KaKa

Okay, will have another look.

Was just watching his highlights, and he looks like someone who gets his head up early and plays some really good passes and crosses without hesitation.

We really need some of that. Sick of Sissoko fumbling around on the right hand side.

Looking very likely that Palace will go with two up top.

 

Therefore one of Bolasie, Zaha or Puncheon will be on the pine a lot. Also means Cabaye will be one of a midfield two, which is not as great for him.

 

Can't wait for the season.

 

Based on Palace now having loads of CFs or something else? Genuine question, I haven't been following.

 

Seems stupid considering their strength is in midfield. Of course, Pards is their manager so I shouldn't be too surprised.

Remember that delicious 4-3-3 we had going with Ben Arfa, Ba and Cisse? And how it was crudely and nonsensically discarded? Palace are about to get a taste.

Pardew is a 4-4-2 guy, no matter how much he tries to pretend he isn't every now and again. he wants a long ball up to a target to scrap for, while another striker runs onto a hopeful flick. It's in his rotten genes.

They now have the following ... Bamford, Wickham, Murray, Chamakh and still have Gayle, who does look like leaving because he's too little. All the rest are at least 6 ft 2, and boy would he love two lumps up top to aim for and "create chaos".

Apparent bid of 10m euros coming from "mas", have no idea how reliable. He's a Honduran winger 22.

Not sure what "mas" is, but hey, I'm up for us buying more players, so all good with me.

Hmmm ... these are very scant details my friend.

Are we just after the whole of the Anderlecht squad?

Why? Have we been linked with someone else now?

Looking very likely that Palace will go with two up top.

Therefore one of Bolasie, Zaha or Puncheon will be on the pine a lot. Also means Cabaye will be one of a midfield two, which is not as great for him.

Can't wait for the season.

I'm fully expecting at least another two signings, but it will go to the end of the window now.

Don't think we are done at all.

Real shame we didn't make it easier for him to join Panathanaikos after that good season he had there. An even bigger shame we didn't give him more of a chance after that successful loan spell.

We really have messed this kid about. Hope he goes on to do well.

If he goes to Norwich he'll do really well IMO.

Will make Pardew look a complete dunce too. Looking forward to it.

Lovely ball from Özil to Walcott as well. Most other players would've just played it to the overlapping left back so credit to him. Don't expect the media to talk about it though.

That kind of pass is the one we never play. Looks very straightforward, but it's alarmingly rare.

Ha ha Remy ... Le dufus.

Have some of that. Phwoar!

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/595421/Exclusive-Newcastle-hijack-Tottenham-bid-West-Brom-star-Saido-Berahino

 

Obviously rubbish, I would prefer Austin.

 

I wouldn't, he'd be a much better partner for what we already have. Brings something we don't have in pace and the versatility to play outwide.

 

Obviously not happening though.

I think we've been after two strikers from the outset. One with presence and then a speedster that can play the wide forward role. First options were likely Austin and Berahino for eac role.

I think getting Mitrovic was the end of any interest in Austin, and I think we were priced out of any move for Berahino. Think it will now likely be someone like Rolan or N'Jie, who are both wide forward types that can play upfront or come in from wide areas.

Remy performed the wide forward role really well for us, as did Ba initially. Gouffran has not been good at it at all, and we need to upgrade there.

Did Bendtner start for them?! 

 

Heck of a finish. Great ball De Bruyne.

 

Nah Dost did.

Ah right. Thanks. Mad I missed most of this game.

Where's Bas Dost?

Bendtner #3 

Horrific.

Did Bendtner start for them?! 

Heck of a finish. Great ball De Bruyne.

That lineup we ended with has huge potential. Just exclude Colback for Anita. De jong and Wijnaldum pushing forward from midfield. Mitrovic flanked by Aarons and Perez.

He does seem quite attack-minded. Left-back? 

I'm very worried about this already. Either he will play there, or Janmmat will in order to accomodate him atright back.

The state of Haidarra today man. Stupid boy. Has not grasped the opportunity to make that spot his at all.

Sissoko was absolute toilet again today

I'm really hoping someone is really in for him. At the moment he is keeping both Perez and Aarons out of the team, and that is bloody ridiculous. He's been so bad man.

Watching him, Cisse and Haidarra constantly miscontrol and misplace the ball today was just too much. Cisse better not start the game next Saturday. Bring him on if we are really struggling and are desperate for a goal.

His lack of concentration, effort and just his generally lazy body language is infuriating, and constantly has us on the back foot from the outset. The difference upfront once Mitrovic came on was significant.

"Due to the nature of the fixture (1st of August)"

It's not one of his birthdays is it?

Really good news anyways.

In addition, Wickham has scored 29 career club goals across 4 teams and five years (in 2014 was loaned to Leeds, in the Championship).

In approximately 160 appearances.

Prolific.

Shearer scored 23 goals in 120 appearances for Southampton. Prolific.

 

Wickham has played a lot out wide in a s**** team. £9m in todays marked is nothing. I think that Wickham can be very good if they use him as a striker, not as a wide player in 4-3-3. Wickham between Zaha and Bolasie isn't bad.

You have to ask yourself why despite having nothing upfront Sunderland couldn't trust him to lead the line, and instead played him out wide.

Haidara's been fine and I was left feeling he was one of our better performers in pre-season. And haven't we all collectively agreed to not take this year's pre-season seriously at all? I think we definitely NEED a LB, and I would love Willems, but if we don't get him, Haidara would be a fine starter, and will most likely grown into his own. He's still young, fantastic going forward, and will learn the defensive side of things only by playing more.

Ah right. Fair enough I suppose. Haidara was looking crazy in one of those pre season games though. Was so sloppy with the ball. Annoyed me a bit. Hope he's ready to step up and make the position his own now.

What happened?

Didn't we pay £1 million for him. Could definitely get at least £3 million minimum.