PRL

Even in an article with the most cursory mention of us, they STILL manage to fuck up facts about us! http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/football-league-blog/2010/sep/22/championship-already-decided

Written by a smoggie but nice to see any recognition from the media http://www.football365.com/john_nicholson/0,17033,8746_6391618,00.html

26 goals in 92 games in Italy and 14 goals in 47 games in France, hardly proved himself to be a good striker in either league. It's not all about statistics, ffs. Unlike you, I've actually seen him play throughout this period of time. He impressed with Udinese before his injury and litany of clubs were after him. Rennes paid a lot for him and last year was probably the best of his career with him being near the top of scoring charts for most of the season. His pace, power, and skill have made him a dangerous and useful player in every stage of his career. I actually hate the guy, but he's a fine player. He's not worth 13 million pounds, but that's what happens when you buy a World Cup star on deadline day. I'm excited about Carroll, but he's not proven anything. Plenty of players have looked good at 21 or in their first matches in the Premiership. Let us give him time to develop before anointing him to some sort of deity. On the stats side, Bellamy was the ultimate example. Never prolific but allowed us to change the way we played entirely

He's right. It's this thread that all those on rtg will quote, don't know why we do it

David Kelly making it 2-0 v grimsby. Dancing around a radio in my kitchen with my dad, great night

Would be absolutely insane to fuck about with the team and start experimenting with a load of players out of position in our closest thing to a home banker all season. As said, on the bench with either a cameo if we're winning or a game changing supersub role if we're not. Everyone says Nolan is untouchable with Hughton but he did take him off at Old Trafford when he was not getting anywhere near the game, so I think he'd be willing to give Ben Arfa a run out in that role.

Redknapp must be intending to use VDV in the way he was going to use Joe Cole, which isn't really an answer as no one could really see how he would fit in either. The good thing is that VDV is a significant upgrade on Cole and cost what Cole wanted as a signing on fee. Redknapp says he sees Bale as the best attacking LB in the world within 2 years so moving him to LB seems likely even though he is nowhere near being the best defensive LB. The head scout says that he expects Sandro to be the 1st choice defensive MF by the end of the season. He'll still have to settle into a completely new culture in a different country so that may be tough for him, but regular call ups to the Brazil squad suggests more ability than Palacios getting called up for Honduras. Yep, he's obviously a lot better than Essien too as he can only get a call up for Ghana.

They only have 1 bloke on the scoresheet this season in all competitions, thats 4 games and no-one has scored other than Bent. There a 1 man team and if he gets injured they'll be in serious trouble. Fair bit of water under the bridge since that comment was made. I think it's a pretty even match and who finishes higher will depend on injuries. Should hopefully be a couple of exciting derbies.

George Graham had to be in with a shout. My mackem brother-in-law phoned me to say 'big Joe's got your fucking job' and I instantly though he meant Joe Royle, that would have been bad enough but Joe Kinnear man. I'll never forget the belly-laugh he let out when he told me it was indeed Kinnear. I heard someone saying Newcastle had appointed Joe Kin... (then he wandered off so I couldn't hear the rest of the conversation). I'm sat there wondering who the hell Joe King is for a good few minutes, then ended up checking on here or something and finding out it was him. Kinnear literally never crossed my mind, even when I'd heard most of his name. I was in the States and got a text from a mate who is a Wimbledon (now AFC) fan simply saying 'there's no jokin' ere, but there is at Newcastle'. I had no idea what he meant so had to sneak out of a meeting, into a toilet to text him to find out. Awful fucking memory, will never forget that.

Just thinking about the ages in the team now. Other than Harper, entire starting 11 under 30 and with the potential by the end of this season / start of next of being: Krul / Forster - 22 Perch - 25 Colo - 28 Williamson - 27 Enrique - 24 Routledge - 25 Barton - 28 Tiote - 24 Jonas - 27 Ben Arfa - 23 Carroll - 21 If we could add to that and keep them all for a couple of years there's a lot of potential in that team.

The odds on having all of Barton, Routledge, Jonas, Ben Arfa and Nolan fit and available at all times are pretty slim. I reckon sadly that most of the time the decision will be made for Hughton. It'll get a little more difficult when Guthrie and Gosling come into contention too.

"Sky Sports News are reporting that Eidur Gudjohnsen is flying from Monaco to Stoke for talks" I think I'd stay living in Monaco, personally.

O'Hara would be a bit of a pointless signing now anyway. Who would he replace in CM? We have Guthrie, Smith, Tiote and Barton battling for two 'traditional' CM places and then Nolan and Ben Arfa for the '2nd striker / link' role. Also got Gosling to come into that too when fit. Would rather any potential cash went elsewhere

Think the only player I would want who we could realistically get is Caicedo.

I see Hoffenheim have just spent a similar amount to Ben Arfa's rumoured permanent cost on Gylfi Sigurdsson of Reading. He looks a decent prospect but not exactly the same pedigree.

Aren't a few of those exempt under the rules?

I still think if Spurs manage to get a striker or two Keane will come on loan.

Yep, and in all seriousness, did anyone think 4-6 weeks ago the only positions we'd be worried about today were striker and left back? Carroll is obviously the biggest concern but we've done a fucking good job this window, hopefully get 1 or 2 more in come January too. I'm pretty chuffed with the business we've done.

Wonder how many of these were pens?

Discussing heskey with my villa housemate tonight... I couldn't actually dispute that he is worse than ameobi. Sholapur without goals My iPhone just changed shola to Sholapur... Odd

Discussing heskey with my villa housemate tonight... I couldn't actually dispute that he is worse than ameobi. Sholapur without goals

Maybe if Lerner decides to appoint some dinosaur like Ron Atkinson/David Pleat/Howard Kendall. No chairman is that stupid. I hear kinnear is looking...

Agreed. Would actually be very interested to hear his thoughts on what the fuck they are going to do. Early days but Ireland looked lost, didn't know whether he was supposed to be in front or behind Coker and petrov. They desperately need a striker and holding midfielder

Brummie has disappeared? Don't blame him