Barcode Build up

[Rudo]

They all look like they have so much fun don't they

Spirit's good for sure man , winning games and putting in good performances obviously helps but there's a genuine feel good factor around the Club

The big man looks in decent shape for Sunday, but i'm not convinced he'll start.

[Mostar]

Spirit's good for sure man , winning games and putting in good performances obviously helps but there's a genuine feel good factor around the Club

The big man looks in decent shame for Sunday, but i'm not convinced he'll start.

Same here. He seems to be ready but I don't think Kenny will take any risk unless he has to.

[Mostar]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1382020/Newcastle-better-Andy-Carroll-says-Kevin-Nolan.html?ITO=1490&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Kevin Nolan defends Mike Ashley for cashing on £35m Andy Carroll

Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan is convinced the club will eventually be better off without Andy Carroll after his controversial departure to Liverpool.

The pair were thrown together as house-mates earlier in the season when Carroll was ordered to stay at Nolan’s home as part of his bail conditions.

That relationship ended when Carroll’s court case was thrown out. Their bond on the pitch, which was just as close, ended when Liverpool made Newcastle a £35million transfer deadline offer they could not refuse.



With Alan Pardew - who sealed a 3-1 win against Liverpool in his first game as Toon boss - already working to spend that money this summer, Nolan (pictured) is sure the funds will be used wisely.



'We’d probably have a few more points and would probably build a team which was going to be great around him.
‘We’re in such a fantastic position, let’s just see what happens. The money we got was astronomical.’

Liverpool-born Nolan is a Reds fan whose extended family have now taken the 22-year-old Carroll under their wing.



Despite the closeness, neither player is giving too much away ahead of today’s reunion at Anfield. Carroll won’t even say if he is fit to play against his former team.

Nolan said: ‘He’s been a bit sheepish with me this week. He has been in touch and texted, but we are not giving too much away to each other. He’s desperate to play and wants to see all the lads. In my eyes it’ll hit him when he sees Newcastle the team he grew up with and loved for so long, playing against him.’

[Rudo]

Saturday April 30,2011
By Paul Joyce

IF Kenny Dalglish has appeared the epitome of calm during a return to management in which he has overseen the sale of a striking idol, paid a record transfer fee for a Newcastle forward and sparked a much-needed feelgood factor, there is a good reason why. He has been through it all before.

The parallels between 1987, when Ian Rush departed Liverpool for Juventus and Dalglish spent the proceeds of his £3.2 million fee on Peter Beardsley and
John Barnes, and 2011, with Fernando Torres checking out and Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez coming in, are uncanny.

Beardsley can continue to see glorious history repeating itself. “Within football you get the sense that Liverpool are on the rise again, 100 per cent,” he said.

“The whole club is stirring once again. The owners seem prepared to spend money and, while no manager gets all the signings right, Kenny knows his players.

“He is a god on Merseyside – the red half anyway. The thing about Kenny is the excitement and passion he has for the game. You can see that when Liverpool score a goal.

“People said, ‘Oh, he has been out of the game too long’, but the insight and enthusiasm he has stands the test of time. I just don’t understand why they haven’t given him the job permanently already.”

As Newcastle’s reserve-team coach, Beardsley holds a special interest in Carroll’s potential reunion with his former club at lunchtime tomorrow for the first time since a mind-boggling £35m January switch.

Yet his mind flits back first to a summer 24 years ago when Liverpool reinvested the cash raised by the sale of a legend and the most spectacular team a generation of fans has witnessed emerged.

John Aldridge had already arrived on Merseyside in readiness for Rush’s departure to Turin and, in tandem with Beardsley and Barnes, Liverpool hit heights seldom seen since.

“When you lose a star like Rushie there is a lot of negativity because he was such an icon – and don’t forget Kenny was coming to the end as a player himself around that time as well,” said Beardsley.

“Luckily, myself, Aldo [Aldridge] and Barnesy were a perfect fit. I knew Barnesy from England, but Aldo was brilliant for us. He just wanted to be in the box and we knew that if we got the ball to him he would score goals.

“It was a great time to be playing for Liverpool – so exciting – and I have great memories.

“It looks like Liverpool have done well again because they have got two really good players in with Andy and Luis Suarez.”

Suarez has quickly filled the void left by Torres and established himself as a favourite with The Kop and Beardsley says he is biased where the towering Carroll is concerned. “Andy is capable of everything,” he said. “He had an opportunity to go to Liverpool and decided he wanted to do it. I had the same choice.

“My fee was a record at the time and Andy’s is too. I was delighted to see him score the two goals against Manchester City the other week.

