Ivan Katalinic's 'tache

Maybe it's why the fees a bit high (if the 1 million figure is true). We're effectively paying off MKD the money they paid for a full season loan as well as the transfer fee. Plus, in spite of the result last night, maybe the playoffs are still our target and there's a realisation we can't afford to waste any more games so there's more urgency to buy a creative, goalscoring winger.

Brilliant idea by NC & AP. Not only sign an excellent player but also steal him from a loan spell at our JPT Southern Area Finals rivals. Leaving nothing to chance in our march to Wembley, I like it!!

I honestly think the same thing is afflicting both us & Man City in that we've acquired a number of decent players for our level but our squads are both now top heavy with "first team" players. Pardew, when he first arrived, said the squad was too big and too many to train properly. We now have shirts 1-40 all filled with barely of the unwanted ones out on loan, let alone sold. Don't get me wrong, I think he's brought in good players for this level but we're still short of a player or two and we desperately need to get shot of at least 15 unwanted ones. The new players have also been brought in, in a comparatively short space of time and, like Man City, they need to gel as a unit rather than being expensive cogs operating independently.

Is the photo now one where he is holding a pen, which is poised over a piece of paper, whilst sitting between Pardew and Cortese, smiling?

Would like to see Papa start vs Stockport. Maybe even up front with Barnard as Rickie definitely looks like he needs a rest.

Someone check his Facebook site quick. If he's seen wearing red and white stripes, rather than red and white hoops, it's on!!!

Can I have 3 goes?

Indeed. Great idea to sign a Saints fan ahead of a game against the Skates. Make it so, NC.

Welcome, Lee! Goals-a plenty, please! Lambert & Barnard: sounds like an estate agents but hopefully they'll be just the job to fire us into the playoffs...

He also said Barnard didn't want to move up north, or was that longpier?

Agreed. Think he could be a good player for us, if given the opportunity. A loan, where he gets regular games, is what he needs right now.

Agreed. Would like to see him retained as I think he will be a good player for us, in the future.

http://www.shrimperzone.com/vb/showthread.php?t=57679 Another discussion on the same Southend website I posted earlier, which seems to indicate he's on his way to us.

Spoke to a Charlton mate and he told me Lisbie once scored a hat-trick against Liverpool, for them. I looked it up and he did (back in Sept 03)! He said he was quick but a little hit and miss for them. I guess if Lisbie has had reasonable success in the Prem and has good top flight experience, he'd be a good acquisition for any 3rd tier side.

http://www.shrimperzone.com/vb/showthread.php?t=57674 Found this post on a Southend forum, where they're debating how good is Barnard? Makes interesting reading and makes him sound Ormerod-esque, as someone pointed out on another thread...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/vb/showthread.php?t=57674 Looks like this might be on then! Found this on a Southend forum discussing his strengths and weaknesses. Looking at the pros and cons listed by the first poster, he does sound Ormerod-esque, as someone else said on the main HCDAJFU thread...

Just reading the Mirror and they've followed the Sun's lead, from yesterday, and said Barnard has signed for Leeds for an undisclosed fee. I'm wondering if this is one deal that's not going to go our way now...

And Molyneux! In fact, maybe we should get in touch with Stockport, to see if we can shift 3 or 4 of the dross, as they seem to be taking players on in bulk (4 from MKD earlier this week).

It's just occurred to me that another Ward/Seaborne situation could be developing here. We're monitoring (at least) two forwards: Lisbie is interested (like Ward), but may turn out to be the back-up deal if we can't get Barnard (Seaborne).

Or, if Pards, wants to keep Paterson, then perhaps Paterson on loan til the end of the season plus cash.

If the Barnard deal doesn't go our way, then I'd have no problems with us signing Lisbie. Would add a bit of pace, if nothing else, and does cause teams problems at this level.

+1!

All this Ward talk is very interesting but, as he's not coming to us, anyone got any news on Barnard?

Interesting but I've no idea what he's trying to tell us. Hopefully, it translates as we're looking to sign him but can't say any more at the moment!

Nothing on this on the Southend message board I found (other than 1 poster saying us, Peterborough and Forest were interested). I know it's paper talk but I'm surprised that the Mirror would say we'd had a bid accepted if we hadn't. They could put we were interested but saying we'd had a bid accepted implies a deal is closer at hand.