ExiledGeordie

Oh come on tollemache, nobody expects us to spend absolute fortunes. You make it sound like we're all expecting an outlay of 30-40m. What people do expect is money spent to further the team to cover glaring weaknesses which have been there for all to see for ages. While they certainly bring in good players once signed the board's miserly approach to spending is actually harming the club's development. Given the players we sold and wages we cleared off the salary after last season, are you telling me they didn't have enough money to cough up the Debuchy money in the summer and money for a centre half? Norwich spent more money than us. We're two points off the relegation zone and the places we've dropped in the league will actually end up costing us money anyway. To me it's a false economy as well as a clear indication that there's basically very little ambition at all.

Actually feeling a bit more positive about this now which means we're even more likely to lose

Cabaye and Jonas in the squad, that's some encouragement atleast.

He definitely looks exasperated that's for sure. I think the full gravity of the situation has hit home, that we're really on the edge of something potentially very nasty if injuries, team form and transfers don't start to improve. The playing side of things being down to him.

Torres is woeful, Rafa will only confirm his short downfall if he continues to start Torres over Ba.

His problem is fans aren't thick and we have good memories. Coming out and saying how much we needed to fill certain positions in the summer and then moving the goal posts by saying "the fans should feel lucky we didn't sell anyone" when we barely signed anyone was an insult and patronising. He knows the drill and he knows the rules from MA/DL which had been set when he took the job but coming out with statements like that one just make him look weak.

I just hope for Pardew's sake if we don't "get someone over the line" he doesn't come out with any patronising comments to the fans like he did last summer. "You know january is a hard month to sign players"......problem for him is he knows the drill, he knows the rules with MA/DL abd ultimately he's the one who faces the media and the questions because those two are never going to answer to anyone. Just look at his press conference when he arrived ffs, nobody else there How spineless was that of DL the "chief executive"

Would take a point under the circumstances

That might be true but he's been playing on right wing ffs. He didn't even play down the middle against Everton. Give him a run down the middle and he'll get goals as it's his natural position as proved last season.

Yes, didn't really enjoy it. Sat with my Chelsea mate when Acuna scored to equalise...........I kept quiet but my mate turned to me and said loudly "man you're playing really well" Idiot I also watched us lose at Spurs 3-1 when Solano had scored a quality goal. I just don't find you can enjoy it really but I suppose it can depend on which ground you go to.

That may be true but we're simply not in a position to be be left high and dry come the end of the window. I appreciate that deals like this aren't done overnight but we can't afford to wait until the 11th hour to get a player because if that fails and we get nobody we're truly up s*** creek. Can you imagine a situation where we're playing the 2nd half of the season with all the pressure on Cisse to score the goals and more to the point stay fit with only bloody Shola as backup. God forbid if that happens.............

Without Cabaye and Taylor, yeah I'm expecting defeat too sadly. Love to be proved wrong

I agree with you Ian but the problem with this board is that they're so focussed on getting a deal everytime they buy a player that ultimately I think it only ends up costing them money in the long run. I'm not suggesting they pay over the odds for a player but seems to me they pulled out of deals in the summer because they figured they were being taken for mugs. We don't know how much the goal posts were moved but the money they're losing regarding their league position and the potential catastrophe of relegation is all coming to a head because players weren't brought in (that and some of Pardew and the coaching staff's clear mistakes in coaching the team) Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and pay decent money for a player when you can't get a "deal".

We need a striker now but we REALLY need the new striker in before the Reading and Villa games.

Yeah that kind of makes sense Taylor being back for Reading. I just don't think with the current players available (with injured players missing) that we can win away from home. With Williamson in the side there's almost a goal per game mistake and the team doesn't defend well collectively. Throw in our complete inability to come from behind and the writing will almost be in the wall if Norwich score first. I'd obviously love to be proved wrong. It'll probably take a couple of excellent dislays from Marveaux and Cisse to get anything here because atleast we know those two can score/create goals. Cabaye making it would be great but it doesn't sound too likely and more likely he'll make Reading with Taylor.

That would be a cruel blow but I guess this is the issue with players who've been out for a while. Unless they're 100% there's simply no point taking them. It wouldn't be a massive surprise if we lined up without Taylor and Cayabe against Norwich

Good post from Ikon there. To have that raw injection of pace and movement into the side will open up space for others like Marveaux and HBA and vice versa.

Questions posed on true faith weekly blog re Pardew and the coaching staff. Most raised on here and all spot on: Why are we so desperate with corners and set plays? Why haven’t we won a single away game this season? Why are we unable to come back from going a goal behind? Why have we abandoned the passing football of last season to become the PL’s Route One, hoof ball merchants? This isn’t Newcastle United. We play on the floor. Why are so many players regressing at once? Case for the prosecution: Chieck Tiote. He looks a shadow of the player we had last season and a pale imitation of the player who dominated the Man Utd midfield 12 months ago. Why is his discipline getting worse instead of better? Why is he constantly caught in possession and why is his passing so reckless? Is this a player we seriously think has a player with a value of£20m? Currently he looks like a bad Lee Cattermole. Why has Jonas Guttierez just looked lost in so many games? Why has Cisse been played wide right when the formation of the team last season was so potent with Papiss through the middle? How is Nile Ranger anywhere near the first team given the disgrace he has brought to the club and the fact his talent simply just does not merit such indulgence?

That is the form guide, so last?

God I'd definitely have HBA and Marveaux in the side together, that could be really interesting. No point mentioning players who haven't even signed ffs :lol:

French journo on talksport (not Auclair) says QPR agreed a fee but Remy turned them down. Says good chance he'll go to us but big competition from Germany so nothing new really

Don't know hence the "I hope" and edited "lots of question marks over players fitness" Taylor's injury is a hamstring too so they have to be ultra careful when he comes back

Something like this I hope....maybe Jonas is for Bigi, lots of ??? over players fitness going into this Krul Debuchy Taylor Coloccini Santon Bigi Cabaye Anita Marveaux Cisse Obertan

Exactly