Colo injury a blow
Our Argentinian Captain is carrying a groin strain and will undergo tests before it’s decided whether he’ll play at the Amex Stadium tomorrow evening, although personally if there is any doubt I’d prefer him to be left out.
Which is a problem as we have nobody to replace him with which, in turn, could put our FA Cup participation in jeopardy. To counter that, if we play and he aggravates the injury further we could be without him for a run of league games, which would pose a serious risk to our decent season and our chance of chasing a European place.
Put simply we need a defender and we need one before the end of the window. According to the local hacks we’ve tabled a take it or leave it offer to Watford for Adrian Mariappa which would offer us cover, but it would be cover that is untested at Premier League level, or indeed at any top level.
Of course it’s going to be hard to balance. We need defenders, but we also need to consider what is going to happen when Steven Taylor returns. It’s all well and good getting an international centre-back through the doors, but once everyone is fit again I very much doubt any of them will be happy sitting on the bench.
The counter-argument is of course squad depth, but I don’t think we are in a position to be able to keep international players on the bench for too long. We don’t have European competition to offer like other clubs do for example, and will an international player like Jan Vertonghen for example, be happy to fill in for injuries? Or will our current centre-backs be happy to take a back seat for a new player?
As I said, it’s a balancing act, but it’s one that needs to be balanced pretty damn soon. We have just four days of the transfer window remaining or else we’re going to have to cross our fingers for the rest of the season and hope we don’t pick up any injuries in defence.
It would be a shame to see our bright first half of the season fade away because of a lack of defensive options but I can see it happening if we fail to bring in a defender. Bringing in Papiss Demba Cisse is all well and good, but it won’t matter if we have nothing at the other end to stop the goals being conceded.
As ever, time will tell…
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97 Comments
When you’re desperate for something it’s worth more so you have to pay more.
bassong on loan
Fake strain. He’s as fit as a lop and the Toon don’t want to scupper the sale to Liverpool.
Jeez troy why put ideas in the heads of many
You see my comment on other thread?
@Liam
Which comment?
Really dont want mariappa one step forward two steps back.
Hes only ever back up IMO but we will see
ABout someone using your phrase fenwicks window in .com?
You have an alter ego
Spending money on a player who is only ever going to be back up is just a complete waste of money.
Players who come into a club should be to improve the team, then it automatically improves the squad.
No I never saw your comment but the saying is a well known one anyway so I’ve got no copyrights to it.
Samba still wants out and his comments today are a come and get me plea.
In my opinion he is the most suitable CB we have been linked with and could be put straight in there. He and Colo would be solid.
Let’s spend the cash now and get him in.
Troy, ya fekkin’ wummer.
I hate to say it, but I think we’ll see Perch and Williamson in the middle. Both have done ok with Colo next to them, but the lack of leadership there – especially without Tiote shielding them – is scary.
Good point about the kind of player we need in, though. Dare I say it – we need another older player on short-term loan. Someone at the other end of their career, who has the experience and command, but not necessarily the stamina or speed.
Otherwise, a player bench-warming at a top team. Bassong’s been mentioned, but not really a back line general.
Wouldnt suprise me if we got no one in now….
@Stu
I agree. The signing has to be brought in as first choice in my opinion. It’s down to the current players to fight for their place back.
That’s how you improve.
So any centre back coming in, should be a replacement for Colo, Willo or Saylor.
I thought pards said the signing will be first team challenging or otherwise pointless
Aye, players coming in should be good enough to challenge for a starting place….this kid from Watford may well be, but I have my doubts.
Colo will play v Brighton anyway, nowt wrong wi him………maybe
This is going to be an interesting weekend.
The fans are gonna be jumping with rage or delight.
Talking of jumping. Where’s Tigger Mark bounced off to? Havent seem him for a few days.
Is Colo cup-tied already?
He needs to be slotting straight into the Liverpool side if they beat Manure in the cup. You say what you, Whumpie?
we are leavn this center half signing very late!! samba wants out of rovers … why dont we get him in hes a beast!! we are wasting our tym putn bids in for mariappa as watford want more than we can offer!!
Samba sounds a good move, but Toonsy’s got a point about having four CBs expecting a start. Would he come?
Just for perspective–I don’t know jack shit about Mariappa, but somebody posted a link to a Watford board and their fans really seem to think he’s a good player and worth way more than our valuation. They wanted to keep him very badly from what I saw.
Don’t we have some youngsters in the reserves? We’d have to play a very, very defensive midfield two in front of them, I guess.
Samba is 28. Not within the club policy. Next
Samba will want first team football which isnt guranteed. Next
Mariappa may be titus brambles cousin. Next
Vertonguen is a german fantasy. Next.
