9. He Will Probably Wear The No. 14 Shirt
The ink is barely dry on Colback's contract and already the guessing game as to which squad number he will be assigned next season has begun. Well, we say assigned but the days of managers taking a firm approach to distributing the digits are long gone with players now given license to hand-select their own number while citing various bizarre connotations. Colback, however, is likely to choose no. 14 as the number to be emblazoned on the back of his Black and White shirt for the 2014/15 campaign and not the no. 4 - previously worn by Cabaye - that many speculated he will be given by Alan Pardew. Because that would be such a Pardew thing to do. Previously worn by Loic Remy, the no. 14 has become symbolic as a number that represents flair and panache having been worn by wingers David Ginola, Temuri Ketabaia, Charles N'Zogbia and most recently Loic Remy. James Perch is perhaps an exception to the rule and a player born from the same mould as Colback. Pardew would face a heated backlash if he were to allocate the no. 4 jersey to Colback with supporters likely to take it as a sign that our new midfielder has been earmarked as Cabaye's long-term replacement. For his own safety we'd urge Colback to go for 14.