midds

You just know that if, somehow, we managed to get about 43,000 there tomorrow, the media would bang on relentlessly about the 9,000 empty seats rather than the biggest attendance seen in the CCC for years and years.

The only penny that will have dropped is that he can loan 5 players for nothing an build half a 1st team for free at this level quite easily. I'm not too bothered about bringing in 5 loans, in fact i think its a great idea to help out the club financially, but i'd like to see a manager with a plan making his own buys and using loans to expand the squad, not build the spine out of. Couldn't agree more. Getting a decent manager would be the best bit of business we could do atm.

Regardless of how good the lad is, this is the first sign that the penny may have just dropped and we actually need to start replacing some of the players who have left. Simpson may not be a world-beater but he's better than no-one and he's another body in the squad.

Rip their arms off at the socket. If true obviously.

Two words. Shay. Given.

No need gentlemen.

Wolves haven't spent much so far have they? Duff would be the type of player they'd target imo.

Take the money. £4m straight away and £6m saved on wages. He could be good for us this year but there's no guarantee. We won't get a better offer for him and his value is only going to go south. I can understand the need to keep the squad numbers up but he's far from irreplaceable. Sell the gormless twat.

If we were a normal club we'd take the cash and replace him with a talented young kid. Financially it's a good deal but football-wise, he needs to stay because he could do a job for us at this level.

When's his contract up?

He brings it on himself, that match report for Bassong the other day sums up his contribution. Fair enough, but is it that hard to ignore him (or his posts)?

Can't understand the vitriol tbh. He's done nothing wrong imo and certainly doesn't deserve the slagging he's getting. Just because he supports Spurs doesn't mean he should have to put up with this.

Who sings the version of the Blaydon Races that's played over the tannoy just before kick off by the way?

Ddin't realise you were into that kind of action Skirge. You little minx.

Adidas obviously knew what they were doing....

I'm sure they've made the draw for the next round before all of the ties in the current round have been played in previous years.

Never seen the point in clubs 'rejecting' transfer requests from unhappy players. What did they do, stick their fingers in their ears and go "la, la, la, la, can't hear you, la, la, la"? If he wants away then they should do the sensible thing and try to get the best deal they can for him. Rejecting it just seems petty and futile. It's a difficult one. Obviously, Everton must be pissed off. They offer him a better deal and extension about a year ago and then he does this. What's the point in a contract? Couldn't agree more but at least Lescott has had the decency to ask for a transfer which means he probably forgoes any loyalty bonuses written into his contract. He's being open about it and he wants a transfer where he'll undoubtedly sign an even better contract at City than the improved one he's currently on. If I wanted to move to a different company on a much better wage, I'd resign and start work at the new place without any problems at all. Can't see how Everton, or any club, can possibly refuse a player a move if they've put a formal transfer request in.

Never seen the point in clubs 'rejecting' transfer requests from unhappy players. What did they do, stick their fingers in their ears and go "la, la, la, la, can't hear you, la, la, la"? If he wants away then they should do the sensible thing and try to get the best deal they can for him. Rejecting it just seems petty and futile. Get more money? Surely a player they are resigned to losing would cost less than one they expect to keep! Once a player formally says he wants away it's a bit daft, imo, to keep him. I'm assuming they've tried to convince him to stay but they've obviously failed. His head's been turned and he's going. Best thing they can do is to strike the best deal they possibly can. Everton should tell City they can speak to him this afternoon if they cough up £20m. That gives Everton plenty of time to replace him before the window closes. The more they refuse to accept the situation the less time it leaves to replace him.

Never seen the point in clubs 'rejecting' transfer requests from unhappy players. What did they do, stick their fingers in their ears and go "la, la, la, la, can't hear you, la, la, la"? If he wants away then they should do the sensible thing and try to get the best deal they can for him. Rejecting it just seems petty and futile.

Still have a great deal of difficulty believing Ashley is so obtuse that he thinks the value of the club is going to rise the longer he holds out. It's just bizarre. How can it be so obvious to so may people yet still he thinks he can broker a better deal for himself while the club falls a little bit further behind each day that he holds out?

Ah the media's good old, 'Newcastle-foreign-defender-signed-for-big-money-so-he-must-be-shit' syndrome. To be fair he has looked dodgy but every mistake has been pounced on. The bloke was thrown into a relegation battle in his first season in a new league and no allowances whatsoever were made for him.

1-0. Shola.

Needs to seriously adapt his game for this league. Keep it simple and don't fuck about. He's obviously got ability but needs to get his head around what's needed this season and it's not playing his way out of trouble.

September 6th. The harsh reality of the situation might just start to hit home a few days after the window shuts.

On to my third bin liner full of shirts now. I'll do a full list when I can be arsed.