Colos Short and Curlies

I don't get what you mean. If you reduce the operating costs you already cover the drop in income, because income is used to pay the operating costs.. Plus when you sell the player you not only reduce costs through cutting wages but you also bring money in through transfer fees (if you get a fee that is). My point is we won't need to sell half the squad to break even if we reduce the costs enough to begin with. Im not surprised. It confuses the hell out of me. Theres three separate losses in the event of relegation. The fall in TV revenue (£44m) The fall in gate receipts and corporate stuff (£19) The predicated operating loss if wed stayed up (£7m) Grand total of to break even next season if we go down, £70m. Now forget Owen. His wages have already been paid upfront with the Northern Rock sponsorship money, and having him off the wage bill would have already been factored into the predicted £7m loss for next season. The same goes for Viduka and probably Geremi who is also out of contract at the end of the season. So if we are to break even we have to find £40m (after parachute payments) to break even. <pause for inevitable quibbling> He's creating an efficient business mate. Doesn't really matter what league we are in or anything, he's just creating an efficient business. Many people on here wanted this. So they ought to be happy with it. Good old Mike, and the "plan" he had which his predecessors never had, ever. We might get some good away trips at Blackpool, Bournemouth, Southend and Plymouth in the next few years. who ? as i remember it most just saw that we couldn't just go on racking up more and more debt year on year. as plenty other clubs have come to realise. why bother? I could say the same. Particularly when you - and he - knows perfectly well that my statement that the vast majority of this board disagreed with me is true, and thought that Ashley looking to make profits rather than show ambition on the pitch was the way to go. This is what sets Ashey apart. The performance of the team isnt the driver for his business. Hes looking to make his money in other ways. Its a revolutionary approach to running a PL football club of NUFC's size. Is that tongue in cheek? I've been as supportive of Ashleys way of running the club this season, but he has one idea of how to bring success and money into the club and that is to have a structure in place which will uncover 6 or 7 young gems who will either be moulded into a team or moved on. To the side of this is the need to remove large earners with low impact (Viduka et al). This has on the surface all gone pear shaped this season and I can't even begin to defend the current situation but below the first team this is continuing. There is very little evidence that he is looking at making money through Newcastle in any other way respect your opinion mate, but honestly in reality it doesn't work like this in football. Football only works on the "how well are you doing on the field" principle. Completely agree with the last sentance, I was merely pointing out what Ashleys plan hinges on and that is becoming more and more hoping that we get a Man U style crop of kids coming through, or at worst an Arsenal situation where we get one true gem (Fabregas) and a number of players who will 'do a job' in the first eleven. If it comes off we're laughing, but its one hell of a risky plan, albeit maybe necessary in the current climate. I guess this summer will answer a few more questions, once Owen et al are off the payroll MAYBE we will sign the necessary number of (£8-£10million bracket) players to compete in the leage, and MAYBE we will get the right manager in. Also remember there is no summer tournament to inflate players prices, again its a MAYBE but maybe a number of deals fell through due to this last summer (Turan for example)

