AyeDubbleYoo

He's been class almost every time I've seen him.

If he wants to be closer to his best mate Bramble then he'll come to Newcastle as that's where Bramble lives. Bramble lives in Durham,Chester-Le-Street to be precise. He lives in Langley Park if we're being extra precise. In a house, just to clarify.

The midfield's alright apart from Killer Kilbane.

Surely there's no way Routledge will play for us this season... can't see it happening.

Very unsurprised that Fulham are the quietest in the league, it's not a football ground as we know it.

No Tiote, Ben Arfa and now Nolan - is it too late to return my tickets?

Smith is obviously going to start.

Alex Ferguson is really the only manager I can think of who doesn't have a best XI. He's done an amazing job of making the whole squad believe they are important and that they have a role in the team. Should be the model for every manager in the future - why limit yourself by always picking the same people?

Hasn't Pards hinted that he sees HBA as more of a traditional number 10 as opposed to a wide man? Yeah, I think so, was just responding to the formation posted with the 4-3-3.

Aren't Zoggy and HBA both highly left-sided though, I'd be worried we would lack width under that system and the game would become too congested.

Wasn't it signing Duff that screwed him up? Did he even play in the same squad as Jonas?

Ironically going to Wigan has probably helped is career in the long-term. I'm sure with how he's performed for them will now mean there are some decent clubs looking to sign him.

Hoy, I've paid £50 to go to this.

It's even worse than Guthrie/Nolan in terms of potential rapeage. If they can keep up with Lampard then he really is finished.

But it would be a bonus of moving to a 'better' club, right? Hate to sound really defeatist, but I think we should just move on. I'm resigned to him going - and admire that you aren't. There are plenty of good, hungry left-backs who can come in and replace him, they may not be as good as him yet, but who's saying they won't become better? Don't get me wrong, I think he's likely to leave, I just don't think it's anything to criticise the club for because he's got to the point where he might want to move his career on.

Best = goal machine Xisco = gay icon Don't see the problem there TBH.

Maybe I phrased it wrong, what I meant was that the lure of a better club might be enough to tempt him away, salary won't be the issue.

Upson is overrated, but if he's relatively cheap I wouldn't mind going for him. That said, I don't think we need to sign a first XI CB, we could look at a young one with potential to improve.

A well known national journalist has informed me that our wage cap is £50k a week. And the potential to earn £70k a week at a club like Liverpool or Bayern Munich wouldn't be an issue? Maybe, but the Liverpool and Bayern Munich bit is more important than the £70k bit IMO. We could match their wage offers and he would still probably leave.

He's Derek Llambias.

I doubt the salary will be the deciding factor either way. If we strengthen a bit and he decides he can get into the Spain team playing for us, we've got a chance of keeping him. Otherwise it's hasta la vista.

That's how I feel. Carroll had emotional ties to the club - the others don't. So if he can leave, then all of them will as soon as a better club comes in for them so it is a case of enjoying them whilst we can. Don't think it's as clear cut as that, but I know what you're saying. We shouldn't be resigned to losing every decent player we have, nothing suggests that will happen, especially if we strengthen in the summer.

What could they do though? We can't get back in the top 4 overnight. We should aim to be a top seven club next season. If we start spending some of the £30 million Liverpool paid us up front, secure Barton on a new contract, then who knows, he may stay. I personally think he wants to play for a top four club, with European football to get the international recongition he deserves. I agree, but even if we spend a lot of the £30m there's a good chance Jose will still fancy a shot elsewhere. Just as long as we understand that and don't slam the club too much if it happens. in all reality though how much difference does us slamming the club make? nowt. we'll still go, they'll still do what they want. for better or worse. It doesn't make any difference, just this is a discussion forum and we talk about things.

What could they do though? We can't get back in the top 4 overnight. We should aim to be a top seven club next season. If we start spending some of the £30 million Liverpool paid us up front, secure Barton on a new contract, then who knows, he may stay. I personally think he wants to play for a top four club, with European football to get the international recongition he deserves. I agree, but even if we spend a lot of the £30m there's a good chance Jose will still fancy a shot elsewhere. Just as long as we understand that and don't slam the club too much if it happens.

Agree, all I wanted was not to be soiling myself come May, and I'm not. Just really hope the summer is good for us.