ExiledGeordie

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.

To be fair thats the exact description I'd give to the 1-4 slot. Personally I can't stand listening to Gray droan on but agreed they don't do a "lets wind up the listeners" Jason Cundy, utter wanker

I'm not desputing that. To be fair when their NE correspondant is Graham fucking Courtney that says it all, lol Still like the 1-4 show, decent listen.

Haha, nice one. I like Jacobs he's "honestly" biased towards Chelsea as most fans are but he knows his football. His post Chelsea match rants/reports are always highly amusing, lol Paul Hawksbee sounds like a top bloke to be fair too - again honest insight into Spurs. ...........Yep nowt in sunday papers on us but then there wasn't anything on Cisse was there. I also don't remember much on Cabaye before it happened.

Think Santon will really come on again this season now he's had a year's experience in the league. The fact he can play left or right back gives us that extra bit of cover too.

That "Transfer Tavern" show on talksport I think being mentioned is utterly atrocious. There are a few decent reporters such as the English based French correspondant (name escapes me - Philipe Au Clair or something?) Drive with Durham is amusing if only for the winding up of Arsenal supporters. The only decent show is Hawksbee and Jacobs, they actually have proper interviews with people and give decent opinions on football in my opinion.

And wait for it................Ray Parlour saying on talk sport that Arsenal should go for Cisse. Yeah that's right Ashley is just going to hand him over Ray, lol Muppet. Even if he was going to be sold on it'll be at a price well above what Arsenal could even dream of paying.

If its 10m in one payment that might swing things our way instead of installments. Good move though, one last offer and move on if they refuse to accept.

The way Pardew spoke in the interview a while back gave the impression there was a pretty good chance we might get him. We tend to put in ground work months and months if not years before we buy a player and when it happens it often happens almost stealth like. I don't think anyone really knows and the paper stuff about other clubs coming in means nothing as yet. Still confident it might happen this end.