James

So you get to resort to swearing? Good one mate. I'll say it again, the mods really ought to do something about this kind of thing. If this forum is a place for over the top reactions and insults then it's not a great place to be a part of quite frankly.

"It's obvious because it's obvious" now there's a statement to win a debate if ever I saw one. Might as well have said "it's obvious because I say it is". This forum is becoming ridiculous, anyone that takes a contrary view to the party line gets ridiculed. The mods really ought to do something about it. It is a forum after all, a place for debate but posts like the one above just show what it's come to, essentially, "I'm right because I say so and you're wrong because I say so".

Never said you should. Merely questioning how something can be so "obvious" if you have no evidence to back it up. In any case, let's wait and see where we are on the first. I do hope that you're right.

So, to summarise, you have no actual evidence. Got it.

Completely agree.

I'll ask again, please do explain how it's "obvious" that we will sign someone.

He's a proven Premier League goal scorer. He's about the best player a club of our (or Palace's level could attract IMO).

That I believe the club our run by idiots, which I don't. If you're final statement isn't example of blind faith then I don't know what is.

My Palace supporting mate talks about him in the same way we talk about Gazza so I'll reserve judgement on how good he is until I've seen him play! He's made some howlers for them in the same way Gazza has for us (see Palace v Liverpool last year as an example).

I most certainly don't have blind faith that we are being run by idiots. I think our board have done an absolutely wonderful job but I do think they've missed an opportunity to capitalise on a strong position following the end of last season. Please do explain how it's "obvious" we will make a big signing in the next week. Just because someone doesn't agree with your view (which I might add, lacks any evidence to back it up) doesn't mean you can put words in their mouth.

One does wonder though whether he drew more criticism in the context of the rest of the window. In a window where we've only signed four players (one of which being a sub keeper, so only three who have a realistic chance of actually improving our first team) signing a player on a free when we aren't spending cash in the bank is always going to draw criticism. For what it's worth I agree he's a decent signing but he's not one that's going to get the fans excited.

What a depressing state of affairs. If it works, he's off and if it doesn't he's no good and we pay for it with our league position.

Would honestly prefer Townsend to Redmond. Tomkins is also a better player than either Yoshida or Gardos so would have been a decent player to have in the squad.

Begs the question as to why, given where we finished last season, we haven't seen fit to show a bit of ambition in the market. A signing like this would, IMO, show ambition. As it is, we haven't done anything to dispel our reputation in the market.

Not uncool, perfectly natural, he's a top quality player.

It really is ridiculous when you step back and think that he was hardly a regular in a team that got relegated and now he's a guaranteed starter, out of position, in a team that finished in the top six last year. Can you think of any team who finished in our position, in any major league that would be starting the season with a winger from a relegated club as the man they are relying on for goals? I can't. It's incredibly complacent and risky IMO.

When one of the more informed posters on here sums up exactly how I feel I know I'm not in the minority! Thank you.

Or it means we aren't signing anyone. I have to say I cannot see a significant incoming before the end of the window. After what Guan said earlier in the week I don't see how anyone can confidently say otherwise. The blind faith that we've got a significant attacking signing in our back pocket is admirable but I fear it's misguided.

Wouldn't ever say I was jealous of Palace (horrible little club IMO) but they've arguably got a more potent attack than we have. Benteke will score many more goals than any of our forwards.

Agree on this. Shows how static we've been really.

No rumours, constant guff about how amazing Redmond is and a manager who consistently says he's happy with the squad. Looks promising doesn't it?

Don't have their accounts to hand but given they've been in administration more recently than us I'd be surprised if their books were much better than ours. If what you're saying is right, one has to wonder how we've allowed ourselves into a situation were we have to sell £50m worth of talent every year to service our debts...

We sold Mane, Wanyama and Pelle - don't see us spending that kind of cash.

Don't understand how Palace are able to spend £27 million on Benteke but we aren't willing to shell out on anyone. Shame, he'd be excellent for us.

Hi all I'm booked on the coach to Man U on Friday which departs Winchester at midday. I can't actually work out where exactly the coach collects people from in Winchester. Anyone know?