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Gayle definitely deserves a shot up front next season and, between him and the rest of our strikers, he's got the most about him to get goals. He's a very good finisher and that doesn't change no matter what league he's in so if we're creating chances, he'll be there to take them. He's quick to react, is always bothering centre halves and can be a right little wind-up merchant. Obviously, we're going to get less chances and he's going to have to be a bit more clinical but I wouldn't be rushing out to spend a fortune on a striker yet. I'd say we need a target man as a different option but Gayle should be first choice for me, especially at home.

If we can get 3 players chipping in with goals then the striker isn't so important. I'd like to think we will take the game to most teams at home ie we won't fuck about like WBA etc...

If we're wanting strikes who can score 10 plus, both Gayle and Mitrovic would be decent bets anyway. 15+ then yeah, I agree that we'd need to spend on someone else.

Gayle was palaces top scorer in the premier league from the bench at the point when they signed Benteke. He'd barely started any games but scored nearly every game he appeared in. He came to us due to the modern fashion for one up front, he knew after Pardew spent millions on benteke he'd be second choice permanently. I think to describe him, in view of this and on the evidence of last season, as a "make do" is blatantly unfair.

Actually the judge was from Northern Ireland so when nobody was looking I caught her eye and gave her the old Gazza/flute impression with accompanying wink which she returned with a knowing wink and a nod of her head so I knew we'd be sound. (So I did).

(No Gemmill) Thought this was quite nice: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/shola-ameobi-interview-exclusive-notts-county-newcastle-a7832071.html

We will have to. Swansea are quoting £50m for a player who just barely helped them survive relegation last season. I'm not sure I can ever see a time when Ashley will sanction a deal of that amount but he certainly wont after we've just spent a season in the championship and missed out on the massive increase in tv revenue from last season. We have to face the facts that despite clubs like Bournemouth and Watford being smaller than us, that they have benefited massively from the improved sky deal and have more spending power than us this season. So if we're looking at bringing players with premier league experience (especially at this stage of the window), it's going to be players that aren't going to be very exciting. There's much more value to be had from abroad but obviously that comes with a risk as they've no experience here. But as Stawb says, a lot of the team from about 9th downwards are largely filled with players who you wouldn't be excited about us looking at. There's no reason that with a manager of Rafa's ability that we can't do what some of them have done and create a team that can compete despite the lack of superstars. Tbh I'd rather have that than a team of supposed stars that looked like they couldn't give a fuck like last time.

She'll remember.

Happy Birthday!

Aye, David Niven's voice double is wor Robert.

Have a good one, Fister. Have a Rude Kid strip from Viz as a present

Fuck me man Trooper the world won't stop turning if we don't spend 20 million on a centre half who has barely played a dozen first team games for anyone as some of our competitors are doing. Everyone, for fuck sakes chill the fuck out and let's see what happens. It's almost as if the last 18 months with Rafa count for fuck all this summer. I trust him, I don't trust Ashley and I completely accept that Rafa could have the rug pulled from underneath him by the fatman. But it's unlikely at the moment a month out from the start of the season with Rafa in charge of who comes in with no interfearance and a good track record in the transfer market. We probably won't get everyone we want but when do we ever? All this knicker wetting is fuckin preposterous compared with various relegation scenarios I've experienced over the last near on 40 years so for fucks sakes folks get some perspective, clucking away like a bunch of monochrome chicken lickens scared shitless that the sky will fall in if we don't pay 50 million for a poor mans Pedro is as boring as it is unrealistic.Get a grip for fucks sakes man.