a possibility. However that situation then altered when Sochaux failed with a £2m bid for Max Gradel of Leeds United, a player they had targeted as a replacement for Maiga. The Sochaux link had some credence as a result of the fact that Ivory Coast international Gradel spent part of his childhood in France. By Tuesday evening Gradel had travelled to France and the following day was confirmed as a St.Etienne player. Wednesday morning saw Sochaux complete the signing of a forward/winger, bringing in Abdoul Camara from Rennes. However the club President then appeared to rule out any deadline day departure for Maiga and speculated that he could be sold off in the January 2012 window. Obviously all speculation, but I'm just starting to get the feeling its going to be either Macheda or no one

Did that Everton signing cost anything? End of an era if he did: http://www.evertontime.com/