Yorkie

Ah, well either way. The risk factor still stands. Who, in July, agrees a signing to go through January the 1st, anyway? Just don't see the bother in the hassle over this. Not pro this signing at all. Fortunately, i reckon we've probably moved on anyway.

PS - you're seemingly forgetting his 6-month injury, which is the blatantly obvious turn-off for me. Regardless of the fee, and regardless of whatever we pay him a week, we'll have paid him a lot of money to do absolutely nothing, but use up our medical appliances and sit on the injury tables; merely hoping that a cultured and 30+ defender who's played nowhere but Spain, might adjust to the Premiership whilst trying to fit into a completely new lifestyle. Just not worth it. I say there's better options than Andrade... there is a mountain of better options than Edmilson.

Fairly sure those figures were mentioned somewhere. Was why we'd supposedly 'backed off'... Someone can correct me if i'm wrong and i'll humbly apologise - but i'm fairly sure there was something like that said.

Well, no one can judge that at all, but i'll hedge my best and say with confidence that he wouldn't be. Chances are, he wouldn't even be first choice. And even if he were to be, there's a colossal array of other continental players who are more appropriate and/or cheaper, who could do the same job. He's an injury prone player who, on the whole, is regarded as mediocre. Personally know absolutely nothing about him, but other than Sicko2ndbest and his list of world class individuals, no one's said owt startling about him. Can't even speak English apparantely? Hardly the experienced player that we need to bring on the likes of Taylor and Huntington and the rest. If he's going for £1m or something, and is on half those wages, and on a short contract like two years or something - it's a decent deal, because he's got some experience and can cover more than one position. And is another body on the cheap. £3.3m + £80k a week for three years or whatever it was, accumulates to something totally daft and not worth it. Could get someone so much better for that.

If he costs £3.3m and is on £80,000-a-week, it's perfectly pointless.

Well they moved on Crespo even though he's infinitely more marketable than someone like Kalou. Also players like Carvalho and even Essien were not household names until they arrived at Chelsea. In fact, since Kenyon arrived Cole, Ballack and Shevchenko have been their only 'galactico' type signings that come to my mind. He may or may not displace Cole, but I certainly think he's got a good chance and I think he knows that. Unless he asks for a move they won't be looking to sell. Tbh, Bridge would be guaranteed 38 games in a black and white shirt. He'd be guaranteed around ten games in a blue one. If he had any sense, he'd bugger off. Totally pointless him staying there when he could get week-in, week-out football at around 16 other Premiership clubs. We'd sustain his wage packet n'all.

Thing is Campbell only managed 20-odd games last season. Well worth it for free at the time, but a year on and a few million and I'm not sure. We missed a good opportunity to sign him and Roeder made a mistake to turn him down, but we should move on to other targets now. I think it's the most important part of the pitch to have consistency. The same two CB's playing week-in, week-out is essential IMO. Ferdinand-Vidic, Carragher-Agger, Carvalho-Terry. Split those partnerships up and you start to see problems. I'm sure Campbell would come and give us 15-25 games and he'd play well in most of those, but he'd be another short term fix who would disrupt the back four by coming in and out of the side. I'd rather bring someone in who will play practically every game of the season. Campbell might be a bad example, i have to admit, because you're not wrong. Still, if we're going to buy a Number 1 centre-back (ie, one immediately above Taylor and Rozehnal) i think i'd rather they were Premiership-based. If we were to break the bank for a top centre-back. Names that stand out for me are the likes of Yobo, Campbell, Toure, Woodgate. Unfortunately you'd probably have a decent case for saying that not one of those are realistic (obviously Woodgate), but they're just examples. Which is why i suppose it's a better bet looking on the continent. I just don't know. The money could well be there, and in an ideal world we might be able to stick a £10m bid in for Yobo and get him. But it's difficult to see. Meh. I'm sure Sam's got something up his sleeve. That's been pretty much my whole attitude towards signings in all honesty. Only one player i really, really wanted us to go for was Viduka - because it would have been daft to miss out on a free. And he got him. All his other signings i've just nodded along happily with. Leave it to Sam, he's done alright so far.

Would be absolutely gobsmacked if Mourinho preferred Bridge over Cole next season.

For £6.7m, I think he'd have been a snip tbh. We're thin on the ground for CH's and he'd have been a great addition personally. Meh, still think there are better options. Would rather just go for Campbell for £3m or something. Pricey for a 32-year-old but unquestionably worth it, imo.

Was the obvious name that i knew someone would throw in my face.

Glad we're not interested in the likes of Andrade, actually. A couple of years ago, aye, it would have been an immense signing, but he'll be into his thirties come this season and as a cultured centre-back, i just feel it's the wrong time for such a significant league change. I wouldn't take to the knife if someone like him were to come through the door, obviously - because he's got an excellent track record, but i could see him being more likely to be an expensive flop, rather than a major success story. Better options out there, imo.

No he won't. Cole will be the starting left-back next season, it's blatantly obvious. Mourinho would rather play Cole and hope that he becomes the player he should be (largely due to the big-name status and whole hoo-har of actually getting him), rather than play it safe and go with Bridge. Bridge will always be on the fringe there and he needs to get out asap. Same goes for the likes of Wright-Phillips, Geremi, Sidwell, Ben Haim, etc. Wasted talent.

If we played our full strength team in the Carling Cup like we did with Roeder, and got a Chelsea or an Arsenal in the early rounds, we'd have every chance of winning it. You could say that for every year, i mean even i said it under Glenn, but it's a more realistic prospect this time. The Carling Cup really is very open. Unfortunately, Tottenham, Villa, Everton, Boro and whatnot could all say the same thing. Main point is though that it's so open. Any Premiership team can get to the final in all honesty.

Rather see the reserves played in the FA Cup tbh. I love the FA Cup, but we haven't got a cat in hell's chance of getting anywhere near it. Not saying i want us to play weak teams, just that i'd rather it be in the FAC if any. However, it sounds like Allardyce won't do so in either.

Optimistic Nut's heart rate returns back down to a mellow 150.

Thought it was just 'Bey'. ? Well that's how i pronounce it anyway.

Is that the guy that went to Palermo or Chievo or something after the World Cup, and was hated by like everyone?

This really is a class signing tbh.

D'oh!

Nice shirt, poxy sponsor.

FYP.

Might be because theres been no update and his agent is'nt a gobshite like Rozehnals.

Nice city.

They got him cheap because of his release clause though. Not as cheap as we sold him for like. Either way, he's not worth £9m. The guy should have stayed at Blackburn, no two ways about it.

Great stuff.