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But you're suggesting that you now might be wrong about team spirit, presumably based upon tonights relevation. It's all good, but I just don't see why there is a need to start questioning it again after one article in the mail, when all the evidence is to the contrary. Chin up. The lads out on the pitch look to be working for each other. We are doing well. Well, I didn't say it was impossible it would come apart - 'if the aims of the management and players diverge...'. Furthermore, seeing as I was going on public evidence (in concrete terms, nothing more than a solid statement that Enrique wanted to see if we survived before negotiations), I believed it had survived the Hughton/Carroll sagas, but maybe I was wrong and aftershocks are still going to reverberate. Let's be clear on my definition here - I'm a butterflies and hurricanes type of person. As such, today could prompt division within the squad or between them and the management which echoes on ('if our he's going to bail on us too, what's the point of this?', 'if the pricks are going to run things this way, this place is screwed'). Jose#s an influential boy, it's hard to imagine the players aren't going to be affected by his demeanour. That said, I agree - I was only speculating, maybe prompting a discussion - I think the spirit will come through these events for this season, which is what the thread's concerned with. I think they'll resort to not crumbling in order to preserve their own self-respect, as with the Arsenal game, as well as (because they're a good bunch of lads) doing it for the fans, who they wouldn't want to let down even if they might possibly think the people who run their club are piss-taking idiots.

No, I also predicted a defeat against Birmingham, no goals, and (light-heartedly) that Enrique would be prepared to sign a contract come the Summer. Instead I got a 90 second lead, a 2-0 victory, Jonas Gutierrez remembering how to menace a defence and these disruptive quotes which suggest he's off, hence the latter comment. In other words, chill out...

Now that's denial. Sweet tea and a lie-down required.

Hahaha, here's one for the Ashley-Hater-Haters - maybe Jose Enrique is loyal to us and trying to let us know we shouldn't be renewing our season tickets so early. He knew about the Board's dastardly trick of shipping him out once everyone had handed over their money so he decided to force the issue so they couldn't get away with it and con his beloved supporters. I reckon that is definitely true.

Hmm. Spoke to soon? At this early stage I've been quite spectacularly wrong so far.

Did Liverpool show a lack of ambition in selling Torres? Torres has played like a drunk for the last 18 months, and Chelsea were willing to bankroll them buying a top striker and the best young striker in England to replace him. Also, they had those moves lined up before letting Torres go, amazingly enough. So no. Indeed. Can't emphasise the last sentence enough, they parried a blow and came back with a haymaker by spending every penny. Some might question the wisdom (I don't), but rhetorically it was a massive statement of intent which is rewarding in itself. No one was talking about Liverpool's new plight as a selling club, but they were talking about our historic 'place' in football. Which we still effectively could do. Timing is everything, live in the moment or you get left behind. A drunk clambering off the floor and picking up his teeth before hollering after the guy who put him there that if he 'comes back here he'll get f***ing mullered' doesn't look clever to anyone. We didn't parry the blow, we got punched. Anyway, we patently clear we won't even try to throw that haymaker. Even if we spent it all, we'll be getting four £5m kids (wages too, remember), not one gargantuan golden boy and a star of the last world cup. To me it's clear all manner of negative things are stemming forth, which themselves disrupt the chances of a good Summer. Players will look at the 'newly brilliant' Enrique and see he's attracted by clubs like Villa and Liverpool - so if he's going, why would they come? So they could go to Liverpool eventually too? The big idea

