BottledDog

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 .

It's more things he has said in the past and been completely proven wrong about. "I promise Carroll wont leave", "All the money will be reinvested back into the team" etc. If Nolan's "comments" are true about how unhappy he was with Pardew not fighting for him then that's worrying too, as he's said in the past he wanted to keep him. It is the way it works, so why should we be the only ones playing it straight? Look around at the crap other clubs come out with. Example: Read what Levy said about Berbatov (and other players) leaving, he knew Berbatov was gone, it was purely designed to talk the price up. Look at the false outrage expressed when players (and managers) are tapped up by clubs that do exactly the same thing themselves. You could also read what Levy and Redknapp have said about Modric leaving and let's see where that one ends up. This is a multi million pound industry and people spout all sorts of shyte to get selling prices jacked up, players to perform, players to join their club, keep fans onside etc etc etc. It is what happens, it is an industry with no integrity and we have gone beyond any justification for moral outrage. That's all true, but it wasn't so long ago our owner and chairman were judged to have deliberately and repeatedly misled us in the past so I'm inclined to think it's a bit more serious than the stuff you mention. It might not be, but I find it very hard to trust them/Pardew. That's pretty much a Keegan line from his post tribunal statement, not one from the tribunal itself mind (though that doesn't mean they didn't fuck up and confusingly failed to be explicitly clear to Keegan on their policy regarding transfers in public or private of course). As for Pardew, he hasn't lied in any great fashion for me whatsoever. Saying that he had assurances Carroll would stay, or that he wanted Nolan to stay, does not mean that he is some kind of weasel when an offer comes in the club accept, or that while Nolan is an important player now, we feel that he will be in 4 years time and deserving of a five year contract. The only thing that concerns me is his habit of fucking up his own players names and ages, otherwise, in my humble opinion, he has been more than open on the things he can discuss in public.

Have a vague feeling he didn't watch any live games since his last stint in management before ours tbf.

And what's that then? Pardew said he will be chasing down Charnley to write down exactly where the cash is going. That doesn't sound like a bloke resigned to letting the money disappear up Mikes jacksie.

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.

Agreed.