TRon

They've all been boosted by signing strikers who are scoring for fun.

For all the slagging he's got Best has still been getting in goal scoring positions.

Ireland if/when he gets fit.

to 10 men are actually making us do the running while they keep the ball.

If I had to put money on who will score the next goal I'd still stick it on Arsenal.

Why we didn't go for him, is unbelievable. We'd have had to pay him wages, greedy bastards like that won't play for free.

I agree with him though, there's no way you can build a slick passing side like Arsenal with a lumbering player like Nolan in the midfield.

Have you changed your mind about the effect the Carroll sale has had on morale yet?

he worked well with Best against the hammers.

Been passed fit surprisingly. If he doesn't finish the game it's official: Pardew is Graeme Souness reincarnated.

I'm not worried about Carroll being missing, more about how much his leaving has effected the morale of the squad. We started well at Fulham but went down with barely a whimper by the end. How much do you think moral would have went down when it was said he could be out for 8 weeks? Even if it is 8 weeks - and that's questionable - morale in the club goes when you lose a part of your squad through selling. It's not exactly the same thing.

We've just brought in £35 million, why should he have to put pressure on his mate by talking to the press? I actually think that Pardew is (or at least comes across) as as disillusioned as a lot of people about the whole Carroll thing. I think he's making it clear he doesn't want it to happen again. Then again, it's tricky trying to interpret things without actually hearing them said. It could be that but he has to be careful his negativity doesn't cross over to the players. This is a good test of his management credentials, we should see what he's made of now.

I'm not worried about Carroll being missing, more about how much his leaving has effected the morale of the squad. We started well at Fulham but went down with barely a whimper by the end.

more likely Whether he's party to it or not he's more or less giving the game away. Until we have enough money all our players are available for the right price and we won't stop them leaving.

The problem with having a five man midfield is which midfielder out of that lot will actually get beyond Best to score? Nolan's goals come mainly from set pieces where Shola/Carroll cause havoc and he picks up the pieces. Unless we are going for a 0-0 draw I would use Lovenkrands alongside Best and stick with 4-4-2.

The key is intent. At the end of the day that's what this thread is about. Players don't usually want to leave a club which is on the verge of big things and the stories that Barton was prepared to take a pay cut in order to stay here suggested that we were headed in the right direction. What we do with that money in the summer, and what we do if other clubs slap in big offers for our main players will give us the answer.

I thought him and Ranger were two of our best players when we lost to Arsenal in the Carling Cup. Vukic needs to play in a team with good passing ability rather than the hoof and battle ploy we currently employ. He's fast and direct, we just need midfielders who'll release him early. Same could be said for Ranger tbh.

0 points with or without Colo isn't going to make much difference except in the goals against column. Save him for Blackburn.

I agree with the criticisms of Shepherd btw, as far as I'm concerned he used this club to line his own pockets and left us in a bad way. Still in the context of the OP I think Ashley has gone too far the other way. He can prove us all wrong this summer of course but I'll be convinced when I see it.

Which game is after this one? I am looking ahead to see where we might realistically pick up our next points. Blackburn (a) I think? tough but not impossible by any means.

It's the local media though that can instigate campaign's against a club though as well. Thomson house has been for decade's a bunch of fucking fuckwits happy to snug along to the club The last time Thompson House got behind a fan campaign for change was the Magpie Group which was backed by a serious businessman called John Hall. Who is there to get behind now? Barry fucking Moat who ran with his tail between his legs when Barclays called his bluff?

Which game is after this one? I am looking ahead to see where we might realistically pick up our next points.

I think what UV is hinting at, sarcastically as usual, is that Hall and Shepherd did build the profile of the club to a stage where it became much easier to merchandise and attract revenue. In that regard they showed ambition. While Shepherd overdid it and some cost cutting was necessary when Ashley came in, he hasn't for me looked to build our image and cash in, he's concentrated solely on running us with a corner shop mentality. That could all change this summer with £35m to spend but I won't hold my breath.