duo

What was Taylor doing in the middle of the park in the first place? If he'd stuck to his position the tackle would never have happened. And what was with the constant long ball?. Time after time Harper just kicked it up field only for us to loose possession. That was a battle we were never going to win. After such a promising 30 mins we just threw 3 points away.

Spot on For me the real statement of intent will come in the Summer. Nevermind spending the £35Mil from the Carrol sale I want to see Ashley also put some of the money the club has made this season from TV/etc. Getting Tiote on a long term deal does nothing other than ensure we'll get top dollar should we sell him.

Spurs have first dibs on him. And given that none of their strikers seem in favour I can't imagine them passing up the opportunity. Why do Spurs have first dibs?

You think? Doesn't seem interested in signing a new contract. He'll be off in the summer...if Carroll can get sold its open season on the rest of our squad and Barton knows it.

Unbelievable day....that's what you call a game of two halfs. Tiote was just different class today and that goal.....atmosphere in the second half was amazing...

Probs already been posted but... http://twitter.com/caulkinthetimes Knew it's been too good to be true.

If Carroll didn't want to go he wouldn't have gone. He had a five year contract. There is nothing more to it.

And all in MA pocket....

Because he agreed to the transfer? Some people are saying the club have forced the sale through, others are saying that other club's willingness to meet an extortionate price and Carroll's willingness to leave pushed the sale through. Two different stories imo. Impossible without Carrolls agreement. Not what Carroll text Steve Wraith. Indeed. But can you explain to me exactly what they could have threatened Carroll with to force him out? Good question? And one more thing I keep hearing that at £35million we had to sell - why? It's not as if that money will be reinvested.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...ted/9308072.stm What a joke.

He's a geordie playing for his home town club wearing number 9. That used to count for something. For the first time In ages I felt the club was moving in the right direction, but this has taken us back. Yes 35 mill is crazy money for Carroll but what's the point if you've no player to cover the loss. Look at Liverpool, lost Torres but replaced him. It's a fact Shola et al are NOT premiership strikers and IMO be a miracle if we stay up now. Carroll was that important.

That's right. Man what a depressing day this has turned out to be. Cannot believe we had no replacement lined up, I mean its not as if there wasn't interest in Carroll. Complete and utter joke.

Have we ever not had a number 9?

Well that's that then.....absolutely gutted. And the joke that is ashley has no replacement. That's a promising season gone.

26 is he not? He'd have been worth a punt IMO...

He picked the strongest possible team we were just terrible.

No way was that a red and I recon once they look at it again it'll be recinded.

Tatics were totally wrong today. Putting Guthrie wide on right just totally exposed us down that flank. Unfortunately we don't have the players to play down the wings, Routledge, Jonas, constanly cut in. We are heavy in the centre midfield role so I think it's time we started to play to our strengths and leave it to our wingbacks to get forward. 433 is the way forward.

I'm not been able to get any signal for a few games now.

I'm staggered the FA are not doing anything to clamp down on this as it is ruinning what was once THE best league in the world. However, all too often we are loosing the best players to injuries and from what I've read it was one of the reasons why Fabregas wanted to go to Spain. It's becoming an all to frequent occurance in the Premier League these days. Yet you rarely read about such injuries happening in La Liga and I think that is one of the reasons why it's now the best league in the world. Until something is done more and more class will move to Spain.

Bert van Marwijk I take my hat off to you sir. Well said.

I doubt we'll ever see him play for us again. Like many on here I am truly gutted. Not since the days of Ginola et al have I been that excited to watch a player in the black and white. Didn't Smith have a similar break? He was never the same player. It would be Ben Arfa's left leg as well. I wish him all the best and pray he gets back to the player he was.

I've just seen a clip of the tackle, it'll be a miracle if that legs not broken. News coming from Ben Arfa's agent is that he'll be out for six months. Wonder if we'll see back in the toon?

The statement at h/t said he'd been taken to hospital for x-rays and they were awaiting the results. Lets pray it's not broken then.....if it's suspected broken at this time then there's still hope.

Anything official with regards Ben Arfa injury?