Offshore

I was always of the opinion that Barton was played wider right as he was more effective (for us then) as he was the best crosser of the ball so it made sense to use him there to find Carroll. As its been said, he seemed more that capable to play more centrally for Man City, and unless we're going to persist with the same tactic this season using Ba instead of Carroll as the target (which seems a bit of a waste given who else we've got), then there is no reason what so ever that he should be pigeon holed at NUFC as only a wide-right midfielder.

I'm of the opinion that should the probably move come about in the summer then really no-one should get 'blamed'. Jose - If he really feels that he has to move to more high profile club to get a shot in the Spanish team then fair enough, by higher profile I mean the champions league, then he'll leave with no bad feeling from me. Can't hold anything against any player wanting to better themselves or even position themselves where they'll get more noticed by their own media and their national manager. The club - As far as i'm concerned they've gone about this fairly sensibly (for them!!). They agreed to wait to talk about Jose's contract until he is/was ready, they want him to stay and they haven't bad mouthed him in the press. And due to the fact that the player holds most of the aces is about as much as they can do. I know we have a stricter wage structure now than when Jose first signed but i'd be suprised if money was a priority for Jose, I think he knows he's class and deserves a platform to show that and again unfortunately we're not going to get into the top 4 in the foreseeable future so unless we can either convince him that he's got as much of a chance of getting capped here as anywhere else then we're really flogging a dead horse. We 'could' keep him for another year but realistically that would cause more problems than solve, so if he wants to go then he goes with my blessing and I hope we get a decent wedge for him.

He was on a hiding to nothing yesterday. His main asset is pace but he was mainly dealing with balls direct to him in the air with at least one CB on him at all times. He was also paired with Loven and was pitched up against Collins who showed all his experience in dealing with Ranger with ease, i'd expect Colo or even Williamson to be able to dominate a relatively raw young forward who's given little to no direct support. Loan next year, please.

The FA should use this as a warning of whats to come if their new 'respect' campaign (or whatever its called) isn't adhered to. We'll probably see more directions to refs to give a yellow to anything resembling foul and abusive language towards them on the pitch too. It may take a couple of months but once the players know that they can't go around surrounding, harassing and bawling at refs, the captain and/or person(s) directly involved should still have access to get any points across, then all the better.

Funnily enough I think next season, or failing that the one after, could and should see us strongly challenging for a Europa league place. Not through us splashing the cash - although the Carroll money plus whatever the budget would have been if he'd not been sold, must be used to plug the gaps we've got, but through the fact that no clubs other than Man Utd/City/Chelsea and possibly Arsenal will be spending big. So IMHO it won't be us catching everyone up, it'll be most of the rest having to come down to our recent spending history levels - balancing the books. Once all the teams, bar those above, have to work within their income/turnover restraints then I can see us looking up and not down. *disclaimer* The Ashley-factor has not been taken into account in the above scenario.

They may have a point in regards to Bent, but I guess he saw enough about his game at Spurs and last season at Sunderland to know what he can and can't do. Injuries excepted, he's 2nd choice at best for England. And up until Carroll started to build his reputation as the season went on there was no reason for Capello to specifically come up to Newcastle to watch us. Theres no bias, just we both don't (or didn't) have any English players who should be England class.

For once, I agree - but why aren't we part of the 'dozen or so'..? Probably because these dozen or so clubs (if there are really that many clubs who can laugh off at all any crazy priced player bid) are able to sustain buying big year after year, we tried, had our fun in the sun and are back to roughly nearabouts where we can hope to be with our present owner and his 'plan' (mid'ish league and Europa league spot if very, very lucky). If we want to be challenging the champs league spots year after year (like we did during our prime in the prem) then we'll either need new owners ala Man City's to bankroll it or adopt a fuck-it lets really go for it now and worry about the consequences later plan.

Maybe if he didn't have to cover for the other CM then he wouldn't pick up so many cards.....

As the world cup is supposed to be on a rotational basis how about only those countries within that area deciding on who gets to host it in their region. Europe and South America are two easy areas to define, you could have Africa and the Middle East together and put Asia with Oceania, or North and Central America in with Oceania - i'll leave the planet long division to others. So when its Europe's turn, only those federations within Europe would vote, same when its the other areas.

Whatever the current teams managed by Harry Redknap and Sam Allardyce are at any time, plus one free range type vote - Liverpool for now.

Its a bit like when we got relegated. Most, me included, would have snapped someones hand off for guaranteed 6th place and a chance through the play-offs, then when we actually played we found the overall standard a bit crapier than expected so ended up revising our/my expectations upwards. Fast forward a year and before kick-off for the 1st game most (again, me included) would probably have been happy with finishing 17th, but a couple of games in and seeing the teams that are expected to be bottom half then again like last season its not too optimistic to expect to be able to compete all the way to mid-table at least. We may only be a competent team at present, but I fancy our chances of giving any team other than the top 6 or so a good game.

Just watched MOTD again, the curved run he made to lose his marker(s) for his goal was excellent.

I'd rather lose 4-3 than lose 1-0 if that's the next stupid question. Nope.

Trouble comes if we're constantly playing ugly and still losing. There'll be hell on.

One thing to add to this thread if we don't qualify other than the obvious player and manager roles, is the training regime leading up to this world cup. They had an Austrian training camp and selected their base in SA for altitude training. Against Algeria, all the players looked knackered after 20 mins or so. Glen Johnson, who I don't rate as a defender, but at least can run, looked like he was running in water all the game. We have enough problems getting eleven fit and in condition players to gel without them being hamstrung by poorly preparing them. Oh, and play Joe Cole.

how many crap games and crap performances make you bad side then? 1 more should just about nail it.

I bet City win more over the next 5 years than Arsenal. Possibly, but probably without Given in goal.

If he'd said he'd be looking to leave at the end of the season instead of being in a rush to run to Man City, he'd probably have got the Arsenal gig.

Smith and Carroll look like they're ready to sign on.........

Just had to look that one up..........'carefree, unconcerned' It was a wave FFS.

So you think taking the piss out of somebody is reason enough for you to be the subject of an attack. What is it they say, 'play with the bull and you get the horns' or something like that. There are some people you are safe taking the piss out of (face to face) and obviously some you aren't.

Depends on the why I got one really. If I was minding my own business and the local nutter leapt out from behind a wall and chinned me then i'd be a bit pissed off. If I was taking the piss out of the local nutter in the pub and he chinned me, then i'd probably have deserved it.

If he plays tonight that would imply who's more to blame over this (to me anyway).

I can well imagine Taylor, who isn't the sharpest, saying or doing something to annoy Carroll, who is a hot-head, and getting a slap for his trouble. Got Shearer v Gillespie overtones this, nothing more, just a worse outcome for one thats all.

I watched the game last night on the TV. Leon Best looked cack.