Benwell Lad

I'd go along with this. What strikes me is he started off by handing Fat Sam a relatively massive transfer kitty when he had just arrived, promised to plough 20 million of his own money into the club on a yearly basis and was living the dream in terms of being a sociable club owner trying to mingle with the fans. After the whole Wise/Keegan fiasco and the flack he copped, he has obviously lost his enthousiasm for the club. Even last season's excellent results and the end of the mass public critcism of his running of the club has not changed his stance in this regard; I think he considers buying the club as a mistake and would sell as soon as het got his money back. Unfortunately for us, he bought us at the height of economic prosperity and no realistic buyer has presented himself due to the economic crises that followed, so we are being run as a going concern on a shoestring budget until somebody comes forward to take us off his hands. Massive shame. Someone I know who sits close to Ashley told me that for a hard nosed bastard he was actually upset by the constant singing about him when he was public enemy No.1, especially in the prescence of family/friends. He did lose a lot of the "fan" like enthusiam at that time. A while ago I recall Pardew expressing a wish to "get the owner interested again" or words to that effect. It's currently open season on anything Pardew says (or doesn't say) but I think he was spot on with that sentiment. It may never happen again but I think an interested, passionate Ashley enjoying his football and behaving like a fan would be a lot better for NUFC than a brooding, distant, disinterested one.

Why does this not surprise me. I don't know. Ehh.. ? Ian you surprise me. While legend may be slightly overdoing it he was as good as we've ever had at RB and his name is often recalled by those of a certain "vintage". I'd go along with the earlier poster who said him and Alan Kennedy were our best ever full back pairing, well in my time certainly, although Davie Craig and "Frank Clark knows my father" - maligned by the Newcastle fans much more than Williamson or anyone else recently, only to leave us and immediately win 2 European Cup (CL) medals, - were pretty good too. Nattrass was classy and along with Kennedy we had two attacking full backs with terrific shots who chipped in with goals. It was the era when we really never had England internationals and most fans would have loved to see Nattrass play for his country. IIRC he didn't but there was a justifiable claim of southern bias back then which probably played it's part.

The obsession of some with twisting words and trying to put a negative slant on anything Pardew, or anyone from the club, says is a shame because it just dilutes or even negates some of the more valid criticisms.

Can't? Ah go on, at least give it a crack. Loads of empties at the Bridge last night if anyone's thinking of defecting.

After what has happened this week, if the first thing we know about any deals is when they're holding up a black and white shirt and declaring their undying love for Newcastle United on the back page of the Journal, I for one will be quite happy.

Nice summary of the saga. Some pretty damning evidence in that report. Makes it sound like this guy couldn't replace Shola never mind Demba Ba. To give him a deal comparable to something that Ba/Walcott/Suarez merit, sounds like total lunacy.

Everything looks dull and depressing in England in January. A bit of sunshine and it will look fine again.

Seen nothing of Elliot this season which would suggest he's crap like.

Sections of the media and the more gullible of their fans were looking for any kind of tenuous, co-incidental link to their cup win in 1973 this season, what with it being 2013 and that... Wouldn't be suprised if some of last season's Wembley coaches were being dusted down prior to last night's debacle. Stokoe >>>>>> O'Neill.

Going off the last 16 hours worth of meltdown, I think you might just be Hahah I was part of the meltdown as well, but something just isnt sitting right with me. I don't know what it is, it just all seems very odd. and very convenient last minute interest. And why no confirmation yet? I don't know I have a feeling we might still get him There'll be some doubts in his mind about going somewhere like QPR, but I'm pretty sure the money on offer will overcome them.

When you're bottom of the league you have no choice but to gamble. He'll be on a free if they go down. A deal comprising a ten million plus euro transfer fee plus the players/agents contract and fees, for what would be four months work if, as the bookmakers think they will go down, would seriously contradict what you said about Fernandez a couple of posts ago. There will be a release clause but a free would be pure mental. But hey, if he's the golden nugget that's going to keep them up, well done QPR. To put it bluntly if they get the 2 french players and with Harry at it...Their chance of survival just became better than ours at this moment. IF we don't perform in this window we'll go down. A different point but sure, based on those suppositions you may be correct. But the point was a "free" after four months is hardly the work of a genius or "Branson" like businessman. There again I don't think it will be a "free" and if Remy inspires them to stay up it could be the work of a genius.

When you're bottom of the league you have no choice but to gamble. He'll be on a free if they go down. A deal comprising a ten million plus euro transfer fee plus the players/agents contract and fees, for what would be four months work if, as the bookmakers think they will go down, would seriously contradict what you said about Fernandez a couple of posts ago. There will be a release clause but a free would be pure mental. But hey, if he's the golden nugget that's going to keep them up, well done QPR.

I think NUFC fans would have been a lot more angry had we been outbid by a sane football club.

A lot of opinions seem to be comparing our policy to QPR, unsurprisingly considering what has occured in the last 24 hours. But you can't really use QPR as any kind of yardstick, they are an anomaly if not a one off. It's like trying to legislate against the maniac with a gun - unfortunately you can't. You just hope you never cross paths with them.

Did that happen with Coloccini? I think even pro footballers will understand that some players deserve the contracts they get and very few would quibble with Colo's deal knowing his quality and value to the club. Giving such a deal to someone who has never set foot in the PL yet and is coming from the bench in France would be an altogether different thing.

Obvious disappointment to lose out on a player to a desperate offer from a club who have already shown they are prepared to throw silly money around. It's led to some anger and criticism of our transfer policy, but with regard to this specific case, does anyone think we should go head to head with QPR regarding terms to get this player at any cost ? I know we won't, but just interested to know if people think we should.

9 Feb. That Maritimo game ... :'( Yes it's concerning and the longer it goes on the more worried I become. When I heard the team that night I thought "bloody great HBA tucked in behind the striker". Mind it was great for the 25 minutes or so it lasted.....

They've probably decided to conclude the deal indoors, what with today's inclement weather and that............. Oi, I was hoping to catch a glimpse of them sitting in the middle of the training ground striking a deal over a small chess board. .... and now you'll just have to settle for some puffs of smoke coming out of the boiler room chimney like the signalling of the arrival of a new pope.....

As per about six posts up Ian, the correct terminology is "Tino-esque"

Obviously enjoys hoofball and being in a "lost" dressing room.

They've probably decided to conclude the deal indoors, what with today's inclement weather and that.............

As a squad player he's excellent, decent quality, wise head and offers something no one else can from dead balls. He'd have seen a lot of action this season had he been fit and I'm sure we'd have benefited from that. Good luck and hope to see you on the pitch again soon Ryan.

As was brushed upon elsewhere yesterday - it could be "Tino-esque"

Me too, if we sold for no loss & got in some LB from Ligue 1 as the replacement for a lesser fee/wages, guess who wins again. I like him as a player but 2 right footers on the left isn't for me, especially when Santon can barely use his left. This nonsensical view seems to be spreading across the forum like wildfire lately. While yes, the widely held opinion is that we should have invested more earlier, yes like almost every club we have a salary budget and of course the people at the top would not be doing their jobs properly if they were not trying to strike the most beneficial deals, it should also be realised that outside of the CL elite and one or two clubs who have found sugar daddies Newcastle are paying very competitive salaries. We simply wouldn't be signing and re-signing the players we are, if we weren't.

Indeed they, mostly, do.