TRon

Steve Taylor is a central defender not a RB despite everyone getting carried away by a few decent runs down the flank.

No way are we signing another right back like. Maybe we aren't but it doesn't change the fact that none of the ones we've got are good enough.

Routledge and Jonas both lacked quality on the ball I thought. But it's difficult to be too critical when there's no movement from the midfielders and only one forward who isn't exactly the best link man.

Guthrie is another windbag. 35yr old Scholes would have run rings round him too.

And what would you play? Guthrie isn't the fittest or fastest either, Yeah we have built up a large collection of slow central midfielders, something which has been pissing me off for a few seasons now. I'd probably stick someone more mobile alongside Carroll for now. There's not much we can do with that midfield with the players we've got.

Aston Villa are another side with pace and power. We can get a result there but we need to put out a side that won't run out of breath after 20 mins. Hughton needs to take a close look at his engine room.

Hughton wanted to play all his senior midfielders, unfortunately Barton, Smith and Nolan are all slow and despite being much older, Scholes ran rings round them because he's not a busted flush.

Hard to assess that performance as I was always worried that a midfield of Smith, Barton and Nolan would be over-run by Man U's quick movement. In the circumstances we stuck at it quite well. We lack quality, that much is obvious, but against the better teams we haven't got a prayer with that trio clogging up the centre.

So am I, but not for the same reason. The people saying we don't really know what's going on money wise are partly right of course, as are those who are doing some guesswork and concluding there must be money available. For me, the money side is largely irrelevant. From my point of view, the fans of this club should have a different interest than the owner. What good is it to us if we balance the books so Ashley can walk away with a tidy profit in a few years time? As far as I am concerned I think the fans should demand that the club aspires to be the best it possibly can. We pay out huge amounts of money on season tickets, drinks and food at the matches, fan shop articles etcetera. We do so (from a business point of view) because we enjoy the products that NUFC offers. This club has a huge following (read: turnover) because in recent past it offered a top notch product. In recent years, the quality of the product on offer has gone down substantially, but we have remained loyal. It is in NUFC's interest to make sure it remains so, and for that (like in every other company) investments are needed. I don't particularly care how they do it, or if a certain player cost the club 1 million or 20 million, as long as the club continues to offer quality in return for our personal investment. The internal balancing of the books is important, but ultimately largely irrelevant for the fans (bar going to the point of risking the very existence of the club). The bottom line is the people in charge of this club need to consider themselves "caretakers" of the club, and their success should be measured by how much they take us forward (or not), not how much profit they manage to squeeze out of us over the years of their tenure (which coincidentally I don't object to them doing; they should be rewarded if they take us forward. They shouldn't be when they fail to do so however imho). If Ashley didn't understand this when he bought us then he has no business being a Premiership football club owner. Football is a highly emotional "business" proposition, and managing a football club does not have much semblance to managing a sport article shop. Regardless of the money involved, Ashley has a moral duty to make sure we don't go backwards after he has just been bailed out by Hughton's excellent work last season. If he can't muster that, it will be another nail in his coffin in a growing chain of foolish decisions since he has taken us over. This off-season he had the opportunity to turn around the tide and get in a more favourable position with the fans than he has been for a while. I will be baffled if he doesn't take that chance purely for short term personal financial gain. Have to say that while I have understood the need to balance the books after Shepherd's reckless stint, I am of the opinion that Ashley should have used promotion as a springboard to really put us back on the map. Nothing daft, just signing the likes of Arfa on a permanent deal rather than fucking about with half-arsed loan deals. If Ashley doesn't invest he's in danger of killing the season before it began, and I don't think people will keep coughing up for season tickets with nothing to look forward to. Hopefully Ashley is just keeping his cards close to his chest and will shock us all with a big money move for a striker. /straws#clutch etc

From the Youtube clip he seems to be able to beat players for fun. Would absolutely transform our midfield if he signs. I don't think we've got anyone like that in our squad.

Thanks, that would be a real favour. Can you get someone to do a hatchet job on Ryan Taylor as well?

He looks to have sublime skill running at opponents. If that's not a young player worth £4m I don't know what is. A damn sight better prospect than Fatty Nolan for that money.

Probably worth the 5m tbf, I guess the issue is just with his consistency and attitude therefore they want a year loan to see how he does. Smart move by CH imo I can guarantee you if he does well the price won't stay at £4m. Half the premiership will be after him and he will be off like a shot to the best team in the mix. We aren't the only ones who will be able to use the loan deal to decide if it's a good move or not. The price will be fixed now I should imagine. Usually is. Contractually it would be hard to change that. Even if the price is fixed, there will be nothing to stop some other club signing him if he has a good season here. The loan system gives a get out option both ways at the end of the day. I can see Hatem leaving after one year like Bassong, except we'll probably miss out on the transfer fee.

Probably worth the 5m tbf, I guess the issue is just with his consistency and attitude therefore they want a year loan to see how he does. Smart move by CH imo I can guarantee you if he does well the price won't stay at £4m. Half the premiership will be after him and he will be off like a shot to the best team in the mix. We aren't the only ones who will be able to use the loan deal to decide if it's a good move or not.

Not for all round play, but as a dedicated defensive midfielder he was superb. Very tigerish tackler and quick passer. I like the sound of this move, Uruguayans are usually good in these positions.

worth repeating anyway.

i think no club, get's players at the price they want them for tbh Not when the price is £1m tops. Good luck with that then Chris.

I don't think it's close, I think we could be in this thread in two weeks time discussing the same thing, but I'm not about to throw my toys out of the pram and demand the head of Ashley on a stick. Neither am I but sooner or later Ashley has to come up with some genuine quality signings. Looking for players who near the end of their contracts and hoping they'll agitate enough to force their club to release them isn't the worst ploy, but it's all a bit hit and hope.

i wish someone could offer a reasonable explanation as to why he'd go to these lengths to join us, i really do Maybe he's been offered a "bonus" if he refusues to sign for anyone else and ends up here on the cheap?

I'll say it again, he's Marseilles player and if they don't think they are getting a good deal they won't let him go. If it was my club in their position I wouldn't expect them to act any different. We might still get him and save a few bob, but more than likely we'll go out and sign another Leon Best when this one falls through. That one will go through like a shot I can guarantee.

Most people who go to Grey Street don't even know what google maps is.

I don't think Marseille are being 'cuntish' at all. They have his signature and if they aren't happy with the offer they can just tell us to fuck off basically. Ashley is playing a similar game to the one with Beckford and Moses hoping the player will force a move. It didn't work then and I doubt it will work now. Just please don't sign another Leon Best if it falls through. Saving 20p to waste a £1 isn't good business strategy.

Marseille are going to try and get the best deal they can, with him scoring a 30 yd screamer last night they are probably hoping some other club will step in. I'll be surprised if this goes through this week tbh.

Coppell quitting? There's a first...

Could have done without this being on tv tbh. Against Man U's quick movement the likes of Nolan and Smith will be embarrassingly slow...not the best first impression to put on before the nation after getting promoted.