Stu

History definitely does not repeat itself.

Most of this and fwiw, without European competition next season, we'll most likely see a pick up in PL results. Without it we can get back to that goal of qualifying Europe. Only this time, with an owner, Chief Executive, Manager and players with experience of doing both and being a little better prepared about what to expect and how to improve on handling both in a season. 1994/95 - little or no experience of playing in Europe, went out in the second round (4 games) of Waffa Cup. Didn't qualify for Europe for the season after. 1995/96 - no European games, finished runners-up in the league. 1996/97 - (brought in players with Euro experience) made 1/4-finals of Waffa Cup (8 games). Runners up in league again. Even when Robson arrived, the majority of players in the squad had European experience and he'd had plenty of experience in dealing with both. AFAIK, Pards hasn't had this 'issue' before and is still getting to grips with it (another argument if he'll ever be able to cope). Just another thing to look for improvement in, IMO.

The club has lost so much commercial revenue since Ashley it's ridiculous. Another reason why Llambias should be nowhere near the club. Can you explain how you got to the second sentence from the first? I would to anyone but you asking the question. You can't? Stop doing a Dekka and answer the question.

Might want to give that bag of a glue a rest mate.

Think he's still getting to grips with his 'business' perspective of not wanting to pay any over the minimum possible to get a deal done - which is how he's been successful in his own right - versus the murkier world of football transfer dealings. They've evidently identified those players who are available on reduced terms (contract clauses, disputes, low-value wages, etc.) and are monitoring when the best time to do deal for those players in. From previous DL quotes, there appears to be a 'purple' option, 'b' option and a younger option for each squad position - as the form/fitness of our current players changes and the team's results impact our transfer priorities, Charnley, Carr and Llambias try and marry that up with the knowledge they have about the transfer targets and striking a deal that is in the club's best financial interests (i.e. paying a transfer fee to bring in a player ahead of a Bosman, or going for the younger option while we wait for the 'purple' player to be available at a lower price). It's not perfect, by a long shot, but they're still continuing to do good business off the field to allow the club to live within it's means and still attract a good level of talent; the next 6-12mths should determine whether or not they need to address the coaching/managerial side if the results don't drastically pick up.

I know I shouldn´t, but I can´t stop thinking about this coming summer. I have a bad feeling Given the performances, fitness and form of the squad so far this season - who of our squad would you genuinely be distraught at being sold? Krul? HBA? Cabaye? Maybe, but we've had to do without the latter two for a reasonable chunk of this season (which has been noticed in the results/perormances). Contrast to last season when we would have been screaming murder if the prospect of Cisse, Tiote, Coloccini, etc., were linked with a potential move away. Granted, the disappointment of this season has played a part in our views of who is 'irreplaceable' and who can be moved on to continue the squad rebuilding.

The club has lost so much commercial revenue since Ashley it's ridiculous. Another reason why Llambias should be nowhere near the club. Can you explain how you got to the second sentence from the first?

Ps: Ian W, we're after Gouffran not Gourcoff

Most of this and fwiw, without European competition next season, we'll most likely see a pick up in PL results.

Don't understand the obsession with sacking a manager if he's not producing immediately (particularly when he has recent evidence of being semi-capable of producing results) - too many people on here desperate for immediate change and immediate results. Thought a few people on here (and general NUFC supporters) would have learnt their lesson after Colo about writing people off too quickly...

spot on

He's not been backed at all the club have just identified some value players and brought them over the line. He's hardly done a Redknapp or a Keegan!

Buy 5 players every transfer window? I hope that's not a recurring theme

People in glass houses, anarl.

Needs a break from the first team (of any club), chance to get himself together.

History definitely does not repeat itself.

Aye, we'd never be stupid enough to pay £15m for Jermaine Defoe

And yet has put more of his own money into it than anyone else in the history of the club. In fact he's probably the only person who has ever put any money into the club's coffers, apart from the few bob that we long suffering souls spend on them. He's a strange f***er. Due Diligence can do that to a bloke eh Er, think you mean "lack of due diligence" or your 'joke' doesn't work

Apart from Carroll (which was stupid money) who have we actually sold when we had control of the situation?? The he'll sell at any price for a quick profit just doesn't hold water. It doesn't make any sense at all, but these things rarely do. It's weird, there are hundreds of actual things to criticise Ashley for, without making up things he hasn't done. Luckily I didn't say anything about a quick profit. The concept that we'll not look to sell players to cover the costs of new ones because of the new TV deal is ridiculous. There won't be any change in how we operate. We will trade players like every other club does. Ashley won't voluntarily put his hand in his pocket (increase his debt/cover losses) we have to operate within the money the club generates from whatever source. The sooner folks accept that, the better, it's not some never-ending Machiavellian scheme to hurt the fans. This "oh what's happened today is good but we can't be happy because tomorrow is going to be a disaster (just you wait and see)" syndrome is ridiculous. The deep dark alterior motive just does not exist. Realistically, I think the club is going to be run on the current financial structure, with the increase in TV revenue going towards the cash injection that Ashley pumped into the club to keep it solvent. Once he has his 'interest free' loans back, then they might look to expand the expenditure on wages/transfer fees (so long as it all remains in the fixed budget and not dependent on performance related income).