Mbvia is class. Bring him in
TOONSY your reet he wont be comeing,loan move must be the way at the mo,get the ajax lad in come summer to replace colo who will be going imo,30+ jabba wont move on contract,shame but there you go
I still don’t understand why Kadar just seemed to go off the radar. He was coming along brilliantly.
http://www.wfcforums.com/showthread.php?40945-Pardew-targets-Mapps
here’s that Watford forum again if anyone’s interested
28 in March
Kadar was criticised by Pardew for his poor attitude.
at least benny is there
http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/News/Gallery/0,,10278~2590572,00.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
I hope this latest news stirs Chubby up a bit.
I see Samba is pretty much screaming “COME AND GET ME!” on Sky Sports News now.
…also, slightly off topic, but just to carry forward the chimp debate from the last thread:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue2NENnPMbE
(fully grown man in a chimp suit, riding a horse in a dog suit?)
Can Santon not play centre back? I know its not his no.1 position and its not ideal, but he is at least pacey which we do miss at centre back. That means bringing raylor back in at left back and making Jonas the workhorse again….I’d prefer that to using perch or risking Colo to be honest.
2 interesting comments on that Watford board:
“Williamson went for £2m when we urgently needed to sell. Mariappa is far superior to Williamson and therefore his value should be at least double.”
“Watford’s valuation of Mapps in the close season was £2 million. This is what they said to Swansea and Rogers jogged on. I think Mapps has improved since then though, so a figure approaching £3m or more would be more in line.” -> Maybe our scouting team sense a late bloomer?
“Mapps does a hell of a lot of tidy up work at the back that others are not capable of. He is a vital cog.”
I noticed an interesting comment on that Watford forum:
“Have had word and it’s not good, will be a Newcastle player by Tuesday. We’ve not actually accepted an offer but Aidy’s pushing the deal through himself – hope we still get the funds we deserve. Expect a flurry of activity from ourselves before Tuesday though, lots of late bids – starting with a PL centre back.”
http://www.wfcforums.com/showthread.php?40945-Pardew-targets-Mapps&p=664820&viewfull=1#post664820
Could be just another WUM, but a couple of people on that forum seem to think the guy who posted it is genuine:
“Oh, and Kane is on the inside”
http://www.wfcforums.com/showthread.php?40945-Pardew-targets-Mapps&p=664880&viewfull=1#post664880
and
“whoevere it was that doubted kanewfc and his sources….dont………….”
http://www.wfcforums.com/showthread.php?40945-Pardew-targets-Mapps&p=664895&viewfull=1#post664895
Newkie @ 30… if santon can play as centre half then i see that as a very good stand in solution.
for tomorrow…. what about after that.
Mike and LambARSE… get a centre halve in…stop pissing about. I believe a centre halve should have been here by now. 4 days to go… prices are going to shoot up now!!!
Nobby-Yeah I think I’ve heard it mentioned, he’s certainly got the attributes for it anyway….I agree it should only be for the next match and that we need another defender in but I’m not convinced we’ll bring anyone in unless we also sell someone, and I’d rather stick with what we’ve got rather than say sell Tiote or Ba to fund the signing of a defender..
If Colo did get put out for the season and we brought nobody in I’d still rather have Santon at centre back than Perch, allowing Raylor back in at left back..not ideal but hey.
Chris G, I never believe anything from anyone who claims to be a club insider. The people who know generally won’t say owt as it’s highly confidential information. Having said that, Phil Thompson seemed to know Enrique was off, unless it was speculation on his part.
On Samba, I think we can write him off as Blackburn rate him as £12-14m. I think he’s nearer 7 or 8 personally.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2087035/Chris-Samba-strike-Blackburn.html
Who will it be? You decide…..
If we manage to get ahead tomorrow and HBA is on the wing… maybe we should then stick obertan on as he’s got better defensive qualities to his game than HBA.
I know all the Obertan haters will disagree as they love ripping into him to make their sh*t lives seem bearable… but you can’t whack him when we need to defend.
There some absolute morons on other blogs… all their interested in is bashing ashley, lambias, obertan, perch and simpson.
I’m sure they don’t actually watch a lot of the football played.. they see people slagging them off on the site and as soon as someone does one mistake they jump all over them to try and make themselves seem intelligent about the subject.
That’s how it comes across anyway.
Nobby-but if we take the lead then put Obertan on, what happens if we concede? Not too much chance of him scoring or creating really…although I’d be alright with putting Obertan on the right and taking off Shola assuming he starts and slotting benny back up front..
Troy @ 3 havent heard that for years
I wouldn’t have Shola starting. I’d rather see Vuckic with Best, and Shola on for the last 20mins.
