LucaAltieri

doubt it I think we'd be looking at 15m+ before he'd even be tempted. There would need to be something more in it, you would have thought.

Don't worry about that. Old Joe knows all about McCarthur and all about tactics. He'll slot right in to Pardew's 3-5-2 system. Joe's got it scouted.

Joseph and Alonso are too similar to work effectively together in a 2-man midfield, imo. I don't mind that so much. We obviously set up to stifle the Portland midfield. We played Alonso, Joseph, and Evans - all defensive players - with just Neagle who is any good going forward. It made sense. My biggest issue is that Joseph can't pass a ball 10 yards. He did well winning the ball but it was ultimately pointless because he'd give it straight back.

Just back from the Sounders match. Timbers fans were pretty good, didn't stop singing. Still suck, mind. Joseph was gash. When Rosales came on we looked like a different team. Dempsey had an ok game, nothing worth noting. Still looks like he's trying to get match fit. Good feet, though.

Getting mugged if they pay anywhere near €10m. No better than anything they've already got.

To be fair to Ben Arfa, the majority of the time he had the ball he was being chased and closed down by 2 or 3 players.

He made some excellent headed clearances in the box late on. Linked up well with Sammy when he came on, too. Towards the end everything was coming down our left side.

Not a terrible game. Santon, Debuchy, Sammy, Hatem, and (in patches) Sissoko all looking good going forward. Some decent passing from midfield. Particularly liked Anita's contribution. The glaring problem is obviously up front. We know all about Shola but worse is that our main goal threat, our No 9, the guy who looked so dangerous when we signed him, can't play in the system Pardew is implementing. Long balls, with or without a Shola flick-on, are not what he wants and he keeps on showing it. He can't play that way. You either play to his strengths or get rid of him and replace him with the kind of player you want. The way things are going it's making everyone look shit.

How. The. Fuck?

Agreed.

Sammy has looked pretty class since coming on. Good sub.

Hmm. Why? Looks a bit championship to me... Don't know much about him, personally. Goal scoring record seems decent according to Wikipedia. Still... Brazilian striker! Almost certainly wouldn't get a work permit unless Serbia is joining the EU as he has a passport there. Don't know too much about that, but didn't the Tories change it all? Now you can basically buy your way in.

Hmm. Why? Looks a bit championship to me... Don't know much about him, personally. Goal scoring record seems decent according to Wikipedia. Still... Brazilian striker!

Don't know how much truth there is to it, but I heard we're in for Cleo from Kashiwa Reysol.

Depends which Ligue 2 teams have 18 year olds they're willing to let go for free.

We know he can't cross or shoot for shit. His main assets are retaining the ball and linking up with his team mates. My point is we have him doing that inside our own half instead of where he looked best: doing it out wide working with a raging full-back.

Know nowt about him but doesnt seem to get many assists? Just 5/6 in the league from his last 90+ games. We could do with some creativity, we already have a strong finisher we cant get near the ball. Something we are seriously lacking, is a goal threat down the left. Jonas is so poor attacking wise, i'm certain a lot of managers will have a decent RB who they will know will be able to deal with him easily. It wasn't that long ago Jonas and Enrique were our primary force going forward, making our left side very dangerous. 4 years ago in the Championship. How relevant. It's barely 2 years since Enrique left. Not that it matters, my point being: for all his limitations, when used correctly Jonas can be dangerous. Just needs the right partner and the right system. I don't think you can play him as a winger anymore, he can't beat a man. I'm not coaching him all week so I'm not really able to comment on what he's capable of right now. I have no idea. But the system we're playing at the moment seems to rely heavily on a handful of players being outlets needing to keep a hold of the ball and create something with not a great deal of support. Typically with those players starting from deep. Ben Arfa is a little magician so he can impress in that role. Jonas obviously has far greater limits. He gets back and helps out defensively as all the team is required to do. Just when he receives the ball and is expected to be an outlet for us breaking forward he can carry the ball and win the odd freekick but not much else. He doesn't have the pace or the skill of Ben Arfa to turn 3 defenders inside out so he resorts to bombing down the line as far as he can and trying to induce a foul - often with some success. Who's to know what would happen if we had our fullbacks (or anyone) providing more support to our attack? If Jonas wasn't trying to do it all himself down the left, while also providing defensive cover, I feel like he might be more effective. Same problem with Cisse, really. Not enough support, expected to do it all himself while we have 10 men behind the ball.

Know nowt about him but doesnt seem to get many assists? Just 5/6 in the league from his last 90+ games. We could do with some creativity, we already have a strong finisher we cant get near the ball. Something we are seriously lacking, is a goal threat down the left. Jonas is so poor attacking wise, i'm certain a lot of managers will have a decent RB who they will know will be able to deal with him easily. It wasn't that long ago Jonas and Enrique were our primary force going forward, making our left side very dangerous. 4 years ago in the Championship. How relevant. It's barely 2 years since Enrique left. Not that it matters, my point being: for all his limitations, when used correctly Jonas can be dangerous. Just needs the right partner and the right system.

Know nowt about him but doesnt seem to get many assists? Just 5/6 in the league from his last 90+ games. We could do with some creativity, we already have a strong finisher we cant get near the ball. Something we are seriously lacking, is a goal threat down the left. Jonas is so poor attacking wise, i'm certain a lot of managers will have a decent RB who they will know will be able to deal with him easily. It wasn't that long ago Jonas and Enrique were our primary force going forward, making our left side very dangerous.

Armpit.

I can see him going to the mackems. Very much a PDC signing.

Nipslip.

City are taking the piss.

Harsh.

I want to kiss Ben Arfa's pudgy little face.