TRon

Why? Because a lot of people at the games are pretty thick tbh.

For those of our fans who like to pick faults that should be essential reading. Plus Jamie Redknapp having a wank on Sky Sports about him being like a younger Essien. Him, Enrique and Colo are a class above everyone else in the squad for me.

The run in the first half when he beat three defenders and tried to curl one in at the far post was sublime. It's going to take serious money to buy a player who will replace him.

Amazing how we kept a clean sheet against Man U when only two out of the back five got more than a 6 6 to me is an average mark, so I'm not saying we were bad. It's clear I'm seeing things a bit different from others though. Our defence battled hard but at no time did I feel we looked solid. Considering we had no goal threat up front I thought we did well to keep them restricted to just a few chances. I honestly thought we'd get beat tonight because i couldn't see where the goals were coming from. Man U's movement is second to none so while no team is ever comfortable against them, I thought we coped admirably.

I'm in two minds on this one. When he got the ball he showed the vision and cleverness that we desperately lack up front. Always looking to pass forwards and make dangerous runs. Off the ball he looked a bit slow. Isn't blessed with much pace and we have our fair quota of midfielders who aren't the quickest. Nice to see some genuine quality on the ball though.

Said pre-match that him alongside Tiote would be interesting. Shame he didn't do more to try and hurt Man U though. Did he have a shot or make any runs into their box? His problem is he's happy to be in the background and doesn't take charge in games.

I don't think anyone is against paying players like Colo a decent wage. The problem is spotting the right ones. I hope UV is reading this

He worked hard enough but it's like watching a corgi yapping furiously at a rottweiler. Might still get a goal against lesser teams like Blackpool though so can play his part.

Worth every penny of his contract. I know that will piss off a few Carlos Kickaball haters but that sort of quality doesn't come cheap.

Good performance but we are really missing our goalscorers

Fuck me lovenkrands is shit

Tiote and Guthrie in the middle might be interesting. Maybe not the goal threat that Nolan provides but a bit more pass and move if Guthrie is up for it. Not the worst midfield.

It makes sense tbh. Whether our interest is genuine is another matter, but we could sign some serious young talent in Europe with £35m.

Don't worry then, just enjoy it and go mental if we do get something! also sounds like Ireland will get a run out at some point. I'm not too fussed about the result, but I'd like a look at him.

Quiz question: what's the difference between Shane Ferguson and Matty Pattisson? Answer: Neither of them will get signed by Liverpool.

Fair play to your acceptance of second class football. Enjoy it. Why not? even a pig enjoys rolling around in muck.

So you are against Nolan signing a new contract then?

I think that a surprising attitude towards him tbh . Since the single, solitary, reason that some of the current players are here right now.. is not out of loyalty, or a determination to put the relegation season right... It's because their wage packet was too large. They wanted to stick around, knowing they have no relegation wage cut in their contracts, and definitely not wanting to take a pay cut to play top flight football. Bassong was actually our best performer that year too, did a lot better than his bigger name team mates. For the most part got on with it. Plus the club needed the money too.. Whether or not you can 'blame' them for leaving... they took us down and then fucked off. That's the fundamental aspect of it here, and i wouldn't have any single one of them back. When you say "they took us down and then fucked off" they only fucked off because better teams came in for them. Charles Imsomnia is still playing in the premier division and wasn't sold by Wigan for £10m. Nicky Butt was given a new contract for his loyal service and is playing where now? Japan?

Agree. I really can't see Ireland contributing anything that Guthrie then Nolan won't. Absolute waste of a loan. He can run at defenders with the ball assuming he is actually fit enough mentally or physically to play. He was a far better footballer than either a couple of years ago so I can see why Pardew was tempted.

He's worth more like £12m. Like Distin, Robert, Zog, Arfa and Anelka French players come with a reputation for moodiness, but they have a high value because they are quality players. Would we have got HBA for that price if he was flawless in character? I can understand people being wary of going back for players who have left, but if they have found grass isn't greener on the other side then they might be better characters for it, like Anelka.

I'm not really concerned about Dalglish's special bond with Liverpool, he's welcome to it. I just question whether he's got what it takes to be a great manager based on the teams he used to put out at Newcastle which lead to chants of "attack...attack...attack, attack, attack" rolling down the aisles by the end of his tenure here. Maybe outsiders just like to think we are dumb geordies who didn't have the patience to stick with Kenny's master plan but from what I can recall it was just ultra defensive line ups with no width because Kenny was more concerned about the dangers posed by the opposition than our own game.

Ian Wright had genuine pace though and he used that to devastating effect on the break.

Only after his injury at Goodison Park. I didn't think he was the same player even after his injury at Blackburn.

+1 It's early days, let's re-visit this thread in a year's time. Anyone who can play four central midfielders in the same team like he did at Newcastle is too scared of defeat to be a great manager.

Madras is right, Shearer used to burst past defenders in his early days, but that was before he signed for us. Carroll is far more mobile than the Newcastle version of Shearer, although Shearer was technically better all round.