Greg

I don't think the club selling Carroll for £35m shows that they lack ambition. Failing to reinvest that money back into the squad will show a lack of ambition. True, that is kind of what I'm trying to get at. I just don't think they will reinvest the a lot of the money, which is why I am bitter about the sale. TBH selling a player for the all time british record signing of an english player doesn't demonstrate that we'd sell our best players due to a lack of ambition. It shows that if you want our best players, you better be willing to cough up the dough to pay for them We'll see what happens with Enrique and Tiote in the summer ... I agree tottally with the sentiment of distrust that you have, I have it too. But there a number of reasons I'm certain that they won't leave 1) Where are they going to go? All the top teams have it covered 2)Even if a top team do want them as benchwarmers, are these teams gonna pay over ten million minimum for a benchwarmer? Mind you if we do go down they'll be gone as well as the fact that I don't hold high our chances of keeping them if we don't bring any players in. Hypothetically speaking ... Evra leaves Man Utd for a Barcelona/R. Madrid/Inter type club for £8 million. Guess who they come to first? Liverpool shed Konchesky ... they come for Enrique. Barcelona look for a long-term replacement for Abidal (plus he's Spanish). Man Utd finally get rid of Hargreaves, Tiote could be the athletic DM they've needed for years. Abramovich continues to pump transfer funds into Chelsea, so they bid £15m. West Ham stay up, and Redknapp finally gives up on Parker, guess which DM they come for. Call my viewpoint grim, but with these bastards as owners I've lost all optimism for this club. Just think we're going to become a conveyor belt for talent, Ashley's cash cow. Do you know what a cash cow is? Ashley will be lucky if he ever breaks even let alone makes a profit out of Newcastle United. I have a business degree ... so yes. You seriously think he can't turn this club into a "nice little earner" for himself? Decreasing wage bill, emphasis placed on "developing young players" to be harvested in the future - leading to increasing revenue from transfer sales. He sold Carroll for £35 million, Tiote and Enrique could realistically go for a combined £22 million. This situation would put him £47 million in profit from 3 players. Let's say Ben Arfa has a good season next term, he could be worth £12-15 million by the end of 2011/12. And he would still be considerably short of the £200M plus he has already invested into the club. So no, I think it is a long way from becoming a cash cow or a 'nice little earner'. Well he saved a good £55 million on wages last season alone. Even with the players we've signed since, our wage bill can only have gone up £15 million a year. I'd say compared to this time 20 months ago, our wage bill has decreased by at least £40 million a year. Neesy, I don't think Ashley is trying to get us relegated this season. 2008/09 however ... £55M, hahahaha. Where you getting those figures from? NUST??? No chance that owen, martins, viduka, beye, duff, bassong, xisco were on £55M between them. January 2009 - January 2010 (Being modest, I think) Given - £60k N'somnia - £30k Owen - £105k a week Bassong - £30k Viduka - £65k Martins - £75k Cacapa - £30k Beye - £30k Duff - £70k Gonzalez - £10k (being very modest) Geremi - £40k Relegation led to £27 million income in player sales. Wage savings of around £4.5 million a week, £50 million a year. Masterstroke. I think you need to go back to school and study Maths.