We should have enoughh to beat Brighton tomorrow, they’ve definitely gone off the boil but do try to play football and on thier day look a decent side.
Should be a good game, I’ll be in S1C row U and prob having a few beers in the Duke of Wellington beforehand
@Rofz
The little monkey is clearly real but the fake sheepdog spoils it.
If you analyse the footage, you can see the aerial on its back and the monkey has the remote control.
Clever stuff like.
Rod but Vuckic would gan crying pardew if the ball hit him in the face
Do you reckon there’s any truth in us getting a bid in for the defender Douglas from FC Twente?
Douglas would be my first choice, get him and I could handle losing colo in the summer or even a free the season after.
Nobby @ 46 , I dont think we can rule anyone in or out with the current board! There is always a surprise around the corner , some bad some good! We shall wait and see!
Troy
…well spotted! 
A remote-controlled robot horse in a dog suit, what will they think of next!!
Batty
– at least it wouldn’t take him half an hour to get back on his feet.
Rod
Watford take on Spurs later today – should be interesting to see if
a) Mariappa starts
and b) if he does, how he gets on against a top PL team
@Batty
See what you’ve started with your fake chimp video?
Troy,
Get back to work ya lazt sod
@52 Lazy
I’m seriously considering setting up chimptalk.com
…there’s obviously a clear demand.
To Anyone
I’ll just be watching the match in the pergraine tomorrow at chapel house so if you end up there just shout ‘Nobby’ and i’ll come running.
And then you can buy me a pint.
Wow. Curry and a couple of pints at lunchtime. Huge analysis paper to finish. What a combination.
Can we just talk shite about football instead please?
@THS
Do you understand the pain I’m in?!
I’m making more by posting on here than work. 35p per post cant be sniffed at.
I’m off for a bit anyway Whumpie, it’s all yours…..X
@TGS
@Nobby
You mean The Peregrine?
Is that the one with the statue of a bird outside?
What bird is it? I thought it was an eagle but my mate says a falcon.
anyone got that f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-fridaaayyyyy feeling?
Shit. Nowt left to do but post sick jokes.
Apparently divers found two more survivors trapped in the Costa Concordia – two Glaswegians in the bar area. They told the divers to feck off because they were all inclusive.
yes… peregraine… and i’m not sure if that’s a bite or not but i’ll give you the benfit of the doubt… it’s a peregraine outside, that’s a type of bird.
The peregraine is actually the fastest animal in the world topping 200 mph when it goes into a dive!!!!
Beat that sucka!!!!!
We definitely need another first choice cb. Williamson’s not up to the PL really and Saylor could be missing for another year and come back half as good. Nowt like a bit of optimism.
Sol Campbell anyone???
@Nobby
Learn to spell the name of your local pub!
I was fishing. A Peregrine falcon is also good at fishing.
It’s the Perry anyway.
Troy why dont you do the tidying for the wife
wooo hoo hoo
go on Nobby son, totally dusted Troyore there.
@Nobby You go to the Perry and u consider that a night out
I’d rather stick a cacti up me hoop while popping a Bhut Jolokia doon me jappa 
Will be mighty miffed if no cover comes in .Loan or purchase i don’t care which ,just stop mucking about and get someone good in.Christ this should of been sorted yonks ago, all this faffin about putting umpteen offers in for players who don’t even seem proven at PL from clubs who won’t play ball just gets my goat. Didn’t we do this last time with Miaga and erdinc and Peiters and how many did we end up with. All that time wasted could go on doing a deal with A .a club willing to sale and B . a player who wants to join us, i mean other clubs seem to manage it o.k.
@batty
I’m busy blogging man! 
Tidy up?
@The Butterfly
Wahey! How you doing fella. I’ve missed you.
You are my new Tinpoops.
I have the last say in wor house when it comes to tidying up, wor lass is put in her place.. If I want to do the hoovering before the Ironing.. I bloody will
Mark@74
@troyore, Just been restrained so I could post a comment, keep bouncing past my keyboard..
lol first the Geordie dancer now Nobby.. to me to you to me
looks like the geordie dancer, your source.. might have been winding you up Trot
boin boing boing
gannin to pick the bairns up from school
The Costa Concordia has to be the only cruise liner in the world where the hot tub is cold but the main pool is at ninety degrees.
NOBBY@38 i said the same thing y/day about eds blog,set of evil thick gits,let them get on mate,i never go on
Again very strange way to handle things. No cover at CB whatsoever but we have 8 or 9 M to spend on a striker. He was a great buy but do we have things backwards? Shouldn’t a CB have been brought in first? If the Mariappa deal falls through what then? It is highly likely we won’t spend much more and now we have 16 games left with no depth at the back at all. If Kadar was useless why didn’t we get rid of him last summer and bring someone in? Is anyone in management even paying attention? Why this lack of investment at such a key position? What does Llambias smoke these days? All these questions and more. Stay tuned.
