James

A good preseason would have been really beneficial to his form and fitness for next season, but he hasn't had one.

You're more concerned about a few meaningless friendlies than us barely touching a penny of the Carroll cash? More the injuries, and the fact that certain players aren't getting a good preseason which will have a knock on effect on their season. Remember how Barton considered a good pre season as key to his form last season.

I am more bothered about the club's inability to keep star players happy and the terrible preseason we are having than the club's transfer policy which in my opinion is entirely reasonable.

Trouble is however that apart from the striker, who we intend to sign, we have a large squad that takes us to the limit of what is allowed under league rules, we can't get rid of the turboshit players,and we won't allow a player to be paid a weekly wage yet unregistered to play for us.

Doubt he would fly with a broken bone, so we can rule out a fracture. However muscle damage could still be severe. Must remember that such a long period out with such an injury can weaken muscles and make a player more susceptible.

Given the discovery that the Carroll money can not be included on the accounts submitted to UEFA to be allowed into Europe (therefore meaning that spending the £35m incurs a loss that could see us banned from Europe) does this make the decision to sell Carroll even worse? Llambias should be sacked for that amongst many other things.

Wouldn't say Zog would choose Villa over Sunderland because of the city. Zog would live in Newcastle.

There are really several truths that people seem unwilling to comprehend: 1) There is a limit to the number of players allowed in the squad. We are close to that limit, the inevitable new striker will be the last before we fill up. 2) The board will not sanction high earners being ineligible to play for us in the league. Therefore we soon have to sell to buy, and the final player is worth waiting for. 3) Interest in players outside of the 25 is low. If we don't want them, why should someone else? Those who might leave are on low wages, leaving a vacancy for a similar squad replacement. 4) We are trying to sign a striker. 5) We signed what the football experts at the club see as a suitable alternative to Charles N'Zogbia 6) Players always cost much more than the quoted wage and transfer fee, for example loyalty payments, plus of course signing on fees and agents fees. 7) The Carroll money does not count with regard to the new UEFA entry rules. Spend all the Carroll money at once, then expecting more in future windows and we can seriously jeopardise our prospects of getting into Europe in the future. 8) We aren't that bad and have already improved the side.

It is simple. Marveaux decides to go to Liverpool. We go for N'Zogbia instead. Marveaux changes his mind, we sign Marveaux, end our interest in N'Zogbia.

I was wondering whether because of the timing of the Carroll sale and the new financial rules whether we are actually allowed to spend the money?

We go for Marveaux. Marveaux chooses to sign for Liverpool. We go for N'Zogbia, wait a bit because the price is exorbitant (£3m extra for not being in Europe). Marveaux decides he wants to sign for us instead. We sign Marveaux. No more interest in N'Zogbia.

We can afford to spend money, but do we need to? We remain committed to signing another striker. Once we've got him, that is it, we have signed all the players that we can probably afford to sustain over five years, plus the PL won't let us play any more than that. This is why so many players have been told they can leave, or Pardew is willing to sell Nolan, selling improves our buying opportunities. I expect a good player to come in should we offload Smith, but no-one will match his wages.

I think we can better than him.

Top bloke

Just belatedly turned away from him on the calendar (June Guthrie, July Routledge) He has a massive cock.

We did. Then sold him to Aston Villa.

Since Shepherd, wages have gone up significantly more than the revenues, that is the big problem really. Also a lot of hidden fees have sprung up in contracts, we are still paying installments for some players last I heard, plus all players get millions of pounds in loyalty bonuses every year. Then there are the signing on fees and agent fees, and these are often the worst, so in reality we have probably already paid at least £8m for Ba and Marveaux. Cabaye too would have probably gained a good agent fee given that we found his release clause. Similarly we could end up paying at least double what Swansea actually receive if and when we sign Neil Taylor. But even with that calculation we still should have net 20+ million in the transfer pot, minus the training ground improvements (maybe 1M+). You aren't really counting everything though, we have the signing on fees for five players if you include HBA. £10m transfers if you include HBA. Agent fees for the five players. Loyalty payments to agents for players that are still here come 1st Sept. Loyalty bonuses bonuses for players that are still here come 1st Sept. Pro-rata loyalty bonuses for players we sell this summer that haven't handed in a transfer request. An increase in annual wage budget of over £5m. Training Improvements probably cost £3-5m. Money on the development side of things which Shepherd hardly spent a penny on. Installments for earlier signings.

Or go back to Canada with an MLS team? The above three options are better and I am confident that one will happen.

Since Shepherd, wages have gone up significantly more than the revenues, that is the big problem really. Also a lot of hidden fees have sprung up in contracts, we are still paying installments for some players last I heard, plus all players get millions of pounds in loyalty bonuses every year. Then there are the signing on fees and agent fees, and these are often the worst, so in reality we have probably already paid at least £8m for Ba and Marveaux. Cabaye too would have probably gained a good agent fee given that we found his release clause. Similarly we could end up paying at least double what Swansea actually receive if and when we sign Neil Taylor.

John Carver is nailing the chairs down as we speak.

Someone I hugely respect and I sympthasise with his predicament. I'm sure he'd take a pay as you play but the problem is with the new rules about player limits is that clubs won't have him taking a slot if they can't be sure that he'll be fit. He has three choices in my opinion, go to the Bundesliga, wait until deadline day and see if a club with less than 25 players will give him a go, drop down to the Championship. We all know Hughton likes a freebie, but also there is West Ham, Leicester with Sven, and Forest with McClaren. One of those will take him if he is prepared to accept decent terms.

I will still wait to see how much we actually spend come the summer. If we make out we have more to spend, prices will go up.

He's under 21

The article was probably written ages ago. Mike Ashley just has one of those Wallace and Gromit machines that pop out his toast, slide on his slippers while simultaneously pressing enter on a keyboard. More French Cheese Derek.

Sorry Dave