well we shipped a fair few goals last year and it needs improving on.

so we have bought a LB, we all think Ward is great, Dann too, we have just bought a long term replacement goal keeper, so that leaves one position we all, more or less, think needs tending too, Danns CB partner.

Sadly we cant find anyone in their prime for big money at this time, by the looks of things, so perhaps Pardew sees this guy as the guy who will stop gap this issue for 2 seasons and bring us up to speed on par with Southampton/swansea.

Don't see what the big deal is with Centre Back being only 5 9". As said Cannavaro was this height and was the best in the world. It's how good you are not how tall you are. You could argue Speroni is too short for a GK.

I would take him! He has been at newcastle for 8 seasons or something like that! In that time they have finished as high as 5th in the prem and given some big teams a fright. Yes he wasn't great last year, but of you are basing Newcastle players on last year you wouldnt have nay of them. They had a coach that none of them had any faith in who didnt have a clue.

Yes the speed point is there but whenever Brede has played he has looked immense and he is no Usain Bolt. It is all about hte ability to read a game and they both do that and have done it at the highest level. Think of how Kelly would improve learning from Hangeland and Collocini in training everyday, in a year or so we will have a young, hungry quality CB ready to go. The other point I will make is that if we are to push on to the next level our distribution from the back must be better.

Dann does it, again Hangeland does it and COllocini does it. WIth players like Cabaye in the team now, we will need defenders that are more assured on the ball and can look to spring an attack rather than Damo's 'lets get out of here' ball everytime

This post has been merged from a topic called 'fabricio coloccini' by SloveniaDave

If any of their players are northern and especially Geordie and perform so well they play for England you will be deified. Otherwise, one issue I have with toon fans is the way they turn on their own players. I thus take this critique with a pinch of salt.

Pardew was his manager 6 months ago and has managed us since. I think he is in the best position to assess his worth and how well he will fit into our system.

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Collocini wants to stay at Newcastle, which is good news for Newcastle, but also good news for Palace. An injury prone 33 year old,however good a player, was not going to make a major impact.

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Eagles manager Alan Pardew has addressed speculation linking the club with Newcastle United defender Fabricio Coloccini, saying: "Contrary to the rumours and reports circulating in the media, we want to confirm we have no interest in Fabricio Coloccini and although he remains my ex-captain and a great player, he will not be coming to Crystal Palace."
Read more at [Link]

Happy with this personally.

...and Neil Shipperley has!