Big Geordie

Barton has been a key player this season and whether he has an agenda or not, he will be missed if he leaves this summer. Seems very much to me that Ashley wants shot of him in the hope of making a few quid on the back of some good performances. One thing about Barton that has struck me when he's interviewed, is that he comes across as being fairly honest and genuine. If this is his response to being treat shabbily by Ashley/Llambias then who can blame him? Enrique out of the door, followed by Barton begs the question where will it end? Nolan, Jonas, Colo? One things for certain is that Smith won't be going anywhere, because he's Ashley's favourite player!

Don't we have a good reputation in France, as a club?

It's all about control, Disco and Ashley showing who is boss.

Was always gonna happen, and I feel for those affected. It's revenge for the anti-Ashley singing that's gone on for the last 3 years or so from L7. I wonder what he will do when it springs up again in the ground as it surely will. The man is an arsehole with nothing but utter contempt for the people who are the club's lifeblood. Disgrace.

So they're called 'loans' when the lender wants the cash back and they're only actual loans when the lender has no intention of seeing his money again? Just making sure I'm understanding the concepts here. The owner will want his money back - there's nothing more certain than that. Question is - how is he going to get it?

Oldtype - Ashley is going to want his cash back at some point. How else is he going to do it other than asset stripping the side and running the club on petrol fumes?

Lack of ambition - why should top players want to stay if there is no drive to push the club forwards? Reading between the lines, Ashley's intent seems to be to keep us in the PL on the cheap (and nothing more) to keep the cash rolling in, via selling players, TV money, s/t money which he can then take out of the club to pay back his 'loans'. The ability of this club to keep on shooting itself in the foot is staggering.

McKay saying, that Barton sat down with the club in January with regards signing a new deal and offered to take a wage cut. Said he had a meeting with Llambias this morning and there was no offer from the club with regards to a new deal. Saying that Barton wants to stay and was willing to sign a 4 year deal on less money. Saying that Barton will probably run his contract down and leave the club on a Bosman next year. McKay suggesting that the only way Barton will stay at the club long term, is if the club is in new ownership - there is no problem with Pardew, but this appears to have been taken out of his hands. Makes you wonder who will actually be buying the players for the club this summer - is it Ashley/Llambias on the recommendations of Graham Carr and nothing to do with Pardew? If true, that would reafirm the suggestion that we have a puppet for a manager. Worrying times yet again.

I'd take Bendtner as long as he toughened himself up and stopped being such a fanny. He's built like Carroll and yet all he needs is someone to fart next to him and he falls over.

Pardew bemoaning having to play half-fit players today (mentioned Smith, Guthrie and Lua-Lua) If Smith and Lua-Lua are only half-fit, then why bring them on as subs, FFS?

As disappointing as today is, we need to keep a sense of perspective. It's been a very decent return season to the PL and we have plenty to build on. Got to get rid of the dead wood in the summer though (it's a must) Let the mackems enjoy their moment in the sun - remind them they were supposed to be aiming for Europe at Christmas. If they are cock-a-hoop finishing about a newly promoted side then it shows how hard up they are.

Boos at FT from some. Very disappointing to throwaway a 3 goal lead.

Only got ourselves to blame here - a garbage 2nd half.

Jesus H - Tchoi hattrick.

Wigan 1-0 up now as well.

Bloody hell. We've switched off.

Well - there goes the clean sheet. Tchoi scores.

Blackpool - tremendous!

3-0! Olsson og

WBA kept out by Steven Taylor and Krul.

Lovenkrands! Mistake from Carrson!

WBA off the line from Shola.

He is making himself into a complete laughing stock. His lawyers will doubtlessly being paid very well for what is nothing more than awful legal advice.

Skrige - Enrique will have far more an idea of what's going on behind closed doors than we do. If the ambition was there to push the club onwards and have a crack at Europe next season, I reckon he would stay. We all know what the problem is though and the £35million Carroll cash thing is starting to unravel now.

The man in question is just attracting far more attention to himself. Had it come out in the tabloids, it would have been forgotten about by now. What an arsehole.