Parky

Illiteracy is rife.

All this makes me wonder if they assumed there would be umpteen bids on the table for Bafra and didn't really have a plan B.

Silva was invisible. Will have to quickly get used to getting no time on the ball.

If he gets HBA signed, that will certainly buy him some time, once the realities of the season start to sink in.

I have a good feeling about this.

This the downside...Becomes regular starter.

I like him. This could be on, but OM will have to release registration.

Guthrie out. Barton and Nolan CM. Ben Arfa behind Carroll. I think Hughton would do this. I'd play Guthrie ahead of Nolan personally. This. Afra would be deadly just behind the striker. Fingers crossed this goes through without any MA madness.

Really tasty player. Will make the rest of our no hopers look like they're playing rugby.

If we get one decent striker or Arfa plays like the Fm wonderkid he used to be and gets 10 from mf we should be alright. What we have at the moment won't be enough sadly. And I really wish it would, but it won't. Can only see Blackpool and WBA finishing below us at this point.

Again, people have been saying this for weeks and I find it kind of funny. Three strikers out of the entire bottom half (Bent-24, Cole-10, and Rodallega) got double figures in the league last year. Strikers, excluding truly exceptional cases like Bent, do not just waltz around plugging 15 goals a season in relegation-threatened teams that struggle to create chances for them. I'm not saying you're wrong, of course we're going to stay up if we can get someone who can score 15 next season. But it's not realistic in any sense of the word. I'll consider it a great success if whoever's playing up front for us nets 8~9 next year. Putting forward "double figures" or "15" as if it's some sort of benchmark for a competent bottom-half striker is ridiculous. A lot of those teams have other players who chip in with goals, do we? And don't say Nolan. Bent, Cole and Rodallega would all walk into our side. Completely missing my point. To rephrase, why are we saying "we need a 15-goal striker or we're going down" when getting one is completely unrealistic for us or ANY of our rivals? Your missing my point we don't really have anyone who is an out and out goal threat at this level. Sun- Jones, Bent Wigan - Rodallega - Bosseli (1 in 2 for Etudiantes) West Ham (nearly relegated) Cole (Would have been at the WC bar injury), Diamate (7-22 from midfield) McCarthy 1-3 for Blackburn 1-2 for Porto. We don't really have a midfield that look like it's going to get too many goals between them, hence the need for at least one proper striker. I know what you're saying btw, but our team makeup won't balance out having shit strikers at this level.

Again, people have been saying this for weeks and I find it kind of funny. Three strikers out of the entire bottom half (Bent-24, Cole-10, and Rodallega) got double figures in the league last year. Strikers, excluding truly exceptional cases like Bent, do not just waltz around plugging 15 goals a season in relegation-threatened teams that struggle to create chances for them. I'm not saying you're wrong, of course we're going to stay up if we can get someone who can score 15 next season. But it's not realistic in any sense of the word. I'll consider it a great success if whoever's playing up front for us nets 8~9 next year. Putting forward "double figures" or "15" as if it's some sort of benchmark for a competent bottom-half striker is ridiculous. A lot of those teams have other players who chip in with goals, do we? And don't say Nolan. Bent, Cole and Rodallega would all walk into our side.

Can't see anything but a tonking first game.

Aye, there's definitely some cause for positivity. We look like we're going to try and keep the ball and play it on the deck a bit more, and with a midfield of Routledge, Jonas, Guthrie and Barton I'd be confident we could play some good stuff at times. Up front is a really big concern though. We looked positively toothless in the final third until late in the game, Nolan and Carroll as a pairing up there was painful to watch. We need another striker to be brought in or we're going to really struggle to stay up, simple as that for me. Carroll is good enough to lead the line up there, and Shola is passable as a back-up for him. But we so badly need someone with a bit of pace and movement to play off Carroll, unless we get that then it won't matter how well we keep the ball or pass it around. As it stands Lovenkrands is one of the first names on the team sheet for me, he's the only one who even comes close to fitting that description. But I'm not sure he's really good enough, we need someone else to compete with him for the place starting alongside Carroll. Agree with all of that. The problem with getting a decent striker is that is the one postion where they are overpriced.

Guess how many strikers playing for bottom half teams got into double figures in the league last year. Everybody says that but most of the other mid-table average sides have better players all round than we do, that makes up for it.

Barton and Routledge look like they've played football before. The rest were average. Guti as usual non-existant. He'll do the odd run up a blind alley in games and people will think he's alright etc... We need a proper mobile striker who can finish, someone who can get 12/15 in the PL or we're really going to be struggling for goals. I think Rangers would struggle to finish in the top 8/9 in the PL.

Perch looks alright.

The seen at training ground curse?

I would like to know why you are called Cajun. Please do enlighten me with such a potentially moving story. Not really sure tbh. True story. You stun me with your lack of creativity. You are the Nicky Butt of forum banter. Random overhead kick in the middle of the park? Class. I was thinking more Ginger has-been, with poor link up play.

When he realised his knee was fucked.

Won't happen in a gadzillion years.

How do you think he should put more pressure on Ashley? It starts with buying gun in the Dog and Duck.

Can't believe he thinks we are ok with our group of strikers. I know he doesn't have much cash or whatever, but at least he could put more pressure on MA and try and angle a better striker if nothing else. It will be crucial to have someone with pace and power to break out of the long spells we'll be under pressure with little posession.

I am certain there will be no bids at £800m, that kind of venture captital just isn't out there. Even the super rich are feeling the pinch.

Done well with this Gosling deal.