TRon

That's a far more professional statement, in fact I'm quite surprised NUSC has managed to keep their emotions in check. Maybe it's becoming clear that there isn't a line of foreign investors willing to throw bags of money at the club, but whatever the reason a welcome change of direction.

It's something of an indictment of our attacking options that we have to play 3 strikers so that each one can make up for the weaknesses of the others. Not to mention compensating the lack of goals coming from midfield.

Increasing season ticket prices is a business decision and par for the course really. Abramovic didn't have to apologise for getting rid of a manager either, that too is par for the course. In short those things happen in football and are generally related to the football. Your argument is daft as Nut comparing Gibson and Ashley. Not that I demand an apology from Ashley (I wouldn't believe a thing the man said even if one did come anyway) but he does need to acknowledge his role in all of this and look to heal a lot of wounds and throwing money at the manager isn't the answer even though the team desperately needs strengthened. Hey Mike, do your worst just spend a few quid son shine. Such is the distrust his regime has installed in me anyway, I'd question his motives if he were to do just that spend big. I guess that's his top job winning back some trust and I can't see a way back in for him on that front because again, everything he did or say would rightly be met with suspician. He's fucked up, NUFC and football isn't for him clearly or rather he isn't for us as he's shown, so kindly try and find a buyer. Well he's clearly not doing enough to force a sale so the only option left is to resort to verbal abuse. Here's my two pence worth: You fat pansy Ashley. You are horrible.

Are you kidding? Kinnear would probably get chinned

I am actually quite keen to see a Viduka/Owen partnership without Oba in the mix. I hear so much criticism about Oba's stupidity, bad touch, poor aniticipation etc, I'd just like to see the two 'class forwards' have a few games together and see what they come up with. I'm not sure they'll be as effective without "thick as mince" Martins pulling defenders all over the place. Besides, I think we need Martins on the pitch just to get Gemmill popping up now and then bursting a blood vessel at the thought anyone rates him.

Nice plan but I think I've spotted a flaw.

Is your best friend an asian?

Yakubu out for the season and Saha limping off with a hamstring injury. Smith to the rescue as Moyes makes last ditch £4m bid for Smith in Jan! These are the headlines we could be reading in the new year

Aint going to happen Tbh I'd take the apology and the £20m. I don't even think an apology's necessary, if he just comes out and says he's keeping the club and he's going to put enough money in to compete properly that will do for me. Assuming he actually puts proper money in of course. At the moment I think he's sitting on the fence tbh. He won't release much money to Kinnear but he'll get some. He's hedging his bets in case the club gets sold, until then he's given Kinnear a job to the end of the season.

I'm surprised the didn't say we offered to pay Liverpool £3m to take him off our hands.

On paper Owen and Viduka would be the Gemmill wankfest dream partnership with Martins nowhere in sight. However I think Keegan found room for Oba for a reason.

Chris Mort was better at PR but essentially he did the same job for Mike Ashley and pretty much followed the blueprint.

There's another well-timed story in the NoW revealing Ashley hasn't paid off all the debt he's claimed. One step forward two steps back for Big Mike's quest to sit with the fans again.

He seems to have got physically stronger since the summer as well. Maybe it's just the experience of playing in English football, but he looks a very good defender.

Viduka in his short time on the pitch showed just what we are missing in our front men and have been for years. Not only does the ball stick to his feet, he's so clever at using it and manoevering shooting positions from nowhere. My one big hope is that he will play the rest of the season - with his contract running out in the summer he will be busting a gut to earn a new one, either here or somewhere else. It could have a massive impact on our season if JFK can get the puzzle right like KK did last season.

Just shows you how a few wins can transform the season. Reason for hope. Or a few losses, when you look at the likes of West Ham, Mackems, Blackburn. We were in severe danger of going that way after the abominations of Fulham and Wigan, but in fairness to us we've done well to cling onto some sort of ledge with these last two results. Really is time to build on it now with Stoke and Spurs to come to us, aswell as a genuine opportunity of an away win at Pompey. Like i've said in another thread, if Kinnear's ever gonna prove us wrong then this a massive chance. His last chance was Fulham and Wigan (post Villa). He can't afford to fuck it up again. The key is to keep picking up points, which we are for the most part. I know it's frustrating not to win these games but two draws at boro and Chelsea are still pretty good results.

Agree with all of that basically.

Quite ironic that since awful Shola's been dropped the goals have dried up

Just shows you how a few wins can transform the season. Reason for hope.

I aslo thought Barton would be the missing link, but in the games he played before injury this season he sat deep alongside Nicky Butt. I don't know if this is tactical but even today as Mick said in the match thread, Guthrie and Bitt seemed to be glued together. One of them surely has to support the attack when we have the ball, and it shouldn't be Butt.

I mentioned this before, but we are relying too much on the strikers for goals. If this continues, we might have to go back to 4-3-3 for me. I know we have got two ok results but we aren't going to keep clean sheets every week. I don't think any of the midfielders are looking to get in the box, although Zog might do that if he gets a few games. We couldn't half do with a Lampard or Gerrard to steal in and grab a few.

I think that is going to be a very hard game for Colo and Bassong, as the one question mark is in the air. Other than that they look a natural partnership, not forgetting the part played by Beye and Enrique of course.

Those two seem to have a very good understanding, although they will be tested by Stoke next match.

Let you off then. I did warn you

two clean sheets in a row but no goals scored either.