Gallowgate Toon

He played there last year and obviously enjoyed the freedom that came along with it, he did an interview with the Chronicle last season iirc. I'm not sold on him as a no. 10 but I do think he'll perform better there with HBA back fit. In an ideal world, it would be Sissoko and Cabaye behind Marveaux.

Just caught his interview from yesterday's Chronicle, he obviously likes playing no. 10 and it's good to hear Pardew's told him he needs to score more, hopefully means more than one player in the box next year. Personally, I think he's a central midfielder but he might perform much better behind the striker now he's not being asked to be the hub of the team.

Great read and it seems like the right areas are being targeted to be improved upon. We definitely didn't look match-ready last year, some of the fitness (Cabaye's for instance) was really poor with players hobbling about after 80 minutes.

The PL is much more open than Ligue 1. He should be looking to hit similar numbers.

He'd be a good signing for us. Not the most consistent goalscorer but a useful player who can, at the very least, be a target man for us. Lots of power and pace, I think he'll do well in this league. Him and Remy in and I'm happy.

Doubt we'll accept anything less than £25million and wasn't it widely reported recently that he wanted to sign a new deal here?

I'd go as far as to Ba > Cisse > Gouffran is a massive decline. Bit like how Bruce managed to turn Bent, Gyan, Welbeck and Campbell into Bendtner, Wickham and Ji Gouffran's actually a good striker though, he'd scored 22 goals in the season and a half before joining us.

I've only seen highlights but it seems as if he was breaking forward a lot and was heavily involved in a couple of the goals. Obviously, it was only a pre-season friendly but great signs. I think his strong running will be far more effective from deeper positions and I hope it shows over the coming weeks.

Sounds like he had a good match last night. Really hope he gets a run at CM over the coming games and shows Pardew he's our best option there.

Giaccherini is supposedly a decent player but he's come from a division as far-removed as possible, he may well not adapt at all. I'd have been happy with him as a signing but not as a first-teamer. Currently, I wouldn't have Altidore ahead of Cisse or Gouffran, who've shown they can get goals in a top league. Fair play to them, they're trying something they've needed to do for a long time but it can't be said they've improved yet and I don't feel that their scouting has been particularly considered either, they've shopped in risky leagues so far.

Their squad wouldn't have gotten near 5th in a million years, ours actually did, showing we have the core of a good team and don't need to make too many changes. A couple of signings is all that is needed from us this Summer. They however, have been battling around the dregs of the league for a while and have shown no signs of going anywhere, they've taken a radically different direction but whether or not they've actually improved remains to be seen.

We finished 5th the season before last, that's a pretty damning fact that our squad was way above the level of theirs.

Actually, you have no idea whether they've improved because we've not played a minute of competitive football yet, their signings could all turn out to be rubbish that don't settle. And while your point may be that Pardew reduces our quality of player, what about their man in charge? He's also unproven and didn't finish the season well. We need a couple of players to strengthen, they needed a massive overhaul. We've got the core of a squad that finished 5th let us not forget, that still counts for something despite last season. Keep your head in the sand, man. Constructive. I think I'll stick to facts rather than conjecture, thanks.

Some good goals on show, happy for Vuckic. For anyone who went, how'd Gouffran and Sissoko get on in their proper positions?

Actually, you have no idea whether they've improved because we've not played a minute of competitive football yet, their signings could all turn out to be rubbish that don't settle. And while your point may be that Pardew reduces our quality of player, what about their man in charge? He's also unproven and didn't finish the season well. We need a couple of players to strengthen, they needed a massive overhaul. We've got the core of a squad that finished 5th let us not forget, that still counts for something despite last season.

I'm positive I was in the year above him at school, but dim from what I remember.

I was feeling very deflated a month or so ago but I'm excited for the season now.

Decent line-up. Looking forward to seeing how Anita, Sissoko and Gouffran do in particular. MYM as captain too.

The club's PR is a disaster, man.

How amateur is that. Despicable.

An unnecessary signing to attempt.

Tiote for most games. Cheik's a useful player to have in games where you need to relieve pressure but we don't need him all the time. Tiote Cabaye Sissoko If we're playing the likes of Chelsea then I'm happy with that but against West Ham at home for example, it should be: Sissoko Cabaye Marveaux

Jackanackanory's decent, Altidore's alright but a big risk and the rest are just squad players.

I'm not worried or envious, the majority of the the players they've bought aren't that good. They'll improve but I don't see them in top 10 with their current squad.

The sad thing is, Sissoko with one of Cabaye or Tiote would work a lot better than the way Pardew usually does it. Anyway, hopefully Sissoko was just burnt out because he was suddenly made the main man in a new league and that led to his dip in form, he can now share some attacking responsibility with HBA. One thing he stopped doing towards the back end of last year was pass the ball in good positions. He played some lovely through balls when he first came but then barely did any for the last 10 games, that has to improve.