GeordieMark

http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20130703/perch-joins-wigan_2281670_3227120 Confirmed, 4 year deal.

http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/joe-kinnear-eager-deliver-first-4752770 2nd paragraph.

Very slow, probably down to the injuries he has had. He scored a few goals for Everton though and seemed to be quite decent. He is a decent lad it is a shame its never quite worked out here.

Sounds to me as if we approached ASSE and asked what they would like for Aubameyang and were probably told in the region of 16-18m Euros. Club then feed the press that a 15m bid has been rejected. Dortmunds deal I read is 13m + bonuses, which is probably structured on things like league placing, trophies etc. Why cant we offer that? Oh, I know, its because Ashley doesnt want to dip into his pockets and fund a new striker. Who actually deals with the transfers? Because if I was Graham Carr, I would just sack the club off and go elsewhere or retire. Andy Carroll, Luuk De Jong, Remy, Aubameyang and possibly Bony have been subject to bids from us, its a farce how we have not secured one of those. You could say West Ham overpaid for Carroll and you could say De Jong went for Champions League football and you could say Remy was offered more money. Fact is, if we didnt have a management who buggered off on holiday every 5 minutes and worked every day of the Summer, a bit like a certain Paolo Di Canio, we might actually secure a player before more lucrative and attractive options become available.

You are allowed to leave spaces and players aged under 21 do not need to be registered (I believe unless they turn 22 before the calendar year is out) We need to have a look at youth coaching, I read quite often the u18s and u21s have been battered. Since 2000 I would say we have produced Taylor and Carroll who are of Premier League standard. Others who were or are just not good enough are the likes of Ramage, Huntington, Chopra, Shola. There is also Sammy, Dummett, Newton who are at the very best lower end Championship standard. If there was a change to the rules, such as a max of 5 foreign lads, you would probably notice a sharp overhaul in the coaching standards for youth in England.

I'm hoping that this leads to more opportunies for Anita and Bigirimana once Perch goes and Gosling gets bombed out. His tackling leaves a lot to be desired for and he should have buried a free header from all of 6 yards v Liverpool. Not a huge loss ability wise but his versatility made him a certainty on the bench. We have plenty players in the middle of the park, which I think is his best position. Fee is quite low but last year of contract and limited ability, would only expect £1m maximum. I will never forget the game at Spurs, when we lost 2-1 in Feb. If he had bothered to jump with the rest of the wall then he would have blocked Bales shot which flew straight into the goal. In summary, a very average player who works hard. Thanks for the level of graft you put in and good luck.

Just put this in the Bony thread, but GetFootballNewsFrance on Twitter has just said we are to bid 29m Euros for Kurt Zouma and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang. 13m and 16m respectively. Too good to be true I think.

According to that GetFootballNews France account on Twitter, who can be reliable, we are going to bid 29m Euros for Kurt Zouma and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang. 13m and 16m respectively. I think its just too good to be true.

Yeah his agent has said "He will go to Swansea" its on SkySports website. Whether it is his actual agent, who knows. Price quoted is £10.2m. Can't say I have seen alot of him, but I did see Vitesse play in 2011/12 on ESPN, and he scored twice. That is as far as my experience of him goes. Be interesting to see if he joins the list of van Nistelrooy and Huntelaar or becomes another player who was prolific in Holland but struggled to hit the goal trail elsewhere such as Kuyt, Kezman.

The Leeds fan next to me just said he wouldn't have Perch for free.

Works hard, can play in a few different positions but nothing else. Not particularly pacey, not exactly great in the tackle, he is not dominant in the air, he basically gets the ball and keeps it simple. He is in ahead of the likes of Anita, a Dutch international who is quick and can play. Someone who has won the Eredivisie, played for Holland and played in the Champions League or someone who has done very little since coming, bar break a record for quickest suspension following 5 bookings. If you want to be in the top half regularly, players like Perch are not what is needed. He is a try hard. It says it all when the only club who are credited with an interest is Leicester City.

Nowt is happening, is it? In my opinion, barring any major departures, the squad only needs a couple of additions to be looking at finishing top 8. A striker (or two) and a left winger. Would not mind losing any or all of Shola, Sammy, Gosling, Obertan, Perch.

Mind, Jonas on 22 assists after 5 full seasons, including one in the Championship, is quite poor. 10 goals is eqaully as poor. He basically contributes towards 6-7 goals a season. That is not good enough for a player who plays week in, week out. His work rate is admirable but he offers little going forward. Constantly checks back and when he manages to get a cross in, it is often poor. He is a blue chip player under Pardew, so can't see anyone else regularly getting in on the left wing ahead of him.

Shola Ameobi is a top player for any league 1 side. He was his usual lazy self last night. Few nice touches and a back heel. Nothing else. He is on the official site this morning saying he hopes to get a run of games and knows what he can bring to the party. Is he simple or just thick?

Goals flying in all over the place. Villa 0 - 1 Wigan hehe. Man Utd 1-0 West Brom. Norwich comeback is on, 1-2 Man City. Reading 1-0 West Ham. Stoke have just equalised 1-1 with Southampton. Hopefully see some good games the neet. Looks like the sun is smiling on the away teams today, hopefully that carries on to us.

Has the Ferguson debate on there stopped yet? The same photo's being RT'd again and again. Then arguing amongst ourselves. I went back on late last night and it was still burning.

Lennon 2-1. The mackem from work has text the lad next to me. "Sake"

I don't know how often this happens to any of you, but most games I scream abuse at the officials and the opposing teams players. I think its happened twice this season where, late in the game, I have stood up and shouted and lost my voice. Always feel a right dick as I slope back in my seat. . Moments later, the referee will do something and I will be up shouting again. Voice back in full flow. There is also a guy behind me, possibly directly behind me, who gives a running commentary every game. He will also give his opinion on what the player should do, then, by using hindsight, stands up and shouts that they should have done something else. The guy is in his 60s, about 4foot tall and has glasses. Quite the footballer in his day, I assume.

Hope he does come back. I would purposely buy a ticket away from my seat to go and sit near the away dugout and just hurl facts at him about how much of a hypocrite and idiot he is. The man will go down as "Greatest Manager ever" and the FA will call for a minutes silence when he pops his clogs, I won't be shouting during it but I will just got to the bog and imagine its his face I am pissing on. The cretin.

I'm not saying we could beat them every time, but why can't the team above give Arsenal a game and beat them? Arsenal are not the team they were. Their first team lost at Bradford ffs, do you think the team above is not better than Bradford?

Still devastated about that result. Sat there at 70mins or whatever with it 3-2. I thought we were going to do it. When it was 3-3 I expected them to win it but the optimistic side of me felt maybe we can hold out or even squeeze a winner. When Hernandez found that space and scored my heart sank. Probably the most crushing defeat in a while given the circumstances; depleted side, not expected to even score, such a great performance and ultimately nothing. I felt we looked very fluid. I know its not solely down to the lack of Gutierrez's in our team, but it certainly helped in an attacking sense.

Agree with that. Its really the only choice we have though since we are so threadbare. To be fair, that team could probably do Arsenal. Only thing is I imagine the players will be heavy legged and Arsenal are quite fresh after they called off their game in farcial circumstances imo.

Like I said above*, class bloke ;-) haha!

Hahaha class

I think a centre half is a necessity. Not sure on who really, people say Douglas but I have never seen him play. Remy would be good, but if we lose Ba then we would need to replace him with Shola going to the Nations. Plus Shola, barring the odd moment of brilliance, is largely poor imo.