STM

Carroll needs to be left to continue his development in the premiership. My main concern is that if he has a poor spell, the fans will get on his back very quickly. It's important that we keep Lovenkrands, who would inspire confidence in Carroll but it's equally important that we buy another top quality striker. Suggestions; Fletcher Tuncay Santa Cruz (if he can prove his fitness) Keane Pavluchenko Klasnic Miller Krasic Zamora Cole (Some of which are far more realistic than others because of likely price and availability)

Ashley is the reason we are in the championship. "nono Sheppard was taking us down too!!!"

12 to go

This is the tie that we were teased about last season when we were relegated. "Next year you will be playing teams like Scunthorpe". Wouldn't it be nice that in beating Scunthorpe we could have virtually cemented our place in the promotion spots.

I could construct a long character assassination of Ashley but quite frankly i haven't the time.

Salary : He sold Bassong, Duff, Martins etc in the summer? Or is the summer too long ago? Administration: He would have got far less on the eventual sale of the club had he done this. Backing the manager by buying and paying salaries: He did the minimum that he needed to and you forget the money we gained off letting Geremi go, hardly major "investment". OUT: Geremi 60k IN: Routledge 20k, Best 20k, Williamson 20k It's good weeling and dealing but it's not heavy investment, which is what we need in the summer.

If we are beating Bristol comfortably, which is unlikely then i'd give Barton 15 there. If he isn't i'd wait until the next home game.

I love the fact that the biggest defence of Ashley, is that we have not gone into administration. Setting the bar very high aren't we. "OMG we haven't gone out of business so Ashley must be doing a good job". Not only is he an average (some would say lucky) businessman but he also knows nothing about football and is a cretin aswell.

Tell me I've just read that wrong and you didn't say that we're playing better football than the last time we were promoted under keegan. Correct me if i'm wrong but haven't we got more points under Hughton at this stage than Keegan. Of course you know which football i would prefer to see. Forgive me Mick, i'm in clever arse mode. Better, in my mind mean's more effective, not more attractive. For example Arsenal play more attractive football than Chelsea but it's probably not better. because we have more points doesn't even mean we were more effective. keegans promotion team dominated games in a way this team hasn't/couldn't. this team has picked up a lot of points in games where we couldn't have argued with a point. plus keegans team could have competed well in the prem, this team would be at best in a relegation fight. Points = effectiveness. The thought of Hughton's bores being more effective than Keegan's entertainers is a horrific one but it's true. I must confess, i won't be defending Hughton's men after this post merely for symbolic purposes. On a more general note, we need to start deciding what sort of team we want because if we try and play attractive football we could get pwned in the premiership.

We had a much better balanced team under Keegan and we would have beaten Hughtons team 8 or 9 times out of 10. The league was stronger back then and we played some stunning football both home and away. This team has been very poor away from home more often than not and that couldn't be said about Keegans team who were on a different level. We had a good defence, we had a midfield which was both functional and exciting to watch as they could break up play and actually find a team mate with the ball, we actually had pace and creativity. Up front we had an attack that would rip this team a new arse especially once Andy Cole arrived. Thank you for spoiling my fun. Still had more points ... i think (couldn't be arsed to check).

I heard he over spent the clubs kit budget..... M&S cardigans aren't cheap you know.

Tell me I've just read that wrong and you didn't say that we're playing better football than the last time we were promoted under keegan. Correct me if i'm wrong but haven't we got more points under Hughton at this stage than Keegan. Of course you know which football i would prefer to see. Forgive me Mick, i'm in clever arse mode. Better, in my mind mean's more effective, not more attractive. For example Arsenal play more attractive football than Chelsea but it's probably not better.

So you havent even seen video's of the football we played that season ? We are playing better football now.

Care to tell us who thinks he is a good guy? Care to tell me why you defend the man who ruined our club?

Nono Mike Ashley is funding the club though. He's such a good guy to do it out of the goodness of his heart.

Ideally i'd hardly get rid of anyone. However, realistically will need to reduce the wage bill and probably raise funds. Until i saw the transfer budget i would get rid of; Best, Butt, Shola, Pancrate and Taylor. Two of which, are out of contract anyway. If i believed i could replace them with better players and get decent fees i would sell; Smith, Nolan and Barton. We can't afford to have a small squad next year.

Indeed i did

Coloccini in the metro centre. It took my girlfriend to point him out... how the fuck do you miss Coloccini's hair?

Yes, I'm an outsider so that 'limits' my view but... 1) Selling half of your best players - I got the impression it was imperative the wage bill was reduced? Regardless, why would Owen, Martins and Viduka etc stay in the Championship? Obsolete point surely. 2) How did he get you relegated? 3) The impression I get is he gets a lot of criticism and most is justified. But if we're looking at it from the other point of view, shouldn't he be open to praise for good things, i.e. the debt he's wiped. He sold half our best players before we got relegated. N'Zogbia, Milner, Given etc. His decision making got us relegated. There's no proof he has wiped the debt

oh and renamed the stadium

So in summary Ashley has; Got us relegated Isolated our two biggest hero's Sold half of our best players Lied to the fans Appointed one of the most despised men in football as director of football Appointed one of the worst managers in football as our manager Invested very little in the playing staff Tried and failed to sell the club on two occasions thus ruining two seasons of football and there are STILL some people who want to defend him.

Isn't she from Liverpool? Exactly... she won't want to move north

It's a common myth that Ashley was going to sell the club for 100m. This price didn't include the extra 80m the club owed to him. Since then he's taken plenty of lump sums to pay himself back some of the 80m; Given 6m Milner 14m Duff 3m N'Zogbia 6m Martins 6-8m How much of these fees have gone back into transfers?

O'Hara has more movement than Guthrie but is probably a slightly worse passer from what i've seen. That's only because i think Guthrie is a brilliant passer mind. My only concern is that we won't be able to convince his slutbag to move north.