LRD

http://img602.imageshack.us/img602/6844/107530185.jpg Kevin Nolan scores goal #8 for Newcastle.

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/5674/958109.jpg Shearer 1 Keane 0 Too bad the moment where Keane swings and misses his punch can't be made into a matrix-style gif.

That's what I thought. Fwiw Elmander is not starting today. Probably reserving him for us.

Think that's been suggested every single transfer window. Apart from City and Chelsea, I can't see why they'd need to do anything more than any other club does. Nobody wants to be ripped off. Steve Bruce will disagree.

Isn't 5 yellows = 1 match suspension? james '5 yellows in a row' Perch remember?

Elmander is on 4 yellows so hopefully he'll pick one up today.

Decent enough for Arsenal?

Kris Commons rubbing salt into Rangers' wounds.

Knew you'll come up with some dross. Cole and Evra are top, I give you that. Ask Arsenal fans and they'll tell you Clichy is weak defensively. I stopped reading when I saw Konchelsky and Shorey.

Alright then, name me 5 Premier League leftbacks better than him. Go on.

You sure you're in the right thread? Perch thread is on the other pages.

Oxlade-Chamberlain? No chance. Not with Man Utd/Arsenal sniffing. Bale was trying to convince him that Spurs would be a good destination. When he moves he will go to Arsenal. The fee is the only sticking point. Not meaning to be rude, but how the hell do you know all this stuff? You claim to have 'inside knowledge' on a lot of things ITK. So he's talking bollocks then? Don't insult the Oracle.

7th spot qualifies for Europa League too if positions 5 or 6 is the Europa League winner iirc.

Interesting to know that the team's aim at the beginning is Europa League qualification. Which also means he could be satisfied with that, and it is an achievable aim in the near future if not this season provided we reinvest the Carroll money wisely. I would like to think that the 'broken promises' relates to the sale of Carroll and not bringing in reinforcements to strengthen the team, rather than any contractual issues. Do that in the summer and we should still have a reasonable chance of keeping him. Sell him and incur the wrath of Barton and the team. I reckon a Barton headbutt or a Smith reducer on Ashley will then be very much applauded.

Even if we reach the magical 40 points or higher mark, I doubt both Jose and Barton will begin contract negotiations right after. Surely they will just leave it til the summer to see who the club will bring in before putting pen to paper. Mike Ashley would have learnt to conduct contract negotiations in December rather than January in future.

Aye, but he will go to a club challenging in Europe. No chance of us getting him here.

I wondered about that. But... well.. we'll have to see. I fear you've correctly predicted the outcome of that initiative. If they were designed at least partly with a view to staying here, I think it was a misjudgement to make the comments quite so raw, though. Initially thought of that too, that Barton and Enrique were laying down their cards (including not signing their contract extensions) so that Ashley will release the funds to strengthen the squad in the summer. Without selling any more 1st teamers ofc. But the body language of Jose suggests otherwise. He looked distinctly moody in recent matches compared to being happy and settled at the start of the season. That lashing out at Lovenkrands during the Blackburn match suggests pure frustration. You just can tell that he's very much displaying his unhappiness compared to say Barton. I would love to have him stay. But in the worst case scenario where he goes in the summer, I hope it's a case of him going to a genuinely big club (preferably overseas, back to Spain) and us getting a good fee. Following any worst case scenario, what then? Players are already unhappy over first, the Hughton sacking and latter, the Carroll departure. If we were to lose another important member of the squad, it may just spark off players wanting out and refusing to sign new contracts. Morale in the dressing room will take another severe beating, especially with each day gone by where significant reinforcements are not brought in. Reinvesting the Carroll money wisely may just rebuild the belief of the players and get Barton and Enrique to sign their contracts. If that doesn't happen and we are still going for cheap squad fillers the likes of Perch and Best (no offence), the players may just refuse to believe in the club anymore.

I love the Newcastle of this season. Never seems to give up despite falling behind (well, almost always). And plenty of unpredictably crazy scorelines to go with the performances. Agree with Liverpool being down there. Watched them on a couple of occasions when Newcastle was not playing and they made a good sedative then.

http://www.sportingo.com/football/a18508_tottenham-face-competition-from-newcastle-over-ligue-striker Adil Rami is joining Valencia in the summer. Lazy/make-believe 'journalism'. Anyway, can't see us blowing more than 10m on a single signing. Not that I believe that article either.

People like Quinn and Holloway should think before they speak. They'll lose any sense of credibility when their 'prophecies' come true and they have to come up with lame excuses not to leave.

That explains it then. Cheers.

Fantastic performance by Enrique today. Injustice when Nielson was named MOM instead. Don't argue, Lovenkrands. Listen to Jose, he's right.

Some nice crosses from him for the past 2 games. Are we seeing a new Jonas?

Kuqi and Ferguson sitting beside each other - looks like a father with his teenage son.

Has Shola ever made it to any '50 promising prospects' lists in his younger days?