Did Liverpool show a lack of ambition in selling Torres? Torres has played like a drunk for the last 18 months, and Chelsea were willing to bankroll them buying a top striker and the best young striker in England to replace him. Also, they had those moves lined up before letting Torres go, amazingly enough. So no. Indeed. Can't emphasise the last sentence enough, they parried a blow and came back with a haymaker by spending every penny. Some might question the wisdom (I don't), but rhetorically it was a massive statement of intent which is rewarding in itself. No one was talking about Liverpool's new plight as a selling club, but they were talking about our historic 'place' in football. Which we still effectively could do. Timing is everything, live in the moment or you get left behind. A drunk clambering off the floor and picking up his teeth before hollering after the guy who put him there that if he 'comes back here he'll get fucking mullered' doesn't look clever to anyone. We didn't parry the blow, we got punched. Anyway, it's patently obvious we won't even try to throw that haymaker. Even if we spent it all, we'll be getting four £5m kids (wages too, remember), not one gargantuan golden boy and a star of the last world cup. To me it's clear all manner of negative things are stemming forth, which themselves disrupt the chances of a good Summer. Players will look at the 'newly brilliant' Enrique and see he's attracted by clubs like Villa and Liverpool - so if he's going, why would they come?

Did Liverpool show a lack of ambition in selling Torres? Torres has played like a drunk for the last 18 months, and Chelsea were willing to bankroll them buying a top striker and the best young striker in England to replace him. Also, they had those moves lined up before letting Torres go, amazingly enough. So no. Indeed. Can't emphasise the last sentence enough, they parried a blow and came back with a haymaker by spending every penny. Some might question the wisdom (I don't), but rhetorically it was a massive statement of intent which is rewarding in itself. No one was talking about Liverpool's new plight as a selling club, but they were talking about our historic 'place' in football. Players at other clubs will consider the prospect of a bright future for their careers on Merseyside, they won't here.

But if I can come to the conclusions I've come to about the Board, so can they. And they're closer to the action so they might well be picking up even more on the grapevine.

I have to say, not one person has said that. A mention of Pardew possibly trying to up our eventual price for him, but why not - doesn't mean Enrique didn't initiate the deal, just that Pardew's sensibly been wanting to up our eventual price for him. There are plenty people hinting at it, be it about the Twitter incident or the Carroll sale or him wanting more money or whathaveyou. When in reality, he simply wants CL football and wants to be at a bigger club. It sucks, but it's truth. As I suspected. Well, it's me who mentioned the twitter incident, but you're seeing shadows - the issue is simply whether that was a genuine accident or a deliberate indication of an issue, regardless of what the problem was or who caused it. It could have been a dig over the sacking of his trusted mentor, it could have been him laying the foundations of a greedy betrayal of a club. Or it could have been absolutely nothing. Aside from that, you've managed to change people - and not the usual suspects - saying Enrique's leaving for more money into people saying Ashley and Pardew are cleverly forcing him out of the club, which is impressive and suits an "everybody's stupid" agenda, but not right.

I believe the bold there, but I think it's also clear 'this group of lads' are losing faith in the long-term project they bought into last year. They want to do it, but they can't if the rug's pulled out from underneath them.

Who's saying Jose's a bad guy? It's a disappointing quote, and stupidly timed. Do you disagree? In this thread? No one just yet, but I was making an historical reference, so that doesn't relate. We've got another 4 months or so for this situation to curry following his 'gutting', 'cuntish' and 'disrespectful' comments, though, so it's fair to imagine he might join the list, don't you think?

I have to say, not one person has said that. A mention of Pardew possibly trying to up our eventual price for him, but why not - doesn't mean Enrique didn't initiate the deal, just that Pardew's sensibly been wanting to up our eventual price for him.

I'd love to know what's been going on behind the scenes lately. Ever since Hughton's sacking really, of course. It's funny how all our good guys become bad just as they leave the club lately, isn't it? Virtually a fully verifiable correlation between decency and contributing to all things wholesome, and leaving in toxic circumstances.

Yep. Slightly conspiratorial, but he's one of our more intelligent players, so I do wonder if that tweet about 'our chairman' was not so accidental, either. What did he say? I only remember him getting into trouble for revealing he was injured for the game at Spurs. I forget precisely, but just after Hughton's sacking he said something along the lines of 'you never know what your future is with this chairman'. Phrased in very accusatory-sounding way, but got pulled soon afterwards and he blamed it on his big spanish-speaking mouth.

Yep. Slightly conspiratorial, but he's one of our more intelligent players, so I do wonder if that tweet about 'our chairman' was not so accidental, either.

