Monroe Transfer

I wasn't aware that only Asian people eat curries.

What are the Puma kits like in terms of size? I've got an away shirt on the way but I'm wary of it a little because I hear they're bigger than the adidas equivalent. Much in it?

OK, so I like Fulham a bit less now that Hughes is their manager.

Shame that Spurs game isn't their CL qualifier.

He was a good man.

Favourite 3 - Fulham. Who doesn't like Fulham? Decent club, lovely stadium, just completely inoffensive. - Villa. Always had a soft spot for them (been to Villa Park more than any other away ground) and don't dislike them because a few of their fans laughed at us when we went down at their place. - Everton. Usually the underdogs, good but just not good enough. Plus I can't stand Liverpool so Everton seem much more likable in comparison. Least favourite 3 - Spurs. Can't stand them at all. Fully admit to my utter hatred of the club being irrational. I think it's partly to do with a few of our players going to them when I was younger, and in the case of Ginola at least, actually being more successful (as in winning a trophy). Always felt bitter about them - for some reason I've always classed us and them as about the same in terms of stature, so they've felt like a rival even when they've not been. - Liverpool. Delighted to see them fail so much last season. I find element of their support - Chelsea. Slight respect for Ancelotti has dulled my stance on Chelsea a bit but I still really resent them. I'm not a Geordie so can't pretend to hate Sunderland anything like as much as most of you. It wouldn't be right, honest or fair of me. That said, I don't like them, since spending most of my life supporting their local rivals breeds a negative feeling towards them. Also a lot of their fans make me cringe and their obsession with us disturbs me. Man City are closing in my bottom list fast, and Man Utd aren't on it by virtue of not being as annoying as Liverpool. Not a massive fan of Arsenal but my issues with them are clouded and heavily influenced by the media so it's hard to hate them as a club too much.

It's only for a season, plenty of positives.

Better hope that the striker* we're bringing in next doesn't come complete with injury or lack of fitness, to complete the set. *surely Hughton knows this is the position that needs strengthening more than any other now

S'alright, we've got the mighty Championship player of the year in our midfield who'll get a few goals.

Correct, no limit on those under 21.

That sentence went right over my head.

Sure. You can have Ryan Taylor in exchange for Bent.

Wait till it's ruined by a sponsor logo.

What sort of wages would he be on? Given he's a free I'd assume we'd not mind paying him a decent wage but I hope it'll be nothing stupid. It's a good move bringing him in especially now that Taylor will miss a few games at the start of the season.

I see that Geordie Boot Girl hasn't posted since the little exchange on the previous page. Dare I ask?

Why do you inbreds drop your h's. You have by far the wankest accent in any language on any continent, and I mean that. A mackem coming on here trying to take the piss is like Bernard Manning abusing Barry Fry for being a fat cunt. You are mackems, the lowest of the low, your ambitions in life are to be better than geordies and Newcastle, you live in one of the shittest cities in England, 1 in 100 of your lasses is attractive, your best landmark is fuckin Joblings, you're known nationally (people that know yous) as Sunderland near Newcastle, and you're uncouth uneducated tramps. I'm trying to be diplomatic here but it's not possible with you bamps. I tell you something honestly here, and I bet the 300,000 people who live in Sunderland can all relate to this, when you go to bed at night time I refuse to believe you're proud to be mackems, I know for a fact you can't be happy being from Sunderland, and what defines you as people is the jealousy and anger at your superior neighbours 12 miles up the road, it defines you as a city and as people. Don't ever change Stevie man.

I like Shola and all but it does amaze me that he's still at the club. He's just... there. He'll get the odd goal and that seems to be good enough to get his contract renewed time and time again. If he's anything like as lazy this season as he was the last, then we need to call it a day and ship out him. He's not lethal, he's not good enough to start just because he might get the odd goal, and I'd much rather see someone like Ranger play as he has far more energy and offers something different.

The entire season is going to be dodgy. Not one game, never mind one month that I'll be taking a win for granted in. I reckon we'll stay up up with that said but I don't think we'll reach a somewhat comfortable position in the table till near (if not at) the end of the season. There will be no easy spells for us - even the worst teams we'll give us a good game, I imagine. We're lower-mid table quality at best and I doubt we'll bring in anyone between now and the end of the window to improve things much. Home form will be absolutely essential. I've always felt we're a bit... constrained, on the road under Hughton. Good thing about our squad is that just all of them have a lot to prove. S Taylor and Harper included. Even a formerly established Prem fixture like Nolan know that his performances when he came to the club during our relegation season were nowhere near good enough. I'm hoping a couple of them stand out too - particularly Enrique and Gutierrez who were pretty hit and miss last time around, especially Jonas who never lived up to his early promise in this league.

I'm not drinking to look cool you social misfit If you say so. Your posts here imply otherwise.

'Begrudgingly accept' is the phrase you're looking for. I'm no fan of Ashley in his own right, no need to compare him to the previous regime who were deeply flawed as well. They made their mistakes and rightly got called out for it. Most of us are sane enough to understand that as a club Ashley has somehow managed to take us back further than the old board did so you needn't constantly remind us. Most appreciate that Shepherd et al weren't all bad. Doesn't mean I like it but what exactly can I do? I'm not going to join any future protests, I'm not going to boycott the match, and if I want a shirt for example I'll buy it etc. As much as it pains you surely even you can see the positive in at least gaining a bit of stability. Nothing will change this summer and the last thing we need for the coming season is uncertainty off the pitch.

I once drank partly to look cool, too. You'll grow out of it one day.

Has there been a day in your life for which you've not looked for a way to praise the old board?

From what awful paper did you take that? Or is it another Caughtoffside/goal.com special?

He's a big name but has he really got that much of an ego at his age? Him dropping down divisions to play for Notts County - for the money - is a worry but on the other hand he was surprisingly impressive upon his return for Arsenal last season. He's experienced and that can only help us. We've got a relatively young defence - only Williamson and Coloccini are 26 or older. Shame he's a CB - I'm not convinced about our RB options; Perch and Simpson have a lot to prove. Decent in the Championship but that's not saying a great deal.

Give him a season.