“In my time working with him he was an absolute credit to himself. He knows what he has to do. He was top class and never a problem. There have been one or two things since then but he’s a good lad and the Liverpool fans will absolutely love him.

“It took me a while to get going at Anfield, but the fans respected me for the effort I put in and they will love Andy for that as well as his goals.

“He puts himself on the line, he never knows when he is beaten. He’ll score a lot of goals but he backs up all that with a great attitude and work-rate.”

Yet the positivity Beardsley exudes is not solely reserved for Liverpool. Newcastle’s first season back in the top flight can be regarded as a success, their status long since secured and manager Alan Pardew has spent the past few months plotting how to spend the cash raised from the sale of Carroll.

“The club couldn’t turn down a deal for £35m in this era,” said Beardsley.

“Alan Pardew has done a great job and people need to realise we have a great owner in Mike Ashley. We would have been in serious trouble without him.”

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/243859/Peter-Beardsley-Liverpool-on-the-rise-again-just-like-87-Peter-Beardsley-Liverpool-on-the-rise-again-just-like-87-#ixzz1KxpNf9Er

[SB]

Cheers Mosty. See AK in the background

Who?

[Mostar]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/apr/30/kenny-dalglish-liverpool-transfer-policy

Kenny Dalglish says it is too soon to judge Liverpool transfer policy

Kenny Dalglish has hailed the managerial structure installed at Liverpool by Fenway Sports Group but cautioned it will take years before its work in the transfer market can be judged a success.

FSG, Liverpool's owners, promoted Damien Comolli to director of football and Ian Ayre to managing director last month and Dalglish is working closely with the Frenchman to identify targets for this summer despite not being appointed permanent manager as yet. Comolli and Ayre were at Ewood Park on Monday night to monitor Blackburn Rovers' coveted central defender Phil Jones against Manchester City and they presided over the signings of Andy Carroll and Luis Suárez in January, although the Uruguay striker had been on Liverpool's agenda since the final year of Rafael Benítez's reign.

Dalglish believes whoever is in charge at Liverpool can operate alongside a director of football but, with the club having been held back by numerous transfer mistakes in recent years, he also says it will take more than the Suárez and Carroll deals to prove the merits of the partnership on transfers.

"The structure is great now with Ian as managing director and Damien as director of football," the Liverpool manager said. "We said at the time they were two great appointments by the club. As for transfers, it remains to be seen. We have Andy and Luis in and they have done very well but it is only two. We need to wait a few years before we judge it but certainly they are two positive appointments."

Dalglish believes Liverpool will witness further improvement in Suárez and Carroll next season. "Most players are better after a pre-season with their new club and that will apply to Andy and Luis next year," he said. Those plans are in jeopardy due to international commitments, however, with Stuart Pearce determined to take Carroll to the European Under-21 Championship in Denmark in June and Suárez heading for the Copa América in Argentina in July.

"Luis will be away until 24 July if Uruguay get to the final," he said. "It's not helpful but there's nothing we can do about it and we just have to get on with it. The competition is there and it's a huge event for the South Americans and we've got to respect that."

Carroll trained on Friday as he attempts to overcome a knee injury in time to face his former club Newcastle United at Anfield on Sunday, while Liverpool have denied reports in Belgium of a £20m bid for the young Anderlecht striker Romelu Lukaku, a Chelsea target.

Jamie Carragher will make the 665th appearance of his 14-year Liverpool career against Newcastle, a landmark that puts him joint second in the club's all-time list alongside Emlyn Hughes and Ray Clemence, behind Ian Callaghan. Dalglish said: "He's been a real compliment to this football club. His record speaks for itself. Talent is a good starting point, starting in the first team at 18 is another good starting point and not picking up too many injuries helps, but the most important thing is his ability and his desire and commitment to this football club."

[Mostar]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Newcastle-Kevin-Nolan-has-admitted-close-pal-Andy-Carroll-had-to-leave-the-club-for-Liverpool-even-though-it-left-him-without-a-babysitter-article729655.html

Nolan: I'm still watching out for my mate Andy

Kevin Nolan insists Andy Carroll had to leave Newcastle - even though it left him short of a baby-sitter.

Liverpool's England striker is set to face his old pals tomorrow for the first time since the £35m January switch that rocked Tyneside.

Scouser Nolan's mum and dad have taken the new Kop idol under their wing since the 22-year-old's Merseyside move, just like the Toon skipper did with the troubled star earlier this season.

Carroll became the North-East's most famous lodger when he stayed at Nolan's family pad last October as part of bail conditions on an assault charge that was later dropped, cementing a close friendship that will be put on hold this weekend at Anfield - if both players pass late fitness tests.