Let's just enjoy the next few months, why worry when nothing can happen till th.... I'm not going to read too much into the comments re: Aston Villa, but my feeling is he'll leave us because we're not even going to try to give him Champion's League football, that's the crux of it. I think even the kindliest of Ashley estimators think we're gonna be treading water for at least another couple of seasons before thinking about keeping any half-decent players instead of finding any offer hard to resist, as Pardew suggested. What future is that for him, on lower than necessary wages until he's pedalled to boot?

I think I'm right in saying he's attended a respectable number of games to be fair, especially given his circumstances - plenty of locals with less to their name. I didn't know he was a Southerner until you told us he was. It's not as though he supported Chelsea last week, Man Utd the week before and is just playing political games on here for a laugh, though. Saying that, I suppose he's more mental than most Cockneys to be hanging round here getting belts given he hasn't got £200m at stake. Not all Newcastle supporters are season ticket holders, in fact most aren't. I'm sure you're more sympathetic than most to people upping sticks for the South or wherever in pursuit of jobs, there are consequences to that, and I don't think supporters who are so-called victims of that process should be cut out of the society of Newcastle supporters. If they tick all the other boxes, they're welcome to advocate their best guesses as to how the club can be taken forward, as far as I'm concerned. If he thinks what's right's right, he should say it. I don't see how him not attending a game he apparently wouldn't have attended anyway is going to spoil the match experience of Greg or anyone else. Regarding that last quote, that's what I meant - he's said that at the end of a sustained campaign and it's not even particularly bad. It's not so much expecting gratitude as expressing exasperation at how every well-intended thing he does manages somehow to be turned into a symbol of his and his alone's deviant character.

Does anyone know if there are planing issues preventing Upton Park's expansion? Is it just profit incentive driving the move?

Anyone considered giving Leyton Orient Upton Park in recompense? New manner, nice new ground... or they could just pocket the proceeds from knocking the bugger down like Gold & Bernstein are probably hoping to and invest it in securing their club against West Ham... might even become the bigger East End team and put the other buggers out of business... Nice thought

