TRon

That's three potential buyers two of wich have complained that Ashley isn't prepared to negotiate. There's nothing wrong with having a set price and sticking to it but when you are asking for double what most analysts consider is reasonable, you would at least expect some give and take. Ambani flew back complaining it was impossible to reach Ashley to have any meaningful discussions, now the Arabs are saying Ashley won't even listen to lower offers. He's certainly not desperate to sell that's for certain.

To think that bloke in your avatar flew into England to try and buy Newcastle...what is he the 6th richest man in the world? Ashley doesn't want to sell unless he gets an offer he can't refuse.

From the Telegraph today. It's becoming pretty obvious to me that there are buyers out there but Ashley doesn't want to sell. This whole thing seems to be a charade which is unnecessary. If he doesn't want to sell, fine get a manager in and get on with it.

Practically begging for the job.

I think people should bear in mind that the injured players when they come back will make us look a lot better than we do right now. The only thing which seriously pisses me off is that I was looking forward to a decent-ish season and it's got completely de-railed by what's gone on.

Christ, what a choice. I think I'd rather stick with Hughton. I can't see why Curbishley would want the job by the way - he left West Ham for the same apparent reasons that Keegan left, the club's imploding, the fans are in revolt, cockneys are persona non grata especially short or fat ones, plus I don't expect he's ever worked out of the London area. The only thing that seems to link him with us is that he's out of work. To say Curbishley resigned is only half the story tbh. He was on the brink of getting sacked anyway due to his disastrous transfer dealings, shit man management, huge unpopularity with the fans, and generally being a glum arsehole. His "resignation" was a million miles from Keegans. I think Curbishley did okay at West Ham. He took them out of a disastrous position when they looked certain to go down. Last year, he was very hampered by injuries but still took them to mid-table. I don't think he'd want to come north, because he's very rooted in the London / Essex area, but his overall record is a good one. He was on the verge of getting sacked though. He wasted a lot of money on injury prone players, and doesn't seem to command a lot of respect in the dressing room from stories that ahave appeared in the press over the last year. Doesn't strike me as being the sort to lift a team short term if that's the case.

Christ, what a choice. I think I'd rather stick with Hughton. I can't see why Curbishley would want the job by the way - he left West Ham for the same apparent reasons that Keegan left, the club's imploding, the fans are in revolt, cockneys are persona non grata especially short or fat ones, plus I don't expect he's ever worked out of the London area. The only thing that seems to link him with us is that he's out of work. To say Curbishley resigned is only half the story tbh. He was on the brink of getting sacked anyway due to his disastrous transfer dealings, shit man management, huge unpopularity with the fans, and generally being a glum arsehole. His "resignation" was a million miles from Keegans.

Shame that this wonderful new system we have failed to bring in the right-winger we required. it didn't bring in the back up right back either We wasted our money on Jonas and Xisco instead.

Beye not injured? He is, but Duff might be back. Put geremi right back and move Duff to right wing.

First instincts are usually the right ones. I've always thought he was a prick, but also a really shit manager.

It makes a change to see the opposition losing key players, this is now definitely a game we can get something from. My concern is that some of our players will be using the managerless situation to feel sorry for themselves instead of storming the useless cockney bastards for all 3 points.

I'm going to wait for brummie's opinion on that. I thought he was fairly shit at Villa, but I don't really follow them closely so an inside view would be useful.

Anyone who still thinks creating an ugly atmosphere won't affect the team wasn't watching the performance against Hull.

Even so the decision to us Shola as an extra striker rather than push N'Zogbia into midfield was a critical mistake, which doesn't fill me with confidence in Hughton. The problem is, O'Bleary and Curbishley are such bad managers I don't see what difference bringing them in would make. Worse still, if we do get a run of results we might get Roeder'd and end up with them on a permanent contract.

Well my personal opinion is that he had already decided to fuck off before last weeks demonstrations but thats old news that aint worth going over again. I just think the future looks very bleak and people are going to continue to complain at anything and everything until something else happens. I don't think Ashley was planning to fuck off at all in a hurry. I still don't as it happens, probably why he's set the price so high. Running a football club as a viable, self-sustaining business with a long term view doesn't really tie in with that either. I'm sure he'd love to turn the clock back on a few things but that's not how it works. If he intends on staying, nothing would make me happier. I would just rather he just told us and got on with the job of finding us a new manager and give us our hope back. I think that was what he was trying to do mate, before the protests made it clear he's not wanted here.

Well my personal opinion is that he had already decided to fuck off before last weeks demonstrations but thats old news that aint worth going over again. I just think the future looks very bleak and people are going to continue to complain at anything and everything until something else happens. I don't think Ashley was planning to fuck off at all in a hurry. I still don't as it happens, probably why he's set the price so high. Running a football club as a viable, self-sustaining business with a long term view doesn't really tie in with that either. I'm sure he'd love to turn the clock back on a few things but that's not how it works.

I'm sure the serious money men have far more significant financial proposals to think about like the SaveNewcastle.com initiative.

We can't afford the daft tit to be missing the next 3 games through suspension either with our squad...that's why the tackle makes him a knob rather than a hero but I don't expect that to sink in with some on here until they see the line up against West Ham.

I am waiting to see whether all this is just jockeying for price on both sides. I would expect the Arabs to come back with a better price, and I would expect Ashley to sell for anything £250m+ If he doesn't then he obviously doesn't want to sell the club unless he gets a daft offer, which is being deceptive to say the least. Let's see.

The man's not well enough, FFS. He's a geordie though.

This is likely true IMO. I have a friend with an associate in Dubai, who apparently heard that one of the bell boys climbed the wall and peeked inside the lavvy window. Inside was none other than Mike Ashley wiping his arse with Special Edition Keegan print toilet roll.

Would be the best short term choice by a mile if you ask me. Great motivator, excellent coach very highly rated by Shearer IIRC. If Ashley's serious about selling the club though, Hughton will have to get by until the deal is done.

Arsene Wenger to stand in with a view to taking the job full time. Would probably work but no way would he do it.

Just to get things in perspective, due to his stupidity Guthrie will be missing the next three matches when we are already short of nubers in midfield. I think it's some of the fans posting on this thread tbh.

Would Hoddle take orders from Wise though? Would O'Leary or Curbishley or anyone else for that matter other than Poyet? Yes they would.