What happens if Colo is out (quite likely), and Willo gets injured? Lack of decent cover in a number of positions is extremely unprofessional (mickey mouse) for a club of this size. It is the reason we have won nowt for 50 years.
Have to agree B&B. Even if we bring Mariappa in we still don’t have enough cover at the back. Saylor is an excellent young player but how many games has he already missed through injury? Colo is 30 now and he still hasn’t signed a contract extension. Willo is too slow to cover fast strikers and is only useful when Colo is fully fit. Pardew doesn’t rate Kadar at all or he would have played him in December. Is anyone thinking about the defense at all? I would want 2 CB’s in by the end of next summer, both of high quality. Krul deserves a better defense in front of him.
I agree B&B, it’s infuriating, but there’s still 4 days left. The Cisse deal had probably been arranged ages ago and was just waiting to drop.
I can remember when we were really weak in midfield, in the Dyer days. Now we have 3,486 midfielders and no defence.
(slight exaggeration)
I got a nagging feeling Colo is going this window ,still ain’t signed his contract extension and now apparently injured .Called me paronoid but really got a bad feeling like .
I think our plan for going forward is to win every game 5-4. We are going to outscore everyone so it doesn’t matter who we play at CB. We should even try pairing up Perch and his granny. Krul will be so impressed with his defense that he will agree to stay forever. We can obviously let Colo go as he isn’t needed with the depth we have.
Rodz- (a) other clubs know how desperate we are and (b) we all know Mikey wont pay over the odds. We’ll be lucky to get a loan signing. Nice to see your optimism however.
As a supporter I say we should always strive for perfection. The first 11 is very decent indeed now but how often will the first 11 play together? To me Saylor plays the type of game which will see him injured quite often. All of the top 5 have a lot of cover at every position. Even Arsenal because Wenger is not afraid to use young players with confidence. We need 4 or 5 more players to stay in the top 6 and compete in Europe. I would like to see us get them by the end of next summer. Then push on into Europe, win a cup. Restore Geordie pride. Shut the southern press up. Bask in the jealousy from the makems. Ah, it could be so good!!
I was full of hope after Cisse signed ,but as the clock runs down i’m feeling more and more concerned we are going to miss out on a cb.The club need to move on if the Marriappa deal is too much trouble and look to loan until summer.
…”Mike asked me when am I going to get a centre-half. It’s about making sure we get the right one.”
I’d like to think we are ‘trying’, I just hope we have a fall-back plan if we’re not getting the “right one” until the summer, cos we need backup now. In fact, why couldn’t we have brought in a cheap/loan CB first and then work on the “right one”, we could do with 2 anyway.
Jeez guys, a lot of worrying going on here! Lets wait until the window has shut before panicking. A lot can change in the next few days!
@shamrock
I’m with you. There’s 4 days left. We could have a CB lined up and picking the perfect moment to strike.
23;59 hrs on Monday evening is likely.
We also have 4 days to get shot of Colo, Tiote and Krul.
Just announced on the Legends that another bid by the Toon for Mirriappa has been rejected by Watford.
I get the age thing about our new transfer policy, but I don’t think it should necassarily be a hard and fast rule.
I think you need experience in the team aswell and some older players to guide the younger ones. For me, it would be a really shame to rule out the likes of Samba coz he’s 28 (in March) when we could sign him on a 3-4 yr contract and get his best years out of him.
I also think, and it was mentioned in last nights thread, that Ridgewell at £2m would be a worthy signing. He would provide excellent cover LB/CB through to the summer when we can get “the right one” in. But again, under the new policy, Ridgewell would be ruled out.
I think as a general, the policy is a good idea, but I think if a player ticks most boxes and is at least under 30 and at a decent price, he should certainly be considered.
Mariappa starts the neet,we should move on the lad is now cup tied..
I had a happy childhood.My Dad would put me inside a tyre and then roll me down a hill.They were goodyears…
need someone in thats for sure
16 years we woulndt be worrying bout defenseive problems, cause KK would just put an extra striker in, instead and just go for it, something we should do tomoro, it’ll frighten the lives out of brighton, see the toon bombing forwards at them!! thats my opinion anyway
Agree we should have got a defender before a striker
Disagree we should be worrying about having 3 good centre backs. Perch has gotten a lot of games this season…he shouldn’t have gotten one imo. Williamson is a good promising player and should be getting Perch’s games while someone better should be getting Williamson’s
Even someone as good as Williamson would be ok for me because he always looks tidy despite not being a beast like Taylor and Colo
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