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Originally posted by Cavey
loads of fans on the facebook page panicing because we didn't beat Hull in a friendly

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Originally posted by Cavey
loads of fans on the facebook page panicing because we didn't beat Wycombe in a friendly

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Originally posted by Russ
this year i am going to try and pay attention to the lower leagues more

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Originally posted by Cavey
You lost to Crewe Russ, your season is as good as over already

and you should follow Crawley in League2 just to piss off Nath and Jonny

[Edited on 23-07-2011 by Cavey]

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Sir Alex Ferguson is considering making one of the most unexpected transfer moves of his 24 years as Manchester United manager — a bid for Joey Barton.

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Sir Alex Ferguson is considering making one of the most unexpected transfer moves of his 24 years as Manchester United manager — a bid for Joey Barton.

The controversial midfielder’s displays last season saw him named the Newcastle supporters’ player of the year and won over a number of important admirers. Ferguson was among them. The United boss would not consider Barton a keynote signing — he still holds interest in Wesley Sneijder and Luka Modric as he seeks a world-class creative player to replace Paul Scholes — but rather a canny piece of business.

With Darren Fletcher recovering slowly from a debilitating virus and Darron Gibson on the transfer list, United need midfield cover and Barton, 29 in September and in the last year of his contract, could be signed for around £2m. Ferguson knows from derbies when Barton was at Manchester City that he is a player who can raise his game on the big stage.

Any doubts would centre on Barton’s character. He is in Holland with Newcastle’s reserves after being refused a visa to join a first-team tour of the USA because of a 2008 conviction for assault. In 2007 he was jettisoned by City after a training-ground assault on teammate Ousmane Dabo, which earned him a six-game ban.

Barton, however, has made serious attempts to clean up his act, becoming teetotal and delving into philosophy and politics, which he discusses on Twitter. “He has put his life back on track and long may that continue,” said Newcastle’s manager, Alan Pardew.

Barton believes that with intelligent management, he can keep his demons in check — and it is an ambition to work under Ferguson. He certainly wouldn’t be overawed. In April he told a French magazine he was the best English midfielder around, dismissing Frank Lampard as “past it”, Steven Gerrard as “injury-prone” and Gareth Barry as a “manager’s pet”.

Arsenal are also interested in Barton, who declined to renew his contract at St James’ Park after being offered a two-year deal on reduced pay. He can negotiate with other clubs in January. Willie Mackay, his agent, has lined up four continental clubs, including Roma and Deportivo La Coruña, should Barton become available on a free transfer. He would consider playing abroad but, from Huyton, near Liverpool, would relish returning to northwest England and in Michael Owen, a former Newcastle teammate, he already has a friend at Old Trafford.

Manchester City, meanwhile, are poised to tie Joe Hart, their 24-year-old England goalkeeper, to a new five-year deal in the next few days that will earn him about £90,000 a week.

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Originally posted by Jamie Walby
A number of Championship teams have agreed terms with Arsenal for Jay-Emanuel Thomas, sorry, JET. Ben, how do you feel about this?

[Edited on 23-07-2011 by Jamie Walby]

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