magorific

I couldn't disagree more. Carroll's always been very good in the air, but he has come on loads with the ball at his feet. I'm with Ronaldo on this one. If Carroll keeps himself fit and relatively out of trouble, he'll be a Premier League great.

Points I'd make: 1: We ARE seriously in debt - to Ashley. It's just a different kind of debt in that it won't need to be paid off - or even serviced - until he sells up. 2: While that sounds okay (no crippling monthly interest charges etc), it will mean he watches every penny day to day and we are unlikely to compete for top players in wage terms. So the idea that "anyone within reason" is available to us is hugely optimistic.

Perfect analogy. Difference is that some of our fans deserve a slap.

The difference with Cole was that SJH and co - whatever we think of them now - were building something, and there was never any doubt KK would be given the means to buy a decent replacement. I am staggered anyone could begin to take the word of Pardew (the man who wasn't going to sell AC at any price) when he says he'll be given the full £35m to spend by Ashley and co (self-confessed liars). It's pitiful that anyone believes that.

David Craig gets his stuff straight from Llambias.

He'll do nowt in Spain - he was a figure of ridicule in Santander after a while.

Has the look of a potential Kezman about it...

"If we keep improving at the rate we are, and you don't qualify for the Champions League, we're effectively equal come the start of next season, except for the fact we have a far superior team morale, work ethic, accent, city, stadium and fan base." You're biting at everything on ANOTHER CLUB'S forum when you should be looking at things closer to home. You're also living in denial (of a failed bid for AC fed to London press by 'Arry and confirmed by NUFC). Why put yourself through this? It's seriously weird. Let a neutral fan see that post then ask him who exactly is "taking a kicking".

King Dawson taking an even bigger kicking than usual here. Painful stuff.

Yep, totally agree with this. Bassong had a bid that was accepted, so he left. And he left to a club with a much brighter future than ours (then, and now), so the booing just seemed like bitterness from our fans, imo. Bitter that a good player left us for a club like Spurs who we had gotten so used to dominating, and bitter because we as a club looked like we were going nowhere. Given doesn't deserve to be booed. He gave so many good years to the club and left when Ashley was destroying the club from the inside, so it's not his fault that we were s*** at the time. He never gave away a soft goal, he never looked like he didn't care and he was always one of the best players in our team so to boo him because of his actions over two weeks at the end of his stay with us is just insane, imo. Yeah, let's forget about the 10 years, the CL run, the near-miss in the UEFA cup, the super saves, the FA Cup finals etc., and let's just think about his last two weeks here. Seems petty as f***. When Given retires, he'll be remembered as one of the best gks in the premiership of his generation, and he'll always - and rightly, in my opinion - be associated with us. He feigned an injury to get away. The c*** doesn't deserve to get booed, he deserves to not even be played against us. Of all the players who have left NUFC, is he top of your hate list? No. Then I wouldn't like to be the player who is. I think you may need some perspective in your life.

Yep, totally agree with this. Bassong had a bid that was accepted, so he left. And he left to a club with a much brighter future than ours (then, and now), so the booing just seemed like bitterness from our fans, imo. Bitter that a good player left us for a club like Spurs who we had gotten so used to dominating, and bitter because we as a club looked like we were going nowhere. Given doesn't deserve to be booed. He gave so many good years to the club and left when Ashley was destroying the club from the inside, so it's not his fault that we were s*** at the time. He never gave away a soft goal, he never looked like he didn't care and he was always one of the best players in our team so to boo him because of his actions over two weeks at the end of his stay with us is just insane, imo. Yeah, let's forget about the 10 years, the CL run, the near-miss in the UEFA cup, the super saves, the FA Cup finals etc., and let's just think about his last two weeks here. Seems petty as f***. When Given retires, he'll be remembered as one of the best gks in the premiership of his generation, and he'll always - and rightly, in my opinion - be associated with us. He feigned an injury to get away. The c*** doesn't deserve to get booed, he deserves to not even be played against us. Of all the players who have left NUFC, is he top of your hate list?

