BottledDog

I'm struggling to count the times any previous regime put that level of personal investment into the club (whether on transfers or otherwise, it makes no odds). You're probably right, that wasn't really my point anyway. NUFC didn't invest in players, that was a gamble (however understandable) that didn't pay off. All I was saying was that this was in contrast to the previous regime who gambled that the club should spend a lot on players even if they couldn't afford it. Aye, though I think Ashley felt he was doing that with Colo to a degree, I agree the headline signings of Shep are looking a million years away now. I loved the idea of hoovering up the young talent and slowly building up, but it's all a gamble and after not investing enough the previous summer in the first team we seemed to gamble on solid but shit dull signings like Nolan to keep us up. Hopefully Ashley will have learned from this. I believe he perfectly capable of doing so - he seems to have embraced stability over the popular manager route now which I appluad and it seems to be paying off this season.

I'm struggling to count the times any previous regime put that level of personal investment into the club (whether on transfers or otherwise, it makes no odds).

In some ways Shepherd was just as much of a gambler as Ashley, he just gambled the other way. Ashley has screwed things up badly but if he'd done due diligence and not bought NUFC there's a good chance we'd have done a Portsmouth. After Ashley had bought the club and revealed the debt Shepherd claimed had he stayed in charge he would have refinanced the club. He talked about it as if it would have been easy. As we now know with the Credit Crunch it would have been very hard to refinance. On the one hand Ashley buying us has been bad but on the other hand it might just have saved us. Aye, it's hard to say. Obviously Shepherd's 'death or glory' approach was bound to be more popular because it involves big signings, managerial appointments and a lot of excitement. And if it had led to consistent success, or even a minor trophy, we couldn't have complained. Ashley's approach was to try and stay up without investment, which if it had worked might have been alright. Obviously it didn't and we got relegated. I just hope he's learning from his mistakes... the proof of the pudding will be at the end of the season I suppose... whether we go up or not. But surely he was investing. The idea was to run the club withing its means if possible with any money coming in reinvested, but initially to subsidise it to the tune of £20m a season. If this only covered wages ect so be it, but whatever was left over would stay in the club and was to be used on transfers. At least that is what Mort etc stated from the start, and there is no evidence that wasn't going to happen until the staff and managerial mistakes fucked the whole thing up for him.

Skysports.com understands Stoke and Newcastle are eyeing moves for Norwegian star Erik Huseklepp. Huseklepp is regarded as one of the best players in Scandinavia and a number clubs across Europe have been keeping tabs on his situation. The likes of Liverpool, Sunderland, Blackburn and Wigan have been credited with an interest in the attacking midfielder, but Stoke and Newcastle are thought to be leading the chase for the 25-year-old. Stoke and Newcastle are both keen to bolster their attacking options before the close of the transfer window and the fact that Huseklepp can play out wide or up front makes him an attractive proposition to both clubs. Huseklepp is currently in pre-season training with Brann in Spain and the Norwegians would find it hard to resist a sizeable offer for the skilful attacker. The Norwegian international is believed to be keen on a move to England and it remains to be seen if either Stoke or Newcastle step up their interest with a firm offer. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_5893423,00.html

Hughton - "It's a good chance to have a look at him over the next month" Interesting; Sounds like we might have an interest in the lad long term as well.

What exactly do you think bankrolled means?

Us! Villa lose 7m a year, we make on average 7m a month!

Good god man, your defeatist attitude is the primary reason that this country is shooting down the shit chute all of a sudden. My defeatist attitude is the reason the Country is in a shit state? Well fuk me...I'd love to know how you worked that one out. If that's how you worked it out, I can see why you came to that conclusion. Ah, come on. Worry about promotion if it ever happens. Just can't see anything the club can do to settle your nerves about next season when we havn't even made it through this one yet. They predicted we would drop like a stone, they predicted a shit winter transfer window, now you're already predicting gloom and doom for next season. Who knows what'll happen tbh. Positive thinking scores goals. FACT!

Good god man, your defeatist attitude is the primary reason that this country is shooting down the shit chute all of a sudden. My defeatist attitude is the reason the Country is in a shit state? Well fuk me...I'd love to know how you worked that one out. :angry: :angry:

fucking hell Yeah, still not coming across particularly well is he. Plus, I know it's the style, but come on, washing machine instructions should be private imho.

Good god man, your defeatist attitude is the primary reason that this country is shooting down the shit chute all of a sudden. /Carpe the fucking Diem

His post match vid is on .cock.

Post signing and post match vids are on dot cock. Thoroughly nice chap.

Pretty positive on the new lads at least, and even Pancrate (and Hughton by extension). Good stuff. /Thanks for the reports eveyone.

2-1 to the boys from Lichester.

You sound pretty sure, so you've got my vote! Routledge out!

First settled transfer window for Hughton, and all three players have already show signs of proving their worth. Nicely done Chris. /so far...etc...etc..

Clueless? I wasn't there tonight but almost all the ratings on here said he did surprisingly ok at rb. Implausible I know, but maybe Hughton knows more about the player than us. Aye, me included. But it wasn't half a bizarre decision. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but there's no way Hughton had it - he didn't know Pancrate would play decently there, training or not. This is the bloke that refuses to play Guthrie in his best position man. Hope to god Jose makes a miraculous recovery, but otherwise it'll be interesting to see how we line up on Saturday.

Clueless? I wasn't there tonight but almost all the ratings on here said he did surprisingly ok at rb. Implausible I know, but maybe Hughton knows more about the player than us.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f8/Rogermellie.png Ashley - "Le Coq Sportif have 3rd world ball production? But Roger, I don't own Le Coq. Yes, our ball handling facilities in the Far East, but they're not dodgy like Le Coqs. Le Coqs balls come on the cheap." Mellie - "Ha ha, oh Fuck. What can I say, put it there Mike you fat cunt."

Wonder if they're doing one on the Mackem Mafia.

Agreed, though gotta be a kick up the arse for Pancrate or he'll be tugged off at half time again. Pancrate isn't starting either. It's Danny G on the right. Mooooootherfuckers.

Agreed, though gotta be a kick up the arse for Pancrate or he'll be tugged off at half time again.