stozo

Right now we basically have very little money because of the takeover. Ashley won't put in his millions until he has control and Fred won't be spending his money when he knows in all likelihood he'll be ousted in a couple of weeks. Basically we have a deadlock and thus no money so to get Barton we have to sell Parker. FF wouldn't be spending his money - it is our money & before MA came in with his offer FF had apparently said there was money to spend (he must have told Sam this for Sam to take the job). If Sam has said he wants Barton then we go and buy him & suffer any consequences. At the moment the Chairman is FF & he needs to ok the cash release. I can not understand why MA simply doesn't write a cheque, publisize this & make a PR killing over FF. If we then don't get Barton, a player Sam wants & a transfer MA would fund then FF would find himself in a more untenable position then he is already. The current position is ridiculous. The club is currently making a loss so the only way to get transfer money is through raising funds by selling players or taking out a loan or something. The second option isn't possible I don't think due to takeover rules. So when the club is making a loss and has debt repayments to meet Fred or in the past the Halls had to put their hands in their pockets. I think the fact we are fast running out of money was apparent last year when we only spent £15m and in January where we spent nothing. Also you have to remember Fred is still in hospital so he won't actually be doing any club business.

Right now we basically have very little money because of the takeover. Ashley won't put in his millions until he has control and Fred won't be spending his money when he knows in all likelihood he'll be ousted in a couple of weeks. Basically we have a deadlock and thus no money so to get Barton we have to sell Parker.

That's most likely why we are keeping hold of Parker until Barton signs. So that they don't end up with both Parker and Barton.

Emre is crap. Hope he is sold. Barton and Emre should be the partnership at the moment but I'd like us to buy another CM.

As said earlier word in the papers is Allardyce won't let him leave until he gets Barton.

From what was reported he didn't choose Chelsea over us, the offer was withdrawn by us when we sacked GR, and the offer was not pushed or confirmed to still be on the table when SA came in or the time in between. Of course it was withdrawn. What would have been the piont of signing him to a pre-contract and then the new manager saying he didn't want him. Would have been a terrible mess.

Metzelder and Basturk both signed already.

Sam's been back in the country for the past week. Also Ben Haim and Viduka are in Israel and Australia respectively so you can't blame Allardyce's holiday if we miss out.

From .com Who was Sam Czeching out? Pictured here with Welsh-based Toon fan and NUFC.com reader Dai Goldsworthy, Sam Allardyce was in the Millennium Stadium on Saturday to see Wales & the Czech Republic draw 0-0. And while the presence of PSG defender David Rozehnal in the visitors' lineup ties up with recent reports of our interest in him, one of two other players also took the eye. For the home side, West Ham's James Collins and Jason Koumas of West Brom both had decent games, while new Welsh captain Craig Bellamy is one of a handful of current Premiership strikers not linked with us in recent weeks - so let's link him. And on a slightly more fanciful note, if one is looking for an old boy to be given one last hurrah, how about giant striker Jan Koller - now 34 and seeing out his days at Monaco?

Regardless of what people on here think the target is Europe or the sack for Sam.

Link Article also confirms he has gone on loan to PSV.

To be honest I think Wenger is getting ot the stage where he'll be too old for a new job. He's 57 and in a few years will be 60. Dein was the man though who also got Sven for England and tried to get Big Phil for England.

According ot this mornings papers Parker won't be leaving, atleast not yet. Apparently Allardyce is refusing to sell him until he has signed Joey Barton and that could take a few weeks because of the current boardroom situation.

In both the People and the Mirror this morning that David Dein will be offered the job of Chief Executive once Mike Ashley has completed his takeover. Also in the Sunday Sun - Link Newcastle's would-be new owner Mike Ashley has targeted his first big signing - former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein. Ashley, who is set to take full control of United, possibly this week, wants friend and neighbour Dein to run the club and deliver his dreams of glory. Publicity-shy Ashley is loath to involve himself in day to day matters at St James's Park. Instead, the billionaire wants to install a dynamic, experienced operator in the dual role of chairman/chief executive long performed by current Newcastle supremo Freddy Shepherd. And Dein - the man who took Arsene Wenger to Arsenal in 1996 - fits the bill perfectly. During 24 years with the Gunners, Dein forged a reputation as one of European football's key powerbrokers. As well as establishing Arsenal as a formidable force on the pitch, he became vice-chairman of the FA, before representing the Premier League on the FA board. Dein was pivotal in the FA's successful bid to land Sven-Goran Eriksson as England coach and was one of the panel who chose Steve McClaren as the Swede's successor. He was also chairman of the G14 group of European super clubs until leaving Arsenal last month amid a row over his support for a proposed takeover of the club by American tycoon Stan Kroenke. Dein and Ashley have homes literally yards apart in London's exclusive Totteridge Common, and know each other well. But it may need much persuasion for Dein to come on board at Newcastle, with the long-time Gunner harbouring long-term hopes of a return to Arsenal. It is understood that Kroenke would look to reinstate Dein in an executive position if he goes on to win control of the London giants. However, if Dein was to take charge of Newcastle, it would place a further question mark against the future of new United boss Sam Allardyce. During his days at Bolton, Allardyce was fiercely critical of Dein's influence within football. And that raises the distant but tantalising prospect of Arsene Wenger - who was dismayed by long-time ally Dein's exit from Arsenal - being targeted for the manager's job at St James's Park.

Wouldn't go anywhere near Reo-Coker, especially for £8million.

I want Barton. Think he would be a fantastic signing and I think Sam would be able to control him.

Was back this Monday. This deal most likely won't be completed though for a atleast a week as Viduka is currently back in Australia.

BBC still have the FA Cup next year. it goes to ITV and Setanta the year after.

is he an excellent signing when you consider he's on big wages, his biggest ever job has been Boro and we have a billionaire owner? To be honest we may have a billionaire owner but we don't have his money yet and even though he is a billionaire I am not expecting Abramovich style investment from him. I actually think the most we'll be spending under him is £30 milion per summer.

Chronicle says tonight that no bid has yet been accepted although he is expected to join west Ham.

Merge with the other Viduka thread please.

how many did he score again? 4. That's more than Emre, Butt and Duff scored and the same amount as Milner. Only our 3 strikers and Dyer, who to be fair played for a while at striker, scored more than him.

Ridiculous selling him for £7m. Our best CM we have at the club and we let him go for virtually nothing. Don't care what the vocal minority say the facts are their for all to see, He was our best tackler last season, our 2nd best passer, won the 2nd most fouls and has the 3rd most shots on target.

Not on holiday anymore. Got back a few days ago.

Impossible for us to sign at a reasonable price. Gartside won't let the captain go to Newcastle on top of the Manager and half the backroom staff.