I don't think the club selling Carroll for £35m shows that they lack ambition. Failing to reinvest that money back into the squad will show a lack of ambition. True, that is kind of what I'm trying to get at. I just don't think they will reinvest the a lot of the money, which is why I am bitter about the sale. TBH selling a player for the all time british record signing of an english player doesn't demonstrate that we'd sell our best players due to a lack of ambition. It shows that if you want our best players, you better be willing to cough up the dough to pay for them We'll see what happens with Enrique and Tiote in the summer ... I agree tottally with the sentiment of distrust that you have, I have it too. But there a number of reasons I'm certain that they won't leave 1) Where are they going to go? All the top teams have it covered 2)Even if a top team do want them as benchwarmers, are these teams gonna pay over ten million minimum for a benchwarmer? Mind you if we do go down they'll be gone as well as the fact that I don't hold high our chances of keeping them if we don't bring any players in. Hypothetically speaking ... Evra leaves Man Utd for a Barcelona/R. Madrid/Inter type club for £8 million. Guess who they come to first? Liverpool shed Konchesky ... they come for Enrique. Barcelona look for a long-term replacement for Abidal (plus he's Spanish). Man Utd finally get rid of Hargreaves, Tiote could be the athletic DM they've needed for years. Abramovich continues to pump transfer funds into Chelsea, so they bid £15m. West Ham stay up, and Redknapp finally gives up on Parker, guess which DM they come for. Call my viewpoint grim, but with these bastards as owners I've lost all optimism for this club. Just think we're going to become a conveyor belt for talent, Ashley's cash cow. Do you know what a cash cow is? Ashley will be lucky if he ever breaks even let alone makes a profit out of Newcastle United. I have a business degree ... so yes. You seriously think he can't turn this club into a "nice little earner" for himself? Decreasing wage bill, emphasis placed on "developing young players" to be harvested in the future - leading to increasing revenue from transfer sales. He sold Carroll for £35 million, Tiote and Enrique could realistically go for a combined £22 million. This situation would put him £47 million in profit from 3 players. Let's say Ben Arfa has a good season next term, he could be worth £12-15 million by the end of 2011/12. And he would still be considerably short of the £200M plus he has already invested into the club. So no, I think it is a long way from becoming a cash cow or a 'nice little earner'. Well he saved a good £55 million on wages last season alone. Even with the players we've signed since, our wage bill can only have gone up £15 million a year. I'd say compared to this time 20 months ago, our wage bill has decreased by at least £40 million a year. Neesy, I don't think Ashley is trying to get us relegated this season. 2008/09 however ... He didn't save anything on wages, he doesn't pay them from his personal bank account. Newcastle United on the other hand, well... It was widely accepted that the wage bill was way out of control.

If he runs the club the way he wants to, relegation will only be disappointing, it won't cost much. The plan is to run is within Division 2 means so that relegation doesn't hurt much but Premiership status is extremely rewarding. Nonsense. The plan is to run the club within its means and thus not to operate at a loss. That does not equal run within Division 2 means.

I don't think the club selling Carroll for £35m shows that they lack ambition. Failing to reinvest that money back into the squad will show a lack of ambition. True, that is kind of what I'm trying to get at. I just don't think they will reinvest the a lot of the money, which is why I am bitter about the sale. TBH selling a player for the all time british record signing of an english player doesn't demonstrate that we'd sell our best players due to a lack of ambition. It shows that if you want our best players, you better be willing to cough up the dough to pay for them We'll see what happens with Enrique and Tiote in the summer ... I agree tottally with the sentiment of distrust that you have, I have it too. But there a number of reasons I'm certain that they won't leave 1) Where are they going to go? All the top teams have it covered 2)Even if a top team do want them as benchwarmers, are these teams gonna pay over ten million minimum for a benchwarmer? Mind you if we do go down they'll be gone as well as the fact that I don't hold high our chances of keeping them if we don't bring any players in. Hypothetically speaking ... Evra leaves Man Utd for a Barcelona/R. Madrid/Inter type club for £8 million. Guess who they come to first? Liverpool shed Konchesky ... they come for Enrique. Barcelona look for a long-term replacement for Abidal (plus he's Spanish). Man Utd finally get rid of Hargreaves, Tiote could be the athletic DM they've needed for years. Abramovich continues to pump transfer funds into Chelsea, so they bid £15m. West Ham stay up, and Redknapp finally gives up on Parker, guess which DM they come for. Call my viewpoint grim, but with these bastards as owners I've lost all optimism for this club. Just think we're going to become a conveyor belt for talent, Ashley's cash cow. Do you know what a cash cow is? Ashley will be lucky if he ever breaks even let alone makes a profit out of Newcastle United. I have a business degree ... so yes. You seriously think he can't turn this club into a "nice little earner" for himself? Decreasing wage bill, emphasis placed on "developing young players" to be harvested in the future - leading to increasing revenue from transfer sales. He sold Carroll for £35 million, Tiote and Enrique could realistically go for a combined £22 million. This situation would put him £47 million in profit from 3 players. Let's say Ben Arfa has a good season next term, he could be worth £12-15 million by the end of 2011/12. And he would still be considerably short of the £200M plus he has already invested into the club. So no, I think it is a long way from becoming a cash cow or a 'nice little earner'. He'd still possess the value of the club though in absence of those players (a value which will have increased in the mean time). Furthermore, with ticket income remaining strong and guaranteed, if people take him up on 3+ year deals, he'll also have a relatively cheap wage bill. With television money having leaped up recently also, of course. Do we have any genuine reason to believe he is going to personally pocket the £35M from the sale of Andy Carroll and all transfer income from future player sales? Ticket income may be strong but not guaranteed(opt out clause at the end of each season), the value of the club remains but so would the debt that the club has.

