Stottie

A bit baffling if we did make bids for de Jong and Carroll and then get no striker, especially after selling Best. Same goes to a lesser degree for Debuchy and Douglas. If there is a silver lining, the lack of striking options may force us into playing 4-3-3 or 4-4-1-1 with HBA in the hole. Going into the window, the big worry was losing Ba for 7m, so at least that didn't happen.

Rory Smith ‏@RorySmithTimes Sorry, it's late. Liverpool have knocked £450k p/w off the wage bill. That was why Carroll was loaned, I would guess. cost cutting it seems Does that mean Spearing was on 200k?!

We shouldn't have sold Best if he's not going to be replaced.

If Abramovich ever loses interest, I bet Chelsea won't be able to live off their glories (a not insignificant three Prems, one CL, one CL runner up) anything like Liverpool have off theirs, most of which won't be in lots of their new fans' memories. Its amazing that the Liverpool bandwagon has kept rolling. They still sell the fourth most shirts worldwide.

Stats aren't everything, but I saw a blog in February or so that reckoned most of Downing's Opta numbers, especially the crossing ones, were almost identical for Villa and Liverpool. It suggested the difference was Darren Bent's finishing versus Suarez's. I don't think he's an England player or anything, but I think he's a bit better than Liverpool have made him look. The "no assists" thing makes it sound like its all his fault. The way Liverpool have played him and the pressure of the fee have clearly messed up Carroll, moreso than Downing I think.

4th is a legitimate target. We qualifyied for Euro last year with what looked like a rickety squad and playing Williamson for a long period. If there was ever a time to get back on the positive train it would be now imho. Well said, Parky. Three of the teams mentioned have made questionable managerial appointments and the other has just been raided for the equivalent of Cisse and Cabaye. I wouldn't worry about Liverpool unless they get Dempsey AND another finisher. Ultimately the table doesn't lie. We finished above Chelsea because we were good enough to do so. That's if beating them away wasn't proof enough.

Most of our backup players seem to be backups for a number of roles. It's a risky strategy. Anita can't cover at fullback if he's needed in midfield, etc.

Liverpool into the bottom half after one game. Quality!!

As a follow-on from last season, another key moment with him out left. If we have to play 4-4-2, it might be nice to see him left, and maybe Marv right. Playing him right in a 4-4-2 encourages him to cut in and shoot, which isn't what you always want when you're playing two strikers. I would still prefer a free role in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 though.

His finishing and final ball are consistently pretty poor. Not up to the same standard as his general play. From what I read about Michu when he signed it seemed like a steal. Today confirmed it. Suarez creates havoc with his skill but havoc alone doesn't win you games. He missed a header second half that would have had them foaming at the mouth had Carroll missed it.

Lethagic and a pretty clueless on the whole. Still its 0-0, so count our blessings and go out there to win it.

Being humiliated by Kenny's right hand man into the bargain.

Do it! At least they could defend under King Kunny.

One-nil to Parky surely!!!

Great strike from Gera but he got a free hit from the edge of the box. You'd think it would be Allen's responsibility because he's too short to be much use defending a corner.

Didn't Sturridge leave because of Hughes?

No-one will match Carroll's current wages so he's in a powerful position regarding his future. If Liverpool won't accept a lower transfer fee, he'll cost them four mill a year sitting on the bench losing even more value.

Bringing Carroll on after 65 minutes in place of Ba would be a nice option. Some old fashioned 4-4-2 might be good in the Europa League too. I can't remember if it was Zonal or Jonathan Wilson, but one of them said a big man is the most effective option to bring on late in the game if the other team has parked the bus.

He scored nearly twice as many for us since Jan 2011 than Carroll has for Liverpool. I'll never forget what he inspired to do in the 3-0. Like Guthrie, he'll need replacing, and good luck to both of them. If he's up for it, he could score a lot of goals in the Championship.

At Liverpool Rodgers will have to get his system to produce multiple chances against teams sitting back and defending. Given Liverpool's finishing, it will have to be lots of them. Had he gone to Spurs, he would have had to do it against even more defensively set up teams. For all their possession, Swansea didn't create all that many chances last season. They had the fourth worst record against teams in the bottom half. Consistently beating the minnows is the easiest way to finish high up the league. We got 16 more points than Liverpool against the lower half and finished 13 ahead of them. Keeping possession is a massive help defensively, but Liverpool's problems aren't defensive ones. I don't think that's such a problem for Spurs either.

I can't see them loving the Moyes 4-6-0 formation.

I guess someone has said it but great to see him gone and Demba Ba still a Newcastle player!

They got a big two point boost that helped them stay up the time before when Wayne Bridge showed N'Zogbia inside with the scores level and minutes to go. That kind of fortune won't last forever.

s*** stirring c***. Why bring this up one year onwards..? Exactly. Why would/should Demba Ba have an opinion on us over say Everton anyway for a decision made before he's arrived? If he likes it here and wants to stay, offer him a reasonable deal. If his agents are itching to get him elsewhere, that's what will happen. Either way, his opinion on Newcastle before or on arrival a year ago is irrelevant now.

Better attacking wide players would give them more of a Plan B. They could also do with a better backup CH than Savic.