Ronaldo

We scored more goals and looked far better as a team when Ba wasn't scoring.

I agree, unless it's for peanuts then I'm worried it will be a poor signing for us. He doesn't fit the wide striker mould and Cisse surely is our main main the centre? Unless we are going back to 4-4-2 or want that as another option I guess. Carroll ironically did stick in some good crosses when out wide for us, but like his goal scoring for us I've not really seen much of him back to his old self at all. I'm also really worried he's too injury prone. Shola, Taylor, Carroll. The only three local lads who've come through the academy (since the 90s) and 'made it' in this division. All injury prone. All of them big, all of them slow, all of them assertive to compensate for lack of other qualities. Makes you wonder what we're looking for at the academy. Carroll's the only genuine talent of the 3 of them, to be fair.

Stay positive, lads. We should and will have more than enough for this lot.

In terms of being old enough to appreciate it, absolutely. We were an incredible team on the break back then. To some extent I always unfavourably compare our current sides to that team/style. Perhaps I always will.

Nicely done.

The rest of his post is equally embarrassing tbh. You'll find a million posts on here from folk who don't want him out wide. Both points of view have their merits. Bottom line, as good as 4-3-3 has us looking at times, there's some big gaps in playing staff that need to be filled if we want to employ it permanently other than in a counter-attacking sense.

easy to hit on the break at 4-4-2. at any formation full stop. We're not, though. When we play with two banks of four we're dreadful to watch because it exposes the crapness of whoever's out wide and leaves us going front to back, but we're not as easy to hit on the counter, no way in a million years. we are easy to counter 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 because the manager thinks its really clever to put players like Cisse out wide, its no wonder why we get exposed down the flanks. But when we play HBA there, Pardew also gets criticised by some on here because he has the audacity to expect HBA to follow the opposition's full-back's runs. he really can't win with some. Yep.

Depends really. Much of our best football last season in a 4-3-3 was playing a counter attacking game - sitting deep and waiting for the right opportunity to break. That's ideal for the likes of Coloccini. That had very good results, but we didn't do it too often.

easy to hit on the break at 4-4-2. at any formation full stop. We're not, though. When we play with two banks of four we're dreadful to watch because it exposes the crapness of whoever's out wide and leaves us going front to back, but we're not as easy to hit on the counter, no way in a million years.

We're so easy to hit on the break when we play 4-3-3, in fairness. At times it's beyond embarrassing, and won't be remedied until we buy a CB to get Williamson out of the team and buy at least one midfielder with ability in going box-to-box. And get Tiote back to his best/replaced.

From what I've seen of him he'd be pretty well suited to that role, unlike our 2.

None of which is true, to be fair.

Shexy Football, still haunts me now. Can remember my best mate being too cheap to buy a Gullit wig so bought a mop end and dyed it black, only it came out blue and ran all over his top.

He didn't have to justify anything, we were daft enough to give him a contract which we had to pay up. He was trying to defend the ludicrous image he has of himself as a proper man in an improper time. Utter bullshit - and he proved it by not walking away.

Oh aye. Justifying himself stealing money from the club in contrast to truly honourable bloke like Gullit.

What?

Scottish independence indeed. As if.

This is true.

Agree.. we need that kind of change Sammy is a MUCH better option Hhmm, you still sticking with that? Sammy has been absolutely abysmal. The lad is not ready for premiership football yet. Same old Skirge, man. He had Nile Ranger down as the next Rooney in 2009.

What's his surname?

State benefits.

Float everything! http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mctk01tNj11qag9dho1_r1_500.gif And when you're down here, YOU'LL FLOAT TOO!

I'm a fan, and I'd rather they had one.

I'd take that deal, so long as Ashley and Llambias are in the room.