Cronky

I think people are looking for complicated answers to something that's much more simple. The consortium became interested when we were about 6th in the league. Since then, the results have slipped and we're a far less enticing prospect. Although PCP may have started off thinking in terms of £250m - £300m, there's no way they can risk that sum now for an asset whose value might slip to £100m (if that). At the same time, Ashley isn't going to accept a bid of around £100m for a club whose value isn't going to go below that figure and which might easily be worth far more in a few months' time. The idea that a deal could be struck whereby Ashley would effectively pay back part of the £300m in compensation in the event of relegation is completely unrealistic. He would be bearing the risk of relegation whilst having no say about how much was invested in the transfer window to prevent that happening. All the signs are that if we stay up, the deal will be back on.

I don't think a sale was ever likely to go through with the threat of relegation hanging over the place. If we stay up, I think it'll go through. Go down, and we're back at stage one.

Unfortunately, I can't see why the Staveley consortium would want to buy, if the threat of relegation was still there. And I can't see how a deal can be struck whereby Ashley compensates them if relegation happens. Basically if we stay up, we're sold. If we go down, we're not.

I'm glad City have lost their unbeaten record, but they left a statement at the end that the gap between them and the rest was still huge. You had the feeling that if the game had lasted another five minutes they'd have equalised, and in another ten, they'd have won. De Bruyne and Sane are both very difficult to stop.

This could be very tricky because Luton are used to winning and will come with a lot of confidence. Should still win of course, but we'll need to be patient.

I bet they are. No way was he going to be technically good enough for them. One of the strangest transfers of recent times.

Doesn't that penalty decision show the problems with video reviews though? Lallana wasn't impeded enough to go down, and Holgate only had hold of him for a moment, so normally refs let that go. On the other hand, he did have hold of him, with the intention of slowing him down. Video reviews are okay with questions of fact, but so many decisions in football are subject to opinion and interpretation. I can't see it working.

He seems to be locked into a certain set of attitudes and values. It's very frustrating, because he was at the least a very good athlete with the potential to get to the very top. That's why so many people have been prepared to give him second chances.

Best game I've seen in a while. From England's point of view, it's great to see Wilshere back. He's been a big loss.

I'd say regularly crosses the line. For every occasion that he gets sent off, there's one or two other challenges where he puts himself at risk.

Rafa may have learned something from his recent injury. I do think that a lot of players who now start playing Premiership football at a young age seem to suffer as a result. (eg Wilshere, Ramsey) Perhaps particularly midfield players. This lad is key to our survival and we need to save him for the important games.

He's not quick enough in either mind or body to take advantage of his passing ability and range. Sums the situation up. If we're going to push on from being mere survivors, we need an upgrade on Shelvey.

Aarons didn't seem up for it mentally. I've never been that convinced by this player, and both Murphy and Atsu outshone him. A great 15 minutes from Merino. Hopefully he's back to full fitness and his best form. A very strange game to watch, and in the end Rafa's tactics were proved correct. We very nearly snatched a draw, which on 22% possession and 6 shots against 21 would have been amazing.

Yeah, he's starting to find his feet. At least he brings pace to the side, which we're somewhat lacking.

Has his moments, but in general too slow.

Merry Christmas, y'all.

We've never seen something like this in English football before - 18 wins from 19 games, and regularly scoring 4 or 5 against fairly decent teams. On top of the quality of the players they have going forward, it's also very difficult to get the ball from them. Hard to know why we'll succeed where 18 others have failed.

We look like we need an extra man in midfield.

Darlow did well. Murphy looked indecisive at first, but grew a bit in confidence. Otherwise though, they just simply had better players.

Diame makes me very nervous. He never looks completely in control of the ball. We might just get another scrappy goal, but we certainly don't look like building anything in attack. We'll have to rely on their defenders making mistakes. I don't think there's any mileage in grumbling about the selection. I don't think there's anyone on the bench who would have made a difference.

Conte looks suicidal. What's the matter with him? Diame and Merino looks fragile in the middle, but Rafa must have his reasons.

It's a question of the alternatives. Mitro is a poor finisher too, and doesn't link the play as well as Joselu. Gayle is obviously the finisher, but Rafa doesn't fancy him as a lone striker in this formation. Merino is the key. We're a different side when he's playing.

Got to face it, unless there's a big spend in January, our survival rests on the fitness of a 21 year old rookie.

They won't make a return on their money unless they run us correctly, as we'll be in the Championship missing the sky money. Either way, I want Ashley gone, full stop. Genuine question. Which owner of a football club has made any profit on it? I'd be worried about any potential owners who saw the club as an opportunity to make money. Even with the rise of the TV deals, that's just going to push up the player costs with it. Breaking even or making a very modest profit are medium term goals. There are much better things to invest £300m + into if a good return on the investment is the main reason behind the investment. Apart from Man U, I can't think of a club that's made money for their owners, and now I'm not even sure of them. I think there are clubs like Liverpool and Arsenal who break even, but who are still successful because they were already established at the top of the tree when the big money came in. Other 'break even' clubs like ourselves run the risk of relegation, to a greater or lesser extent, because all the Premiership clubs are wealthy now and the standard is fairly even. Even a club like Everton can be in trouble. Breaking into the elite group now needs a big investment, and one that is sustained over more than one or two seasons.

According to the Independent, the funding may be coming from the Far East, not the Middle East, which does not suggest a sugardaddy in the wings. And as we're talking about a managed fund, it's likely that those investors will expect some sort of return on their money. I think if it wasn't for Ashley's unpopularity, the mood music on here would be quite different.