David Kelly

I'm not sure about that. I think Colback and Anita both have decent passing, especially if they have someone actual movement ahead of them, although I still have doubts about Anita's physicallity. Tiote clearly isn't the most brilliant passer of the ball but again with more quality with him he seems to settle himself down and play the easy ball (which is potentially enough if he has movement in front and either side and Gini who looks like he can pick a pass). Abeid I'm afraid I don't really rate at all. I'm pretty sure that if we can we'll sell him too.

The likes of Aarons, Cabella, Perez and SDJ could all work well in that sort of formation. But the fullbacks having confidence in the players next to them is essential I think. Colo back to his best alongside Mbemba would work but I have serious doubts over whether he'll every get back near his best or whether he'll be here.

I'm still not sure we'll go for a winger. It really is a dying position at the moment with most teams getting their width from their fullbacks. In Janmaat and Haidara we have two players who are set up very well to do that but Janmaat in particular seems to not want to push on too much so far in preseason. Whether that's to do with fitness, a lack of confidence in our defending or a bit of both I don't know but I suspect it's the latter. To me this makes another defensive signing even more important. If we do play without wingers it does raise a concern about backup for both fullback positions. Dummett isn't anywhere near as good as Haidara going forward and for Janmaat we'd be either playing a centreback or a central midfielder there if he's out. That could be a big problem potentially.

Yeah I mean in addition to Mbemba. I think Janmaat would be quite a good captain but I agree I'd like to see a real leader there. Our transfer policy makes that unlikely though. It's difficult to have a ready made leader at the back who's under 25.

Aye I've seen the Mail is the other paper that's reporting the same thing. That Craig Hope seems to have been quite sharp latley with stuff about us.

Aye that's why I'd always be worried about signing players from teams like that. We're never going to sign their best players and there's always the worry that the others are being made to look much better by the players around them.

The Metro are apparently reporting he'll sign this week. I don't know if they're at all reliable like. I think I'd rather see another defender in first if I'm honest. I always get the impression it's easier for a striker to come in and get settled than it is a defender. Especially if the defender is coming from a different league.

Christ don't have a go at my spelling man, I'll end up too self-conscious to post anything at all in rebuttal to your regular nonsense!

I disagree with your premise there like mate.

That New York vs Orlando game was quality like. The standard seems to have improved a lot the last couple of years. Of course having Villa, Pirlo and Kaka all playing in one game is going to help that. As is having Sean St Ledger defending for Orlando!

See Fish, this is how it's done!

I disagree that he was very good in the championship. He was ok playing in a team that was walking that league and not getting put under much pressure. The championship might be his level (not convinced personally) but he won't be a good player there.

I don't even think he's a good championship defender. He's no better than the likes of Cauldwell or Rammage.

Are you valuing Williamson at a couple of million there? We'll be lucky to give him away for free.

As much as I'd like to see Pardew get relegated I doubt they'll struggle too much. They have some decent players, Cabaye is an excellent signing for them and Bamford could be good too. I think Pardew will stop them from getting any higher than they were last season but I doubt they'll struggle.

A lot of my favourite albums in that list. I'd pick some different albums from some of the same artists though (Original Pirate Material and Wish You Were Here being the main two). Was listening to Grace earlier, amazing album.

Suede and Dog Man Star are both brilliant albums. I like Supergrass (Caught By The Fuzz being a particular favourite) but Blur come out of the whole britpop thing the best for me ahead of Pulp and Suede. Mainly because they all weren't really the same as Oasis and all the rest. Think Tank is possibly my favourite Blur ahead of Parklife though.

True but I'm not sure I'd want to be pulling him out of the centre if he's fit. I suppose if Janmaat and Taylor were injured we could go with Colo and Lascelles in the centre and him at fullback.

Possibly if Colo and Mbemba play well together and are fit most of the season. The worry is if they are injured at the same time as the inevitable Taylor injury and Lascelles is struggling to make the step up. Personally I wouldn't be massively upset with those four (and Dummet as further backup beyond them) but if at all possible I'd prefer to see another centr half brought in.

Obviously we have a good rightback but I don't think we're anywhere near as strong (for a first choice) on the left. But I'd like to see if Haidara can develop playing with a better team around him. It can't have been easy for him as a young defender to play alongside Williamson or with Sammy or Gouffran ahead of him. With Mbemba replacing Williamson and hopefully Colo regaining some form with him we might start to see him develop. Add someone in front of him who can actually put pressure on the oppositions defence and we might find he's a good player. We've also got Anita, Taylor & Colback who can cover the fullback positions at a push.

And incest!

The difference being that they believe he's an excellent player who should be playing for England regardless. None of us think Colback is that, he's poor for some or a decent player for others.

This tbh. He wasn't outstanding but he was available pretty much every week and did a decent consistent job. For me every club needs a player like that. The problem comes when he's just about your best player. The others around him should mean that he's not and that's not been the case in his time here so far. Hopefully with the new players coming in, this season will be a different matter.