Lotus

He has no obvious qualities that would put him ahead of our even most crap/underperforming players. He's not even better than Jonas at CM.

Reminded me of Benjani(not just in looks) when i watched him in one game He reminded me of Jason Scotland

Have only seen a little bit of Bony but i thought his touch was quite heavy but that doesn't matter given the extraordinary amount of time defenders in the Dutch league give opposition players. He certainly won't get that here. Based on what little i saw, i don't think he'd do that well in this league.

Which one of Graham Carr's signings has been an unqualified success?

Gosling was the only poor one i listed. Obvs don't don't know the extent he was involved.

If they were top, top quality players i think they would look it tbh.

Just rolling an idea around, just trying to promote discussion.... Which one of our signings under Graham Carr do people think has really set the Prem alight? HBA? Clearly brilliant but inconsistent Cabaye? 1 good season 1 average Tiote? Good under CH tbf, pretty good for the rest of that year under AP, pretty good season after that followed by a fairly poor 1 Santon? Thought he looked quite poor at times last year Anita? Still not sure what he's good at (in the Prem) Marveaux? Good vision and technique, quick too. Doesn't impose himself enough. Cisse? 1 great half season 1 mediocre full season Gosling? No, not at all Bigi? Good prospect Haidara? Good prospect Abeid? Not really Sissoko? Looked good for 3 games MYM? Clearly talented, has been somethings to worry about if we're honest (although he might/probs will iron those out but SO FAR hasn't) Gouffran? Has done OK. Not contributed much for goals and assists Amalfitano? No, not really. I think i've read that Ba and Elliot were more to do with AP. 1 has been great and 1 ok. Also Obertan is an AP signing and he's unmitigated cr@p. When you look at it, there is a possibility that some of those players aren't really the quality we make them out to be (although HBA is clearly world class at times). When i think of a player who has, by and large, looked quality despite the gloom and low morale it's Colo. Because he's just a class player and that will always shine through. The others, it's possibly debatable. So, with being silly. Has Pardew got any semblance of a point if he's saying that players he's been given aren't necessarily the D'sBs they're made out to be?

Pardew said that he approved of all the incoming transfers. That no players were brought in unless he 100% agreed with them.

Exactly. Why not? He's at an age where he could think "f*** this, I don't need this s***" and take up playing golf. If he wanted to be in football I'm sure there would be a host of Premiership clubs willing to take him on board, where his opinion is respected. His job hasnt changed and as far as we know it wont either. He is still chief scout, he will still do the scouting and he will still hand his findings/recommendations to someone at the club to decide if they will buy them. Only difference its now a bloke he has known for decades(apparently)instead of Pardew. Theres nothing to suggest he would want to quit aside from people speculating without a clue whats actually going on. Is there any possibility Carr's wages include bonuses if the player makes X amount of appearances or some bonus based on the value the player is sold on for? Would be a good incentive for a scout (in my limited mind) tbf.

Mashley is a chancer and a bullshitter. He's done very, very well with those 'qualities' in the world of budget sports retail. Being a chancer he values it in other people. Its a characteristic he recognises and, for him, has worked very well. So the people he's drawn to are other chancers and bullshitters. Llambias, Pardew and Kinnear. People like Hughton or Keegan are an anathema to him, doesn't understand them. Newchancer United

There aren't any quotes are there? In the absence of them i find it hard to give this rumour any credence.

OK. Suppose Wishere fits into that catergory as well then. When playing.

Alright, dumb question from me then, what's a playmaker to you?

The best attacking midfielder the PL's ever seen. Not a playmaker at all. Really? You thought the way he passed it around was substandard? I thought he was a great passer. He always seemed to know just when one of the FBs was arriving and would just ping out to them. That and many other great passes. Personally thought his passing was fantastic. If there was anything he was bad at i'd say it was tackling.

Arteta

Scholes

That's exactly how I see him. Problem is, central playmakers rarely work in this league. Carrick? Not a tackler, not a midfield dynamo, not fast, doesn't cover the pitch like a mad ant but has a great pass off either foot to anywhere on the park?

Not if Colo isn't replaced. Who would you have to replace him?

Well i'm not joking. I'm not sure Mapou & Colo is a good partnership. Lacks height and power for me. Might be ok against some opposition but i would expect a player like Kenwyn Jones to have a fairly easy afternoon against them 2 tbh. Of course, i could be wrong but that's my (current) opinion.

Bit weak for me, like. Not much competition for the high ball either.

Agree with all this. Debuchy Mapou Colo Santon is easily our best back 4 on paper. mapou should be our first chocie cb of all our options imo. If Colo stays it's him hands down IMO. We would need someone better in the air and stronger shoulder to shoulder to complement either of them imo. As a pair they'd be awesome against Shane Long.

He's got vision, you can see that straight away. Something Sammy seriously lacks atm.

Before that they had a team with Savicevic, Boban, Weah, Baresi, Desailly, Dugarry, Davids, Baggio, Albertini,. Was outrageous.

I'm reaching quite far into my memory but both Baresi and Costacurta were impeccable.

I thought they both looked like they had plenty missing. Different bits missing i'll give you. Anyway, we'll see! Hope they both turn out to be cracking players. Think next season is possibly a bigger one for Vuckic than it is for Sammy.