I don't think the club selling Carroll for £35m shows that they lack ambition. Failing to reinvest that money back into the squad will show a lack of ambition. True, that is kind of what I'm trying to get at. I just don't think they will reinvest the a lot of the money, which is why I am bitter about the sale. TBH selling a player for the all time british record signing of an english player doesn't demonstrate that we'd sell our best players due to a lack of ambition. It shows that if you want our best players, you better be willing to cough up the dough to pay for them We'll see what happens with Enrique and Tiote in the summer ... I agree tottally with the sentiment of distrust that you have, I have it too. But there a number of reasons I'm certain that they won't leave 1) Where are they going to go? All the top teams have it covered 2)Even if a top team do want them as benchwarmers, are these teams gonna pay over ten million minimum for a benchwarmer? Mind you if we do go down they'll be gone as well as the fact that I don't hold high our chances of keeping them if we don't bring any players in. Hypothetically speaking ... Evra leaves Man Utd for a Barcelona/R. Madrid/Inter type club for £8 million. Guess who they come to first? Liverpool shed Konchesky ... they come for Enrique. Barcelona look for a long-term replacement for Abidal (plus he's Spanish). Man Utd finally get rid of Hargreaves, Tiote could be the athletic DM they've needed for years. Abramovich continues to pump transfer funds into Chelsea, so they bid £15m. West Ham stay up, and Redknapp finally gives up on Parker, guess which DM they come for. Call my viewpoint grim, but with these bastards as owners I've lost all optimism for this club. Just think we're going to become a conveyor belt for talent, Ashley's cash cow. Do you know what a cash cow is? Ashley will be lucky if he ever breaks even let alone makes a profit out of Newcastle United. I have a business degree ... so yes. You seriously think he can't turn this club into a "nice little earner" for himself? Decreasing wage bill, emphasis placed on "developing young players" to be harvested in the future - leading to increasing revenue from transfer sales. He sold Carroll for £35 million, Tiote and Enrique could realistically go for a combined £22 million. This situation would put him £47 million in profit from 3 players. Let's say Ben Arfa has a good season next term, he could be worth £12-15 million by the end of 2011/12. And he would still be considerably short of the £200M plus he has already invested into the club. So no, I think it is a long way from becoming a cash cow or a 'nice little earner'.

Certainly not one of the best.

