Wallace

One paper mentioned it was Taylor that they were looking at but that would be mental and extraordinarily bad planning on Liverpool's part seeing seeing as he has just signed a new contract.

I feel the same way. I love this lad and the way he is capturing everyone's imagination. And we are now starting to see all the kids with Carroll on the back of their shirts and no doubt trying to copy him on the pitch just like the generation above (Carroll included) did with Shearer before him.

I would be far more upset about us selling Andy Carroll than our other players as I can accept that other players would not have the emotional attachment to the club and would be using it as a stepping stone in their career. However, this is a local lad who loves the club and to whom the number 9 means something and who has another 15 years ahead of him. Why can't we enjoy him for a couple of years.

I don't think the club tends to announce a signng as soon as it is made. I think they will choose the "right" moment.

I have always thought that it was more by accident rather than design that we managed to retain so many players when we got relegated and that we would have sold more had Ashley not decided to sell the club and in the end they just ran out of time. Remember Ashley and Llambias basically abandoned the club for a couple of months whilst they concentrating on finding a buyer. I remember Colo's agent saying there were clubs interested in him but there was no-one at the club to talk to and other agents said something similar. Once the new season was upon them, the players that desperately wanted to go were shipped out but it is likely by that time, other potential buyers had turned elsewhere and were no longer interested.

I'll wait to see what happens with Carroll. I think that will tell us more about the direction of the club. Keep him and I might start to have some faith, sell him and I will think what's the point.

Wages are probably a major factor as well.

Absolutely no way. One of the best young and upcoming English strikers for Keane (finished and expensive), Gio (lightweight and has not adapted to the PL) and Bentley (will he ever be the player he was at Blackburn?). Carroll works for us - lots of goals and assists and the team is structured around him. Can we afford to change our style at this point in the season to accommodate the 3 Spurs players? Plus they would hugely increase the wage bill compared to Carroll.

It will be interesting to see how Blackpool do in the second half of the season as teams should be better prepared for them in the reverse fixtures.

Good point. There's a lot of talent floating around in the lower leagues, i'd like to see us take a chance on some of it, especially for squad building purposes. ie young LB & RB. Didn't Taylor sign a player this year unaware that he was about to stand trial for assault or something and he ended up spending a few weeks in prison?

I hope not as his managerial career has been a disaster apart from the U21s. But yet another ex Spurs player. Feels like we are becoming some kind of feeder/sister club for Spurs. They get our up and coming players - Bassong and Carroll (rumours seem rife on the Spurs forums) and we get all their has beens.

Talksport saying they have heard a rumour that Peter Taylor might be about to resign from Bradford to become Pardew's assistant manager.

It is hard to judge him as a manager because although he did a great job for us, the circumstances with us were so unique and he had the good fortune to have some talented players with a strong mentality who were determined to prove a point to their critics. I am not sure that if he went to a struggling club where he did not know the players, he would be able to change things in time. I think he would be better off with a stable Championship club as his next job where he won't be under pressure from day one.

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Newcastle-transfer-news-Toon-chase-5m-Lacina-Traore-as-strike-partner-for-Andy-Carroll-article662093.html

Whoosh right? Bentley is ideal. Will take the consistent, level-headed performer over the... other option. Bentley will either flop or excel. Larsson will be solid. I'm not one for risks. On the radio today they said that Larsson was only on £8k per week at Birmingham - sounds more like our price range.

I don't want us to do any business with Spurs. A nightmare to deal with and they always want very high fees for their players (permanent or loan). And I don't think we could afford the wages for most of the players they are trying to get rid of anyway. Worried that a compromise would include a future deal for Carroll.

Wouldn't be suprised if he is injured. He's gone down in the last couple of games where I thought he might have to go off. He never wants to come off though and has probably caused himself more damage by staying on the pitch.

I like the fact that problems have been kept in house up till now in order to maintain a calm image. However, when a player isn't picked then supporters are critical and often don't know the reasons behind a decision. We had been aware in the past that there were discipline problems with Ranger but he himself has said in interviews that he has learnt his lesson and was knuckling down and the club have said nothing to contradict this. Whilst I would prefer things to be kept in house, this is a reminder that Ranger has still not really addressed longstanding problems with his discpline.

