TRon

Unless it's not true. We may well have offered him 15k but I doubt he's just going to accept the first figure we throw at him even if he is keen to come here. There'll be better offers lying on the table, for him to agree to that he must really be desperate to move up here.

Not forgetting Shola 'Alan Shearer' Ameobi! Shearer can only look back on what could have been. He could have been his generation's Shola.

I think a local lad who has become a regular for his team should probably feel a bit more loyalty than an outsider. All the home town loyalty business should work both ways if it means anything at all. If he wants to leave then he should be free to mind, just let's not hear any more of this "local hero living the dream" crap if he does go.

Ambition to manage a big club? Restoring a former giant to glory isn't a bad feather in your cap.

I think this is a nothing story, but FWIW, he would be a solid choice if the sale of the club doesn't go through. He knows this division well and he's got the authority that all the half decent managers need. I wouldn't be devastated if it came to it.

I don't really see this terrible attitude that some people mention. Yes he sometimes has a quiet secod half but he tends to run his socks off in the first 45. You could accuse him of wasting energy maybe or whingeing when he gets taken out, but don't think that's a terrible indictment on his attitude.

And yet this sad turn of event has probably contributed to the 20% worthwhile posts in this thread.

Townsend would be good on MOTD. Much better than Shearer who might make a decent manager but is the worst pundit they've had since Lawrenson.

I can't claim to know how well liked in the dressing room Barton is, it could just be journalist talk...although I give it more credence if it's in the Journal rather than the Sun. Sheraer wanted Bellamy out as well so you could make an argument he is too uncompromising. For me though it's about the rest of the playing squad. You want players who will fight together as a team and who will have a good cameraderie. If Barton's capable of being part of that then great, if not then he's more trouble than he's worth.

Am going off the standard of football i've seen him produce over his career. Enrique and Taylor still have some way to go on that front. If Barton stays, he will be instrumental. Does this mean he won't open his f***ing mouth? He should be captain, might sort him out to be given a position reflective of his skills as a person. He's a talker and aggressive with it, like Bill Bremner was. *slightly controversial* Trouble is he is such a cock. Widely rumoured to be very unpopular with the rest of the squad and seems completely up his own arse. The rows with other players and various coaches are too numerous to have no foundation. Also I'm told he kept Hughton and the match squad waiting in the plane for almost an hour at Birmingham airport after the WBA game. If Hughton was a stronger character he'd have given instructions to take off without him. If Shearer gets the manager's job there's an interesting situation brewing. If Shearer gets the job he'll more than likely tell Barton to find another club. Barton's football ability isn't in question but the fact he is a grade A cunt and rarely plays enough matches to warrant special treatment takes the shine off all that.

Ditto. I was really disappointed that we only got a season from Bassong, ans Spurs got a bargain. No point in looking over our shoulder though he's gone and reminding ourselves about it is just depressing. Let's move on and have a great season ourselves. to be fair, 8m rising to 12m is hardly a bargain. If he establishes himself as a top centre back for them which i think he will, it's money well spent.

Ditto. I was really disappointed that we only got a season from Bassong, ans Spurs got a bargain. No point in looking over our shoulder though he's gone and reminding ourselves about it is just depressing. Let's move on and have a great season ourselves.

Let's hope we live up to their fears

It's more important to have younger legs in midfield or up front. if there's one position where experience is useful it's the centre of defence.

Has someone offered £6m?

Already said this in another thread. Disappointed somewhat.

I would prefer Butt if we use him sparingly, put in some decent performances last season after he'd had a week's break. Over use him and he starts to turn shit again. Don't think either of them should start tbh. Nolan's use of the ball isn't too bad really despite the stick I give him, but his movement and general fitness is a disgrace. He looks like a pub player and I wouldn't be surprised if that's where he spends most of his time off the pitch.

I was surprised that Fulham were able to meet his wages before he went down for talks, obviously they didn't realise just what a massive wedge he's on.

He's got a bit of vision and can hit a decent pass. Against that he's pretty slow these days, can't be arsed sometimes and injury prone. I don't see how he can be popular in the dressing room either - apparently Steve Harper was getting grief this time. Personally I think he's just going to continue to be a liability, his attitude stinks.

If we can sell him that's fine but at the moment he's using up resources anyway so we might as well make him earn his money. If we are banging in goals week in week out then obviously he won't play, but ignoring him last season didn't get us the goals we needed from the strikers who were preferred.

It's amazing he's been under everyone's radar for so long. Solid defensively and going forward he's improved out of all recognition from when he first arrived. We are going to have a hard job replacing him when someone inevitably puts a bid in.

Get your head out of your arse. It's taken him 9 years or so of first team appearances to get a hat trick and it was in the championship. Also, 3 goals against Reading doesn't automatically clear the fact that he is extremely injury prone and very inconsistent. Before we all start patting Shola on the back about a job well done as a return to something resembling a footballer lets not forget his last 6-7 years here. It's a bit early to start wagging our dicks about over this. True - but it's probably not the best time to be slagging him off after he's scored a hatrick to win a game. Why not let him have this one then give him the full treatment when he draws a blank, which shouldn't be too far off?

You mean as in Xisco...!? Carroll has twice the potential Xisco has displayed since he arrived, and is younger - with the right coaching , esp by the likes of Shearer, he would turn out to be an very good CF. He's also been given more of a chance than Xisco has too. Something missing from Carroll's game for me, not sure what it is but there's just something not there. He doesn't get in enough goal scoring positions, and neither does Ameobi. They both had a field day yesterday against a small Reading side, they'll find it a lot harder against Wednesday. What annoys me most with Shola even though he got a hat-trick yesterday is still his lethargic attitude even when it comes to scoring goals. Several times when we had made a move forward and instead of busting a gut to get into the box he would still just toddle up and just be at the edge of the box not being a danger. At least Carroll puts a shift in. Aye, but his general play after the first goal yesterday was much better. Actually seemed more mobile: was chasing balls and pressuring defenders. If we can get him regular confidence injections, he might just kick some ass in this division. If Shola can threaten Sheffield on wednesday then fair play to him. He can't just have a stormer one game then disappear for a month which is what usually happens.

You mean as in Xisco...!? Carroll has twice the potential Xisco has displayed since he arrived, and is younger - with the right coaching , esp by the likes of Shearer, he would turn out to be an very good CF. He's also been given more of a chance than Xisco has too. Something missing from Carroll's game for me, not sure what it is but there's just something not there. He doesn't get in enough goal scoring positions, and neither does Ameobi. They both had a field day yesterday against a small Reading side, they'll find it a lot harder against Wednesday. What annoys me most with Shola even though he got a hat-trick yesterday is still his lethargic attitude even when it comes to scoring goals. Several times when we had made a move forward and instead of busting a gut to get into the box he would still just toddle up and just be at the edge of the box not being a danger. At least Carroll puts a shift in. I don't think either of them are natural strikers, they just don't get in the penalty area enough. Carroll is at least a legit target man and his work in defending set pieces was vital. We need a proper goal scorer in that team though.

You mean as in Xisco...!? Carroll has twice the potential Xisco has displayed since he arrived, and is younger - with the right coaching , esp by the likes of Shearer, he would turn out to be an very good CF. He's also been given more of a chance than Xisco has too. Something missing from Carroll's game for me, not sure what it is but there's just something not there. He doesn't get in enough goal scoring positions, and neither does Ameobi. They both had a field day yesterday against a small Reading side, they'll find it a lot harder against Wednesday.