Geordie Carroll helped to look after his former team-mate's two children during his brief spell at the Nolans' - a short stint that wasn't without drama; the big targetman's Range Rover was set on fire by thugs while parked on the drive.

The pair have kept in close contact since the move, and Nolan said: "People blame Andy for going, but you can't really blame anyone for the money we got, it was astronomical.

"Andy was unsure about what he should do, but if a club pays £35m for you, anyone in any walk of life would say: 'You've got to go.'

"It was in the best interests of the club, and it's worked out for us -although we'd love to have him still here, and if he was we'd probably have a few more points on the board. He's got a new chapter in his life and we've got a lot of money to spend."

As for missing out on his ex-lodger's baby-sitting services, Nolan smiled: "You're joking, aren't you? I wouldn't leave him with my kids. He'd probably have the house burned down, or the car!

"When you look back on it now, it was bizarre him staying with us, but it worked. In our family, that's what we do for our friends. I've been brought up like that by my mum and dad.

"I know Andy was very grateful for what we did for him, that's why we're so close. He has his family there for him but sometimes you need other people as well."

Carroll has settled into life on Merseyside with the help of Nolan's parents, Kevin and Joy, who are big Reds fans.

The 12-goal midfielder added: "Even though he might feel detached from his family while he's down there, he knows if he needs it he's got someone to go and lean on. My mum and dad and all my family are there for him."

There has been plenty of banter flying as the pals have wound each other up this week.

"It's going to be weird playing against him - and kicking him! - but we're both professionals with a job to do," said Nolan.

"He's been a bit sheepish with me this week about his injury, but of course he's desperate to play against us.

"In my eyes it'll hit him when he sees Newcastle - the team he grew up with and loves - facing his new team, Liverpool. Perhaps it'll act as a bit of closure for him on the move.

"He's been in touch and texting, but we're not giving too much away to each other. He has been asking how my injury has been going, so I've just been honest with him. Hopefully I'll be ready for Sunday.

"If he scores against us, I wouldn't be disappointed if he celebrates. If I score I'll be celebrating and I'd expect him to if he does the same. Whether he does or not, it's not something we've not spoken about. I couldn't tell you what he's going to do, but if I was going to have a guess I don't think he would."

The two pals will head out for a quiet spot of lunch after tomorrow's high noon showdown - rather more low-key than their famous bender after Newcastle's 5-1 victory over local rivals Sunderland back in November.

Carroll has already been spotted flouting England boss Fabio Capello's advice to steer clear of the booze, and Nolan added: "What Andy drinks is up to him. He's a big boy and he's a Liverpool player. He's nothing to do with us! We'll probably go out for a bit of lunch and a bit of a quiet night afterwards."

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew reckons Sky TV executives have been left with egg on their face, claiming they scheduled coverage of the Anfield clash to 'embarrass' his team.

With the Toon all but safe on 41 points, Pardew said: "You could argue this game was scheduled for live broadcast so that it would be an embarrassment for us - with Andy Carroll playing for Liverpool and us not being safe - but we are safe."

[rodo]

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew reckons Sky TV executives have been left with egg on their face, claiming they scheduled coverage of the Anfield clash to 'embarrass' his team.

er its on espn alan

[Jas]

In Punjabi, the word "shola" translates as "scrotum"

Now I know why my mum used to give me a clip round the ear in my younger days, many a time I'd innocently say I've dropped a shola when eating sholay and I'd be left thoroughly bemused as to why I'd just been given a whack by my mum. I can only say thanks TSB for educating me at the ripe old age of 45.

[Exiled_red]

I only just realised this game was tomorrow rather than today

[lickedlollipop]

fans cannot compare carroll with torres. we all know torres story, carroll will be respectful torward NUFC til the end of his career, which is not the case with other judas. fat mike sold carroll, he didn't want to leave (yet), i'm sure..

[rudedog]

Who?

Alan Kennedy, never heard him referred to as AK before though. I thought his nickname was Barney Rubble.

[McDermotX]

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew reckons Sky TV executives have been left with egg on their face, claiming they scheduled coverage of the Anfield clash to 'embarrass' his team.

er its on espn alan

In fairness to Alan, he doesn't say Sky in that piece, just that it's televised (which it is)...........either the article writer doesn't know his stuff (extremely likely) or its not quoted in the piece.
Either way...usual max points from Newcastle are due, after all, normal service has been resumed under the King

[Rudo]

Who?

Alan Kennedy, he's in the first pic.

[Rudo]

Alan Kennedy, never heard him referred to as AK before though. I thought his nickname was Barney Rubble.

Everyone calls him AK i thought?