In and Out Anyone else thinks that Blogger is a pain in the arse at the moment? Anyway, lots of talk and no action in the coming and goings at The Valley. Of course none of us believed Peter Varney when he said that players would be lining up at the door when the clock struck midnight on January 1st, either that or Pards just looked at the list and laughed.

Lets start with the potential outs. Darren Ambrose's very brief return to form looks to have secured his place under Pardew, who will also join the search to find Dennis Rommedahl's potential and with Lloyd Sam banging on the door, it's injury prone Jerome Thomas who will be the new manager's first casualty. We certainly have our fair share of wingers at the club, although none of whom can seemingly get down the by-line and put a decent cross in.

Personally I would be more happier with Thomas in The Championship than Romm or Ambrose, if I'm planning ahead, and he is one of only a few players who has any confidence with the ball at their feet - Reid, Rommedahl and perhaps El Khak the others, okay perhaps that's a more misguided confidence!

On the flip side after an excellent start when Thomas was desperate to impress Curbishley, injuries have hampered him ever since and he doesn't score enough goals but then again, apart from one chap, who does? I would be happy with £2.5m for the ex-Arsenal youngster but talk of £1m appears far too low in my book, even though he cost only £100k.

There are rumours that Harry Redknapp's little black book of foreign mercernaries now includes Djimi Traore. Pompey have said to bid £1m, half of what we paid in the summer and I say get rid but not before we bring a replacement in. It is also said that Souleymane Diawara, who has his supporters, including me and it is believed Pardew, may also join Portsmouth but only on loan until the end of season with the experienced Andy O'Brien coming the other way.

Sheffield Wednesday meanwhile have told the world that they have turned down a bid of £1.3m made by us for their highly rated centre-half Madjid Bougherra. I don't know much about him but I wonder if Wednesday are holding out for more money and that's why they made the bid public?

It is said that Pardew has some good connections overseas, something we have severely lacked, unless you call partnering holiday home companies and youth academies in obscure places good connections. Pardew is particularly close to the Spanish game and is trying to secure a loan deal with table-topping Seville for their 22-year old striker Kepa Blanco. He has scored 6 goals in only 9 starts this season but struggles to get in the first team, which includes Frederic Kanouté and Brazilian Luis Fabiano.

Other names being banded about are Teddy Sheringham, Yossi Benayoun (who is surely not enough of a utility player for Curbs), Alexei Smertin, David Healy and Lee Hendrie.

Finally the official site has confirmed that Cory Gibbs will be out for the season after a further operation on his knee, which he damaged playing for the USA against Morocco in a world cup warm up game. Pardew must be shaking his head at the pony he has inherited.  ¶ 16:17