c1982

Gana again. Joe Parkinson was my favourite EFC player growing up for his energy, work rate and commitment. There's been a few false dawns since like Dacourt/McCarthy/Rodwell and few who I loved but haven't filled my Pie-Man void like Barry/Graveson/Carsley - it's early days but Gueye is more than filling my void on initial impressions.

I think he's been class personally - touch, vision, power - he's got the lot.

Pogba is possibly the best central midfielder in the world. Gana is a class player but Pogba is a whole different level. I chose Williams on the basis that he's a better fit for us. If I was a Man C, Barca or Bayern fan I'd say Stones over Williams.

I read somewhere that Gana was actually Walsh's/Leicester's first choice and they eventually signed Kante when Gana went to Villa. Early days but Gueye looks every bit the player Kante is. Leicester will be kicking themselves no doubt as there's a Kante shaped hole in their team this season and we've got the perfect player who would have plugged it.

My thoughts exactly.

Great gesture from a great club. It's nothing to a multimillion pound business but it would have been easier for the club not to make that contribution. The feel good factor is well and truly back at our club. I'm proud to be blue ?

We almost paid a lot of money for Manny Fernandes after his first loan.

Don't really think this thread is necessary. It's one game where Rom's scored his hattrick - Haf's obviously delighted... leave it at that and enjoy it!

Gana. Rom was class but I've got into a habit of giving it to Gueye and am not stopping after that performance! Barry was excellent. That's why we paid what we did for Bolasie. Williams and Jagielka made some really important blocks. Gerry helped change the game. Koeman's ruthlessness won it overall. Barkley looked way off and Ronald acted decisively.

Yes but his contract says he was entitled to it so the blame must lie elsewhere.

He'd be a great option at £10m but we'd have to pay £30m so not a chance!

...and Niasse who'll probably be banging them in by the New Year...

He should be getting a squad number now as he's made the squad list.

This is dead according to Vinny O'Conner... seems Sissoko had no intention of ever joining us.

It seems Enner Valencia is a done deal. No further comments.

We've got a manager who won't tolerate inconsistency now though. If you're not doing your job you're not likely to play - a complete contrast to what we've become used to.

He's been there for 3.5 seasons and only cost £1.5m as his contract would have expired 6 months later.

Play him centrally and he'll potentially be a very good signing. Proper box to box player with power, pace and ability to get past players. Barry is great but this will probably be his last season and he's not going to play every game - Gueye, Barkley and Sissoko could be a very dynamic midfield trio for years to come. Let's hope we get the player that outshone Kante, Pogba and Matuidi at the Euro's and not the player who played mostly on the wing over the last few seasons in a very disorganised and mismanaged Newcastle team.

Even though he's gone via Sampdoria and Valencia?

He hasn't - he only went last summer and played a large part of the season due to Courtios' absence. He's essentially had half a season on the bench.

I agree on Hart but Begovic is far from untested - he spent 5 years as first choice at Stoke and was probably their best player during that time. A bad career move to Chelsea shouldn't overshadow what a top class goalkeeper he is.

Cech, Bellerin, Kosielney, Ramsey, Xhata, Ozil, Sanchez, Oxlade Chamberlain, Cazorla, Giroud (?) and a fully fit Welbeck, Wilshire, Walcott... all these players would improve us in some form. I feel we have a lot of players who could improve them but nowhere near the class in depth that they have.