Marmoset

You'd have to expect him to smash some of the weaker teams. Hat trick incoming against some poor jabronis early season I reckon.

If we had your average decent championship manager I'd be worried, but with Rafa, I'm confident. I know it seems like tempting fate but I am. There are slight concerns in the squad but when you look around you'd be hard pressed to find 2/3 areas of the squad in rivals that are superior. Combine that with the best manager in the division by a long way and it would take a major leap in the teams around us to stop us even coming second.

Remember when Bale was according to some masssively overrated by the 'london press' then won 2 champions leagues and a copa del Ray? Ahhh football fans. The way prices are going if they use him correctly it'll end up looking like good value. What's a problem for him is if he isn't tipping up games left right and centre this year people will be right in his back. If he's strong enough to get through that he's a great signing.

Would be very surprised to see him stay. A player that relies so much on athleticism at his age isn't going to be useful that much longer in the premier league anyway. Would feel more confident against our rivals in away matches if he stayed though.

Don't think he has the technical attributes to be a big success at a big club, but if he has better players to lay it off to after he's charged upfield, he could be very useful for a defensive/counter attacking cl club. Whether that's worth 35m I don't know. Wouldn't be particularly happy if it was my club paying that. Too many limitations.

The thing that mystified me with Sissoko was people always calling for him to be in the centre and be box to box. He hasnt got the tight control when under pressure or the passing for it. At least not in a league of this pace. I've always (except maybe the last few day of Stevie boy) thought he got an undue amount of stick though. He consistently was our most creative player. And he did try, a lot. Sometimes things just didn't come off for him. Doesn't excuse him being a dick off the field though.

Think Hatem leaving Nice for free and Sissoko leaving for 30 odd million finally proves Pardew right to play Moussa rw over him.

Silly Tron.

Was going to say. Most people (myself included) seem to have written them off a bit.

just stop with this clause thing

Agree. If rather get rid of him due to wages of nothing else but I'm sure he'll score the off useful goal this year.

A classic example of a very talented player being utterly ruined by the relentless spackers we've had in charge since he joined. Absolutely no coincidence whatsoever that, under Rafa, he looks like the player we originally signed. Very talented 13 years at Ajax...doesn't happen if you're not very talented fella. This is absolutely daft.

I forget he even exists until someone mentions him same with Riviere

Probably wouldn't get that safe or even close elsewhere though.

How's Hayden on the ball? Can't say I've ever seen a second of him play.

Still not sure what he is. Keep seeing people say he's one of our wingers but hasn't he said he prefers the number 10 role? Anyone actually watch many full games of his in France?

You can't put that in a contract man I am sure it is not beyond the realms of possibility like, under 4 different managers he has started when available, no matter how anonymous he has been. Wait I thought this was one of those things people say tongue in cheek, some people honestly believe Jack Colback has that he must start every game in his contract?!?

Fwiw for all his faults, Colback can pass the ball fine for the championship imo. We don't need a budget Xaxi.

In that situation with Tiote and Colback/anita behind a very good front four, then yes I would. Shelveys injury record is pretty good anyway iirc.

'Strikers miss chances' does not excuse poor finishing over the course of a season. Think the Misstrovic like comments are a bit embarrassing and over the top but it's a legitimate concern when we're back up there.

Shelves was a typo btw, not a pet name

Shelves is a great passer, if instructed to do so he can move the ball forward accurately and quickly at this level. He's also a goal threat at this level. Which midfielder of the likes from the championship last year do you have in mind?

Depends on his brain. I like him a lot and like Bramble he's obviously got some great attributes, just depends on his capacity to listen and learn to improve his positioning, concentration and sloppiness at times. Providing he's not an idiot he should become good enough for when we are hopefully a top 10 kind of team though.

Well i agree to disagree then, think he's pretty decent defensively. Obviously eventually need an upgrade anyway because of how poor he is on the ball, but I'd be saying the same for Santon with different reasons anyway.

Think he'll do fine this year without pulling up any trees and then hopefully a higher class alternative comes in when promoted.