alpal78

Why can't we get a better striker than Carroll?

Agree with this, if you were take our current squad 3 years down the line, I reckon Krul Enrique Coloccini Ben Arfa Barton Tiote Carroll is top 6 material. I don't think we'll have many problems with relegation in those years, so even if we slowly fill in the gaps over the next few years, I think we'll have a team that top players will want to come to, and to stay at. Of course if we don't get back the 30M, then selling Carroll is a no go...just saying that all players have a price and we should consider selling if it means that overall the team can be strengthened.

This may not be popular opinion but I'd take 30M PROVIDED ALL the money is reinvested in strengthening the team in several key positions. For that amount we could get a new striker, play maker, right back and winger.

Arsenal over Chelsea anytime

I was at the match when I heard the team, not everybody is an internet fan, how the hell can I back it up. I don't see why I have to back it up anyway as I wouldn't say that I did if I didn't. Internet fan? Not asking you to be one, just asking if there is anyway your opinion can be verified, as it's all too easy to make comments about wrong formation and wrong tactics after the game. Hindsight is perfect as they say, but honestly I couldn't not care less either way.

It's not that at all. It's more to do with the fact that as soon as Barton went out wide, Ranger was brought on and Nolan dropped back, we looked a much better team. As I said, it's hard to argue with that. even if that was true, not sure I would have picked Ranger for 90 minutes. For what it was worth I thought Routledge had a 'decenish' game on the right.

Don't quite see what is funny, if you claim that you made the point before the game, then surely you can back it up. If this is the case, fair play to you coz I would have picked the same formation that Pardew did. It's all good to say that Barton should have retained his position on the right but who is gonna play alongside Tiote. A static Nolan (or God forbid Guthrie) plus Tiote would have been murdered by Barry, Yaya Toure and De Jong.

Yes. proof?

even took on the captain's armband towards the end!

Hargreaves was available on Bosman? I thought Fergie got him after a long protracted negotiations with Bayern? Anyway happy Rafa got the sack, could not happen to a nicer bloke/waiter

Nah SAF asked Keane to be red carded so that we would not be embarassed!

That's just a ridiculous statement! Taking off his best players after leading 5-3 had nothing to do with not wanting to humiliate SBR...you really think SAF was taking SBR's feelings into account when making subs? Its what most managers do when they think the games is won (i.e. that the other team won't be able to make a come back), they put on their young/squad players to give them playing time and experience whilst giving the first teamers some rest

A hypocrite by my books and is only gracious when Man Utd wins, can't remember him being too gracious in defeat. At times does not behave like a 'Sir' (unlike SBR who is always dignified). He deserves some credit this season coz their squad is average/good but during the 90s, very few managers would not have done well with the likes of Beckham, Scholes, Giggs and Keane in midfield. Also suspect that he is corrupt, including the dealings with his son and the Bebe deal.

Probably get a three grand fine for doin something like that. Ok what's the fine (if any) to run in and smack him on the head (gently)? I just want the prick to know that he will never be safe in St James Park again.

I would actually pay 10 quid for someone to do that...if others chip in, you might find it very rewarding!

I would have taken 17th place under Hughton and I still would under Pardew. Nothing has changed for me, the only time I would turn 17th away is if we get a few good buys in January, which of course won't happen. So I will most likely keep my position until we are mathematically safe.

Yup completely agree, he comes across as very intelligent and not one to just regurgitate the usual typical answers footballers give. You can see from his responses that he actually thinks a bit before answering...well done Joey!

and losing against your relegation rivals at home is a good strategy to survive in the Premiership!

I have a feeling that we might sneak this. Whether or not the players like Pardew they will be motivate to prove themselves coz they know that everyone will start on a clean slate again. Let's face it, over the last 2 games, some players (Jonas, Enrique, Ameobi...etc) have all became a bit complacent knowing that their 1st XI place is mostly safe. But today I suspect we will play a high tempo game which should knock Liverpool's game off. If we are lucky we even see Amobi do a bit of running and chasing. The fact that Gerrard is not playing is also useful of course. Or we could be thumped 6-0

