BottledDog

The fk is Paul?

Unlikely, the offer already on the table has a modest pay increase. Would the club go on to increase a wage allready 40% over the wage cap? Might be estimated bonuses etc. that is, if he's on the reported 80/90k/week. A lot of players seem to have contracts that increase automatically, season on season. It would could well be a possibility that the offered contract (as it is likely to be his last, and over time his role will diminish in the team), forgoes the automatic increase, and instead offers simply a higher initial salary that stays the same over the length of the contract. That'd be my guess, but yeah if the reports are right, could be bonus' etc.

It would be fair to say that nobody here knows the details of any individual players pay or the offers on the table. I would suggest that a journalist (who doesn't even qualify his statement with 'reports suggest') may have a better knowledge. It may not be fact, but however cynical you are about the club drip feeding info, it's the closest you're going to get until there is something tangible to contradict it.

Unlikely, the offer already on the table has a modest pay increase.

Says I need 'Sky Entertainment Extra' for another 5er a month. Ruinous bastards.

Yep. Eh? I dont.

That is fkn gerld. A whole article based on some dodgy screen grab. "United fans have been lining up to congratulate the Toon owner for his dedication." Christ.

Quite possibly, but I'm not particularly worried long term. Pardew certainly still rates him massively, comparing him to Ronaldo in his first season, and putting him among our top three players.

Read More http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2012/01/19/pardew-more-to-come-from-hatem-ben-arfa-72703-30154272/#ixzz1juFyGOtR Every day a new 'Hatem the workshy fop' story!

Love it. /and I'm sure Lee Ryder does too.

If we spent 10 million in theory there would still be 25m left, because the Santon, Cabaye and Obertan deals came from the Enrique, Nolan and Routledge sales..... But i reckon some of the money has gone towards wages and other things. The Guardian said that Ba's agent/signing fees were £4m iirc. Not that it matters I suppose. As you say money for wages etc come out from the same pot, and that pot has been running at a loss for a good few years before the Carroll windfall.

That prediction in your sig is coming along belting, I see. Arf.

Nar, win the final, back for Sunderland. Both score in a fucking landslide victory. Fate.

This.

We want.......Never gets. /at least lob a please in there, ungrateful plebs.

Yups. In the Cisse vid he said that he hoped the players (Best, Shola, Loven) would step up to the plate during the ACN. Later he said, (like) HBA stepped up to the plate on Saturday. Significantly though he included HBA in the group of 3 players he he highlighted as some of the exciting players he was joining.

Anything in particular? Difficult to pick out any one thing, but good good words again from him. Was on the list as soon as Carroll left. Been out of our reach, but we were able to react quickly. Good pressure on the current players, let's see what they do (he was in a similar situation with Geoff Thomas at Palace). Plays off the shoulder to go in behind, but more to him than that, quick, and can score from balls from the side with his head but also two good feet. Didn't talk about him to Demba as it can be unfair to put players in that position. Prime of his career, not young so has had pressures before. Will deal with it in an honest way as he is an honest player.

Dam right From the same article "...it is understood to be the case that the clause in his contract actually stipulated that Ba cannot be sold until the summer transfer window.". Bugger was hoping it was a relegation release clause.

Ba is going nowhere IMHO. Ba didn't even know he flew out to us at the time, but yes I'm sure Ba will stay. He said Ba (and Cabaye and Ben Arfa as they speak French also) will be the ones he will lean on at the club to get to the top. Also says he has watched our games because Ba is Senegalese, and the support persuaded him to come. A really good interview from a lad who's had the couple of days he's had. Got on the plane at 11 last night.

Cracking Vid, just beautiful. "We are going to have some great times here together".

Modibo Maiga.