Shays Given Tim Flowers

We have proved ourselves to be pretty canny TBF. In this case it's that we don't have enough money. Have we ? We LOOKED as if we did with Cisse, then look at his goals return this season.. We LOOKED as if we did with Tiote but he is now unrecognizable as the player we signed... We probably DID get lucky with both Cabaye and HBA(the latter because he had been at loggerheads with his previous manager) but how long do you think they will remain at SJP if we either get relegated or just miss it? We missed out on De Jong and he has not been a success so far at Moenchengladbach - likewise Douglas - we had to sell Ba for a relative pittance because we wouldn't have got him anyway if we hadn't agreed to the exit clause in his contract and we got lucky with selling Carroll because Liverpool were stupid enough to pay 35m for him. Obertan has been poor and Bigi is still a young player...Good is on loan to Bradford . Colo is probably the best signing we have made and that was under KKs management - there is no way Ashley would have agreed to Colo's original contract. Then we have the likes of Williamson...perhaps we won't go there.. As for Debuchy, there is NO way he would have arrived at SJP if Cabaye hadn't been there..... If we don't have enough money how come QPR did and whose fault is it if a club getting 50,000 gates versus one getting 20,000 odd can't compete in the transfer market ? A London club with 20,000 would be more attractive to most foreign players than NUFC with 50,000 or even 70,000. It's all about money.

Whats the answer then? Genuine question as to how you think we go forward this January.

There is more and more money coming into the Premier League. This 'we shouldn't throw silly money around' rhetoric is admirable. Its also fair and logical. Unfortunately the Premier League isn't too bothered about what's fair. With more money coming into the league we can expect to see plenty of these Remy situations arise. They won't necessarily happen at the 11th hour but the fact of the matter is other clubs will simply offer more money than us and obviously money is likely to be high up the list when assessing job offers. I would hope that when the new money comes in we are able to spend a bit more on wages. That league table someone posted yesterday that showed the table according to average wages spent (11/12 season) is worrying for the club going forward. Ironically it also shows that money does not necessarily equate to success. I guess what I'm saying is principles are fine if you can afford them. At the moment I'm not convinced that we can.

Jesus Wept.

All if's and maybes but it will be interesting to see if Remy is played left forward whether or not Santon will be asked to bomb forward so much. Think part of the reason for it before may have been Jonas' immobility. If thats the case then he should start to turn in tighter defensive displays.

Had a look at the table this morning for the first time in ages.

When Ben Arfa is out is there actually anyone who can play the right forward in a front three?

He's going to be sharing a post-match bath with Cabaye and Debuchy. Hope they've got defibrilators in the dressing room. Unlikely.He's French.

To be honest though, the only reason to have an English manager is because you have predominantly English players. For the past 10 years they have been predominantly terrible.

I hope not. French managers seem to make a habit of falling out with French Players. Barring Wenger of course.

He really doesn't speak French? Non. He's still struggling to put the finishing touches to his English.

Probably won't need a manager soon. The starting 11 more or less picks itself. Pards doesn't speak French and I assume the French lads will just talk to each other about what to do.

Our team is so French. Nice to have some good news after this week.

Should have just had a Christmas Party...

Ameobi to do a Dion Dublin and play out his final years at centre-half. Heartbroken if this is true mind. Last thing we need.

Quite. In the same way the sum of our problems this season are not Danny Simpson.

We need a centre back and a striker. Anything else can wait until these positions are sorted.

What about what Remy wants? Why rush if you're him.

Whats the heartproblem? Anything serious? Apparently its no obstacle to his footballing career with heart specialists saying there is no reason why he can't practice sport at a high level. Sky sports 10 to avoid probably would have included Ben Arfa once upon a time.

Could simply be because he is in Morocco.

IIRC Bassong was signed after being offered to Keegan and doing a trial here. Think he was a KK signing. You're right though.

I agree with the sentiment you express here. With regards to the bolded part Keegan said after he left that there were big problems with Trust. That Ashley and Llambias would give you an assurance and then do the complete opposite. If that's still the case then it makes it very difficult to work for them as ultimately its the manager who gets the majority of flack. Again though whatever difficulties (if any) Pardew has encountered working under Mike Ashley do not account for the teams poor performances this season.

I suspect that he also suggests the position of players that we are to recruit.

Hypothetically would people advocate sacking Pardew and appointing A. N. Other (of a decent calibre) if it came at the cost of no new recruits in January? I have to say I probably would.