BottledDog

There better be. There's absolutely no excuse for being in-profit and having Ameobi as 2nd choice 'proper striker' come September 1st. We've made like £39m profit since January from transfers. You wouldn't f***ing know it. From transfers possibly, but we've no idea what actual profit has been made overall. By the look of our possible bids I would say we are looking at around £15m profit that we can put into the pot for the remaining transfers.

Every interview he has had would dispute that idea, and I see no reason to question him on that. Seems to love his role at the club, and that role is simply to organise the numerous scouts, watch a hell of a lot of games himself, draw up recommendations for Pardew, and organise (apparently up to 3) trips for Pardew to see a player. His name just seems to be something for people to invest some hope in, but there is no reason to think he is anything other than what he is; a very good head of scouting.

segunded If we're locking the Ashley thread, might as well lock this as well.

Ramadan partakes in Tiote.

Ah, sorry, it was sarcasm (apologies). I know he's an arse in many ways, but I enjoy watching the team we have built over many if not most in the league, and just can't fathom how that tallies with the view that we are at the very best tinkering with oblivion under the bloke. Fine Golfmag has his opinion, and while I find it dificult to accept I understand why people might agree with him - but then I also find it difficult not to find positives in what we are doing.

Yeah, it's shit following a team like ours with Ashley choking the club towards a slow painful death. Never felt so down about the team we send out on the pitch.

Probably way to early, but given some luck I think the staff, first team, and reserve squad we have put together over the last year or so is one of the most likeable and promising we have had, or at least has me more hopeful for the future in a long time. Again, happy to accept that it maybe just the high of the weekend still kicking on but fuck, I just can't help love most if not all of them. Even Andy Woodman is a funny fucker.

Both Vukic and Abeid were there.

Good God Dave, somthing positive from you!

End of the striker hunt then? Fuck knows who else might be left on the list, but can't imagine them being that much better than Best, Shola, Ba, or Obertan now.

I got the impression that Erdinc didn't want to leave PSG, and said as much - so not sure that is the clubs fault, other than maybe pursuing it a bit too long. He's signing for Rennes isn't he? In which case he is prepared to leave PSG. What I heard was that we couldn't agree terms with his agent and he's now going to Rennes who didn't have that problem. Or, like Gameiro, would not leave the French league for anywhere other than Spain. Maybe. Was it Luke Edwards who said we could have signed some of our targets including Erdinc if we'd been prepared to pay a million or two more? Doesn't ring a bell, but you may well be right. /that said, I'm pretty cynical when it comes to believing that Luke Edwards would be privvy to such info.

I got the impression that Erdinc didn't want to leave PSG, and said as much - so not sure that is the clubs fault, other than maybe pursuing it a bit too long. He's signing for Rennes isn't he? In which case he is prepared to leave PSG. What I heard was that we couldn't agree terms with his agent and he's now going to Rennes who didn't have that problem. Or, like Gameiro, would not leave the French league for anywhere other than Spain.

We've not lodged a bid or even started negotiations have we?

Fingers crossed. /They just need to find a buyer. Can't see it getting anywhere near administration tbf.

not much of a chance obviously with 100k but he's clearly not as shit as people are making out and it's a worthy gamble rather than an old clogger. :-)

According to my Charlton chums he's had a quick rise and wouldn't be surprised if a big club got hold of him he'd be England quality. They said 800,000 would be fair and in a few years time given a chance he could be worth 10 times that. Fine our offer was turned down, but good to see us take a chance on an apparently great up and coming keeper.

Since when? NOW!

Gotta love that stat.

Heart in the right place but he's a west Ham fan with little cash and replaces a billionaire. That said, luckily Mittal has stayed on board, and bringing back the guy who kicked off over the shitty price hike bodes well at least.

Was it Skirge who had him sporting a cracking pair in some kind of wonderwoman outfit?

It's not different, but the way the likes of yourself and a few others are going on, you'd think we're only like this because of what Ashley's doing. I'd take this squad over what Shepherd left us anyday. I'd happily agree with that. /along with the reserves which has some pretty exciting players hitting their 20's a spitting dab away from the first team squad as well.

There you go, Shearer understands the boards problem. Until we sell some of them on, it's just not viable to bring in a striker when we're already overflowing with riches in that department.

Steve Harper prepared to stay at Newcastle http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newcastle-united/nufc-news/2011/08/18/steve-harper-prepared-to-stay-at-newcastle-72703-29256667/ The Chronicle understands that the long-serving stopper – who still has two years left to run on his contract – is thought to have no desire to leave St James’ Park, even though talk emerged from London last night of United targeting Charlton Athletic’s shotstopper Rob Elliot. United loaned out Fraser Forster to Celtic yesterday for a second time in 12 months with the SPL side spending all summer frantically trying to nail down a keeper, and his temporary switch was agreed with a view to a permanent deal for the 23-year-old. Tim Krul is set to continue in the United goal against Sunderland in Saturday’s Wear-Tyne derby. Yet eyebrows have been raised by fans after Harper’s sudden tumble down the pecking order, with United’s 1999 FA Cup final No 1 still putting in top-notch displays last season despite suffering injury problems. Few have shown more loyalty to the black and white cause than Harper since he first arrived at the club as a raw teenager in 1992. Few also have more experience than the 36-year-old, who has been on the Toon’s books for all of their Premier League campaigns since 1993 and stuck with United in the aftermath of relegation. With almost two decades of experience on Tyneside, Harper has seen it all at Gallowgate from Champions League action to helping the club back to the top flight in 2010. Harper has also offered hundreds of younger players sound advice down the years after working with a range of managers including Sir Bobby Robson, Kevin Keegan and Chris Hughton. With the Easington-born Harper now coming into his peak years as a goalkeeper, it is unlikely that he will want to quit the club he loves. And one of United’s goalkeeping cult heroes, Tommy Wright, feels that Harper still has plenty to offer and plenty to play for. Wright – who helped save the club from relegation to the third flight in 1992 and was part of the charge into the Premier League under Kevin Keegan – told the Chronicle: “You look at David James playing into his 40s and Steve has plenty of years left at the top. “Goalkeepers can easily play in their late 30s and beyond. “And when you are as fit as somebody like Steve, that’s usually not an issue.” Meanwhile, Ryan Donaldson is attracting interest from Football League side Chesterfield, with United looking to loan out the Geordie midfielder.

We've been told £10 million apparently. Than we are probable waiting on Ashley to get his jaws up from the desk, and his heart pumping again...

Visa problems.