Yep, totally agree with this. Bassong had a bid that was accepted, so he left. And he left to a club with a much brighter future than ours (then, and now), so the booing just seemed like bitterness from our fans, imo. Bitter that a good player left us for a club like Spurs who we had gotten so used to dominating, and bitter because we as a club looked like we were going nowhere. Given doesn't deserve to be booed. He gave so many good years to the club and left when Ashley was destroying the club from the inside, so it's not his fault that we were s*** at the time. He never gave away a soft goal, he never looked like he didn't care and he was always one of the best players in our team so to boo him because of his actions over two weeks at the end of his stay with us is just insane, imo. Yeah, let's forget about the 10 years, the CL run, the near-miss in the UEFA cup, the super saves, the FA Cup finals etc., and let's just think about his last two weeks here. Seems petty as f***. When Given retires, he'll be remembered as one of the best gks in the premiership of his generation, and he'll always - and rightly, in my opinion - be associated with us. Funny that, because the rest of those that left managed to hold on until the summer. Aye, and of course none of them would have joined Man City in the January, given the chance. No, they stayed, did absolutely f*** all to keep us up and showed not a shred of remorse for it.

No idea why anyone would think selling AC for 25m is good business for us when we all know where the cash will go. As for the Aguero comparison, Aguero hasn't done it in the Premier League, and it's a massive "if" that he would make the transition (Shevchenko springs to mind).

That, I just don't understand. Do you have immediate family from Glasgow? Yep. Now I understand.

That, I just don't understand. Do you have immediate family from Glasgow?

No it wasn't, he's looked unmotivated and lack lustre in previous games. Today he actually looked our best midfielder out there which suggests he can only show up in games where the midfield battle is less intense. How was the midfield battle less intense yesterday? Spurs are a passing side and they aren't as physical as many premier teams. I had a feeling this game would suit him better before the game, in the same way I thought it wouldn't suit Nolan. To be fair to Guthrie I've not thought much of his previous efforts in midfield but he looked good yesterday. Thought he contributed in terms of the physical side of things too - harried and hassled Van Der Vaart and Modric well.

No need for Carroll to go off on England duty to wake up to the idea of bigger wages when he's got Alan Smith sat next to him on 60k a week. On the idea of selling Carroll and getting in a decent replacement, you simply won't get another striker like him. He's different - thus the excitement surrounding him after just half a full top-flight season. As someone said on this thread, he is unplayable if used correctly.

Agreed. Rarely looked more than a 100%er to me, and not even that today. On the Simpson/Williamson debate, I have sympathy for the latter - he can't have expected Simpson to show him onto his only good foot.

Bollocks tbh. He worked back well and put his foot in when needed.

Cracking game. Colo flawless, Williamson - though I've hammered him recently - not far behind and I thought Barton and to a slightly lesser extent Guthrie were excellent, particularly with Nolan a passenger at times. Just so frustrating re Ranger. I'm not sure it was even possible for him to score from that angle, but with players up in support... Total lack of awareness, and I don't know if that sort of thing can be learned.

Such a good hoofer that he has been utterly embarrassed by the no-frills Jason Roberts and the cloggers of Stevenage this season (I won't mention Kevin Davies, as far better players than Williamson have struggled against him)? If Taylor had made basic ricks like Williamson did against Blackburn, Stevenage and Wigan (those who'd have us believe he is positionally fantastic should have another look at N'Zogbia's two goals), he'd be unconditionally slaughtered on here. Yes, Taylor was at fault against Man City, but so was the whole back four, and he didn't screw up as blatantly as Williamson has done either side of Christmas. Yes, Taylor is no great shakes himself - and should concentrat more on defending and less on arm-waving and badge-kissing. But if anyone can name me any truly costly mistakes he has made since the middle of the relegation season, then enlighten me. He was at least as good in the first half of last season as Williamson was in the second. My basic point is that Williamson is bizarrely over-rated.

Has he ever been as dreadful as Williamson was at Stevenage, at Bolton or against Blackburn, all in the last couple of months? Truly staggering how overrated Williamson is by some on here.

Well said. Some on here need to look at themselves full stop. Like those that hoped Smith had broken his leg today.

Truly pitiful to read some who gave the lad absolute dog's abuse - bottle merchant being one of his many character flaws apparently - change their tune less than an hour later. The lesson is to get some perspective.

Thought he had a brilliant game. He needs to explain where those 5 f***ing mins of extra time came from! He doesn't add up the time. Plus I thought he had a good game tbf. Thought he had a brilliant game. He needs to explain where those 5 f***ing mins of extra time came from! He doesn't add up the time. Plus I thought he had a good game tbf. Wtf? Of course he adds up the time. He tells the fourth official what to put on the board. Why the f*** do you think refs wear two watches, ffs?