Beren

Edit: sorry, but really?!

Harper Simpson Colo Williamson Enrique Barton Nolan Tiote Jonas Ben Arfa Ameobi

Mike Ashley Find it peculiar people are blaming Ashley for his action's today. He is insensate to the fan and media's opinion of him, so this talk of him masterminding a transfer request under duress to paint him more positively sounds like 100% grasping-at-straws bollocks. Maybe had Ashley not been such a gimp in days gone by then Carroll might not have put in a request, but that seems like a pointless avenue of speculation. Carroll With respects to Carroll, he is undoubtedly one of the greatest talents of the modern game. He is fantastic in the air, quick, powerful and good technique. He is also insanely young. So far in his life he's been a bit of a dick (a bit of an understatement). I don't know his reasons for leaving, but there are certain situations in this world where you can either be a hero or a villain... and there is, unfortunately, no grey area. When your ascendancy in his hometown has been as steep as his has been - there is only one way he will be remembered by Newcastle - as a villain. All this being said, I wouldn't be upset if he became the next Darren 'sicknote' Anderton. Us and the "mad" world of football Whether the reasons for Carroll's exit emerge or not, I always find the accusations of players being "fickle" when leaving the mouths of fans. Many Newcastle fans wrote Carroll before his career here had started for crying out loud. For those fans who aren't fickle, it is a big shame, but the sum of money is massive. I hope Ashley does reinvest it, but I fear he won't. I think we have enough about us in midfield to stay up this league (provided we don't pick up a series of unfortunate injuries) but this has certainly left a bitter taste in the mouth. That we did drive such a hard bargain gives me (false?) hope that this isn't just a sign of us being a selling club. I would love it if we could get a high calibre footballing £15-20m striker who fits in with a progressive style of plays which revolves around playing football on the deck and working with Ben Arfa. Losing Carroll is a big blow, but it presents a good, albeit enforced, opportunity to rely less on high balls by removing temptation.

Carroll was supposed to bring balance to the force! But now a new hope emerges... ...SHOLA! What a heavy weight now lies on his Atlas-like shoulders!

I'm just glad it's Liverpool chasing Carroll and not Abramovich. While we stymie Liverpool, I hope that doesn't mean they are unwilling to part with Torres - and Chelsea subsequently turn their attention to AC9.

Bit saddening, all this. Any truth/reliability to the rumour of Carroll wanting to go to Anfield?

Gareth Southgate is elite in no way, shape or form. That is hilarious

I'm going, so we won't score. 0-0. [or 1-3, to us].

Just saw another seventeen arrests by the Birmingham game last night. Worst set of fans in the top flight?

This. Season over.

You mean after Giggs came on, non?

Few people in the game who inspire as much antipathy as Robbie Savage. Ugh. Just knowing that someone that stupid exists irks me.

Adams & Vaughan > Messi & Iniesta.

"Would I come back to Newcastle? Absolutely"

Looking forward to their apologies!

What was Shearer's last competitive goal?

That'd be a fantastic point if we weren't talking about you withholding praise for a single performance yesterday.

"Not a sniff of goal or an assist" didn't really sound like praise for a better performance which, were it not for poor finishing, could have lead to two or three assists. I think he's pretty invaluable to our threadbare midfield, very few of whom can actually run the ball out of our half for more than thirty yards without developing a stitch. Definitely not a candidate to consider "moving on" in this window or any other in the foreseeable future.

Well he did put in some fantastic crosses yesterday - your sight was probably obstructed by your overwhelming prejudice against players you've fully committed to slagging off, irrespective of what happens in the 90.

Agreed. Burn!

Not considering they'll probably have to play Barca. http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/images/photos/000/945/367/98730079.jpg.29134_crop_340x234.jpg?1272531314 http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/04/28/article-1269604-09593019000005DC-379_468x346.jpg http://sportsvideo24.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Barcelona-5-0-Real-Madrid-5.jpg Inter lost to Barca in the group stages of the CL last year tbf

Pen, was that then?

Night Keef. Stick to the left lane unless your being shown down the right to overtake.

That's because every team is confident enough to get closer to the goal before shooting against them!

FYI, bonus points from our match today: Dawson 3 Modric 2 Nolan 1 Bonkers.