Consortium of one

I've no problem with Ireland on the team next year but I hope he won't be looked upon as a key player. With his recent history, relying on him to be a major contributor could be a disaster and be a setback for the club. The club needs fewer question marks, not more.

I like this. My only quibble with Nolan was his comments after Carroll went to Liverpool. Hopefully Barton and then Enrique are next.

I get the feeling Ashley changes his mind on the slightest of whims.

The kid is one footed. Pass.

I remember reading somewhere that Hughton was out and Pardew in because Hughton the lacked tactical sophistication that Pardew allegedly has. While I can agree with that to some extent, I still feel that Hughton wasn't given enough time and support to grow into the job. It is not a given that Hughton ever would have grown as a tactician, however, I think his ability to motivate his players and foster team unity were qualities that were too quickly overlooked and/or dismissed. I can say that I'm pretty damned please that the club didn't sink like a rock when Hughton was sacked and think Pardew has done pretty well. Both have had to function under difficult circumstances, considering that Ashley and Lliambas are pretty much clueless when it comes to running the club but I still feel I'd rather Hughton had been allowed to stay. He showed that he could learn on the job and still has potential whereas with Pardew, I think we pretty much know what we have.

They need a few players who will look you in the eye before they punch you in the face rather than kick you when you aren't looking, if you catch my drift. His players, for the most part, are whiny cheap shot artists and that punk Nasri leads the line, IMO. Wenger, like any good manager, will protect his players in public; even the spineless weasely ones.

They both look like 80's throwbacks. 80s? I'm thinking more pre-humanity throwbacks. They look like they should be hoying rocks at mammoths.

Someone rubbished him in the press and I think it may have been JFK. Something about Xisco not being aggressive and going to the post on the training pitch. found it: http://www.newcastleunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/kinnear_says_language_barrier_is_xiscos_problem_410450/index.shtml

So it will be called "9 marked down from 15"?

Someone rubbished him in the press and I think it may have been JFK. Something about Xisco not being aggressive and going to the post on the training pitch.

Win a cup.

Ireland has "old man legs"

nah, you're wrong

There is a hidden column in the table named "Joey Barton?". A "Y" in this column automatically places that club at the bottom.

The first thing I'll look at with interest is where Liverpool finish in the table and if they land a place in the Europa Cup. If they don't then the immediate "I want European football" argument is taken off the table as neither Liverpool nor Newcastle will play European football next year (unless, of course, a big Spanish or Italian club move on Enrique). Then it will come down to how Jose Enrique perceives the relative aspirations of Newcastle and Liverpool and from that outcome I think we'd be able to determine Ashley's commitment.

I'd take Bassong back.

SAFE Too many teams between us and the relegation zone. It would take a perfect storm for us to go down.

No doubt Ashley has plowed a lot of his own money into the club and I give him credit for that. I'll even applaud him for trying to be fiscally responsible because I think in the long run it suits the best interests of the club. However, my big issue with him is the football related decisions he makes. He needs to remove Liambas and get a real footballing person in that position. Some one with practical experience who would reign Ashley in from some of the God awful, knee jerk decisions he is prone to make.

wouldn't want him managing my football club but damn, I'd love to see him interviewed each and every day. You can't make that stuff up.

this

Steven Taylor is happy just because Andy Carroll isn't here to punch him in the face anymore.

I love the smell of propaganda in the morning.

I hope so

No, people were saying that Caroll wasn't worth a SECOND pay increase in one season, having just signed a new contract in September. I believe they offered to renegotiate in the summer, which seemed fair enough to me. Or a better deal to protect the asset. I am surprised people still think we sold because of a transfer request & a pay rise WE sold because of a £35 million bid. Yup. And if it were my decision, one of the first questions I'd ask myself is if I really felt I could get the same 35M for him in the summer.