I don't get what you mean. If you reduce the operating costs you already cover the drop in income, because income is used to pay the operating costs.. Plus when you sell the player you not only reduce costs through cutting wages but you also bring money in through transfer fees (if you get a fee that is). My point is we won't need to sell half the squad to break even if we reduce the costs enough to begin with. I’m not surprised. It confuses the hell out of me. There‘s three ‘separate’ losses in the event of relegation. The fall in TV revenue (£44m) The fall in gate receipts and corporate stuff (£19) The predicated operating loss if we’d stayed up (£7m) Grand total of to break even next season if we go down, £70m. Now forget Owen. His wages have already been paid upfront with the Northern Rock sponsorship money, and having him off the wage bill would have already been factored into the predicted £7m loss for next season. The same goes for Viduka and probably Geremi who is also out of contract at the end of the season. So if we are to break even we have to find £40m (after parachute payments) to break even. <pause for inevitable quibbling> He's creating an efficient business mate. Doesn't really matter what league we are in or anything, he's just creating an efficient business. Many people on here wanted this. So they ought to be happy with it. Good old Mike, and the "plan" he had which his predecessors never had, ever. We might get some good away trips at Blackpool, Bournemouth, Southend and Plymouth in the next few years. who ? as i remember it most just saw that we couldn't just go on racking up more and more debt year on year. as plenty other clubs have come to realise. why bother? I could say the same. Particularly when you - and he - knows perfectly well that my statement that the vast majority of this board disagreed with me is true, and thought that Ashley looking to make profits rather than show ambition on the pitch was the way to go. This is what sets Ashey apart. The performance of the team isn’t the driver for his business. He’s looking to make his money in other ways. It’s a revolutionary approach to running a PL football club of NUFC's size. Is that tongue in cheek? I've been as supportive of Ashleys way of running the club this season, but he has one idea of how to bring success and money into the club and that is to have a structure in place which will uncover 6 or 7 young gems who will either be moulded into a team or moved on. To the side of this is the need to remove large earners with low impact (Viduka et al). This has on the surface all gone pear shaped this season and I can't even begin to defend the current situation but below the first team this is continuing. There is very little evidence that he is looking at making money through Newcastle in any other way

gutierrez,martins,coloccini. Couldn’t play for another club this season. Not going to get much for an ineligible player. Martins might have raised £12m… did anyone bid for him? exp;lain to me why he couldn't play for another club. nobody bid for steven gerrard.....whats your point ? They’d have both have played for three clubs in a year? My point is that your clutching at straws. Wise would have looked like a right donkey if he’d signed players in July and sold them in January. Probably at a loss, judging by Collocini’s form. Selling Jonas might have been a bit difficult while his transfer for Mallorca was subject to a legal battle. Martins was the only one of the three who could have been sold for more than £6m+. And he probably would have gone if anyone had put a bid in. Have we rejected a bid for any player since Ashley took over? you can play for three clubs in a year,but not for 3 in a season .(hence diarra signing for pompey in january after signing for arsenal the previous august). my point is many still think the money we got for n'zogbia was fair, we got more than milner was worth and we got robbed on given. ashley has made enough mistakes without you blaming him for the weather and high tides. Calm down. I’m saying there aren’t many corners left for him to cut, and he’s already sold our most saleable assists. You can quibble about whether Coloccini’s market value is greater than Milner’s if you want, but it’s neither here or there. Player sales will be the only way to service next season's losses if we go down, and as those losses will be gigantic we’ll be left with a paper thin squad made up of kids and free transfers. And that means another relegation scrap. Not making the losses to begin with is the best way, which means getting rid of players, but only the really high earners (and the ones who ask to leave of course). Remove the biggest earners and we can take £30 million off the wage bill without having much of an effect on the team. I mean who would miss Smith, Geremi, Cacapa, Butt, Duff and Viduka? Even Barton and Owen have played so little we wouldn't really miss them.. The physio?

In all their glory: - Newcastle Vs Bolton Wanderers 1 - 0 Newcastle Vs West Brom 2 - 1 Newcastle Vs Aston Villa 2 - 0 Portsmouth Vs Newcastle 0 - 3 Newcastle Vs Tottenham 2 - 1 West Brom Vs Newcastle 1 - 3 Looking at it another way... We still have to play 3 of those teams again, and the one team we have beaten and played twice.... we won again.

