ExiledGeordie

I think the main plan is to play Anita in midfield but it's just an added benefit that he can slot in at left back when needed especially when we have someone like Jonas who can come into a midfield 3. I still think they want a RB but what happens there before the window is anyones guess.

I've only heard a little about this lad, can someone give more details? Defensive midfielder or left back, right?

Fuck me Tiote injured, get the lad onto the pitch straight away, lol

Until all the main players of the team are back fit and the transfer window is concluded (hopefully with atleast one senior addition) it'll be a case of getting through the first few games as best as possible. May take a bit of time before things settle down frustratingly

First game of the season, very hard to predict. I'll go with score draw.

Huge loss if definite

French correspondant for talk sport just been on saying he's amazed the deal hasn't gone through. Doesn't know what to think anymore much like the rest of us then, lol

Will be massive if this lad can stay fit. Hopefully a full pre-season will do wonders for him in terms of building strength.

Exactly and if the player is of genuine quality then you have to pay good money. It's not like the fans are expecting popcorn signings like the Shepherd era. It would be ridiculous if we end up missing our main targets for the sake of a combined amount of say 3-4m. Improving the team further with genuine quality would surely mean you'd get it back in relation to league positon, ticket gates, Europa league run etc.

Ofcourse he will but I wouldn't read too much in that, it's not like he'll suddenly decide not to play well, lol We don't know the full facts of this latest transfer diatribe but transfers have nothing to do with other players when all is said and done. He's a professional and paid to do a job at the end of the day. Debuchy even if it is unlikely may still end up at St James

I understand the need for sell on value but surely in situations like this where a player will obviously bring so much to the team in terms of quality means that we'd surely get back in monetary value in progressing in cup comps (including Europe) and finishing high up the league. But as someone says we don't know all the facts. It does seem strange given that he was such a key target mentioned on interviews with Pardew months ago that we would miss out by such a small monetary amount. I suppose things could change again but it is disappointing, can't get away from that.

FWIW (and what do I know) I still think we'll sign him. As frustrating as it is the player is keen to come here and it's just a case of haggling over the fee for the next century...........

This transfer, dear oh dear. lol

The interview on talksport with their Dutch correspondant (Van der Kraan?) was interesting in revealing just how complex it is in dealing with South American players and their multiple agents all wanting a slice of the cake. Can see this one happening but there's clearly a mountain of stuff to sort out.

This one will run and run like all our other transfer stories. The possible 5m still owed as Dave's pointed out plus this 25% sell on clause, throw in some brinkmanship and as it gets closer to the window if we tweak the offer slightly I could see Carroll ending up here. Ofcourse things will become clearer when the Ba situation potentially draws to a close tonight.

I'm really non-plus as to whether Carroll comes back or not.

That's a real gutter for him, good professional

Ba plus 10m, dear oh dear. Yeah I can definitely see Ashley going for that one, lol

Be great if he stays, on form he's deadly. The thought of a defence having to mark him while watching for the movements of Cisse and Ben Arfa doesn't even bare thinking about, must be seriously difficult.

Someone made a great point on here that the front 3 shouldn't be rigid. It's perfectly plausible that Cisse and Ba will take turns and swing wide with Ben Arfa doing his usual thing too. I also don't get some of the nonsense such as "well if he wants to go let him"....that's going off the worst press speculation going and he hasn't made any gestures that he wants to go. Sure he suffered second half of the season but the quality is there without doubt and he'll get more goals if he stays. Ofcourse if he does go between now and the 31st then most of what I've said is nonsense but people are jumping to conclusions far too quickly.

Sounds like an ideal signing, someone who can fill in at left back or play in a midfield 3. Clearly another one which is going to run and run, zzzzzz

The combination of Rodgers making it so obvious publicly that he doesn't want Carroll combined with our offer which was made plainly public has really forced this issue now. Rodgers has made a rod for his own back because if he's that insistant that he wants rid, there's simply no way they're going to get 20m, it's ridiculous. He's basically said he's not going to play so then why keep an unhappy player if you're going to hold out for 20m?........nobody is going to pay 20m, ffs, lol

I just think it's great that we're going back in for him because it makes total mugs of Liverpool, lol Why not I say, we need another striker, he'll have a point to prove and sure he wouldn't start with Ba and Cisse there but it would provide another option. Non-plus either way, great if it does, no worries if it doesn't.

As we were in for him, Carr clearly saw him as having the talent which might've made him a real success at Newcastle. But we bid 11m, Twente wanted silly money and the lad chose elsewhere anyway. Not a disaster at all, move on scenario.

Thing is if you were Tiote, why the fuck would you move to Spurs at the moment? Man U or even Chelsea I could understand even if it would be a real gutter.