Exactly this, and Stu the problem has always been that we go "one for one". That if we buy one we sell one and that has made our squad so small with no competition. Purple players - ha. even then (as now i guess) he'll sell if he gets the right price. his buying since we came back up has never been so much on price as value (even more so if the current transfer rumours are true) From what I can see, it looks like you're right about 'one in, one out' when it comes to these 'purple' first XI players - it's just a shame that Danny Simpson and Steven Taylor were considered 'purple' (or at least sufficiently capable/reliable while we waited between Sept and Jan for the window to reopen). Doesn't look like there's a limit insomuch as buying youth/younger prospects i.e. Amalafitano, Bigirimana, Abeid, etc. If they're available on a free/reasonably cheap and we can snap them up, looks like we're going for it. The issue this season has been the noticeable drop-off between the first XI (on paper) and the younger/less experienced players being called up to support them. Having been burnt by the likes of Alan Smith on a $60kpw 5year deal, it seems as though we're not paying for 'first team ready' players unless they're going straight into the team. Ideally, they'll soon understand that we need at least 15 first team top-8 Premiership players in the squad, with a combination of cheaper back-ups (Shola, Williamson, etc.) blended with some promising younger players (Bigi, Amalafitano, Abeid) to be drip-fed first XI experience over the course of the season, not just when we face an injury crisis. They're only going to learn by experience, seeing as they're deaf to the fans and critics alike - no doubt something that has been previously successful in other areas of their life. The under-21 squad should be completely separate, with the likes of Good, Campbell and Streete out on loan, rather than in our matchday 18 (unless it's the cups/end of season).

With the exception of last summer - where we didn't sign any 'duds' but didn't strengthen the first team enough (i.e. get Debuchy and a centre half in) - we've actually had a run of reasonable transfer windows under the current regime. Championship - signed a couple of players to strengthen our promotion charge (Simpson, Routledge, Williamson, Best) and a couple of loanees to cover injuries. Summer 2010 - kept the majority of the squad together while adding Tiote, Perch and Ben Arfa to improve the quality/size. Also brought in Campbell for 'experienced' CB cover... Jan 2011 - bit of a shocker in terms of keeping the fans happy, the Carroll sale was slated by a fair few (if only because there wasn't a replacement brought over the line) but PL safety was achieved and HBA was made a permanent deal. Summer 2011 - moved on the 'old guard' who had been the mainstays of relegation/promotion (Barton, Nolan, Enrique) and began the 'new look' NUFC with Cabaye, Ba, Marveaux, Santon, Obertan. Fleshed out the academy/reserve team with some 'promising' youngsters. Jan 2012 - added Cisse to 'replace' Carroll, kept the over-performing players at the club Summer 2012 - a few squad players/young players added but the first XI kept in place, presumably the manager opted for this over losing a 'purple' and being able to afford a couple of first-team ready players. Still didn't address the issue at CB which had been rumbling on since we returned to the PL; the overperformance of Williamson for some of 2011/12 and Saylor's absence seemed to have fooled the higher-uppers that we were adequately covered in that position. January 2013 - lost the top scorer due to a contract issue/not wanting to break the wage structure, facing a bizarre situation with the club captain (and best defender). Finally brought in a RB. Still 2 weeks left. People make out like we're shit at transfers or doing deals - never understood this.

Cabaye. Wins this hands down.

Expect the worst and hope for the best. I'm assuming no first team player arrives and Ba is a gonner. Hoping that we pick up three players (RB, CB, ST) and I'm torn over Ba's contract. Love the fact that he's continuing to get us goals, not sure it's entirely in the best interests of the club/style of play for him to stay. If we can bring in a first-team quality forward who can play on the flanks, allowing Cisse to move inside more regularly, I'd not be adverse to him leaving - it'd at least put an end to this buyout clause circus every transfer window.

Eesh, you can see who has had a couple too many in here tonight - calm down petals.