Sorry but I don't agree with the OP Ashley's actions this season of course have a major bearing on where we sit today, but this season has been a long time coming. But.. Halls/Shepherd. They must take some blame for there boom or bust summer in 2005, it was irresponsible in the extreme (esecially considering who was in charge at the time) and part of the reaoson of the inactivity in the transfer market is the obligations we are currently stuck with. The players. Now I'm not including all of the players here, just thos who signed for the club becase of the big pay packet on offer and don't give value for money every Saturday. Keegan. He walked at the worst possible time and one which made no sense if his grievances were the signing and selling of players (i.e. outside the transfer window). Souness. Forcing Bellamy out of the club and playing Shearer ahead of Kluivert. Paul Robinson. Breaking Owen's foot Sven. Taking Owen to the World Cup. The fans. SJP is no longer the cauldren it once was, we are just as likely to be on the players backs than supporting them. The scenes vs Hull were frankly shameful and have contributed to the situation where JK was appointed. All hindsight I know, but all of the above contribuuted to our club going backwards and sitting where we are. Ashley appointing Keegan delayed this scenario for a season, I fully believe we would have gone down under Sam, Ashley or no Ashley. As the current owner Ashley (rightly) will be where the buck stops at the end of the season, but lets not kid ourselves that he took over a top 4 club with wonderful finances. He has gambled his reputation with us through tightening the purse strings, Kinnear was forced upon him as he was trying to sell the club at the time and again, lets be honest when JK was offered a contract until the end of the season we were slowly pulling ourselves to safety so it made sense. Another 2 years however, wrong idea. Sorry if its a bit muddled, but hopefully it makes a bit of sense

Shola Ameobi

Blackburn - Played 29, drawn 9 Newcastle - Played 29, drawn 11 Hmmmm Sorry I meant under Sam

Norwich Union Sports Centre

Staying at 1. Blind faith is all we have. Also, I'm confident that neither Boro nor West Brom have it in them to pull out of the mire, Blackburn draw far to many to be discounted and Pompey are, well shite. Stoke might just sneak it, but I wouldn't lay money on them either way. Think the Mackems and Bolton are safe, Hull more or less unfortunately

Souness before the Man U Game: 'The ball used makes a big difference' Glenn Hoddle 'Nah, I could play with anything'

Berbs now looks like he's playing so your prediction is still on fmop

Berbs doesn't look like he's playing....

I wouldn't worry - there's an 11-1 chance his wife is getting pleasured up the council gritter by a Scouse doorman right now fyp

I've already stated my doubt over this "injury" The rumour of him going to Man City in the summer prompted me to say during the game down there, he'll be off the field with an "injury" very early on - and lo..... In some ways it waould be better for Owen and Viduka to have injuries that are definitiely going to keep them out of the side for the rest of the season. Neither player will put themselves about 100% and risk an injury between now and then.

Jesus, people wondering where the 4th win is coming from (assuming we win the 'easy' 3 home games). We still have to play Spurs. That is all

Staying at 1. Looking a today as a point gained on Boro via Goal Difference. We didn't get a hiding and so our GD stays relatively intact. Mixed bag of results today like, we need to beat Hull to kick start the revolution

Kills Parker. Toon players past and present. The smoggie thug hates them all

are u serious? have u seen geremis free kicks? Spurs last season. ACN/ANC or whatever it is called. His set pieces are/have been good (excpet for us generally!) IT doesn't make much sense really, lack of legs shouldn't have impacted his dead balls

No Butt, No Ameobi Nuff said really

:kinnear: :kinnear: :kinnear: :kinnear: :yikes: :yikes: :kinnear: :frantic: :kinnear: :colo:

Like those teams. No excuses that it was reserve team when we beat them

You lot should think yourself lucky. I'm currently working in Manchester with a shit load of smug Man U fans who are just the type to seriously rub my nose in it in the morning. I can't wait to stick our 2-0 victory in their fat faces

4 teams for the Champs league out of 5/6 Man U Chelsea Arsenal Everton (knocked out in qualifying stage) would be my preferred 4 Dippers to miss out for obvious reasons, Villa due to the weakened team in the Waffa. though to be fair any of Everton and the '2' I wouldn't mind getting 4th if they got knocked out in the qualifiers what are others preferred 4 and 2 (I know its unlikely that Everton could pass Liverpool and Villa but there in with a chance)

I may have missed some, but games remaining against the current top 5: Hull - 1 (Home) Spuds - 3 (Two Away, one Home) Toon - 5 (3 H, 2 A) Pompey - 3 (2 H, 1 A) Blackburn - 3 (All Away) Boro - 3 (2 H, 1 A) Stoke - 1 (Away) West Brom - 2 (Both Home) Some good points to be lost there by all involved