buzza

I need to wait until August the 31st to get a clear picture about what Ashley's real intentions are. I have no problem with him making a net profit every year as it is logical that he wants to get his money back that he paid to clear the debts. I also like the wage ceiling, as long as it is heightened in parallel with our success and therefore higher income. My only concern is that we do not get better every year, this seems difficult if we are to follow a strategy which involves selling your best players every summer and replacing them with "potential" stars... Some of these stars will fail and will drag the level down... **Lastly, for this window I will feel satisfied if he gets a 7-10M striker and replaces any other players who leave with "like for like".**

Are all his mates that moody? Or has their collective canary died?

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+).

were you expecting " cabaye 1mill signing on fee and 1 mill agents also his wages add on 30kpw on last years, ba 1 mill signining on fee......etc etc etc" I was expecting some thing like "I will be spending a significant amount of that money on signings as long as they will improve the team. Don't worry we are working our hardest to get a striker and some versatile players who will improve the squad and be competing with the first teamers for a place"... i'm guessing a good bit of that has already gone on that through wages and fees on those we've already brough in, the rest will still get used on the same. I don't like the way they are mixing "transfer fees" with wages: -Transfer fees should be a net zero at the end of the financial year i.e. 35 million in, 35 million out on transfer fee and third party fees. -Wages should be be kept at 50% of turnover, they shouldn't be mixed with tranfer fees.

Would improve our attacking options, but team spirit and possibly an explosive dressing room with him and joey in it...wow!

were you expecting " cabaye 1mill signing on fee and 1 mill agents also his wages add on 30kpw on last years, ba 1 mill signining on fee......etc etc etc" I was expecting some thing like "I will be spending a significant amount of that money on signings as long as they will improve the team. Don't worry we are working our hardest to get a striker and some versatile players who will improve the squad and be competing with the first teamers for a place"...

I want a SOW!!!

"in the past we attracted players purely based on the massive wages" I am glad we don't do this any more, I think we have been shafted so many times by this type of player before that we should not enter into this trap again. What I do think is that when we do reach higher positions consistently we will have to alter our wage structure accordingly so that we can move up onto the next level, we would also be receiving more revenue if we made it into the top six so we could justify more outlay...

He's definitely very shy with facts about the 35m, lot's of yadda yadda about he will make sure it's reinvested but he doesn't exactly spread confidence. From that interview I would put my hand in the coals and say we will get a 5-8M striker and a couple of 1-3M players (LB and other). jUST MY INTERPRETATION!!

Just listened to the interview in it's entirety, was neither depressed nor jubilant after it. If Pardew is to be beleived then we will deffo be buying another striker and another "attacker". Hope Joey stays after hearing what he said about him wanting more from the team and worrying about if we were to get better and to compete with his effort... Nice insight into a player's mentality. Also like the stuff about Ba being a very positive person and wanting to give his all.

I would love Sturridge like, even if it was just on loan, but it probably isn't going to happen as we won't stump up the cash (if he is in fact available). And although Bendtner is miles off the top of my list, he is a step up on what we have (excluding Ba). Imo we just have to accept that the striker we (fans) want are probably out of reach, either due to us just not been attractive enough or Mike's refusal to spend any real cash on players (but he has improved our training ground mind...) Messi for me all shane long Yes, I agree (although disheartenedly), Bendtner is better than Shola, best, lovens and company...so would take it as positive!!

If we get a good striker in I will be more than satisfied. If we sell any more players they will have to be replaced with like or better and I will alos be more than satisified. Not too bothered about if we spend the 35M or not, just that we improve on what we already had....

Shane Long / Bendtner / Carlton.... Jeeeeesus H frigggin Christ!

I would like to think the lad has some loyalty as well, would be nice for someone to put some heart before money for once in a while...

He's brilliant! Galataseray have blown our psuedo 7 million bid out of the water with a real bid of 6 sheckles and a plate of Cous-Cous...

Incredible eh, we pay 6 million for a raw recruit and after 3 years he develops into a prem class full back and we will end up selling him for less... Football management at it's best!

38K a week, no way. When Lleste was playing a year or two ago he was on around 25-30+-K and he was supposedly well overpaid. Can't see Llorente being on the same tbh. Not an expert on wages either mind!!

I agree with the "non numbers" crew, always thought it a bit silly to have names on the back, probably doesn't help that I'm older than the majority. But if you like it why not, who the f*** am I to preach what is and isn't...Slaps himslef solly...blurp

With regard to Llorente: He's an awesome player who is severely underated in Spain (Bilbao apart!!). If you take into account that his supply in the team from Bilbao has been very limited and his playing partner up front is an equivalent of Shefki kuqi, then you might get an idea of what he's capable of. Has good feet, holds the ball up really well and is lethal in the air. I don't know why Madrid haven't made a bid as he would fit well into their current system. Athletic struggle to get into Uefa each season so I can see why it would be considered as a step up, also bear in mind that he'll be on something like 15.000 euros a week which would be quadrupled if he went to the prem... P.S. Support Bilbao over here so wouldn't want him to go personally as they are developing into a half decent team with a few youngsters pushing to make the first team... So in other words..FOFF Harry dog features!! LOL

Canales is very skillful in a hoddle-esque way but is also very lightweight and a bit lax at defensive duties hence Mourhinho moaning abouit that... Great loan but not sure about whether he'd adapt

For a club to be run efficiently it should have a wages to gate receipt ratio of around 50%. I take my hat off to the fat man for implementing this business caveat! But as far as transfers are concerned he should at least spend 15-20M of the Carrol money, don't mind him taking the rest, but that's how it should be FFS!!!!

After this mornings "one or two more" quotes I am suitably deflated on the transfer front. Please pleasantly surprise me before I slip into a deep dark spiral of bitter recrimination against the fat pleb and greek bloke (Derekos).

Every club works on the same principal of Gate Receipt = Payment of player wages/staff/maintenance etc Transfer fees received = transfer Botty to spend Always has been since the beginning of time!! Why anyone is bothering to look into what the 35M equates to is beyond me. The simple answer in layman terms is: "We've been hoodwinked"

I can't see us getting any better than a 10th place finish tbh. We will most likely sell Enrique, Barton and perhaps Jonas/Colo and will buy inadequate replacements and be funcked like every other season under Fatty... I will change my mood when we get a classy striker in (8M+)... perhaps a couple of defenders and not selling the above names. Hiccup!

I would currently play: ------------------Krul-------------------- Simpson---Taylor----Colo--------Enrique Barton----Cabaye----Tiote-------Jonas --------------------Benarfa---------- --------------Ba--------------------- Pretty robust midfield that, you need that in the prem, think we would be too lightweight if we replaced Jonas and barton on the wings, also think Ben arfa would link up with midfield well and turn defense into attack reasonably easy. Need some experienced campaigners in there as well to back up the newbies...