Tiresias

I think Levy has nailed it, think Redknapp is pretty poor, remember when he tried to buy all the spanish strikers that existed not so long ago and then Levy just went and bought Van Der Vaart without any input? Reckon that's how it works basically, all the sensible transfer dealings done by Levy while Redknapp talks about everyone elses players constantly. They've assembled a very strong squad, and liked how they've kept hold of Modric, doubt they'll be able to keep him another year though, wonder if they can keep up the challenge. Doubt Man U can keep it up either though without significant investment.

I'm going to choose to believe this is a sensible call to dim expectations as he may take a while to get to find his feet properly. Oh god he's going to be watching Strola fall over from the bench.

you're just a downer

Just thought of this, to the tune of the muppet mnah mnah song thing: ba ba ba baa ba CISSE CISSE ba ba ba baa ba CISSE CISSE ba ba baa baaaa ba ba baa Etc (you get the idea)

Wenger in goal could work out of people not wanting to injure a frail old man standing in the goal by shooting too hard...OH I SEE WHAT YOU MEAN

Oh dear, have we been wooshed?

Looks a fine player from what I've seen, quick and talented, taken a bit to get settled but seems on his way now.

Weren't they the first proffessional club in England to employ a black player? Don't agree only 'world-beater' clubs have valuable tradition, always sad when one goes under. May be more sensible to start a new one slightly different name (and not in that stadium obviously), and wouldn't think it makes a massive difference to the 'tradition', everyone would know it was pretty much the same club. Still sad though.

I thought he did get a bit unfairly shouted down here, but then think everyone was used to Wireside, which didn't end well, and that post is just sad.

ffs you've jinxed it!

Cisse a second later kicked Ba in the knee grabbed the no 9 and left Ba out the game injured

That would just be greedy

I'd keep Kadar unless we genuinely have no intention of moving him into the first team and despite his awful performances at times think we kind of need Raylor as a utility player, gives us a last ditch option all over the pitch, watch him end up in goal one day Otherwise happy to let them all go. I'd prefer Lovenkrands to Shola in the pecking order perhaps but we're never getting rid of Shola

If it's true Ba is keen on renegotiating his contract happy days. Hopefully appreciates us trusting his knee issue wouldn't end his career, and even if we give him the new contract and his knee explodes the week after he's earned the slight gamble.

I hope Senegal don't play Ivory Coast and Tiote doesn't strangle Cisse or something

I get the feeling Ba knows exactly what he's doing and will make up his own mind as to whether he stays or goes in summer, and so wonder if he will want to renegotiate the contract, as it essentially gives him the power over where he goes, but also think he's genuine enough to want to repay the faith we showed him. He'll always have an eye on PSG though as his boyhood club, wouldn't be shocked to lose him there

Apart from a new full back anything else should be young prospects, no-one else in squad I'm unhappy with enough to want replaced. (Jonas if being brutally harsh maybe but think Marveaux offers a different option on the wing should Jonas be going through one of his rough patches of form, assuming Marveaux isn't permanently crocked)

I do think that Cisse may not make an instant impact, though don't rate him that highly Dzeko took a while to acclimatize from the Bundesliga and I think with Cabaye we've been very lucky with players quickly getting up to speed. I hope he doesn't start slow and everyone immediately write him off.

Hard work ethic? He's not doomed to the bench after all! Also doesn't mind the cold is good news Sounds great!

Was he given total control of transfers at Villa? dunno if he has same arrangement at Sunderland, surely Ellis etc would be aware of that aspect and might be cautious lol. Still think he'll do ok there, but think he's a manager with an upper limit of what he will achieve with his disdain for tactics he'll end up one dimensional. He's got them playing well though already and suspect they'll have an alright season, and next year may be pretty good. Can't rely on them blowing all the money.

lets sign ALL his friends to help convince him onto a new deal

I still think I'm going to wake up tomorrow and this won't have happened. We can't have bought the best striker we were linked with? I assumed we were all going to settle for some £5m striker from the lower league who would be ok but about the same as Best