BottledDog

Because we seemingly are using the money of his sale to pay off other players wages. Simple. Not really what I was going at though. This on the other hand: "And yet here we are, with people happy to 'hope it allows us the ability to react to opportunities, if there are any'. Honesty man, what is wrong with my quote? We have done our planning and played the window well, but having the extra cash also might allow us take advantage of players coming onto the market we might not have anticipated.

If we are a stronger, better team next season, how will it resonate with you? i'll be very happy if we're a stronger and better team, i try my best to separate this sort of thing from my actual enjoyment of watching the team play and i'm as positive as the rest when it come to the actual football. tends to irk me when i think someone's taking libs though Fair enough then. I still am pissed off with losing Carroll, but that's me being pretty sentimental. I think the only way to judge losing a player like him (and Nolan of course) is on the state of the team the following seasons. If we don't go backwards, and hell, the team actually not only goes in a different direction stylistically, but also moves forwards, then yes whatever money they brought in (or was ultimately spent), it was a good decision. If Ashley is cutting and running, it's all a fire sale and we end up in the shits, then there will rightly be hell on.

Ultimately we've had six months to decide what to do with at least £30m of allegedly unexpected income, with the benefit of what some seem to say is the world's best scout and a manager who apparently has the full backing of his manager and the club owner. And yet here we are, with people happy to 'hope it allows us the ability to react to opportunities, if there are any'. If we're so hard up that we needed to sell our best striker and most promising talent for big money just to pay wages and to afford to bring in couple of free transfers, it makes you wonder if they'd fully intended on flogging Carroll all along. And if that is the case, who's next out of the door? Why are you taking the 'hope it allows us the ability to react to opportunities, if there are any' quote to task? Do you disagree with it? Do you disagree that having an influx of money might allow us to jump on unanticipated oportunities if they come up towards the end of a window, that we might not ordinarily be able to stretch to?

If we are a stronger, better team next season, how will it resonate with you?

Would be lovely, can't see it though. /Smith OOT please!!!

And the other guy is part of the coaching staff by the looks of it. - That's one of the Fitness coaches, he's mates with someone on here! Richie Arkenheed, or something, is his name. He's also a Mackem. Mackem fitness coach? Explains a lot of last seasons problems.

Fair point. Only maybe Ba out wide in a 4-3-3. Think this is the problem with who we bring in. If we do play one up front, the second striker with Ba has to be able cover the other forward positions or simply sit on the bench waiting for the other to get injured. That doesn't sound like Bentner.

We'll never know exactly, but seems as reasonable as any mate. As has been pointed out though, there's still the question of why that £35m wouldn't be topped up with whatever money we would have put aside for transfers this summer anyway? Wished someone would have pushed Pardew on that last night. That said, maybe there has never really been a pot as such. We just find money if the opportunity arises form that clubs overall resources.

Pardew said not to question where the £35m has disappeared to. Subtle difference. Rubbish. As Elliottman said, Pardew just noted it was difficult because people will probably be way off with their sums.

I'm sold, sign him up.

What has the £35 million got us so far? £35m into the clubs coffers, beyond that who the ferk knows. Hope it allows us the ability to react to opportunities in the next 2 months of the transfer window, if there are any, that otherwise we might have missed out on.

Love it, now we have to wait until we've spent it. That'll mean we can't discuss it this transfer window. Saying £35 million only gets you 2 frees and an upgraded ground is not a discussion, it's just bollocks.

Whether they say it or not makes no odds tbh, it's pointless to discuss figures outside of the published accounts. Fact is though, Pardew has said we are still to spend (wherever the money comes from), so whatever the figures, stating that £35m gets you 2 free and an upgraded training pitch is a nonsense.

Wasn't he a free agent? Cabaye cost £4.3 million... ...roughly.

Actions speak louder than words and so far we have 2 free transfers and a training ground upgrade, I don't need Pardew to tell me we haven't spent it, and we're unlikely to spend it. Even though we were told that we were close to breaking even without selling Carroll. Excellent. When they have said they've spent it, let's discuss what it got us then then, eh.

What does it get you then? Who knows, we havn't spent it all yet. Where are you getting the idea that we have? Certainly not from Pardew.

No.

Fear for Manchester City? Er, how about... no.

Ha, way to go ronny gill. Be fkn lovely if they do, but just don't see either of those players coming as it stands.

Who would you lot prefer Hoarau or Erdinc? Hoarau by a country mile. /Never seen the bloke, but clearly has potential for the headlines he could generate. //Hoarau Show!, Hoarau Tackle!, Hoarau Injury Update!

Shy bairns get nowt as they say. Worrying how far down the list we may end up though.

True. That said though, both Taylors at least had their old numbers yesterday.

Our expectations last season were to avoid relegation, a year later and we're now expecting to challenge for T10 and challenge in one of the cups. Lowering of expectations?

A lot of the fringe players were in yesterday e.g. Richardson, Vuckic etc so I don't think it means he is being seen as a defender. Good point. Abied as well...

It was fairly obvious from what he said that the contingency plan will only kick in if Jose goes. That doen't sound like our persuit of Taylor in the slightest. So why haven't we signed him yet? Because Swansea think we're Liverpool? Arf. Broadsword, we have had an offer rejected. If that was accepted, do you think we'd have turned around to Swansea and said, "hang on Enrique's yet to decide what he's up to; could be a while though, hell he might even stay", and they'd have accepted that? No. Taylor is a young player who's barely made the step up to the Championship and if anything I reckon is being brought in to allow Furguson to take on a role further up the pitch as he develops. Hey, it may happen yet if things go horribly wrong, but I just can't see us seeing Taylor as first choice left back just yet .