ExiledGeordie

If a fee has been agreed then you'd have to hope personal terms are a formality

I think he's lacking confidence because of the absolute shambles going on in front of him.

There've been far worse players to play for the club skill wise and FAR FAR worse players to play for the club attitude wise. I can't wait to see the right back spot upgraded and see the back of his poor play but I think people get a bit carried away with the abuse directed towards him. He's an average player but he's always been committed. Players like, Owen, Viduka, Marcelino, Duff........that's a different kettle of fish.

Might take a bit of time to settle in like any player but has to be an immediate upgrade on Simpson right from the off. From what I've seen looks solid in defence with good pace but it's his football skills, neat passing and ability to attack/cross which stand out. Having someone like that on the right completely changes the dynamic of the team because an opposing team immediately has something else to think about in defence. Teams just back off from Simpson because he can't go past players and can't cross for shit.

Even if Ba doesn't go can you see him starting this, otherwise Cisse down the middle? Krul Simpson Colo Will Santon Big Tiote Anita (fit?) Marveaux Cisse Obertan

Really need to get a replacement in if this happens. Good luck to Ba, always put a shift in so can't complain.

The Remy story has credence in relation to this latest development with Ba

I agree with that Dave. I do also think however that with Cisse playing central, a replacement like Remy coming in (you'd bloody hope a replacement) and with Cabaye, HBA back in the side and another attacking fullback like Debuchy on the right the side will still be able to get goals.

Maybe Dekka telling my cousin in NYC that 3 players coming in Jan wasn't a load of total bollocks

Fucking hope so, desperately need someone like him

Defending has been shocking but it's embarrassing that Arsenal had the extra break

BUY SOME DEFENDERS, IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE

Good on him, keeping focus on the game. Not the time to make comments on that

Terrible scoreline for Villa, christ :lol:

Hoping for something but it's such a tall order after wednesday plus with our defensive frailties and the fact they've had extra rest.

For what Sunderland paid for Johnson, he's been fucking woeful this season

I was talking about hamstring injuries with my tutor on my physio degree at Northumbria (incedentally a massive Toon fan) and he was saying hamstrings are often some of the most precarious to come back from. Time it wrong and you end up adding weeks. I'm only a bog standard club runner but run 5-6 times a week. I injured my hamstring mid November and I'm still not confident I'm fully over it....tightness/stiffness/lack of strength. I'm only running in straight lines, no twisting. HBA is playing at the highest level of sport and football requires acceleration, twisting, turning etc. Must be a nightmare to sort out for football.

Another Debuchy debacle on the cards??

Yeah you'd have to hope that the players they were looking at in the summer they're going back in for or have other targets. I think it's ingrained in me that we won't sign anyone though. Hoping for a Cisse-esque surprise like last jan but I'm not getting my hopes up at all.

I think we'll give it a good go but to put all that effort in at old trafford and come away with nothing is surely really draining for the players. Plus Arsenal have had that extra rest and know we will be tired. I think they'll come out of the blocks hard. I suppose everyone thought we'd get turned over at old trafford though and that wasn't the case.

With Marveaux's emergence I could handle not getting an attacking player in. That obviously changes if Ba goes. Would love to see reinforcements at the back though, would make the side so much better.

Definitely agree with that. I think a solid CH is more important than a RB. The thought however of a quality RB who can attack, take on a man and cross is the stuff dreams are made of

He seems to have taken this defeat really badly and so he should in a sense. Maybe the atrocious defending for the winning goal will finally get ball rolling to replace those clowns at the back. Pardew must be doing his nut in when he sees goals like that go in but its only going to keep on happening again and again and again until they're replaced. Ridiculous achilles heel which is costing us stupid amounts of points.

The weaknesses at the back with Simpson and Williamson are so glaringly obvious now it's embarrassing ffs.