AyeDubbleYoo

Depends how you look at first-touch and control. Carroll's is not very good, as the number of mis-hits and wrong steps he made yesterday shows, but it's effective. Doesn't matter so much if the ball bounces a yard or two away as he is big enough and forceful enough to keep it under control and, more importantly, make some use of it. He's got that kind of randy awkwardness that outfoxes defenders and before the ball reaches him he seems to have some idea about what he is going to do with it. I think Ranger can more accurately trap a ball and get it to stick to his foot, but he's not yet making as effective use of that ability as Carroll is of his. Is this really the place to discuss Carroll's bedroom technique? Sorry.

I totally agree, I hate that song and it makes us look like idiots. Though I recently heard our away fans singing 'Kenwyn Jones eats bananas with his feet', so nothing surprises me about how ignorant we can be. No different to other sets of fans though, obviously.

Out performed Carroll by quite a way at the weekend, I would have liked to see him stay on with Harewood. Wish he had scored, but he'll get goals eventually in this league.

ohmelads, won't quote all that post but you're spot on. I think it was disgusting on the TV to hear Jonathan Pearce say that it was to Newcastle's 'eternal shame' that we fired Bobby. Absolute bollocks, it might have been an error taking into account what happened after, but that's what happens to football managers. I'm sure Bobby would have taken it in those terms, although he would have been frustrated.

Every player is a confidence player, by the way. Some just have loads of confidence most of the time! For a young lad thrown in at the deep end I think he's done excellently.

He does look really casual on those highlights, also he's as mad as a box of frogs. I wouldn't go after him.

Can't understand this at all... surely he knew Notts County were in a rubbish league before he signed for them? What could have changed so quickly? I'm suprised they've allowed him out so easily TBH - contracts truly mean nothing in football now.

I was at the Arsenal game and they played alright but not amazingly well. West Brom had a number of good chances, and let's not forget that they themselves were playing a very weakened side. The only thing I would say is that maybe playing all of the kids at once doesn't help them. I would like to see maybe 50/50 first team and reserves in the cup.

I disagree that a manager should always protect his players, especially with regards to diving. I would like to see him say "it's clear that my player dived, and I will be having words with him about it... we don't want to see that from Arsenal players." He might be saying that in private, but somehow I doubt it.

Sol has a screw loose, sorry to be unfeeling like.

I can't post anything pre-match in this division - I honestly still don't know anything about the other teams! Apparently we've already played the best sides and have rolled over them fairly easily, so same this time around I suppose.

Let's just abolish the league cup, it's fucking depressing how little everyone cares about it. The big clubs seem to want to be knocked out as soon as possible, and the small clubs don't think they have a chance. One of them must be wrong!

The clue's in the name, a 'three month' loan deal.

He's quite pacy and direct though isn't he? He'll be a handful, can't hurt to have him on board.... bit of experience as well.

I forgot how short a journey from KX it was... are there still tickets or is that a silly question?

I imagine Man Utd and Fergie don't put up with any shit. He would have been told in no uncertain terms that he had to sort out his fitness and workrate.

I don't really believe in resting players in the cups. It doesn't always help you in the league, look what happened to Fulham this week. It can just as easily break up your form and team spirit. The season is as long as it is, it must make a neglible difference to your final points total playing a few extra cup games.

I heard the deadline was Friday.

I reckon about 7 at the moment, we're doing well but there's still a significant chance we won't go up.

Thing is, Ranger has had a difficult and thankless job to do in recent games. He can't show much going forward because he's being asked to play with his back to goal, hold it up and play it backwards.

Suggests we are at least trying to get players in, so it's a good sign. I can't remember him that much, but he's an experienced player for the squad, so thumbs up. Another wide player or two and a little man upfront would do nicely too.

It's a mystery to me why so many pundits and commentators seem not to rate Enrique. I rate him as probably our best player at the moment... luckily other clubs might be believing the press and not coming to buy him.

Will be a big indication of our season, how we respond to this defeat. Hopefully the confidence is robust enough to withstand the disappointment, and we won't collapse. We need to go 100% positive in the next game and foget about trying to scrape 1-goal wins. Put two up front and get the pressure on the opposition.

I wish I was so sure that Butt will be dropped... I'm worried about that.