Novocastrian

Pingel was the biggest plank I ever saw. Worse even than Rob McDonald I agree but I'm sure he left us and played for Bayern Munich!!!

As previous posters have mentioned. George Reilly Tony Cunningham Frank Pingel Billy Whitehurst but for sheer ineffectiveness I give you John Robertson. The prolific Hearts striker signed for big money as Beardsley's replacement. 12 appearance 0 goals and back to Hearts within a very short time. Didn't expect much from journeymen like Whitehurst etc but Robertson arrived with a big reputation and was a huge flop.

He didn't seem to be enjoying his football with us; constantly snarling and looking sullen. He seems to have a smile on his face now and it's obvious he has worked hard to get back on top. Can't understand the enmity towards him, yes he was shit for us but I'd prefer him to get a medal than some whinging Arsenal twat like Wilshere.

1985 3-2 defeat at home to Spurs. Beardsley scored two pens and Chris Waddle was barracked by the home fans as it was, by then, pretty obvious he was going to be a Spurs player the following season.

Probably!! Got a really gash internet connection at the mo.

Anyone got a soft spot for Napoli?? I'm moving to Naples in August and hopefully will be watching Champions League football next season.

Anyone got a soft spot for Napoli?? I'm moving to Naples in August, hopefully will have Champs League football to look forward too next year.

Stupid question really, Newcastle aren't likely to play England any time soon so there is no need for split loyalties as there is no conflict of interest. Some of my happiest memories as a football fan have been watching England in major tournaments. I've been to both the old Wembley and New Wembley to watch England and yes annoying Cockney Wankers are over represented but it doesn't put me off England, just makes me less likely to pay to watch a pointless friendly. The cult of the Premier League and Champions League have reduced interest in international football, and the domestic cup competitions, and I think this is a real shame. However, watching England fighting valiantly and then going out of a competition by the thinnest of margins (Italia 90, Euro 96) is easier than stomaching the gutless surrenders of Sven's and Capello's teams.

In between Frank Pingel and Billy Whitehurst.

It's obvious that Pardew has little say in transfer comings and goings. I think Pardew is the first 'non-manager' we have ever had. The players seem to be managing themselves and he is just a figurehead to be wheeled out at press conferences. Just as Fat Mike wants it. Pardew is just part of Mike's entourage, he doesn't have any gravitas, credibility or say in anything that goes on. Scary really.

So was Carroll bigger than club then? And if they had given in to Carroll it is tantamount to giving every player in the squad an invitation to rush in and demand to renegotiate their contract. Just for the young players that establish themselves as key players for the team and a top player in the division. Could Ashly have done everything to keep Carrol? Yes. He could have paid him 200k a week, purchased him 15 houses in the bahamas, and a years supply of strippers, but that isnt the point is it? Its a management nightmare if you give in. Carrol isnt that special that he can demand an increase after a few months. Holy crap that is so presumptous. He had ample time to negotiate a 5 year contract. It's all about priorities, most Newcastle fans would say Carroll was worth more than 30,000 a week (in a footballing context, yes I know it is astronomical for most people) and most football fans in general would probably think that was quite a low basic wage for an England international with bags of potential. I'm sure Carroll would rather play for Newcastle than Liverpool and if Liverpool were offering 80,000 would he have accepted 60,000-70,000 at NUFC? Yes he was happy to sign a contract a few months ago but things change. Looks like he was using other club's interest to leverage a new deal. Would Ben Arfa, Nolan and Barton be knocking on Fat Ash's door demanding to upgrade their own deals? Possibly, we then need to work out who is worth the money and who is not. Those who we deem not worth the added investment can look elsewhere if a club is willing to pay them. I'll say one thing though, I know Carroll was worth the investment to this club but Fat Ash was not interested and we have now lost a real gem.

We've also had many worse players on much bigger contracts, players much worse than Carroll on huge deals. Yes that was part of a different regime and the size of the remuneration package those poor players were on almost brought the club down. However, there is nothing wrong with tying your very best players down on attractive contracts. Every other 'big' club does it. Problem is Ashley tries to do everything on the cheap, Carroll should have been offered 80 grand a week to stay. Yes he is young and inexperienced but that is the going rate for a player of his potential. Putting him on 30 grand a week when other clubs were sniffing round is tantamount to putting a 'come and get me' sign on the back of his shirt. Which is perhaps what Ashley wanted. I have no problem with rewarding the very best players. It's the dross on 40-50 grand a week that should have their contracts looked at.

Don't be silly, the club is debt-free all thanks to Big Ash. His careful husbanding of resources and cool hand have steadied the ship. It's only a matter of time before he gives Pardew a 'war chest' that will make the Torres bid look like loose change.

Right, fuck Carroll, we need a replacement in the next hour. I can believe the sum of our transfer business is the permanent purchase of HBA who is still injured. Why do we constantly weaken ourselves in promising positions. Are we really going to finish the season with Best/Ameobi/Lovenkrands/Ranger??? Tell me this isn't a fucking joke.

Who fucking cares about the smallprint: Carroll has put in a transfer request; he evidently wants to leave NUFC and join Liverpool. Ashley has accepted a bid from Liverpool; he evidently is happy to accept the money and sell Carroll to Liverpool. They are both cunts. The rest is semantics, hearsay and obfuscation. Chelsea get Torres, Liverpool get Suarez and Carroll and we are left holding the baby.

Massive risk for Liverpool, much better players have gone to much better clubs and still failed. Liverpool are some way off being a Champions League team again, some investment in their defence might have been a better idea. Shame we weren't able to build the team around him but money talks. I'm gutted but we knew all along that a huge bid would prove too much for Ashley.

It's hardly a few 'bell ends', it all over the national press and on national radio and new sites. It still might not happen and I admire your optimism but this has been building all day and looks to have more than a kernel of truth in it, unfortunatley

A hell of a lot of money is being bandied around and, objectively, Carrol is not worth that amount at this stage of his development. However, Carroll is too important to this club to sell for even £40-50m. I know we have sold homegrown players before Gazza, Beardsley, Waddle (and look where we ended up after that) but Carroll can be become a symbol of this club like Shearer. If he continues to develop he could be a superstar and he will have a shirt hanging off the Angel of the North with his name on the back. If he goes we will get maybe £20m to bring in a couple of replacement which may or may not fit into the side, the PL etc. We have had plenty of big money disasters, enough to know that money alone does not guarantee an effective player. If we take the cash, things will irrevocably change and although, evidently, every player has their price, we wil have lost something that money can't buy. Sounds a bit dramatic but I will be crushed if we lose him now.

Shearer cost £8m more than Maradona.

Good deal for Sunderland, the days of average to good players of Bent's standard going for 20 million are drawing to a close. As stated, it's difficult to fit him into a system with another striker. His goal ratio is good but this looks like a panic buy by Villa, crazy price.

Who we got on the bench??

So the six cups we've won in the past mean nothing?? Get a grip, we should be hammering these and I'll be disappointed if we don't bust a bollock to get through this round.

Me too, but if might have backfired with his Geremi like grandad run with the ball near the end.

Lots of perspiration, very little inspiration. His workrate suggests he will be a danger but he continues to be ineffectual. Links up well with Enrique but as a potent attacking force he's a major letdown.

I blame Paul Scholes I blame Alan Smith.