If anyone truly beleives it was because carroll handed in a transfer request then they need to remind themselves of exactly what a bunch of clowns we have running our club!!
pardew has spent the entire time he's been here saying he's not for sale he's not for sale etc..
Carroll probably got a wiff of the wages and signing on fee down there and thought yeah i fancy it and the club have said the only way we'll let you go is if you make it look like your forcing our hand. pardew doesn't lose face, ashley gets 35 million plus, carroll gets loadsa money, good timing for ashley etc not to be able to sign anyone to replace him.
you just know whats coming next don't you? so predictable!
not enough time in this window and wont panic buy, but dont worry fans we'll invest it all in the summer..
summer arrives - "we wont sign anyone unless they are right for the club" which roughly translates to we wont buy anyone. "nothing really happens until the end of august anyway, i'm working on a few different deals at the moment" -
end of the transfer window arrives, "we won't panic buy"...
Its such a pathetic cycle that we should all now be used to. doesn't make it any less annoying though!
Rant over!!