Novocastrian

Nolan's wages could have been better spent on keeping Carroll; a promising player with bags of potential. However, that would have robbed Ashley of the chance to rebuild the squad without putting a penny of his own money in. The whole thing demonstrates how utterly irrelevant Pardew's position as 'manager' has become.

I never quite get used to how authoritarian you English are. Looking forward to checking Twitter later on after Barton's had a few scoops at the races. Should be quite instructive.

Most of the 'fantasy' line-ups posted on here - featuring Zog, Gervinho etc - have not included Nolan. In this brave new age where 'every penny' of the Carroll £35m will be reinvested in the team it is difficult to envisage a role for him. Certainly if the club actually follows through with some of the press speculation and signs players of the calibre already mentioned (I remain deeply sceptical) he could be a bit part player. He is looking after his career and wants a longer deal. The club are baulking at giving a longer deal for a player who may not have the longevity to remain effective into his 30s. I personally thank him for staying during the relegation season and fighting to take us back into the top tier. No-one can be really sure of the effect he has on team spirit and I suppose time will tell if he really was the glue holding the whole thing together.

You think a week is an instant decision? Its simple really, does he want to stay or not. Pretty easy really. A week is nothing. Not sure why people expect these things to go through this quickly. It's the same with some of our transfer targets, people saying 'move on' if we haven't signed someone within a couple of weeks of being linked to them. EDIT: Very naive if you believe it's 'pretty easy'. Its a decision over 6 months or more, even more naive to think its only dawned on him the past 7 days. How can he decide on something he was offered maybe a week ago, six months ago? He may not have been sure what he wanted to do, decided to see what was put on the table and then go from there. Like Dave said, there's also other factors like waiting to see who we sign too. I know most footballers think the world revolves around them but it's not all about him. He must realise the club need, if not an answer, at least some indication of his intentions. We do, after all, need to plan for life after him.

It's obvious we have learned absolutely nothing in the last few years. The clue is in the possession of the actual ball and passing it directly to a teamate; preferably someone in the same postal area.

Almost makes up for having to watch that cunt Garth Crooks.

It's the fat that makes him look fat, not the stripes.

£50 for a shirt that will be worn one season!!! Robbing bastards, think I'll buy a retro one from TOFFS are something.

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