Well here is a pretty positive piece on our performance yesterday (or at least on Carroll and Tiote) from one of the national hacks. http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/mirror-football-blog/Tottenham-2-0-Newcastle-analysis-Why-resilient-Toons-biggest-battle-will-be-holding-onto-Andy-Carroll-by-Oliver-Holt-article659331.html Why resilient Newcastle's biggest battle will be holding onto Andy Carroll, by Oliver Holt By Oliver Holt in Mirror Football Blog Published 20:34 28/12/10 Newcastle might have lost at White Hart Lane yesterday but nobody could ever accuse them of going quietly. Nobody could say they accepted their fate meekly or without effort or determination. If any team is going to have the guts to beat them, they are going to have the bruises to show for it. Their new manager Alan Pardew said it was the worst his side had played since he took over. But there was still something uplifting about the spirit his team showed as they fought for every ball against Spurs. They played like a band of brothers, contesting everything, giving up on nothing, struggling for all they were worth. You want a little glimpse of their attitude – when Younes Kaboul aimed a headbutt at the relentless Cheick Tiote, Tiote did not flinch. He certainly did not go down clutching his face and rolling around in mock agony as many others would have done even though Kaboul had made no contact. Tiote, who had been magnificently combative throughout the match, playing Wilson Palacios off the pitch – he was substituted at half-time – just stood there - defiantly, watching while Kaboul was shown the red card he deserved. It was that kind of match, a blood and thunder battle between two good sides, won by the team with more flair and the guile of Luka Modric, who was more than equal to the aggression of Tiote and Alan Smith. But what will live in the memory is the ferocity of the contest, the fact that no quarter was given and none was asked for. If Tiote versus Modric was enthralling, the struggle between Andy Carroll and Michael Dawson was bone-shuddering, like watching two titans colliding. Carroll is fast becoming one of the hottest properties in the Premier League and he only enhanced his reputation with this display in north London. Playing as a lone striker, Carroll ran himself into the ground, making himself available for every pass, holding the ball up with strength and laying it off well. When Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was asked about him afterwards, he summed him up in one word. “Handful,” he said with a wry smile. Poor Palacios, who had a game he will want to forget, could not cope with Carroll. He tried to challenge him a couple of times and ended up on the floor clutching his face. Some in the Spurs crowd suspected an elbow but replays absolved Carroll of blame. If any part of the Newcastle centre-forward connected with Palacios, it was a swish of his pony-tail. Palacios simply could not cope with his power. Dawson managed better. He met fire with fire. Even though Carroll played well, he was not given any clear-cut chances and Dawson coped well with his aerial threat. Carroll headed a half-chance narrowly over in the early stages, but thereafter his contribution was limited to working the channels and approach play. He never gave up though as Heurelho Gomes found out in the closing stages when Carroll flattened him as the Spurs keeper leapt to claim a cross. Pardew said afterwards that Newcastle owner Mike Ashley had assured him that Carroll will not be sold in the January transfer window. That may be true but it would be a surprise if one of the country’s leading clubs does not test his resolve

Remember that £30m will be paid in instalments. The £30m will probably have to cover the wages paid to new signings. And that Ashley pays upfront for transfers. Suddenly £30m will not go very far.

I heard that the journos were also having the same problem and had been speculating it was for the reason you mention. Also meant to be the same down at Sunderland.

I'd say him and Barton are our two most important players. True but without Carroll, who would take advantage of Barton's crosses. Nolan occasionally but that is it.

He is our team at the minute. Sell him and I think it all fall to pieces very quickly. He is our only striker of note - the rest are not up to much. Ranger is promising and is good at being a nuisance and causing panic but heaven help us if we have to reply on him for goals. I hope Ashley will see the value of building a team around him as the club is more valuable with Carroll here. The club are getting a lot of publicity on the back of Carroll being a Newcastle player and that means (although I hate to say it) more publicity for his other business. Also, a higher profile Newcastle United on the back of an exciting young player is surely more likely to attract a buyer rather than a nondescript average to poor club with average and dull players. As always it depends what Ashley wants out of Newcastle and none of us have a clue about that.

Even if he wants to cut his losses, he still needs a buyer and there does not appear to be anyone interested in us.

I always thinks he starts playing in the last 15-20 minutes. He only seems to start taking players on and going past them later in the game.