midds

Adebayor isn't even worth discussing as a possibility.

This is where we are as a club. I don't like it any more than you and I'd fight desperately to keep him but at the end of the day we all know he'll move on to a bigger and better club where he can win things and earn megastar money. He's a diamond and this NUFC team is too small for him.

Fair enough, £40m would do it for you. My point is that if someone offers the right amount, whatever that may be, then he'll be off. Money talks.

I'd like to think that our lot can spot when they're doing it tongue in cheek.

If he keeps on improving at the rate he is then we won't be able to keep him unfortunately. He'll have ambitions and soon realise that they won't be fulfilled here whilst Ashley is running the gaff. Every player at every club has his price and Carroll's no different. That price will vary from person to person but not many would turn down something stupid like £35m in the summer if City or Chelsea want him badly enough. Reality sucks.

I'm no Taylor apologist but he was probably out of position for the first because he, like all of us, expected Krul to put his foot through it. He could have done better for it but it's down to Krul imo.

Please he's signed mainly because we'll now get a fee for him if someone comes in with a big(ish) bid for him. We'll see a lot more of him this season though.

Horses for courses. Barton HAS to play. He's our best midfielder imo and must start if he's fit. I like Routledge and his pace worries teams. I'd play him against poorer teams as he could really hurt them.

Still think it will be all the W's Wolves, Blackburn and one from West Ham, WBA, Fulham, Blackpool to join them. Won't be too much in it like. Got a hunch we'll be 'up there' with the likes of Stoke and Bolton. Christ that's depressing to type out. Come to think of it Whackburn sounds a lot better. Really think Blackburn are in genuine trouble. Neither the board nor the manager have got a clue how to go on. They're fucked. I'll be really disappointed if we don't finish above Wolves, West Ham, Wigan, Blackburn, Fulham, Blackpool or WBA. That would see us (fairly comfortably) in 13th. That's not bad.

Still think it will be all the W's Wolves, Blackburn and one from West Ham, WBA, Fulham, Blackpool to join them. Won't be too much in it like. Got a hunch we'll be 'up there' with the likes of Stoke and Bolton. Christ that's depressing to type out.

Flood the middle of the park to deny them possession and space is the way to go. They're much better than us but cutting their supply down is the key to getting a result. Don't think we will like.

Got no problem with any of that. But if a goal is conceded through lack of judgement or lack of agility/shot-stopping it doesn't make much difference - it's gone in. Krul's the future and Harper's the past. That's the thing, though. It's usually a lot easier for opponents to exploit instances of poor judgement, as we saw today. Lack of agility will cost us, but only as a last line of defence. Today we gift-wrapped a goal. You've said yourself (maybe in this thread, I'm not going to go looking) that Krul should only be dropped if he starts costing us games. Today his poor judgement cost us a goal but not the game. It's not worth losing his place over imo. Stick by him and give him the chance to learn from it.

Got no problem with any of that. But if a goal is conceded through lack of judgement or lack of agility/shot-stopping it doesn't make much difference - it's gone in. Krul's the future and Harper's the past.

Was just saying this to the lads in the pub after the game. Can you explain what is meant by this please? One day you'll grow up. My point was in what way are we in any way comparable to that saying? ... was Midds not being sarcy...? Of course I was. And I've already explained it to the bloke.

The first goal is totally down to Krul like. Should have put his foot through it and cleared his lines. To suggest anything else is just passing the buck. Still feel he's a better bet than Harper though. Said many times, Krul's going to get better and Harper's definitely not going to improve. Krul needs to keep the shirt unless he starts doing this on a regular basis.

Was just saying this to the lads in the pub after the game. Can you explain what is meant by this please?

Our capacity to tolerate abuse is a millionfold greater than our willingness to do something about it. I'd agree with that in general. I just thought comparing NUFC to imperial Rome was a tad too much.

Was just saying this to the lads in the pub after the game.

They did - a fucking good hiding by the look of it.

City aren't shit like. They've not really clicked yet but are still in with a genuine shout at the title. They've ridden their luck at times (particularly in our first game) but they're full of quality players. They'll be there or thereabouts come May.

Might be best to just lock this KI.

Was clearly carrying an injury (looked like his right knee) for the last 25 mins of the game. Don't think it's too serious as he completed the game but could well have made it a bit worse by doing so. Very worrying though.

hurray

I thought Tiote played quite well. Taylor was a bit sub-standard but nothing to whinge about. City made life easy for themselves by capitalising early and never really put us under sustained pressure simply because they didn't have to. The defence for the last 85 mins was fine.

Nearly.