The Prophet

Surely he's a potential signing fraught with danger?

the slight difference is that we are basing our idea of the player on what he has shown throughout his career as opposed to the last 3 games. Yes, but again playing devil's advocate, given his rather bitter departures from his previous 2 clubs I can see why some outside NUFC wouldn't be fully convinced on him. How many are genuinely basing their opinion of him on what he did for Lyon and Marseille? I think it's expectation more than anything else. From just three appearences the lad has shown more class than any other player has in a long, long time. As with a majority of other things, the outsider looking in is always going to struggle to appreciate this. We've been stuck with cloggers and has-beens for so long it's so refreshing to have someone with a bit of class and cutting edge. I don't think anyone has him down as a nailed on success, I think it's just genuine exitement about his potential and what he could achieve for us.

Is this a direct quote from Mean Girls, starring Lindsay Lohan? It stars Lindsay Lohan!?

In terms of shot stopping he's excellent, gets down quick with strong wrists behind the ball. He commands the area well too. His problem is his concentration, he seems to get over-excited and comes for crosses he can't possibly reach ala Chelsea. Having said that it's definetly becoming less frequent with experience. If we're planning on keeping Harper and I'd definetly loan him out.

That's absolute w***, I'll be steering well clear of both.

Don't get me wrong, some are far too quick to mount the proverbial high horse, it's simply a result of what happens when you give young lads such a ridiculous sum of money. On top of that, lot's of them have come from unsavoury backgrounds and resort to type. You don't have to read far into a paper to find an article about some young footballer who's been in bother with the law. That doesn't mean we shouldn't expect better behaviour. Ranger has had a handful of decent cameo's but he's shown little in the way of natural footballing ability, it's something he'll have to work on. People dismiss claims he isn't good enough citing the development of Carroll, but that didn't happen by accident. Carroll was and still is a little s**** but there's no doubt he'll of grafted his balls of to become the player he is. Yet with Ranger all you get is strories of his lack of effort in training or picture of him him posing like a tit in some bar. It's down to him really, if he's happy to become a garden varity lower league striker he can carry on the way he is, if he wants to make something of himself the less we hear/see from him the better quite frankly. He badly needs to be loaned out, but if a big enough bid came in I'd have no qualms about shipping him.

What makes it worse is that HE told us that all of the Carroll money would be spent on the team/squad/club. Now he's got the begging bowl out. Not good at all. If he's honest he'll admit he hasn't got a clue what's going on, not that it'll happen of course

The lad looked talented going forward, good pace, decent cross but like M'Bengue he'd have to work on the defensive side of his game.

All this fuss over a Daily Mirror rumour. Didn't they rank bottom on the most reliable rags rumours? Having said that given his price tag, age and ability, Cole would be a horrific signing.

Lets be honest, gun photo or no gun photo, the guy is a grade A prat who quite clearly needs bringing down a peg or two. Unsure why people are so quick to jump to his defence.

I bet the smarmy little shit gets raptured as well. Wanker.

Silly nation.

Freddy Shepherd: 'Would you have appointed a manger with two titles and four manager of the year awards to his name?'

Aye, his lack of footballing brain and inability to finish aside, the lad has potential.

Lovenkrands - 'Ronaldo is a cunt'

Racist!

Really? Struggling to think when I've felt 'rock bottom' this season, even the uncertainty surrounding Hughton's departure was tempered by the fact we'd thrashed the mackems 5-1, won at Arsenal and already had a decent number of points in the bag. The 'worst' part was probably the Stevenage match. We were abject, suffered abysmal performances from under-motivated players (something I thought we'd eradicated with the new team morale and attitude around the club) and we managed to throw Tiote on and get him banned for 3 league matches. Losing 3-1 away to WBA was pretty dismal too, we were awful. Getting tonked 5-1 at Bolton wasn't as bad (mitigating circumstances), nor was the 4-0 thrashing at Stoke...we played fairly well but got punished for sloppy individual mistakes. I genuinely thought we were going to nose dive when Hughton left, it was a pretty low feeling. Really I should have added a category for 'biggest suprise' because it would have to go to Pardew. I've been very impressed at how he's mangaged to maintain a lot of the early season momentum.

With the season meandering to a close and everything apart from a final league position settled, I thought I'd have a reflect. Those expecting a thriller at West Brom may want to wait before contributing: Overall reflections What a ridiculous season. At times I've been sky high, at others rock bottom, it's really difficult to put into words what this year has meant. Looking at it objectively we're guaranteed a mid-table finish on our return to the top flight, we've never looked in any real danger of going down. Given the limitations of our squad, especially the lack of goal scoring pedigree it's nothing short of miraculous, regardless of how volatile the league has been. High Moment There's so many to choose from. If I was going to take a particular result it would have to be the 5-1 thrashing of the mackems. However, if we're talking individual moments it would have to be Tiote smashing in the equaliser against Arsenal. The side put us through the mill that game and to rescue a point with that goal was something special. I was bursting with pride. Low Moment I know a lot will say the sale of Carroll but for me I’ve never felt lower when Hughton left. It’s was the only point in the season I genuinely thought we might implode and sink into the relegation zone. Pardew has come in and done a great job, but the way a man who we owe so much to, was treat with such contempt still gets my angry to this day. Best Player Honorable shouts to Enrique, Tiote, Nolan and Barton but it simply has to be Colo. He’s had the odd blip but on the whole he’s been exceptional. In everything he does he just oozes class, absolutely majestic. Best Individual Performance This season has been a complete team effort so I’m difficult to pick one particular performance. Colo, Enrique and Tiote have all had some absolute belters but for me I’d have to go with Ben Arfa against Everton. The lad looked an absolute touch of class, completely ran the show. I’ve never been so excited about a performance and a player in a long, long time. Best Buy Tiote, no question. Ben Arfa could turn out to be a top acquisition but to bring a player of Tiote’s caliber for absolute peanuts is bloody brilliant business. Exactly what we needed. Most Improved Simpson and Best have come on a ton, but Barton had a great season. People will say it is what we have come to expect from him but it doesn’t disguise the fact he’s improved massively. It could of been so easy for him to go on to become a Smith, Duff or [insert one of the numerous has been we’ve acquired over the years], but he’s really stepped it up this season. Long may it continue.

Personally, I can't see him dropping our top scorer and club captain, for the next season at least.

Brilliance is a bit far like.

http://i53.tinypic.com/i1xmjc.jpg

We shouldn't be looking to replace squad members, the depth is piss poor as it is.

I suppose we'll have the bitter disappointment of deadline day.

Aye, could probably keep an eye on them both.

Oh, not these cunts again.