It's true like, I'd say it's you with the attitude to Colocho. Call someone a self-publicising w***** repeatedly when there's not much separating him from other people trying the same thing and they're bound to get a bit chippy. It wasn't him being interviewed on Sky Sports News, it wasn't him announcing his talks with the club in the local paper, but he gets it in the neck while even his colleagues get clappy hands. Why? I've never seen him say anything much questionable, let alone personal, that wasn't in response to you or someone similar saying he's a self-publicist, or that he's trying to speak on behalf of other people, making out he's a better person etc. and trying to pick holes more because you don't like him than that you disagree with his actions. Some solid quotes would help. Thanks. The thing is, on here I don't want to represent the campaign, I would rather be myself ... maybe I should have a "My views don't represent those of United For Newcastle" under my avatar. The thing is with people like those two, is that they know very, very little about the statements we make, interactions with the fans and what we are trying to do. As the whole self-publicity thing, it's laughable to be honest ... They call me a self-publicist when it was I that was setting up interviews with Sky Sports News, Radio Newcastle etc and not appearing on many of them (due to other commitments) myself. Yet Jordan, Chris and Kevin have not been accused of anything ... It's personal. But do I care? No. The few on here are in a very, very small minority (if not the only) people that have seemingly relentless criticism of what I am trying to do. Let them have their fun. Anyway, in my lunch break I'll go through the questions that people have put on here (as well as Twitter and Facebook) and present five or six. Some of you will be delighted to know that I couldn't get the day off tomorrow, so it'll be Kev and Chris meeting Simon tomorrow afternoon. It’s nothing personal against you, if I come across that way then I apologise. I will admit I have been taking your posts as representative of United for Newcastle (UfN), perhaps I struggle with a non season ticket holder from Essex trying to represent the fans of Newcastle United and you do come across a little sanctimonious at times. I didn’t agree with the protest against the sacking of Chris Hughton, which was the birth of your campaign, and I still don’t see how or what your (UfN) aims will achieve in relation to the ownership of this football club. I would argue that protesting during the season could well be counterproductive and not in the best interest of Newcastle United. I went down to see the Hughton protest and it was mainly kids and charvas outside the old Milburn reception. The vast majority of season ticket holders still don’t know who you (UfN) are. I do not understand how you (UfN) will hold Mike Ashley to account; you (UfN) state you are going to evaluate Mike Ashley’s position as the owner of Newcastle United, what are you (UfN) actually going to do? Write a report? What will you (UfN) do with your findings? Why do you (UfN) have a picture on your Facebook page that is insulting to the majority of Newcastle United season ticket holders? I wish you (UfN) luck in the meeting with Simon Esland and the one thing I would like be highlighted to him is Clause 2.5 of the ‘SEASON TICKET 2011-12 Terms & Conditions of Use’ as despite the so called price freeze, this clause leaves the club open to increase the price at the end of each season. Has he hinted that he will entertain discussion about non ticketing issues? If you want to get in touch with Jordan, who was instrumental in setting up the current Level 7 signing section, send me a PM and I can arrange that. Seeing as I think I sort of prompted that, I thought I'd say, that reads a hell of a lot more fairly. Don't have to agree, or be that formal all the time, but that kind of approach is gonna get everyone further ultimately as far as I can see. As things have been, with :[white][/white]mackems:-style debate/abuse running around the forum, it's just mainly been poorly-founded gang mentality crap in my view. Not just with Colocho, like, it's been happening to various people from various people lately... I know a lot of you know him off the forum so maybe it's different, but even neesy was getting too much stick a while back. The stuff with tDeans the other day was just bullshit, meanwhile... a lot of people showed themselves up. It's dragging the place down. Stu, agreed that CMQ is particularly excellent at fronting stuff. But still, it's seemed to me a lot of people have started with the premise Colocho is a dick and work from there. I can't recall him talking about real and fake supporters ever, certainly not in an accusatory way (I definitely can remember more pro-Ashley elements saying those wanting to boycott are fairweather anti-supporters who are abandoning the lads on the pitch, though). He does talk about U4N a lot, but I'd guess that's because it's a sizeable part of his life and something he thinks/hopes will be important in helping the club this forum exists for talking about in. I haven't thought he was trying to give gravitas to his own views, beyond that he's one of the people stepping up ('The Big Society' and all that) to try and arrange/administer what's intended to be a collegiate affair. At a bare minimum he/they pay more lip service to being interested and wanting to represent all views more than typical established figures like Steve Wraith do. As massively unfortunate as it is, by stepping up it's perhaps impossible to avoid talking down to people occasionally, just by virtue of the position you're trying to fulfil. It's the nature of the business, and if people can see he's not doing it with a wholly ulterior motive (I see it that way, if you disagree... ok), they should accept it insofar as it's inevitable when someone tries to do something. Who gives him the right to ask other people for their views like he matters? No one, but no one has the right to stop him doing so either, and everyone else can behave like they matter and try doing something themselves if they want.

Yes. They are not making money. They have debt up to their eyballs. They are going to struggle to bring any players in. They are currently playing a long way short of a newly promoted side. They have no knight in white armour riding over the hill. To me, they are struggling. That makes me happy. Fair play to him talking like that. Don't know much about their situation, but they at least come across as a well meaning bunch you can work with. Offers an insight into their working practices and plans for improvement, not just "weren't me guv" type statements. I'll give the floor to Niel and 1878 to tell me why he's a lying bastard, like.

