Rich

I wasn't much on the pulse back towards the beginning of the season/middle of the season, but weren't there some stories doing the rounds about his conduct/behaviour off the field? Just generally not doing a very good job of looking after himself up here? He does cover a lot of ground, mind, despite not looking the fittest, but he does give the impression that he could be trimmer/fitter. Might just have been me but I thought he looked sharper/more slender towards the end of last season, which had me hoping that Pardew/the staff had got him to get a handle on things and begin to sort himself out.

The Guthrie hate gets on my knackers these days like. He did enough in the games he played post-WBA to show he deserves his place here as a squad player. I thought we'd suffer badly during Tiote's absence (especially at Sunderland), but Guthrie came in and kept us ticking over. He wasn't really playing his game either, but did well enough regardless. As I've said before, I think he fits the exact blueprint of what a squad player at our level should be - very cheap wages, still relatively young, steady performer when called upon. I'd hope Gosling would follow this schema as well, although I do expect a bit more from him given his reputation from Everton, despite the injury. As for Routledge, it all depends on what our other movements are really. You'd hope we'd be well-stocked enough after the summer so that he wouldn't be needed. I'd rather see him leave than Lua Lua if the fees are going to be relatively similar.

Yeah, actually. Could see it. I think he's slightly better than Barton personally, but it would be another one step forward, one backwards scenario. Surely there is no way Barton is staying now? I thought he was likely to go anyway, but today just seals it. Unless he does as a few have suggested and simply sits tight waiting for a free move next season? I think thats exactly what he'll do but he won't be picked next season because of it and club will vilify him. Win all round - Barton gets his money, its not the clubs fault etc. Aye if that scenario unfolded, I could definitely see this being the case as well. I think someone will take a punt though, based on his form this season.

Yeah, actually. Could see it. I think he's slightly better than Barton personally, but it would be another one step forward, one backwards scenario. Surely there is no way Barton is staying now? I thought he was likely to go anyway, but today just seals it. Unless he does as a few have suggested and simply sits tight waiting for a free move next season?

That hat

Get to fuck.

That is the worst post I've ever seen on here. That is the worst insult I've ever had on here.

Out of those who we can realistically hope to be left, there's only Coloccini who I'd be confident with it going to. Like Dave mentioned much earlier, I have a feeling that Taylor will be high in the reckoning regardless. Was going to be typically optimistic and suggest that if it did happen the responsibility could somehow turn out to be good for him/make him grow up a bit, but I'm not really convinced it would.

"Absolute legend" tends to be a pretty common phrase to hoy about for someone who is a decent bloke and well-liked by many. Wasn't exactly meaning a literal legend in the Pele stakes and to be honest I didn't expect to have to make that clear to anyone really, it's that obvious.

People are fucking dopey man, what's new?

Fucking rank this like, the bloke is an absolute legend. All I can (rather callously) say is that I hope we've forgotten all about him come Christmas, simply because we're doing so well that it doesn't even register and that he's not missed. But really it is a shame if he is forgotten so easily, been involved in some of the happiest times of my Toon-supporting life. The hat-trick against the Mackems alone should put him into the "cult hero" bracket at the very least.

Tiote should get the number nine shirt.

Cockney Rimmer is odds on http://www.ganymede.tv/images/indepth/rimmergaz.jpeg ? Ethi so crazy.

The legroom in the Upper Gallowgate is great IIRC. Have you met GM? (I witnessed him eat a twelve inch Subway in three seconds.)

Deja vu with these lot. In fairness they weren't far wrong last time.

Aye, just the 17 goals last season for a team who finished near the bottom. I can see where you're coming from as relates to style, but he can definitely play up front and score goals.

I hate you all.

When was it there aim, after he guided them to 3rd after they just survived relegation the season before. If that's a case then he's a victim of his own success then. I always believed they were punching above there own weight as well when they finished 3rd. Possibly so, but bottom lines are that he failed in his remit and that he's a little arsehole to boot. Again: I don't deny he's been a very successful manager at that level, that was never what this was about. I'm just delighted he's finally got the bullet after the way he's carried himself and the way he's ballsed-up two very good chances to get into the PL. Can't make it any clearer than that, I wasn't really looking for a debate about the merits of his time at Forest, but cheers for boring the knackers off me all the same

PS: I'm not disputing that they're in a "better position", but their aim was to be in the PL. He failed to get them there.

Fuck me, do any of you ringpieces actually read the threads? It's like being on a merry-go-round in here.

Forest were in league one just 3 years ago. They also haven't been in the Premier League for 12 years. So saying that they should be backup is a little foolish for me. They were fighting relegation under Calderwood and in just 1 season later they finished 3rd. Also the forest board did not back him up with his signings as well. They've buckled two seasons on the trot now, when automatic promotion has been a distinct possibility on both occasions. This season especially they fucked it right up. For me that equates to underachievement on his part, and I'm surprised it's taken him this long to be pushed out. They should have been in the Premiership by now, regardless of where they were three seasons ago. I can't ignore being branded "foolish" by you, as well, I'm sorry but howay man, give me a break. Just because a team has good support does not mean that they should be assumed to be one of the favorites to go back up. Forest are in a much better position than when he joined, they should be thankful for it considering some of the shite they have appointed. Megson, Kinnear come to mind. Jesus wept man. That is not the sole basis for my argument. They have been in prime positions FOR THE LAST TWO SEASONS to gain automatic promotion and have faded badly, losing out in the playoffs both times. Not only that, but during his entire tenure there (and in his previous jobs) Billy Davies has been an arsehole of the highest order. So not only has he essentially failed in his remit of getting Forest promoted (which is what has been expected of them the past two seasons), but he's been a charmless little bastard and a thorn in the board's side at the same time. That is why I'm surprised he's lasted until now. They should have been up when they came 3rd, they should have been up automatically last season given the strength of the league around them and the strength of their squad (not the size of their crowds).

Surely not fucking Morgan.

Cheers Vegas. So aye, makes even less sense than I was giving him credit for.

Forest were in league one just 3 years ago. They also haven't been in the Premier League for 12 years. So saying that they should be backup is a little foolish for me. They were fighting relegation under Calderwood and in just 1 season later they finished 3rd. Also the forest board did not back him up with his signings as well. They've buckled two seasons on the trot now, when automatic promotion has been a distinct possibility on both occasions. This season especially they fucked it right up. For me that equates to underachievement on his part, and I'm surprised it's taken him this long to be pushed out. They should have been in the Premiership by now, regardless of where they were three seasons ago. I can't ignore being branded "foolish" by you, as well, I'm sorry but howay man, give me a break.

"as tabling the eight-figure offer for a striker attracting interest from a host of clubs." He's took that out of the online edition of the article hasn't he? Hence all the confusion. Initially it stated it would be an "eight-figure mega deal" (sic), but now he's running with £7-8m. He was either pissed or knackered when he wrote the first copy, because the latest edition barely resembles it and now makes no sense at all, given the "mega" headline and the fact that the bids will now be less than we had bid for Gameiro and less than we have offered/will offer for both Gervinho and N'Zogbia. Seems a decent enough bloke, but poor from him today.