Stottie

They're also being used by the Barton side to suggest top clubs are interested. So long as it gives them something to write, I bet they're happy with whatever is shoveled their way.

Devil's advocate, but would things change if Barton was being sold for a few million?

I don't like clicking links to the Sun but that one says If Barton has said he won't go for a fee, has the club got any say if they want rid? Before anyone assumes otherwise, this doesn't mean I expect any kind of replacement or think the club is being properly run.

You're right in that goals from midfield needs to be considered but a good few of Nolan's came with him in an advanced role as a kind of second striker off Carroll. I seriously doubt we'd have got the same goals from him in the coming season. Pissi didn't make that fateful statement for nothing!

Yet another shitstorm at perfect shitstorm timing. This fecking club! Didn't Barton say he'd stick around or go on a free? Does that mean he's basically blackmailed the club into letting him go for nowt regardless of whatever perceived value he has?

He's too slow to play out wide for a CL aspiration club. Imagine Lennon off, Barton on for Spurs. He didn't look good in the middle playing for us, but that could change with some variation of 4-3-3 , I suppose. That's doubtful though if Tiote couldn't make him look good. Like when Fatso signed him to come here, I guess it will have to be to a club with a manager who thinks he can handle him. Maybe Pulis. Arry probably thinks he could, but the lack of pace and a Carroll-like targetman limits Barton's value to them. Since he supports them and they're strapped, maybe Everton.

Nolan found a good deal elsewhere, and Barton may too, but it doesn't mean either deserved one here. All the twitter stuff is just proving he's a mong. While its clear from the Keegan case that the club management are arses, it doesn't need to be brought up at every opportunity or used to justify every player getting their dream contract. Not least when the majority of goals or assists they achieved were with Carroll.

I'd just like to say Liverpool are lucky that their name (from decades ago) gets them more income from shirt sponsorship etc. than clubs that have been more successful in recent years, i.e., Arsenal. Its one of the main reasons they can spend big.

I seriously don't want him sold but he must be worth more than Henderson. 15M is a joke!

Wigan have put him prominently in the shop window with their comments but they won't be in a hurry. It's just a case of waiting it out unless we want to pay 3m or so over the odds. Given Wigan's finances, I'd be amazed if they didn't sell him this window.

It might keep Vidic on the pitch if Messi or Villa runs at him and he's last man. When Eto'o got past him from the corner of the box, it was 1-0 Barca and pretty much their game from then on.

Plenty of entertainment and more thrills than spills. Better than expected. Would have been 8/10 for ninth but a sour-tasting 7/10 in the end.

Only on paper as a group of individuals perhaps. They were lucky as feck to get a point at SJP. Their goal came from one of our breaks when we had 4 onto 2. We were not outplayed.

Strong ManYoo team there. If I supported them, I wouldn't want some of that lot going into tackles with Charlie Adam.

It could be hard to play this one right. If he's going, we've got to hold out and get the best price, but that means having to get a replacement in first. I can see us selling him and failing to get anyone in at the last minute. Or some really shit signing like Wayne Bridge. If he is going, play Ferguson LB tomorrow. He's clearly good enough going forward, but the sooner we know about his defending, the better.

Aye, we've had a good season on the whole, but Carroll's gone and we can't be relying on Nolan to score at with Lampard regularity. With the continuing bad financial news from clubs, its a bit disappointing that there are still big big money transfers like Carroll and Bent. Or it would be disappointing if we weren't a beneficiary (!) I thought things would be starting to get a bit more sensible by now.

Very very good keepers, Schmiechel or pre injury Cech level, and very bad ones make a difference, the bad ones especially in making the rest of the defence nervey. I don't think the difference between good and very good is so important. After strikers, I would say a dependable out-ball is makes the biggest difference. Someone who's always coming close or making space and happy to receive it. CM is the normal one, but back to the goal striker would do too.

Does that count as a direct freekick? Our first from one all season in the league?

Shit in every department there. Well maybe not goalkeeping, but everything else. It might be hard not to play Ben Arfa if that's the best the rest can manage. The season tickets won't be selling like cream cakes (© SBR).

Get Kuqi on!

Their lineup isn't as good as ManYoo's and we got a draw off them without offering too many chances. With our attacking players, I can't see us scoring more than one though. Anyway its no foregone conclusion. Howay the Toon!

The time to do something about fakery was Rivaldo in the WC. Didn't he get away with a small fine?

It'll be interesting to see what he does when his team needs to score two. My guess is to continue the spoiler tactics and go out while pissing and moaning all the way. Maybe a bit of route one to Adebayor like he used to with Drogba.

I don't think Wenger is anything like as good at finding defensive players. At present, they concede too easily from set pieces and route one. Stoke and their ilk get results on them most seasons now. We did too with that Carroll goal.

And he's put 4 past them this season and all that Nolan has scored more against SAFC this season than Jordan Henderson has scored for SAFC in his career. He's scored more than their entire midfield all season. More league goals than Defoe, Crouch & Pavyluchenko put together. Ha ha. Top scorer for us this season will do for me though. Best might have come close to Carroll's total too had he stayed fit. Shola needs four more if its all comps, but games are running out and he doesn't get them quick in the league.