midds

We were at first but it seems to have moved on since then, even that was not necessary as they could have said nothing. Everyone involved knows that every player at every club is available for the right price. Us saying he 'wasn't for sale' was all part of the larger end-game and anyone who believed otherwise was deluded beyond belief.

Where would you draw the line? I don't think anybody is expecting them to be 100% honest but the club shouldn't lie to build peoples hopes up, only to go against what they've said and piss people off. Are we talking specifically about the Carroll transfer and the ''he's not for sale'' stuff they came out with?

I've not got a problem with the owner/chairman either telling lies or keeping schtum about things if it benefits the club. Having people who own/run the club being 100% honest in every interview/press release just doesn't happen imo. It's a game.

This is Ashley's Newcastle - no expense spared.

When Wenger (Campbell) or Ferguson (Goram) does something like this they're applauded for finding a cheap, short-term solution. When we attempt it...

Fucking mentalist.

I think he'll take them down and bring them straight back up.

How come youtube links aren't allowed?! http://www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/index.php/topic,19161.0.html

Our only game plan seems to be to bang it up to 2 big lads who knock it on or hold it up and allow the likes of Nolan and Barton to feed on scraps. We're pretty good at set-pieces as long as the delivery is decent so signing him as cover (sort of) makes sense. Don't get me wrong, I think he's pretty shit and can't see him scoring or creating much. I would also like to think we'd blood a young lad rather than resort to this but it's not the end of the world. He'll cost us next to nowt and he's fit to play. Short contract to tide us over for the last dozen games or so.

Supporters have the choice of pumping money into the game or walking away. They choose to do so because they like the product and seeing the players perform. The players attract the cash and it's fair they are rewarded for it. That's life.

Best to keep all the mongs together imo.

Pointless game against a pointless team. Couldn't care less about the result or performance.

Sounds like a loophole. Not like the big clubs would agree to that though......

Jesus Christ he's not even followed up on it. Fucking sad as it gets.

Nice one. Well done.

Key word was 'hypothetical'. Tit.

Yep. Buy low, sell high. It's the future. could say that how spurs got where they are...buy...sell for a profit. if you can do it enough you move up. They pumped the money back into the squad though and kept buying/speculating. Remains to be seen if we do the same. The quotes from Pardew don't suggest we're prepared to do the same. How long before Enrique is looking to be away? It remains to be seen because of this new mantra we've seen one player leave for a British transfer record might I add. Hypothetical: Man U come in and bid £12m for Enrique. You reckon they'd turn it down? They'd squeeze to 15. Well that's ok then. 15 is much more than 12. Job done. Think of the interest.

You didn't even answer my question though, why would teams who have tried to meet the requirements (Man U are one, I think) sit idly by while Chelsea break the rules? I know you're saying there will be loopholes but do you think clubs the size of Man U are going to let other clubs bend these rules to gain an advantage? I'm saying the same clubs that have set the rules are the most likely to find the loopholes. Let's wait and see how it pans out. Let's see how well the rules are working in 2 or 3 years time. Unless they all decide to use the loopholes there will be hell on. A club that has spent five years sorting itself out will not allow another club to ignore the rules, IMO. As you say though, I guess we will have to wait and see. Will be interesting, certainly, to see how clubs approach. The biggest, richest clubs will come out on top. I can guarantee you that.

wenger already publicly stated one last week and he's probably nailed it - sheik moneybags just gets one of his companies to pay citeh 50m for a sponsorship that everyone else gets say 10m for job done I suggested this might happen ages ago but apparently this will be illegal.

You didn't even answer my question though, why would teams who have tried to meet the requirements (Man U are one, I think) sit idly by while Chelsea break the rules? I know you're saying there will be loopholes but do you think clubs the size of Man U are going to let other clubs bend these rules to gain an advantage? I'm saying the same clubs that have set the rules are the most likely to find the loopholes. Let's wait and see how it pans out. Let's see how well the rules are working in 2 or 3 years time.

so let's see what happens then.

Even when other big clubs are abiding by the rules and seeing their peers exploit them? Yep. There will be a way around it. Why would say, for example, Inter Milan and Barcelona allow Chelsea to bend the rules? It's not big clubs v small clubs, it's big clubs v big clubs. There won't be bullying, it will be heavyweights v heavyweights. I said there would be loopholes. They will be discovered and exploited. No idea who'll find them first but they will. The big boys won't like a level playing field and will find a way around the rules.

Even when other big clubs are abiding by the rules and seeing their peers exploit them? Yep. There will be a way around it.

Yep. Buy low, sell high. It's the future. could say that how spurs got where they are...buy...sell for a profit. if you can do it enough you move up. They pumped the money back into the squad though and kept buying/speculating. Remains to be seen if we do the same. The quotes from Pardew don't suggest we're prepared to do the same. How long before Enrique is looking to be away? It remains to be seen because of this new mantra we've seen one player leave for a British transfer record might I add. Hypothetical: Man U come in and bid £12m for Enrique. You reckon they'd turn it down? at 12mill....yes, i think you would. I would? Or they would?

Yep. Buy low, sell high. It's the future. could say that how spurs got where they are...buy...sell for a profit. if you can do it enough you move up. They pumped the money back into the squad though and kept buying/speculating. Remains to be seen if we do the same. The quotes from Pardew don't suggest we're prepared to do the same. How long before Enrique is looking to be away? It remains to be seen because of this new mantra we've seen one player leave for a British transfer record might I add. Hypothetical: Man U come in and bid £12m for Enrique. You reckon they'd turn it down?