Rayvin

Not convinced about how much game time Bony is going to get at City. You never know I guess, their striking line up is pretty injury prone. What was wrong with Negredo in the end? He was supposedly amazing and then he was just shipped out.

Yep. Can't say that I thought the winning goal was all that great though. Pretty good as far as they go but I've seen Cisse score a few better for one thing.

Seems to have been wrapped up. It's still an obscene amount of money to be paying him. I doubt he made that much in his Spurs days...

Never thought he was likely to leave Real to be honest. Not even sure his experiences there would be particularly helpful either - they're a club used to being able to buy whoever they want and build a team around an ideal - not a team that has to work within their means and make the best of what they've got.

I thought the £14m was for his wages...that's how I read it on SSN anyway. I assumed there was no fee tbh.

Still think that free kick was better. I'm not sure I've ever seen a free kick like that before. I don't even know how it was physically possible, unless there was some significant wind interference. Looked like he meant it as well.

Apparently Redknapp is potentially for the chop at QPR if they don't win their next couple of games, with Sherwood being linked. I initially considered this to be good news, as it removes the possibility of us ending up with Sherwood. On reflection though, I suppose we'd then start being linked with 'Arry...

Bit gutted I missed that match actually, looks like it had everything. I'd always take an Everton win over a West Ham win though, so that's the only thing wrong with the result.

both good

£80k a week?! Fucks sake Sunderland... Saying that, he's not a bad player.

Not saying it was better than Robert's like, let's not get carried away...

@ADP: That is an unbelievable strike... it starts bending right and then goes left ffs...

A left back? That's basically the only position that I think we're oversubscribed in

Her marker was a bit hapless. Williamson probably would have out and out flattened her rather than risk her getting a shot off Otherwise, I wonder about the keeper more than anything. Would a better keeper have saved it? It wasn't top corner as I recall, about chest high in fact.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/13/newcastle-united-players-club-decision-new-manager Nothing here out of the ordinary, but the players now are pressing the board for a decision apparently. Find it a bit worrying they'd apparently be content with Carver...

The only significant signing so far seems to be Bony going to City. And tbf, it's not that impressive...

My bad - it started with just feeling that the only team he'd be suited for would be Chelsea, and that they've not really shown any interest in him (thus hoping that he'll remain here). It then moved to a general discussion that he's probably a more effective player than Willian. Which I personally feel is true.

SSN have linked Defoe to 10 Premier League clubs today. Can't imagine we're one of them but I'd take him.

Jeez, the guy is a muslim as well. Fair play for speaking his mind at least...

I can totally relate to that (the La Tasca experience had the same effect on me).

I dunno what to tell you - we go quite often and are always really impressed with it. I wasn't going until a couple of years back mind you, so maybe they've pulled their socks up in the intermittent period. Then again, I may consider it favourably as it sits next to La Tasca, a restaurant where we once waited over an hour for service, despite frequent complaints, and eventually walking out.

Yeah the missus and I thought we'd go somewhere for that. I've been to Cafe21 a few times (it's my boss' favourite lunch restaurant) and honestly am not that blown away by them. Presentation is very good but it's all very...I dunno, pretentious? I remember green beans featuring heavily in many dishes. I prefer Gusto down the Quayside.

Yeah I'd agree. Not sure what it is that he supposedly brings to their team. Would probably go so far as to say that Sissoko is a more noticeable influence on games in truth, although that could just be because he plays for us and therefore I see him more.

Also true - we need people to take the tough decisions as your average people are (perhaps justifiably) never going to be well informed enough to make the right calls on a number of things.

Very true, but I think the rationale is that for most day to day issues, people wouldn't bother. As such, you have someone employed to 'pay attention' and who you trust (supposedly) to represent your interests based on their election pledges. We'd probably have to all be reading up on political decisions quite frequently in order to make it work. On the bigger and more obvious issues mind, there's no reason why such a system couldn't be employed.