The Fish

So there's a good few successes in there for Wor Graham, The second para is key for me; I do believe the right manager and the right progression on the pitch could persuade players like Cabaye to stay until the end of the season, or whatever. So, say we've finished 5th, Cabaye wants off to PSG in the January window. Keep him until you've replaced him with Shelvey or Payet or whomever and fine. What you don't do is sell him without a replacement and then, instead of addressing the team's weakness, buy lads for positions that aren't as vital. I'm sure it's been posted before, but the team Newcastle could have had if we'd kept a hold of the players we've bought... it's ridiculous! And we wouldn't have needed to splash north of £70m in the last couple of windows to try and survive either.

It's too much to hope Charnley's on the way out too, isn't it?

His hair keeps getting in his eyes?

Those you've omitted that I'd include are; Sissoko - yes I know he's now a gutless arsehole, but a half decent coach would have got more the big man. Perez - can't believe you've left him out. Ben Arfa - arguably the most gifted footballer I've seen at St James' since Beardsley and for all his faults, he was a joy to watch and seemed to have a genuine affection for the fans & the club. Just not Alan Pardew. Tiote - in his pomp was the best DM in the league. Abeid - I thought he was a decent young player and the kind of bench warmer that improves the squad. I've said before the biggest issue is retention, not recruitment. Keep Cabaye, and you needn't sign de Jong, keep Ben Arfa and there's no need for Marveaux/Amalfitano Cabella, keep Cabella there's no need for Thauvin. Keep Ba and you don't waste money on Riviere.

Complains about recruiting foreigners, wants to keep 8 players, the majority of them foreign. /Scoobos

Less a particular word/phrase, more the repetition of untruths. Like Anfield being a cauldron of noise, the North East being a hotbed of football, Villa being a massive club, the "West Ham way" hasn't been played for decades, Bournemouth being plucky little upstarts, and so on

Aww, do you really mean it? Thanks You're a wonderful addition to the board.

?whassatthen?

It's not black and white though. I think he deserves criticism for not seeing the bigger picture. For example he should have been pushing the club to sign a couple of average/honest/grafting/workmanlike players to balance the team and your flair players will have more license to attack thereby increasing the likelihood that you'll see a profit. I think some of his suggestions have been obvious flops (Cabella/Thauvin chief amongst them). However, I think he's got more right than wrong, certainly when you consider that he's not buying th players just suggesting them. You may think Sissoko is a gutless cunt and it's hard to argue that you're wrong on that score, but he's definitely got quality, he was bought on the cheap and even now would be sold for >3 times his original value. Ben Arfa would, had Pardew not been a sackful of vomit, have been sold for a big profit too. Personally, I don't think we should be signing players because of their resale value, but on the whole I think Carr has done his job. He's not without his faults, but I can't blame him as much as you seem to. Ashley->Charnley->the manager->Carr->coaches->players->media->Adam Johnson--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> the deluded fans.

If you're saying the average 18-35 woman earns more than their male counterpart, I'd be very surprised. I'd be interested to see the figures on that, and wonder if that's in a specific sector? It could simply point at some job roles traditionally undertaken by women have a quick progression up to a point, but beyond which only dragons and fat white men exist. Also, when you say they choose to have children, it'll be rare that they make that choice on their own.

I definitely said that.

I don't think that's the regime. I think that moneymen said " we only want to buy players who we can sell for a big profit, how do we do that?" Carr will then have told them that the best chance of profit is a player who's not yet at his prime (normally around 28), who plays in an attacking position (or fullback), who contract is nearing an end or has a release clause, who has aspirations of Champions League, but plays for a team outside the dominant 2-3 in "lesser" leagues like Ligue 1, the Bundesliga and the Eredivisie.

Already ruled himself out of the running, without anything to suggest he was in the running in the 1st place.

Just remembered Poyet finding out he'd been sacked while being a pundit on BBC

Jesus I'd forgotten about that place. Anyone know if it's open? Do we know anyone that spends a good amount of time around wearside?

Ben Arfa has questionable commitment and is a pain in the arse to manage, but get it right and he's undoubtedly quality. If Carr's been asked to find bargains with resale value, Sissoko is definitely that. He cost £2.5m and if he'd had an average season he'd be worth* 10 times that now. I keep going back to it, but we don't know that Carr isn't suggesting the strikers, defenders and replacements we'd been crying out for. It is very likely that he's suggested centre backs from France, Germany or wherever and Charnley has seen they'd cost north of £10m and would only be sold for a profit of a few million if they were a success. If an attacking midfielder succeeds in the Premier League they can go for eye-watering sums, a centreback just isn't likely to do that. Even if he plays well. Carr has definitely got some things wrong and should be criticised, but I don't believe he's to blame for the policy or the inability of the club to get players "over the line". And I believe he's done the job he's been employed to do, something that can't be said of the others.

Just give me chocolate, rub my back and let me watch First Wives Club in peace, you beastly man.

Fine, but when there's an International Louie Louie day that passes without comment, I can't understand why people would be bemoan an International Women's day As I've said, some choose to recognise it, most people don't. You get people on twitter angrily demanding why there isn't an International Men's day (there is, it's November 19th), people asking what the point is when they believe in equality. Well, until there is equality we need to have days, events, discussions about why there isn't equality yet. Also the meaningful conversations are unlikely to be held in a public forum, but within the corridors of power, when focus groups and lobbyists try to further their cause, and that they're more likely to get the ear of the right person is down to a UN sanctioned "day", then so be it.

It certainly doesn't harm the cause, and at the very least there's debate about gender equality. Which is no bad thing. I find this similar to people who, when a musician dies, loudly proclaim that we should be sad about the dying children in africa instead. They're not mutually exclusive

Hang on, no one is saying they were unknowns, but they were good deals. How much are you paying for an international full back these days? Janmaat & Debuchy were both bought for around £5m! Also I'd lay a good measure of blame for the lack of performances (away from home especially) at the feet of the coaches and management as much as the gutless Sissoko. He's clearly a good player, it's his commitment that's an issue. Also what ewerk said.

Which is the correct response if you're not actively in favour of it.

Aye. Seems mental that Ashley, who'll sack employees for taking too many toilet breaks, won't sack the charlatan responsible for a Premier League relegation.

Nope.