Gallowgate Toon

Looking at that video, he's got something we're lacking, pace, power and the willingness to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Cabaye has that same willingness but not the same sort of physical attributes to put a team on the back foot.

basically what Remy would have done for us except of course Remy is a lot better. He is absolutely nothing like Ba or Cisse. The fact that he's also solid on the ball is also a big plus too. Far more potent and technically sound than Jonas and Shola.

He's not a winger but he can play as an inside forward. That's what we need, he'll come into the box from wide and cause problems with Cisse, as well as looking to make some runs behind defenders.

Better version of Diame, sort of, if i have to name one you've probably seen recently. Good stuff, we need a bit of power at times. Sounds like he could be especially useful away from home.

What kind of player is he?

I would be surprised if he was meant to have been in today, with all the Colo negotiations and whatnot. I don't think it's a coincidence that Haidara is meant to be in tomorrow either.

What a shit stirring article he's worded it as mischievously as possible.

I'd say Gouffran's worth around 5-7 million. He's certainly not lower than that.

Zaha isn't worth half of that.

When did we last get a player from Belgium, unless I'm forgetting somebody obvious? We seem to scout Holland as well, but there is not much attacking talent available at the moment. Graham Carr did mention Belgium in an interview last year. Did he? if so. I'm not sure which player he mentioned, but I'm sure he said he went to Belgium to see someone specific a fair bit. Possibly Cheick before Twente? Aye, I remember them saying they had scouted Tiote before he went to Holland, but that is years ago by now. I think around 08. I'm sure he said he still went to some games there mind.

Marveaux set up our best chance in that half with a smart pass, which Shola ballooned over. You could see they were wary of him and his pace, they won the psychological battle as soon as he went off and pushed up a few yards too. He could have at least been switched to the wing.

When did we last get a player from Belgium, unless I'm forgetting somebody obvious? We seem to scout Holland as well, but there is not much attacking talent available at the moment. Graham Carr did mention Belgium in an interview last year. Did he? if so. I'm not sure which player he mentioned, but I'm sure he said he went to Belgium to see someone specific a fair bit. Possibly Cheick before Twente?

When did we last get a player from Belgium, unless I'm forgetting somebody obvious? We seem to scout Holland as well, but there is not much attacking talent available at the moment. Graham Carr did mention Belgium in an interview last year.

I don't think we're just French based, I think we regularly look at Belgium, Germany and Holland too. I just think Ligue 1 players really suit our current circumstances, in terms of price, ability, wages etc. I'd like us to start broadening it to Italy and Spain, as well as South America in the summer however.

Sounds like a good option at the price. It's a fantastic price for him. His off the ball runs are what we really need, while he can beat a man and is pretty solid on the ball, it's his movement that's his biggest asset. With Marveaux, Ben Arfa and Cabaye in the team, we should be able to give him a supply line and he'll create space for Cisse too.

He's quick, moves intelligently, is decent on the ball and a very handy finisher. He's not brilliant or anything but miles ahead of the rest of our options, bar Cisse of course. He is comparable to Remy in terms of his versatility, speed and movement, but isn't quite as good. He'll definitely nab a few goals, good record last year and looks to be on his way to at least equalling it this campaign.

He's a good, versatile player, with some great attributes and is in goal scoring form. He's miles ahead of Campbell.

If you feel one player's going to drag us through this (apart from HBA), after the way he played yesterday, it's him. He had an aggression and confidence about him that we've really been lacking for a while. Hopefully we play him in his best position from now on.

I still have no confidence in this. I can see Arsenal coming in for him and that's that if they do.

I honestly don't think the players are the problem. How many teams outside the top 8/9 have players as good as Cabaye, HBA, Marveaux, Krul, Cisse, Santon, Anita, Coloccini, Tiote and previously Ba. These are all good Premiership quality players. Some of them can play for the top 4 comfortably. IMO this is comfortably a mid-table team. I completely agree, I just don't think we're going to get the lift we need from management to survive, it's going to have to come from new players instead. We have the quality, but mentally, it's clear we're struggling.

I thought his role yesterday was fine, we just didn't see that many of defensive qualities as they weren't threatening until he switched positions.

I think we will pick up, strangely. I think if M'Biwa comes in, that will give the squad a huge lift and we'll see a bit more fight in the team too, some more leadership. If he keeps that midfield from yesterday, and we sign a wide forward, i think we'll win at Villa and kick on.

Me too. I'm scarred

What we played yesterday in terms of formation. Krul Debuchy Taylor Colo Santon Anita Cabaye Marveaux Ben Arfa Cisse Obertan Obviously I'd make tweaks depending on the circumstances, Tiote has a place in some matches but I think overall Anita is better in the position and more suitable for the majority of games. He's not as powerful, but is faster, more intelligent positionally and far better on the ball.

We weren't under much pressure at all. They'd had a snapshot which had ballooned into row Z and some free kicks but little else, and Marveaux had set up our best chance of the half with a good pass to Shola. There's no way Cabaye should have been finishing that game in any case, the man must watch a different game to me.