Ashley17

Well he's hardly going to say "he's gone, and he's left a huge unfillable hole behind him. Maan that's going to be tough to deal with."

If he can't pass a medical here, he won't pass a medical anywhere.

At the moment he's our best striker, isn't he? And 12 months ago everybody wanted him gone, didn't they? So if we all want Shola to go now, in 12 months time he'll be....

Got to think Arsenal will have players all over the globe 3 days before our game for international friendlies and then with a Champions league qualifier 3 days later, let's fucking have them.

Maybe the big hurdles in this case are actually big hurdles. With those knees he's got no chance of getting over them.

I am getting fucking sick of all the contract politics. It never used to be like this.

Loan him to Milwall, he'll soon learn to stick in at training up here

That's convenient, players who we are signing stay at his hotel but he's full this weekend, what a downer for him.

Can't decide if playing the mackems that early is good news or not. Got to imagine neither side will be "complete" half way through August, despite Pardew's talk about getting a squad in place before pre-season tour to USA. Could be interesting, hope Ben Arfa is in the groove by then

It's not Kazenga he's talking about. Kadar is a good shout...maybe tomorrow will be early Christmas and it's Perch.

Barton contributes much much more than Nolan, I know it's naive to say "Nolan only scores goals and does fuck all else" but with better players (namely strikers) they will score the goals created for them by creative midfielders. Midfielders who aren't overrun by 2 strides from the opposition. If we sign N'Zogbia, Gardner, N Taylor, Ba & Erdinc (and replace Enrique if he goes) then I think we're better off than we were at the end of the season. If there's still money in the coffers then we can assess. This group of lads have done well to get us back to a suitable level, but in reality, the likes of Nolan would have been replaced and sold sooner or later. If he's 30 and sitting on the bench, he was going to be looking to move on, hence why he wasn't offered a long term deal and he's left. I don't know how old his kids are but I'd be guessing they're starting school soon, no sense in starting them for a year then moving them - he's a family man, you can't blame him for looking after number 1. But likewise NUFC should look after number 1 and if we end up with a better squad than we did last season come August 31st, then I'd guess the majority won't be pining over Kevin Nolan (except Wullie) come the end of the season.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Reo-Coker%2C_Nigel.jpg

I think even the people who didn't necessarily want Nolan in the starting XI wanted him at the club. And Nolan probably didn't want to be at a club where he wasn't guaranteed to start. Chicken/egg

If the season started tomorrow, you're right. We have 10 weeks to sign players. If we don't then panic then.

Lockwood has an account on here doesn't he?

With Faye & Nolan joining Big Sam, Michael Ricketts must be waiting by the phone intently.

I was a huge critic of his for most of his spell here but I really liked him by the end of the season. And now he's off. Moral of the story is never change your opinion. That being said, I really like the idea of a 4-2-3-1 with Tiote & Cabaye as the two, then Ben Arfa + 2 & a good striker (Erdinc?). All taking shape I guess.

As long as MOTD don't get Scholes, I'm ok with it.

"Ach wee bairns, I'd like to announce my new assistant, brummie"

And you know exactly what Dowie's contribution was how? I don't know how he knows but he's right. At the talk in I went to with Nolan, he absolutely hated Dowie and said the majority of the dressing room were the same. Basically called him a prick but in a more polite way. What more evidence could you need.... Well that and his outstanding managerial record

And you know exactly what Dowie's contribution was how? I don't know how he knows but he's right. At the talk in I went to with Nolan, he absolutely hated Dowie and said the majority of the dressing room were the same. Basically called him a prick but in a more polite way.

Ba's taller than Shola (by half an inch according to Wiki)

“If we can get him and another two in before the end of next week I’ll still be looking for another two new faces to join us before the start of the season" Erdinc, Ba, N Taylor...+2. Nice.

There hasn't been any talk of Sturridge going to Bolton has there? Yes. Coyle said he'd love to have him back.

I thought it was odd when, for example, David Stockdale was named in the squad for the Swiss game despite not playing an awful lot of football. Forster just seems to be under the radar completely.