Beren

Ugh. I really like being optimistic about NUFC and supporting the team, but when you see the middle of that park and Nolan as their link to attack... it's pretty deflating from the get go. Anyway, hoping for the best, fearing the worst.

Can't recall anyone on the forum winning anything higher than a 70/1 Congratulations

Ref should have stopped the fight tbh.

Really poor spectacle so far.

Chelsea haven't seen much of the ball tbh!

Wigan beat Chelsea last year. Revenge mauling please.

Hope Chelsea win 10-0.

Need to get them a more realistic goal difference.

Nailed on QPR will lose now they are the definitive common denominator in N-O's bets.

How's Fellaini's form been, Evertonman?

Arsenal -1, Chelsea -1, QPR.

Sunday opponents 1-1 in Vienna, almost HT.

2-1 to the Toon. Ameobi brace

Don't think anyone is saying that - just that if we can't run the club in a financially responsible way we shouldn't spend the money - especially as strengthening doesn't ensure Premiership survival, whereas financial responsibility will ensure the club's survival at the very least. (I don't think for one second £5m will jeopardise the club's survival btw, just that spending beyond your means is potentially a bad precedent to set). Who introduced facepalms to this forum?

Don't think anyone is saying that - just that if we can't run the club in a financially responsible way we shouldn't spend the money - especially as strengthening doesn't ensure Premiership survival, whereas financial responsibility will ensure the club's survival at the very least. (I don't think for one second £5m will jeopardise the club's survival btw, just that spending beyond your means is potentially a bad precedent to set).

You picked us to finish 15th this season man! What's changed between before the Man Utd game and now?!

This seems cyclical now tbh I do see where you're coming from, but still disagree - like I said, I think we have enough to stay up - but I'll sorrowfully eat my words (and a hat) if come May I'm wrong.

I think the point of the 'Ben Arfa at any/all costs' camp is that relegation costs having equated his arrival with Premiership safety (or at least the increased chance of).

then he could easily sell him on, and recoup most of our money back Under that logic, what's to stop him spending £100m and then recouping back most of that money? because other clubs would be onto us then! burnley did it with stephen fletcher, signed him for 3M got relegated and sold him to wolves for 6M My point is it's bad science to extrapolate from Burnley and Stephen Fletcher (or anyone else's for that matter) that you'd be able to necessarily recoup the money you paid on something a year on - especially if other clubs know you're desperate. It's not prudent business IMO. so what's the risk if we bought the lad for 5M, he's a good enough talent to command the same price even if we get relegated! so would you rather spend nothing, and put us at real risk of being relegated then? even player that improves the team, mean's we have a better chance of staying up You don't know we'd be able to command £5m though - you're guessing! Hugo Viana was eventually sold for £1.5m after we bought him for £8.5m when he was promising youngster wanted by big clubs in Europe. I'm sure this line of conversation has many more avenues to explore, but I think at the end of each of them is the conclusion that you'd be guessing we could rake the money back and as someone who is financially responsible for the club MA must ensure we're not in trouble in that respect. And of course I want us to stay up, I just don't think Ben Arfa will guarantee us that, just like not getting him won't automatically condemn us to relegation.

then he could easily sell him on, and recoup most of our money back Under that logic, what's to stop him spending £100m and then recouping back most of that money? because other clubs would be onto us then! burnley did it with stephen fletcher, signed him for 3M got relegated and sold him to wolves for 6M My point is it's bad science to extrapolate from Burnley and Stephen Fletcher (or anyone else's for that matter) that you'd be able to necessarily recoup the money you paid on something a year on - especially if other clubs know you're desperate. It's not prudent business IMO.

then he could easily sell him on, and recoup most of our money back Under that logic, what's to stop him spending £100m and then recouping back most of that money?

I think the risk of relegation remains with or without Ben Arfa, albeit reduced somewhat with. It's easy to crucify Mike Ashley for not spending the money now, but if we buy him and get relegated he'll still be crucified so I'm personally going to withhold judgement - especially as the finances of the club are very much unclear. I think we have the resources already to stay up - not because we've got a fantastic squad, but because there are squads far worse than ours about IMO. We just need to utilise what we have for the meanwhile from the looks of it. Our first XI isn't half as bad (in comparison to other relegation candidates and we have some degree of cover - it's a bit early to expect 22 solid players!) as has been made out after the Manure game. Hopefully their belief and confidence doesn't drop and we endure what will almost inevitably be a very unpretty season to consoilidate our place in the top tier whilst maintaining the support of the fans.

I, too, am disproportionately proud of this!

Looks like N-O has a team to support in the CL this year

Am I dreaming?