Oh aye. The signing enabled Carroll to become the striker he is, and he's been invaluable since the turn of 2011. Can't believe it's worked out cos the Leon Best i saw for us 12 months ago was f***ing woeful. A Coloccini esq turnaround. Saying that though I do remember possibly myself and definitely Stu saying the Plymouth game showed real potential. Don't mean to bring it up, but seeing as it's been mentioned, yeah I think he's been a decent little cheap as chips investment, providing options for our other players last season (inc. off the pitch) which kept up our momentum, while still not being fully developed himself. I remember him showing a fair bit shy of a goal too, he wasn't abject. A good move by Hughton worth pointing out more than normal, seeing as the £1m spent on him is supposedly one of his biggest crimes according to Ashley and Llambias. Just a shame that injury kept him out of the squad for months at the start of this season and stopped him being able to change that perception. Pleased for him. You what? Where's that come from? Multiple newspaper articles and 'football sources'. Think Caulkin tweeted about it for good measure. Take them how you like them. http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/215950/Chris-Hughton-You-never-stood-a-chanceChris-Hughton-You-never-stood-a-chanceChris-Hughton-You-never-stood-a-chanceChris-Hughton-You-never-stood-a-chanceChris-Hughton-You-never-stood-a-chance The only good ones were bought by anyone but Hughton, you see. If that was the case (Perch, Routledge, Best ect were Hughton suggestions while the others weren't), he'd have done himself a favour saying it in public. I'm loathed to believe a reporters heresay without quotes, but fair enough, sounds plausible. If that really was one of the reasons (and like you, I'm fairly suspect) for bringing in Pardew (as well as experience etc), I'll be looking forward to seeing if the signings he brings in are any better, especially the budget/squad fillers. Not got a great deal of hope that he is a wiz in the market after the winter window passed us by. Aye, indeed, although they have 'made it known' as much as they tend to nowadays, hence the articles in papers suddenly starting up about Graham Carr being a genius. It doesn't have much credibility with me though, given they tried the same trick following Keegan's departure and were shown up (claimed, for example, that Wise had discovered and signed Bassong when Bassong soon afterwards came out himself and said Keegan had done all that). Yeah, not got a great deal of hope about Parew in the transfer market, going on his history. It's possibly the biggest single thing I have against swapping him for Hughton as we'd made such consistently great moves under him (the little things like Van Aanholt, or signing Tiote when most were wanting strikers and right-backs). Purely hypothetically, even if Pardew were a slightly better tactician, I know who I'd back to bring in personnel that had the team playing a large magnitude better after a transfer window. Now that said, I've always been prepared to believe club structures (Carr... even Wise seeing as he was (is?) still quietly on the books) played a big, even dominating role in dictating what transfers were made under Hughton (though the chances of that being true dimmed for me after I heard the stories of Tiote and Ben Arfa's acquisitions). So I've retained some faith in the idea our transfer quality will hold up. But time will tell. In this instance, it might be that the more of a puppet Pardew is the better.

Oh aye. The signing enabled Carroll to become the striker he is, and he's been invaluable since the turn of 2011. Can't believe it's worked out cos the Leon Best i saw for us 12 months ago was f***ing woeful. A Coloccini esq turnaround. Saying that though I do remember possibly myself and definitely Stu saying the Plymouth game showed real potential. Don't mean to bring it up, but seeing as it's been mentioned, yeah I think he's been a decent little cheap as chips investment, providing options for our other players last season (inc. off the pitch) which kept up our momentum, while still not being fully developed himself. I remember him showing a fair bit shy of a goal too, he wasn't abject. A good move by Hughton worth pointing out more than normal, seeing as the £1m spent on him is supposedly one of his biggest crimes according to Ashley and Llambias. Just a shame that injury kept him out of the squad for months at the start of this season and stopped him being able to change that perception. Pleased for him. You what? Where's that come from? Multiple newspaper articles and 'football sources'. Think Caulkin tweeted about it for good measure. Take them how you like them. http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/215950/Chris-Hughton-You-never-stood-a-chanceChris-Hughton-You-never-stood-a-chanceChris-Hughton-You-never-stood-a-chanceChris-Hughton-You-never-stood-a-chanceChris-Hughton-You-never-stood-a-chance Other mentions that sound like paraphrases are to be found elsewhere, regarding their astonishment at how a sum as large as £1m could 'just go up in smoke', too. I find that somewhat ironic given Ashley's reported gambling habits, but there you go. The only good ones and only the good ones were bought by anyone but Hughton, you see.

Not a bad idea, actually. Less room for misunderstanding.