midds

I have noticed that no-one has been sold yet too. There were fears that several key players (Owen, Given, N'Zogbia etc) would be sold this month with the intention of raising as much money as possible for fat Mike. Maybe that's not going to happen? Just a thought.

I take your point but I still think ITV have grossly mismanaged their scheduling. Imagine what the sight of a Premiership team at Kettering means to fans of teams at Kettering's levels. And this is where the problem lies. This is what ITV have just not appreciated. This is the FA Cup. I wasn't defending ITV by the way! I've not forgotten what ITV did to lower-league clubs with the whole ITV Digital fiasco - they're incompetent wankers. BBC would have shown it because, for all their faults, I think they understand the essence of the FA Cup. ITV want the biggest viewing figures possible. That's the difference.

And ask for money for him ? If they've got £16m burning a hole in their shellsuits then why not try it on? Got nothing to lose by asking for £5m and settling for about £4m. I think they'd go for it.

Easter Weekend 2003(ish) Newcastle 6 - 2 Everton. You get one game like that and the cameras keep on a coming to them Yet, the result is never repeated Will they ever learn! Only when we lose 4-3.

I can't imagine seeing Fulham getting knocked out would have been a particularly big attraction for neutrals. They just don't matter enough to people to interest them into watching.

Clubs in bidding war for Alan Smith. If Downing goes for silly money then we should take the piss.

That is absolutely ridiculous. A fucking woeful, stomach-churning, sickening piece of news tbph.

I'd rather see Dave Lee Travis play Macbeth.

Depends on the price.

Berbatov hat-trick in the final to grind the shite into the ground. [/not at all bitter]

A hernia? Fucking hell, Oba should be busting a gut to get fit for the club...

I think we'll nick it actually. I'll go for a very, very nervous 2-1. Goal from a corner and an Owen winner.

Ranger is omnipotent.

Fucking idiot.

Yeah, agree entirely. It would definitely have to be something extortionate like that though. They'd be getting, arguably, the most consistent goalkeeper in the Premiership at a brilliant age, so we can't be pissing about with figures of £8m. If they want him then they're gonna have to pay the high price that the contributing factors command. They're shitting money. They seemingly can't spend it quickly enough. £17m take it or leave it, bish bash bosh, deal done in an afternoon, I think they'd go for it.

I've been wondering for months now who would be the first to take a gamble on Appiah. There's obviously something dodgy about signing him otherwise he'd have been snapped up yonks ago by a big club. We'll see.

If I knew the funds were going to be invested back into the squad and if Given wants to go and if City are desperate to sign him, I'd offer him to them, 'take it or leave it' for £17m. That would be a good bit of business. He's fucking great but he's got his price, same as everyone else.

If our injuries are so that bad that Carroll is starting then this lad should be on the bench. Seriously.

It's that he can't play for 3 clubs in a year but yes, I guess he will unless they can get special dispensation, I'm sure Liverpool had to for Mascherano. Arsenal managed it for Henry Wasn't even in place at the time iirc.

Invert that motherfucker please chap.

Under normal circumstances i'd agree 100% with this. But unfortunately we've got a temp manager who's been out of the game for 4 years so i'd rather not have him doing all the buying and selling. He can and probably will say to the board who or what positons he feels needs strengthening but i'd much prefer they do the deals. He may be an absolute genius in identifying talent but until we've got cover sorted i'd rather not take that chance. I see your point but I really can see Kinnear staying on beyond his 'temporary' term. If he keeps us up I think he'll get a permanent contract. Ultimately I've no idea what Ashley's idea is regarding his manager, but if he plans on keeping Kinnear beyond the end of this season then he should be giving him control as I suggested IMO. Of course if he plans to fuck Kinnear off then he'll have to take a real gamble, be it on staying up with these players or giving Kinnear only minimal cash to make changes. I've got a sneaking suspicion that another club will offer him a long(ish) deal in the summer and he'll take it. Coventry or Southampton or somewhere like that. I also think that if he did go then Wise might just move into the hotseat. Just a hunch.

Which means one thing. Media to resume their wankfest and laud him as the 8th wonder of the world when he scores the winner against us... ..in the last minute. In front of the Kop. I fucking hate him.

Means either us or Hartlepool will be on telly I would think. They'll have to move one of them. The thought of West Ham and Millwall coming up here on the same day is frightening. Might not happen like, obviously.

Potential for bother is immense! Sunderland v Blyth Us v Millwall Hartlepool v West Ham Bet the coppers loved that draw.