The Fish

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.

I don't think it's necessarily about "finding" a player, it's about him getting a bargain. Cabaye, Debuchy, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Janmaat, Tiote, Ba, Cisse, Remy, Mbiwa, Mitrovic, Mbemba, Wijnaldum are all decent players, but Carr was able to source decent players with release clauses, or whose contract is running down so that we could get them on the cheap.

I can kind of understand that it might take a while to get a replacement in, especially with Fat Mike out of the country, but why haven't they at least shown Steve McClaren the fucking door?

The sadness in his eyes.

It's 1 day out of 365 when some people choose to recognise women. There should be equality regardless of background, race, gender, etc. Having an International Women's Day doesn't stop the push for equality in any other sphere. Also, the difference between a woman and a man is demonstrated in pay parity. My mate is working class and earns as much as people who went to public school, if he was a woman it's likely that he wouldn't. Sure there's less opportunity for working class men than middle or upper, but they're still men and have won the gender lottery. And if they're in the boardroom, they're likely to be white, straight and able bodied too. There's loads of work to be done, but having a day where you recognise women doesn't stop that work, nor does it detract from anyone else. Some journalist may well use it as a way to self-promote, but their behaviour isn't representative of the majority, nor the core ideals behind it. They're just journalists, not spokespeople

Going off social media, the papers, the boardrooms, the schools, the sports fields, it appears we can't. Don't worry though, it's straight white able-bodied christian man day for the next 364 days

Would have voted Benitez if I thought it was possible. Went Moyes because we're about his level, he definitely an upgrade on McClaren and some of the other options are terrifying and I didn't want to click the radio button by their name in case it made it happen.

He still not gone yet?

You don't know the half of it

What, like caught downloading adult movies at a Travellodge on the company credit card?