Gallowgate Toon

Is his Twitter real? The media are saying he's out for a month.

Agreed (although I still have a slight inkling that his impact is partly down to tired legs). Ditto! Ranger had not much to show for when he met a team similar to Everton, Fulham. Ranger needs his physicality to gain a good advantage, which he's not getting if he's starting. I hope for Shola and Best on top. Ranger can come on during 2nd half. The Fulham game was an absolutely crap team performance, you can't judge Ranger on that. Aye and against a really organised defence as well.

I reckon 'the switch' is Ireland playing off Best/Ameobi, dropping Loven. Other option is Nolan playing off the front man and Ireland in CM, again for Lovelyhands.

He'll be a success for us and the main reason for that is that he will feel 'loved'. It's obviously important for him to feel wanted and he's very Ben Arfa like in that respect and good on Pards for as it looks like he's given him all the spiel.

Valencia had some great chances to win that game, they should be kicking themselves.

He really is just stupidly similar to Coloccini in so many ways.

I think that the slight changes in his body language show a player who is undecided on what he really wants. I don't think anything's a done deal as of yet.

According to Pardew 3 days ago, he'd be fit in a month, I'd take it with a pinch of salt. The guy will be fit in the next 6 weeks.

I'll be amazed if he doesn't play again this season, there's just too many games left for him to not feature at all.

Bolton were massively average, they barely created anything for themselves. Was disappointed with how easily Holden was nullified but I think it's more of an indictment of Cheik's immense dominance than anything. Sturridge, despite being a cocky prick, showed some flashes of real quality, would love him here.

The reception he received when he first arrived was pretty damn good and after his excellent performance after Everton, I think he'll get an even better reaction. On the training front, he should have been back this Monday but it's unclear as to what's going on/where he is at the minute.

Hughton had Tiote for a lot his matches yet we still didn't pull results out the bag, that's indication enough. Plus Tiote's missed 3 of Pardew's 11, that's a fairly high proportion of games missed considering the matches played.

Hughton wouldn't have achieved the same IMO he had been shown up a few times this season and he looked worryingly indecisive when we were under the cosh. Pards is a better manager, he makes better decisions and quicker. Loved Hughton as a bloke but in the long term he was never going be the answer, he just doesn't have the nous to be a top manager.

Perotti is well behaved though, Ben Arfa is a loose cannon that teams weren't willing to take a risk on. 7m is press talk, he's worth a lot more than that and Sevilla know it, they won't let him go for such a small amount.

I'd love to have Perotti but he's out of our reach, surely. He's a great talent and he'll be expensive as well, no way Sevilla will let him go cheap.

Just been in the Deli at Darras and saw Leon Best and some of his mates.

Back in training today iirc? Great boost for the players.

The idea that we wouldn't sell Enrique for less than £25m never mind £12m when his contract is up after next season is so f***ing ridiculous that you should feel ashamed to post this garbage. Don't shoot the messenger, the guy actually works within NUFC. I don't think the club genuinely values Jose at 25m but i'm certain now that some serious enquiries were made for a 12m fee in January (from AC) whereas before i didn't think Milan had made contact. On the 25m front, if that bit is true, i think it's a case of the club humouring Milan and just seeing if they'd bite.

From what i've been told, AC bid 12m for Jose in January, the club said no and that they wouldn't sell for less than 25m. The guy's a good source, thought he was taking the piss at first but if the journos are picking up on murmurs like this now, it could quite possibly be true.

I'd prefer Piatti, whenever i've seen him he's looked pretty decent if a bit small. How's he doing at Almeria? He was another one of those that fell under the 'next Maradona' category iirc.

The part about his fitness levels is very impressive. He's certainly a determined boy.

The best we can hope for is Ben Arfa comes back and lights up the league. That might give Jose some confidence in the club for next season.

Fair enough Man U or Arsenal etc but Villa and Liverpool?!?! The line 'I won't close the door on anyone' hardly screams of ambition either, it makes him sound hypocritical like he'd rather be anywhere than here.

Stupid comments from Jose, there's something seriously different about him atm. Seems a totally opposite character to the guy that said he wouldn't leave here for anyone but Barca. He's been different since the whole Twitter scandal imo and if those quotes are true, they are a stab in the back regarding what he's said in previous interviews. Very disappointed.

There was a mention in a Daily Mail article iirc with Pardew saying he was ready to recall him with a fairly immediate effect? Said something along the lines of 'he wanted him in and around the training ground to get him mixing with the team again'.