AyeDubbleYoo

Man Utd were never going to sell Welbeck to Sunderland anyway, I'm sure they knew that before they took him on loan.

Fucking twitter.

Except that there are examples of football stadiums with running tracks around the pitch. And when I'm in Level 7 of SJP, I imagine I'm a bit more than 45m away from the action... it's not impossible to watch from that distance by any means.

Both of those, yep.

So you believe that Ashley's decision to sell Given cost us relegation? Not entirely, I'm just saying Shay being at the club might have kept us up. It was certainly one of the factors. In any case, I got the impression that the player himself was exceptionally keen to leave, thinking he would be first choice keeper at the new Man City superclub. So he has to shoulder part of the blame.

But who are these players "who can play"? Our squad is massively thin.

Shay leaving was obviously a big blow in the relegation season. To suggest we might have picked up one more point if he'd been playing is hardly stretching a point.

Shay was a pretty bad sale, although he obviously wanted out. The money we got for Milner I thought was a great deal, I still think he's massively overrated.

I'm not saying I trust them or I think they're great... I'm just saying that they haven't shown a desire to offload our good players. It wouldn't be fair to say "let's see what happens in the next 6 months" while ignoring what has happened in the last 6.

I notice Pardew doesn't mention Ireland (or any other potential target) by name there - yet another case of cobbling together some generic quotes, embroidering with bullshit and presenting it as news... Is the correct answer. Ireland fits our 'players with something to prove' policy, but I would be highly sceptical about his character and his motivation. Altough when playing on top form he is better than any of our other attacking midfield options.

The Ashley/Llambias world where none of our top players have been sold you mean?

Brummie, how are you meant to pronounce 'Delfouneso'? Everyone seems to say 'Delfonzo', but that sounds wrong to me.

We already done alright without those players though. I agree we probably won't beat Spurs like.

I thought Villa had been tapping him up for months? [/mackem]

That should be a happy nod really, while we're waiting for a replacement Nolan will be happily playing in that midfield and getting 10 goals a season to boot.

Exactly, whats wrong with Upton Park especially if they developed the east stand neither it or WHL are falling apart and spurs have planning permission to redevelop WHL anyway! I agree, the only opposite point is that they have to do something with the thing after the Olympics.

I agree, IYAM.

Might also have a bearing: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crystal_palace/9364649.stm

There are other football websites?

The Crystal Palace idea is alright, but I'd much rather the benefits went directly to east London. I'd actually like to see a West Ham/Leyton Orient ground share, although I know that is highly unlikely.

One thrashing, one moral victory, will do me for a season.

FWIW I really doubt we are looking at SWP, he really doesn't fit our current transfer policy at all. Unless Pardew is changing that.

Got ketchup on my new Ben Arfa shirt last night!

What's the current capacity BTW? If a club could use it while keeping the running track and also allowing it to be used for athletics, I would go for that. I know a running track's not ideal in a football ground, but it's not the end of the world.