Interpolic

If I'm going to buy into what stozo's saying for a minute: We need more scouts and/or more people working on deals if the current setup won't allow us to pursue more than a couple of players then as it's causing real issues which will lead to stagnation and countless missed opportunities to improve the squad and repeatedly "go with what we have" as Pardew said today.

Isn't needing a striker and putting all your eggs in one basket by only following one target who, if it doesn't come off, leaves you not even attempting to buy a striker in about the 5th transfer window you've needed one "betting the house"? Exactly.

Would be nice to have a manager that stands up to the board for the sake of the squad, sadly Pardew will lie down and take it on these issues time and time again.

Mint. Luckily Harper's back up north, he used to want to be a striker, didn't he? Bit misleading that mind, would say Ben Arfa's one of our strikers now by the looks of it but at the same time Sammy generally plays nowhere but on the wing.

Well said Dave. Yep, very good summary of where we're at.

:lol: 31st January 2011, we sell Andy Carroll and are left with Shola, Best, Lovenkrands and Ranger to see the season out. The club is vaguely apologetic but makes noises that it's a lot of money and the search for a replacement has began. Summer 2011, we sign Demba Ba on a free, Ranger falls out of the picture and so does Lovenkrands to a lesser extent. We're left with Ba, Shola, Best and fit-again but rusty Ben Arfa as realistic first team options after failing to sign a handful of strikers to go with Ba including Maiga. Pre-January 2012, Maiga deal falls through and Pardew says we're not signing another striker in January. Summer 2012 and it'll be 18 months we've been looking at strikers and no doubt we'll be humming and harring over any player that costs more than a couple of million. It's taking the piss now man ffs, they've obviously taken an educated gamble on Ba and now that it's came off they're willing to stick with it and play substandard reserves when the inevitable suspensions, injuries, ACN departees affect our squad. I expected this tbf but the excuses they wheel out are tiresome. Nobody's expecting them to spend a fortune but it's frustrating that we only need a little bit of investment to push on. The recent poor run of form mustn't have woken them up to our lack of squad depth whatsoever. Fingers crossed we sign a centre half then.

Also as a side issue, would love him to stop trying so much shit he's not capable of in the middle of the park - it's not what he's there for and it's getting fucking daft.

My opinion with Tiote now is very much "well what can you do?" Have heard the rumour so persistently that I'm resigned to losing our best defensive midfielder for a long, long time and am just hoping we manage to plod along regardless.

I honestly find it very soothing if I'm in the right mood, otherwise I'll think "stop being so nice you fucking nice cunt". That's rare though.

Was only messing Seems a nice bloke, Ruel.

NO.

Well I'm playing "who's on Sky Sports 1 right now" mate.

Ruel Fox!

Fucking hell man Stifler, Captain Trivial.

Senegal side mustn't be what it was.

Ba and Ben Arfa have 3 goals between them in their last hour on the pitch together, hopefully that means they can indeed complement each other as many of us thought they could. Big shame Ba's away soon mind because he's in an incredible run of form, we'll miss him more than we would any other player bar Coloccini.

In what position? Same position I've always wanted him in. Because you're not man enough to admit that Ba doesnt necessarily play better with your 2 man upfront theory? Yeah, takes a real man's man to admit that he might be wrong on a forum. Especially in the face of such damning evidence. Our best football has been played this season with 2 up front and hopefully we'll see that once again if/when we sign a striker in January. And you'll have to find someone else to wag your arthritic finger at. Always a tiny, weird dig like, love it.

Like me grandad said at the pub today it's a funny business when it takes the crowd chanting for Ben Arfa for him to bring him on against WBA, he never did bring him on in the games previous. Pardew deserves stick for not using Ben Arfa properly recently imo, there's nowt unjustified about it.

It's official. It's funny that, you're not one for patting yourself on the back Ronaldo. Love Ba, looks tremendous. Not looking forward to being without him.

Strange post, Cajun tbh.

This, except 3-0 us. In all seriousness I do think we'll get a draw now, given both team's form. Would be nice anyway.

Love this lad, despite the limited time he's had on the pitch he's nearly always had a part in a goal when he's featured, or close enough. Needs to start vs Liverpool.

Get in! Happy Christmas you twats!