OTF

When relegation threatened moves were made to bring in players to move us to mid-table safety. With Europa now threatening the moves are being made to move us to mid-table safety.

Can you loan the seats for nothing with the option of purchasing them at the end of the season?

Don't be silly, his price is 80% off the RRP of 80M. Everything must go!

Interested in pretending to be interested.

I honestly think that there is something against us at the FA. There's several incidents that spring to mind - the relentless pursuit of Mike Williamson when nothing was noted in the match (similar behaviour against us has netted no such retrospective action eg. Shelvey), no action taken for the shocking tackle on Haidara, or the shocking tackle on Ben Arfa and now this...

Earlier in the season another teams player made the same movement with the same 'contact' and was not in any way penalised. I'm not saying this to excuse Remy, but to highlight once again the inconsistencies in the application of the rules. Edit: 'twas Jon Shelvey on Debuchy.

You'd expect he'll either move somewhere or will sign a new contract with Lyon given in the summer he'll enter the final year of his contract.

Rising to 19M with add ons? Is that the official figure? If so, how disappointing.

As this is football let's talk seasons, as it makes much more sense that way. Since promotion there has been three completed seasons (precisely why you're discounting the seasons prior is beyond me). Of those there was two seasons in the red, but that hardly paints an accurate picture. The first season after promotion (2010/11) a profit of more than £25M was made on transfers. In the subsequent two seasons £9M and £15.5M were spent (totalling £24.5M). So in no time across that period has there been a cumulative dipping into the red. There's approx £20M incoming from the sale of Cabaye and based on the historic behaviour of the club under Ashley there is no reason to think will be spent in a hurry or on a singular replacement. I can't see any value in only looking at transfer fees paid. There's already been hefty TV money increases that have made no obvious impact on the spending practices, so as much as it would be nice to see some of that used to improve our team I won't be holding my breath. If you're right, and it's only Cabaye who leaves (not including Jonas on loan) that would mean being in the red to the tune of £12 odd million for this season (Taking into account the approx £2M for Remy's loan and the approx £1M from the sale of Perch).

I can't see him going into the red in any way shape or form in this window.

Either means we're not actually in for him at all, or there's a buy-out clause that his agent has revealed to us. I'm thinking the former.

I've said it elsewhere but this is rarely a flowing game of football. As a result the quality of footballers in the side can mean very little, it's more about the attitudes and desire to win. It usually takes a very long time for the game to settle into any form of rhythm, the earlier we can achieve this the better. Players not used to it can easily get caught up in the electric atmosphere and as a result can be positionally poor and flat footed. There's no doubt that there will be a full field press from them in the early stages so the likes of Tiote and Anita will need to be at their best with making the right passes to maintain possession. That will draw fouls from them which will hopefully allow us to get the referee on side.

Really just echoing the sentiment of others on here but he was very good in this game. His passing and decision making was more team oriented and generally was just flat out better than during his cameo performances. That is to be expected though, which leaves the lingering thought - why hasn't he been started more? Setting that aside hopefully this is the start of a run in the side where we'll see some truly beautiful football from him. There will still be a desire from Ben Arfa to bring himself back into the reckoning for the World Cup with the only way to achieve that being through some exceptional performances for us.

"Oh BTW media outlet who we've blacklisted, you didn't hear this from us, but we've just put in a real and sizeable and very real bid to Lyon for Grenier. We can't stress enough that this is a genuine bid for a player who we would be delighted to get across the line."

:lol:

Fair chance he gets thrust into the derby (or as Lee Ryder would say, 'thrusted into'). Nice way to introduce him to the premier league. Assuming he doesn't get the shit kicked out of him that is...

Where we're going we don't need chemistry.

Tricky awkward player. Would be well suited to Futsal.

It doesn't matter how good they are/aren't, it matters how much they want the win. Of late there's very little free-flowing football played in these derbies so any footballing superiority we may have is instantly eroded.

Well that was shite.

Three games without Remy, including the Derby. Fucking ridiculous. Should have been two yellows, but regardless Remy wants shooting for initiating contact with the head regardless of how innocuous it clearly was.

Just had a delivery from a Pardew look-a-like. There should at least be no complacency in the second half now.

Need to make this domination count.

...and because it's not just a cameo the pressure is off Ben Arfa who has been displaying an excellent range of passing with not one speculator taken.

We've had some pretty good interplay so far.