And not rocking the boat and turning up with fixed grins is not going to make any difference either, just do whichever makes you feel better, blocking it out of your mind and acting like evrything's fine, happy clapping and backing the manager the players hate, or kicking off and making Pardew feel like Nick Clegg at a student rally. Same outcome, different route. So you're keen on relegation, then. You obviously are. I honestly don't believe you're quite as stupid as your posts to me make you appear. Says the man who backed Graeme Souness 100% all the way through his tenure. Backing Pardew will see us relegated. Care to explain how? And whilst you're at it tell me also how not giving the manager a chance would save us? Not giving Parddew a chance to take us down has an outside chance of saving us. Ok let's continue this discussion since at least you are attempting to use logic. Explain to me 2 things, first how exactly are our actions going to force Pardew out? What manager wants to stand on a touchline week in, week out, gettign dogs abuse from his own fans and having to sneak into the stadium? Beardsley? I'd rather have an unknown quantity than the known quantity of Pardew. If Ashley finds he's not actually doing his mates a favour by giving them jobs at the expense of the club, but it can become a curse, maybe he might think twice about doing it? If we back Pardew, who do we have as manager? Pardew? Oh, wait, my version of that question wasn't as rhetorical as yours. You really think a manager is going to quit his job just because of some fans abuse? Short of physically assaulting him to a pulp, there is nothing we can do to force Pardew out especially not when Ashley is firmly behind him. I have very low opinion of Pardew but I am completely confident that he will prove to be a better manager than Beardsley. Most people complain that Pardew does not have the experience to keep us up yet you prefer someone who does note eve have any managerial experience...at all. Oh and you must have missed the part on how Beardsley is also a buddy to Ashley. If the papers are to be believed part of the reason why Hughton was sacked is because he refused to take on Beardsley as assistant manager as Ashely wanted.

And not rocking the boat and turning up with fixed grins is not going to make any difference either, just do whichever makes you feel better, blocking it out of your mind and acting like evrything's fine, happy clapping and backing the manager the players hate, or kicking off and making Pardew feel like Nick Clegg at a student rally. Same outcome, different route. So you're keen on relegation, then. You obviously are. I honestly don't believe you're quite as stupid as your posts to me make you appear. Says the man who backed Graeme Souness 100% all the way through his tenure. Backing Pardew will see us relegated. Care to explain how? And whilst you're at it tell me also how not giving the manager a chance would save us? Not giving Parddew a chance to take us down has an outside chance of saving us. Ok let's continue this discussion since at least you are attempting to use logic. Explain to me 2 things, first how exactly are our actions going to force Pardew out? Second assuming we do succeed, what then...who will take over? Hughton?

And not rocking the boat and turning up with fixed grins is not going to make any difference either, just do whichever makes you feel better, blocking it out of your mind and acting like evrything's fine, happy clapping and backing the manager the players hate, or kicking off and making Pardew feel like Nick Clegg at a student rally. Same outcome, different route. So you're keen on relegation, then. You obviously are. I honestly don't believe you're quite as stupid as your posts to me make you appear. Says the man who backed Graeme Souness 100% all the way through his tenure. Backing Pardew will see us relegated. Care to explain how? And whilst you're at it tell me also how not giving the manager a chance would save us?

On record? I've suggested I have misgivings in his appointment (Pardews ability) but in fact he's done f*** all to be crucified for. I did say at least let him earn the right to be crucified. And if he did take us down I'm firmly in the camp of thinking thats exactly where we were going under Hughton. Don't bother explaining yourself mate, people read what they wanna read. It seems it has to be either black or white. If you're not on the hate everything about Ashley + Pardew bandwagon, then you're an ass licker and must have hated everything about Hughton. There's just no middle ground or room for a nuanced view, incredibly frustrating.

Well done mate coz that's exactly what he said!

Some of our lot booed the poor fuckers at half time when we were 1-1 with Chelsea. It's a bit rich to complain about hurting their feelings when our support is riddled with those types Certain people seem to have a bizarre set of priorities. There's a large number of fans who are completely apathetic towards the ownership situation yet let their spittle flecked fury spill out when anyone dare mention protest. You somehow become a worse supporter the minute you become concerned enough to take action. How that works I do not know. Maybe because what matters in the end is not whether or not you take action but the consequences of that action. I can see the logic of boycotting (only if done in mass numbers) but nobody has put a good case on how booing or shouting obscene chants is gonna get Ashley to leave much less do the club any good.