I don't think the club selling Carroll for £35m shows that they lack ambition. Failing to reinvest that money back into the squad will show a lack of ambition. True, that is kind of what I'm trying to get at. I just don't think they will reinvest the a lot of the money, which is why I am bitter about the sale. TBH selling a player for the all time british record signing of an english player doesn't demonstrate that we'd sell our best players due to a lack of ambition. It shows that if you want our best players, you better be willing to cough up the dough to pay for them We'll see what happens with Enrique and Tiote in the summer ... I agree tottally with the sentiment of distrust that you have, I have it too. But there a number of reasons I'm certain that they won't leave 1) Where are they going to go? All the top teams have it covered 2)Even if a top team do want them as benchwarmers, are these teams gonna pay over ten million minimum for a benchwarmer? Mind you if we do go down they'll be gone as well as the fact that I don't hold high our chances of keeping them if we don't bring any players in. Hypothetically speaking ... Evra leaves Man Utd for a Barcelona/R. Madrid/Inter type club for £8 million. Guess who they come to first? Liverpool shed Konchesky ... they come for Enrique. Barcelona look for a long-term replacement for Abidal (plus he's Spanish). Man Utd finally get rid of Hargreaves, Tiote could be the athletic DM they've needed for years. Abramovich continues to pump transfer funds into Chelsea, so they bid £15m. West Ham stay up, and Redknapp finally gives up on Parker, guess which DM they come for. Call my viewpoint grim, but with these bastards as owners I've lost all optimism for this club. Just think we're going to become a conveyor belt for talent, Ashley's cash cow. Do you know what a cash cow is? Ashley will be lucky if he ever breaks even let alone makes a profit out of Newcastle United.

He is our best central defender and needs to stay there. He has played DM for us, only once iirc, he was appalling.

4 goals against by former players this season alone. Really? Zog x 2, Duff, and? oh aye Paddy van. Aye, 5 in the relegation season as well.

4 goals against by former players this season alone.

Big bag of money at Left back and another in central midfield. The one up front should be fully fit soon as well.

9 of the last 10 winners of the FA Cup have qualified for the Champions League anyway so I'm not sure that would make much difference.

If you are going to pay it in one then the deadline is 30th April.

Not a fan of seeding but I guess it could be okay if the seeded team was always the away team.

Arrogance. No fanzine is going to get to question Mike Ashley about season tickets, transfers and the future direction of the club.

I'm on about what Han Colo said not Ian. That is what the comment was direct towards 'as likely to get goals'. he is also suggesting dropping Nolan before Jonas because he thinks HBA will score more than Nolan, either way he is wrong I certainly wouldn't play HBA in central midfield but I think he'd be capable of picking up a decent amount of goals playing off a lone striker. If he was to come in for Nolan (which I doubt) then Barton would probably move into central midfield and HBA play on the right (as he did at Man City ), if he is back and ready to start before the end of the season then he should go and play just off one of Best/Shola given our lack of quality up there. Either way Jonas is a decent player and should remain at the club, he is nowhere near as bad as most on here make out.

I'm on about what Han Colo said not Ian. That is what the comment was direct towards 'as likely to get goals'.

You don't think Ben Arfa is likely to score many goals? Or did you not read the discussion above? He is talking about Nolan & HBA in the team rather than Jonas & HBA or did you not read the discussion above? More mobile and seems just as likely to get goals going on what I've seen. Nolan on his day and when fully fit can offer something when he doesn't he is a passenger. Ben arfa is the sort of player that screams free role...provided he's not like forest gump in leg braces

You don't think Ben Arfa is likely to score many goals? Or did you not read the discussion above? He is talking about Nolan & HBA in the team rather than Jonas & HBA or did you not read the discussion above? It was about HBA scoring goals, everyone knows Jonas isn't going to start scoring goals on a regular basis.

You don't think Ben Arfa is likely to score many goals?

A top flight record away win that still stands to this very day I do believe,those were the days. Indeed they were the days, living in the shadow as usual as Newcastle won the league title.

Jonas was good yesterday and had the beating of Salgado a number of times.

And is he?No,and half the idiotic/inbred support will never realise a decent player until it's too late. Spanner. Reading this thread from the first page should prove interesting. Not that I have like but just from memory. The first post is brilliant.

Affirmative.