the mystery defender

Anybody else have a feeling that the defender we'll ultimately bring in will be someone totally off radar? as has been the case with all our transfer business recently do you think they're happy to let the media speculate only to bring in someone totally unexpected?

Theres also a side of me that thinks that maybe we've played the long game with Erik Pieters in a similar fashion to Cisse and that he might join at some point. its just a theory but we seem to be happy to wait to get our men at the right price nowadays.

 

Yes i think we will get someone without it being reported until the deal is almost done.

I would really like a 1st choice centre back. Williamson just doesnt do it for me , yes he is good in the air but he has no pace and gets turned very easily and then cant get back in position.

It does look like we are prepared to play the long game with transfers, my preference would be cissoko (spelling) as it looked like we had a deal lined up in the summer only for it to change last minute

 

word on the street is that cissoko can't pass a medical. something to do with a misaligned jaw being a symptom of some kind of degenerative spinal problem that makes him more suceptable to injury?

http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2...cal-expert-gives-views-on-aly-cissokhos-teeth

 

Hang on though Williamson had been first class since coming back. Him and Santon were responsible for the defence shoring back up after a loose period. He's decent back up but we'll need to pick his games. Extreme pace is a problem for him. I'd like a first choice but then you are only storing up a problem for the future with regards to keeping Saylor and Colo happy. We have to remember we're not Man Utd or Chelsea. We can't have top class talents sitting round on the bench because they won't stand for it. We just need a young quick ball playing defender to compliment what we already have.

 

Yes williamson is a squad player and might be effective in some games teams like stoke and blackburn. He does get exposed for pace mind you so does colo.

Still want a 1st choice CB as Saylor always has an injury or 2 in a season. It would also provide competition for places and hopefully improve the performances. If your not good enough you dont play. Yes you can have top class talent sat on the bench if needed as long as they are managed well.

We need to be looking to progress now in terms of squad strength where replacements coming in are at a similar standard to those in the 1st team.

 

Nah, I think he'll be a black guy from Watford.

Oh look I was right:

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11686/7449958/Toon-make-Mariappa-move

 

Long term I want that, I'm just not convinced we're quite there yet where our replacements are as good as the 1st team. Look at the trouble we're having getting Guthrie signed up. I could just see a bit of unrest at present. Pardew seems a decent man manager judging by the Benni situ so maybe we can. Whether there is money to buy top class after Cisse, I think Mike might say differently! You are correct about Saylor with injuries though, he does seem prone like a few of our players.

 

thing with Saylor is its never just a pulled calf or a groin srain or summit like that. its usually a freak injury. he doesn't really get niggles its always something circumstantial.

 

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7450075/Knockaert-claims-Toon-interest

i heard his name bandied about before in connection with us. you reckon he;s just name dropping us or will we have cut off our interest in light of Cisse's capture?

has anybody seen anything of the kid? outside of speculation ive never heard of him.

 

Never even heard of him...

 

after the cisse signing ive been thinking more optimistic so im going to say jan vertonghen

 

Aye he's just brittle! At least he seems over the shoulder trouble.

 

'A black guy from Watford'...just any old black guy then?


It seems you're right though. A tiny bit underwhelmed, I have to say, but the majority of our signings over the past 2 years have been decent so we'll see!

 

Wouldnt be surprised if we get Onuoha

 

Perhaps the mystery defender can be unmasked by Scooby Doo and the Gang* in the centre of SJP?

Shaggy: It's Mariappa from Watford.
Velma: The clues we found in the dressing room would say he's not.
Fred: So who is this mystery defender?
*Shaggy pulls off rubber mask*
*Shocked gasp from SJP*
Fred and SJP faithful: It's Titus Bramble!
Velma: Yep. The chloroform we found in his locker gave him away.
Titus: I would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for you pesky kids

* Original line up so no Scrappy Doo!

 

Bang into Scooby Doo at present due to the little one being obsessed with it. I'd forgotten how good it was. Ben 10 and Generator Rex are still the best though.

The little one likes us to pretend to be a character from Scooby Doo. (she needs a brother or sister badly!) I mainly get Fred. Wor lass gets Velma. She's not happy.

 

Never heard of this forward, but hopefully will be good so we can have 3 quality forwards.

Never heard Mariappa mentioned as one of the good players in the Championship, but will back him if he signs. Hopefully not another Perch.

 

I've been trying to wean miniOT off of Peppa Pig as it was just getting too much for me. Going to bed with the theme tune stuck in my head and waking up to it was a killer.

 

She was obsessed with Peppa Pig and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I'll be honest it was a deliberate ploy myself to get her to change as they were driving me up the wall. Any more of the theme tune to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and that cheery "come inside its fun inside" and I feared for the TV. It is at least educational at times I suppose. Quite what sort of dad that makes me switching her to the destruction of aliens with Ben 10 and Generator Rex I'm not sure.

 

We won't sign a big money defender until the summer imo. We just need a back up for now until then anyway. I really hope we get that lad from Montpellier, he looks like another Tiote to me (the cb version!)