who are our purples now?

[waalsendmick]

as with merino

[NorthernRock]

Aye, but I'm pretty certain Lejuene and Merino are 2 quality players tbh.

Fair point Mick but if you include our number 9 and maybe Woodman considering how highly he's rated then we do have a solid core of "purple" players.

It's a solid core of British players too.

Whilst we're talking about purples, Ritchie is our best player, I can't believe he get's so little credit tbh, such a good team player, I honestly think he could play for any team and slot in. Not on technique alone, but you add both feet and hardwork with a bit of guile and you realise how good he is.

I have the same opinion with Gayle too. How can a man hit more than 20 goals and still not considered by many as a "purple" or important player? Give him a few games to settle (we were pretty **** first 2 games for various reasons) and I guarantee he'll score goals, he's a natural finisher.

We'd be stupid to sell him unless we had someone lined up ready.

I think Llorente would have been a good signing for us, surprised Benitez wasn't sniffing round him tbh.

[Jammy89]

I think it's Ritchie's attitude as well as his skill, brilliant attitude.

In regards Llorente, it's spuds and chelski who are sniffing round (well he's having a medical at spuds but still) so don't think we can compete with them really.

[Nephy]

Fair point Mick but if you include our number 9 and maybe Woodman considering how highly he's rated then we do have a solid core of "purple" players.

Eh. To me, the concept of 'purples' meant a core of top quality, experienced, PL-proven players whose names wouldn't leave the team sheet, bar injury or suspension. In the past this would've been the likes of Shearer, Ginola, Given in their prime. Woodman, whilst a prospect for the future, definitely doesn't fit this profile yet. Personally I'd love to see some faith placed in him, though - if we don't give him a chance we risk losing him, just like Fraser Foster. I think we're basically still in the process of rebuilding for the PL and at this stage nobody's place in the team is assured. We have a good core of promising young players, but we're really light on late 20s guys at their peak.

[NorthernRock]

Eh. To me, the concept of 'purples' meant a core of top quality, experienced, PL-proven players whose names wouldn't leave the team sheet, bar injury or suspension. In the past this would've been the likes of Shearer, Ginola, Given in their prime. Woodman, whilst a prospect for the future, definitely doesn't fit this profile yet. Personally I'd love to see some faith placed in him, though - if we don't give him a chance we risk losing him, just like Fraser Foster. I think we're basically still in the process of rebuilding for the PL and at this stage nobody's place in the team is assured. We have a good core of promising young players, but we're really light on late 20s guys at their peak.

Yeah my point was kind of pointing to his potential Nephy. In reality he could and probably should be given a 1st team opportunity in my opinion, definitely before we bring in another keeper because he could possibly be a future England number 1.

Jammy- Aye, but at 12m for a lad of his calibre and the offer of 1st team opportunities he'd be worth a punt, no chance now those 2 are in for him.

Added onto that point, it's refreshing to see Oxlade-Chamberlain pick 1st team football over money, hopefully other players follow suit because regardless of being a toon supporter, playing in front of 54k every week with a good wedge should be a decent proposition to most players tbh.