The Prophet

It's the length of the contract that is the issue.

I'm fully aware it's highly unlikely, but football is hope and... -------------------Gamero-------------------- Jonas-----------Ben Arfa---------Gervinho ...looks absolutely sexual. It's difficult not to get excited about, I'm going to be a highly disappointed man when Jay Bothroyd and Jason Puncheon line up for us next term.

Chist, it's the HBA saga all over again

He knows about as much as us I'd imagine.

They usually make no comment. They're in for a log summer if they're in the buisness of denying rumours.

Seems an odd thing to do.

He'll come in handy when Gomes has his annual breakdown.

Klose on a free transfer would be tidy, suspect he'd want big wages and/or European football like.

Is everyone who is proposing we shift five or six players aware the squad is paper then as it is?

Spot on.

I keep forgetting we have Xisco. Shame the lad doesn't seem interested, he's got to be better than the other shower of shit we have.

If we're bring two forwards in I'd flog two of Lovenkrads/Shola/Ranger in the unlikely event a bid came in. Other than that we're pretty short all over the place, unless someone is daft enough to bid for Smith of course.

We're assembling a fine collection of average forwards.

Don't know how he could turn down a potentail partnership with Jay.

http://www.johnlund.com/images/Blow-Your-Socks-Off.jpg

Had a look at the OP but couldn't be bothered with the rest of thread. Is it safe to say we may or may not have offered ten big ones for the player but we're not his first choice?

OK, suppose we accept Pardew isn't good enough, what do you suggest? Bin him?

Mick - 'If it wasn't Elokobi I'd do him' Shearer - 'It was a big sad day'

For me the problem for a lot of people is they can't seperate their feelings of Pardew from that of Ashley, Llambias and the Hughton sacking. The Hughton sacking was completely out of order. The bloke did have a questionable home record, but putting that aside he dragged us from out darkest hour. He got us promoted, fostered an excellent team spirit, got players performing again and also did reasonably well in the transfer market. Chris will always be a legend due to his short but influential spell in charge, and the way Ashley treated him with such contempt was frankly shameful. I'm not a massive fan of Pardew as a person and I, like others, wasn't particularly impressed when he took over. At the same time he's done a decent job. He's steadied the ship since Hughton's departure and managed to maintain the excellent team spirit while having to deal with a substantial injury list and the sale of his most potent striker. At the same time we've looked far more assured at home. Having said all that, the jury is still out. Until we've seen his transfers, how he molds the team and the how we perform next season, it isn't possible to tell if this is a good or a poor appointment. So far so good, but next season is the real test of his abilities.

don't know about the first, the second looked a mile off.

Simpson, didn't track his man.

Did he play in the first half of the season? Good point, I'm cracking up. I'll re-phrase it, he's improved over the last month or so.

Is it just me that thinks he's picked up a bit in the second half of the season. Not massively but there's been an improvement.

He was supposed to have been an upgrade, our league position suggests that he's not. I'm not contending that point though, the decision to sack Hughton was ridiculous, but at the same time Pardew has come in and done a decent job.