ExiledGeordie

Are there any recent updates on Ben Arfa's status? I see on physio room they have October 1st.

Think he handled himself perfectly especially given he was confront by "Mr Angry" lol. I just hope if he does stay he can stay in last season's mould where he just got his head down and played really well. We don't need this twitter/phone in carry on week in week out.

Otter, I'm a grimly realistic fan depressed with the Ashley regim but calm down it's the first game of the season man, lol

I'll do a war dance if we don't have a new left back signed for next weekend!!!!!!!!!!

A quality striker brought in and Ben Arfa returning to full fitness and playing regularly anywhere from 7-11, if not and a generally negative prediction anywhere from 12-16

well that answers that then, lol

Yeah feel very assured with Colo now, he looks to have truly got to grips with the prem, is tough and has good speed to recover in situations. Steven Taylor looks a lot fitter/leaner too and it showed with his performance. A new solid left back will really help them out though.

The guest journo on skysports news this morning mentioned the Bellamy rumour thats afloat. Rubbish probably.

Top points made above. It'll be easier to judge Pardew when he has a full squad to choose from which will include a new striker, left back and hopefully a fit again Ben Arfa who could be the key for us and should work really well with the likes of Obertan and link the midfield/attack.

This twitter thing is tedious, just draws constant attention to the club because he's obviously going to be banging on about things from the days match or more like confrontations. I watched him in the first half and thought "we really need to keep hold of you" and then thought when all that nonsense happened "lets just get rid to be honest". He might be committed to the cause but he's massively self centred and too much of a drama queen. JUST GET ON WITH IT ffs

I'd like to see him playing with the likes of Ben Arfa and Marveaux.

He looks a lot leaner and in much better shape currently. His wayward elbows are a concern plus giving it the biggun today saying it was an elbow that "floored" Barton was out of order.

A few key injuries to starters revealing the inadequacies of the squad and some early poor performances and he'll really feel it from the fans. He's in a job he wouldn't normally have got, I think he actually means well but he has to pathetically tow the line of those above him and it's making him look so so plastic at the moment.

jesus fucking christ

I was talking to my ManU mate about Obertan last night over a pint. He was saying that while that lads finishing let him down his supply was always first rate, he's also blazing quick and can beat a man easily. You just have to hope that he's one of those that has the talent but never really harnessed it with the Manc's (as my mate was saying he thought last night).

Nowt much at all said on the SSN clips just then unsurprisingly.

It may be completely different with the pressure of a premier league game buy young Sammy looks like he can actually strike a ball. Ranger's technique has always been piss poor in front of goal.

What an absolute shower of shit If we go into this season without signing another proper striker it will sum everything up about this regime and all that patter re the Carroll money. Can you imagine the quotes Pardew is going to come out with over the next few weeks re lack of signings, lol I actually like a lot of what he says and he seems very genuine but his lack of authority at the club is cringe worthy.

So we sell Carroll for £35 million and now we're hearing rumours (as expected lets be honest) that we have to sell in order to finance anymore deals even though we've already shifted a number of people off the payroll and got 4.5 for Nolan, dear oh dear. If ever something was to sum up the Ashley tenure surely it was this. We've bought some decent players but with no premier league experience and there are question marks over the injury status of others namely Ba/Gosling. The squad is hardly deep and rich in quality is it? I'm sorry I don't buy it and while I like some of the stuff Pardew comes out with as he genuinely seems like he cares it's all pretty much towing the line patter with quotes that down the line just make him out to look like an idiot and a patsy. Thankfully there will come a day when Ashley finally leaves as he obviously has absolutely zero interest in taking the club forward. Still I'm genuinely excited for the season to begin again if anything to see Ben Arfa skin that cunt De Jong (here's hoping anyway), lol

Even though it would be amazing I think there's more chance of me waking up with a full head of hair again than us making any attempts at Sturridge. No chance with the transfer fee and potential wages, that's just the way it's going to be this board for the time being atleast. Defo agree that other areas such as striker and defence are possibly more important than midfield.

10m bid from Villa. I think it's pretty obvious behind all the waffle about signing on fees and agent fees that the board were never going to splash out properly this window and are doing things on the cheap. Frustrating because we're in a really good position to push on properly. If we don't get another really quality striker in don't cover Enrique fully when the inevitable finally happens it will have been a disappointing window given the funds that were available.

If Tiote is sold it will confirm everything we think about Ashley/Llambias. Players signed on the cheap, then sold for a profit with no aim at building a team or squad that can progress season to season. Contracts mean nowt. Already waiting for Pardew's "how many time do I have to say it, Tiote is NOT for sale"

Fans can appreciate a 35 million sale of their star player IF it's spent on bringing in several players. It's all the usual cloack and daggers stuff in that nobody actually knows what the board wants because they never speak to the fans. If we go into the season with a squad lacking depth like last year having not spent considerably on new players then it just confirms the misgivings everyone has about Ashley/Llambias and Pardew being a puppet. Those quotes above are good, Pardew should learn to keep his mouth shut more and would probably whince if someone read those back to him. This is the season to judge him though when he's had the time assemble "his" squad.

Yeah I'm finding Pardew's recent comments about numbers worrying too. There's still time to bring in faces but as others have said it's not good enough to simply cover the positions of those you've sold. Pardew also talks about having Ben Arfa and Gosling as new signings but I'm sorry both are coming back from serious, serious injuries ffs! Gosling's barely kicked a ball in two years or whatever!!! Someone's description of Pardew being a spin doctor is fairly accurate, he says a lot of the right things but if you break it down there's cracks everywhere. I'm still waiting to be convinced in this window.

The season is long and there's plenty of games. People get injured suspended and having all three of the likes of HBA, Zog, Marveaux would give plenty of options. The potential pace in the side even without Zog is looking fantastic already.