AyeDubbleYoo

Haway, haven't we played with Guivar'ch as a lone front man? And haven't Everton started games with no strikers?

Also, "being impartial" doesn't mean "taking the same view as the fans".

I think all that will be answered this summer. I am expecting there will be a few clubs sniffing round Enrique, Barton and Tiote. These guys will stay IMO if we look like we are going to buy players to make us a force next season. If we don't spend seriously the we'll probably see them leave and that will answer the questions about the clubs ambition. Yeah I agree. All I would say is that there probably have been clubs sniffing around them already, maybe especially after our relegation. We kept the nucleus of the team together then, only got rid of the total wasters (we still have a few obviously). I just don't get the feeling that Ashley's plan is based on selling players, it's more based on controlling wages and contracts and spending less on transfer fees. If we do that sensibly there's no need to sell unless people are talking silly money. It's a slower way to progress, and Ashley will obviously set us back occasionally with shite decisions, but it's the only option we've got at the moment.

I always though Aliadere looked alright, pretty pacey and dangerous in attacking areas. He never got many goals though, I think he'd probably be on about the level of Lovenkrands. An extra body, but probably not many extra goals.

Not that I've noticed... my Dad talks some total shit about Newcastle and he's picked most of it up from the Chronicle. If anything they're too negative and ignore the financial reality too often. Basically they're just shit... as with 90% of football writers.

Bosingwa is mint and often unjustly slagged off for some reason, however I guess he's on absolute mega bucks at Chelsea.

It does seem that Jonas's future is either on the bench as backup for both sides or on the right wing. That would explain the desire to sell Routledge and the attempted signing of N'Zogbia, as well as this Marveaux deal (great name by the way!).

Non, nobody wins trophies with Newcastle! He was a very exciting player for us, and scored a lot of goals. It was a successful time for the club, though we didn't win any trophies.

There's no evidence that Ashley is buying players to sell on at a profit, I wish people would stop posting that. It's totally made up. Aye, we took the money for Carroll, but the fee was insane and the lad wanted to play hard-ball over a new contract. Hence Ashley cashed in and booted him out. Obviously we're now running on a strict financial regime, but that's the reality of the club's situation (thanks partly to Shepherd's mad spending and lending). Whether or not spending within your means is "lack of ambition" I don't know... but I do know we couldn't continue how we were.

Hughton said he had pace when he signed him, Coleman said he had pace the other night but I agree I haven't seen much sign of it. I don't know if it's the way we are playing as at the moment the only service him and Ranger are getting is high balls hoofed in their general direction. Exactly, Ranger and Best might be Usain Bolt for all we know, but dealing with shoulder-height balls while facing away from goal won't help them show it.

Oh aye, people were predicting he's get elbowed in the face and break his cheekbone! FFS, we all know Shola isn't the best footballer in the world but he never lets anyone down except by his limited ability, which everyone is aware of.

improves our defence as you said gives nolan more freedom to go forward but also gives barton more freedom to go wider, cut inside too much to help our cms vs fulham Yeah, exactly, I firmly believe we'd have got at least a point against Fulham if Tiote had been playing, probably 3. Out strikers are poor but if you give some decent supply and chances to Nolan, Ranger, Best and Lovenkrands they will get a few goals between them. The midfield is the key to the rest of our season.

Was anyone here wearing a "LEON BEST IS MINT", number 20 shirt at the Fulham game? Have to say that was quality!

Good fashion sense as well, those boots match the kit perfectly.

I was a fan during Ginola era, and I remember a couple of his goals really well, but I was a bit too young to remember his performances in detail. I would say probably Ginola was better, but I definitely remember the Robert years more clearly, the man's left foot was incredible. I'll also always enjoy the time he punted the ball off Bernard's head and knocked him out. Hopefully HBA can give us some more great moments.

It's a fact that most players don't understand how fans feel, or at least they don't always remember to think of that when they're giving interviews. So we shouldn't be surprised that Nolan just tossed off these comments without thinking too much. But Kevin Nolan has shown this season that, unlike a lot of players who have represented NUFC in recent years, he cares about doing the business on the pitch and is capable of binding the dressing room together. Without him we might well be in a much worse position than we are now. For that reason I'm prepared to accept that Nolan is just a typical footballer who has been caught out by a potentially tricky question because he's mates with Carroll. I don't think we need to hang him out to dry for it.

unbelievably petty but i enjoy that fact Not surprised that people in west london can afford more shirts than people in Liverpool TBH.

I'm with this. Sheer blind unflinching bitter hatred is what's needed. No argument here.

Yeah you're right, he's just decided that he'll only invest a limited amount of money and try to run the club within its own means. Basically as if it was one of his other businesses. It might work if everyone else was doing the same thing.

I just checked the squad list, he definitely isn't.

Don't worry, they won't be leaving to play in Europe for ages.

Football clubs aren't publicly-owned concerns, though. They're privately-owned businesses operating in a cut-throat competitive environment. They don't operate in a vacuum though, if they're getting squeezed by higher prices from suppliers, less income and lack of available credit then they have to tighten their belts the same. At least ones not in the Champions League and not owned by mega-rich owners do.

Have to say I do think you're giving him too much benefit of the doubt there, in all honesty. I know, I think I probably am as well. My basic problem is calling what Ashley is doing 'short-termist'. If anything, what was happening before he arrived was much more short-termist and was putting the future of the club in danger. He is a gambler and he's gambling the short-term (we'll probably stay up) against the long term (the club's finances will be stable). I don't think he's doing anything much for the short term, except maybe capitalising on an opportunity to bring in £35m.

Not sure Dalglish even deserves a point for signing Carroll... he hasn't kicked a ball for them yet and everyone in the know universe knew he was a good player.

We are always far too harsh on our young players (and players in general), especially if they're perceived to not be getting 'stuck in' enough. I haven't sat in enough home crowds of other teams to know whether it's any worse than any other club, but it can't help matters.