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two players who should be given every encouragement to stay. they are both very saleable and both among the higher earners at the club. i hope we do the right thing, dont break the bank, but get these guys tied down if possible

Things that obviously need to get done, but it's good to have some communication about it. Very saleable indeed. Some weeks I think Enrique's the best LB in the league.

I agree about not going overboard this window. I would also point out, however, that the squad is still thin. What is it, three seasons running? Basically since Allardyce took over and cut a bunch of rotters. Loans should be explored if nothing else. I'd much rather have Curtis Davies as our 4th CB than Campbell, for example. Rumor is he's available for a loan.

since months ago i would said get rid of barton as he always seemed very injury prone but this year he has proved he is a top class player and is injury free and would be hard to replace him so if he signs new contract we have resigned a great player

We cant sell barton.

But it is weird how 2 seaons ago no club would touch him with bargepole - now they are all keeping an eye out. How such a short space of time changes things

we need to get jose resigned quickly as man utd are sniffing round him

Quote:

nufctrotter73
we need to get jose resigned quickly as man utd are sniffing round him

A lot of clubs are looking at him, for obvious reasons. That said, the big money clubs have solid left backs (Evra, Clichy, Cole, Assou-Ekoto) and while I think he's better than Clichy, and Assou-Ekoto, I don't see them bidding enough money to pry him away. Man City on the other hand might do it as I don't rate their options there at all.

He's better than Cole too. There's more to being a fullback than pace. Evra is world class, no doubt-probably the best.

Quote:

tunyc
He's better than Cole too. There's more to being a fullback than pace. Evra is world class, no doubt-probably the best.

I'd put him equal with Cole. Cole has games where he's average, but he has far more where he could stake the claim as best in the world. Regardless, I think Enrique is easily top 2 or 3 in the league right now, and could stake a claim for being among the top in the world once he takes Capdevila's spot in the Spanish squad. Lahm and Maicon have to be considered in that group as well.

Enrique should have been at the last WC. Capdevila was off the pace and disgraced himself by cheating several times. He got that Portuguese player (who looked like he wanted to lamp the spanish @#$%& right there on the field) sent off by blatantly deceiving the ref-what a tool.

Of course, diving and deceiving the ref were common from the Spanish, though you wouldn't about it from the media.

As for Cole-meh. I've never been enamored of him. Sometimes he looks great going forward. Maybe he should have been a winger.

The time is definately right to try and tie down Jose. If we wait until the end of the season with only a year left it puts us in a dodgy position. If he continues the way he has been then people will definately test the water. Even though he says he loves it here and seems lloyal, if a top champions league team came knocking who could blame him. Get him signed up now on another 5 1/2 year deal. He is nearly 25 years old so lets get the best years out of him and if he does move on in the near future then lets have the ball in our court and get top money to replace him.

He is definately up there this season but needs to work on the stupid passes and conceding possession. Not sure I would put him on better or on par with Cole who, even though he is a total tw4t, is a top consistent LB.

There is talk in the papers that they are looking at a 4 1/2 year contract for Barton. He will be very close to 29 when next season starts so will be obviously 33 at the end of it. Maybe a 3 1/2 contract then we will see. It does mention again that he is willing (and would probably have to) to take a pay cut which is a good sign and will hopefully send out a good message to Colo possibly who will only have 2 years left at the end of the season.

I would also try and get in and tie down Tiote as a little pay rise and longer deal will hopefully fend off other teams. Says he signed a 4 year deal last summer but with his age why not improve it with another 5 1/2 like a few of our key present and future players have been.

Like with Joe Cole (and at this point I feel vindicated about him) I just don't see the Ashley Cole that some other observers describe to me. I've never been impressed with his defending. Positionally he's alright when he's not caught way up the field and his tackling is average at best. He is a defender. He does keep and use the ball pretty well, I'll give him that.