Ashley17

I think anyone on here who has met Rocker will tell you the same thing. Like a rock and roll Ned Flanders, he's as honest as the day is long.

So to recap today: There’s a fan dossing around outside the PL Office Michael Chopra says it’s back on The Reuben’s are still in Just a normal day then

Creasing at the video where the PL bloke is panicking and he goes to get security, who turns out to be a real life Michael from Alan Partridge. Next video he’s in reception

I want this to happen as much as the next fan (obviously excluding Sean) but I just feel it's at a dead end. The Premier League might come out tomorrow and give valid reasons why it hasn't proceeded, let's be honest all the potential problems have been discussed at length over the past 3 months. Then what happens?

The only thing that makes me think this is a hail Mary type play is that the announcement had barely happened and she'd done interviews with at least three places. It seems to me they've set their stall out to heap the pressure on the PL.

Caulkin has an interview with Staveley and that fellow who is on Twitter, he’s just accidentally tweeted it. Assume it’s meant to be in drafts for the morning. I don’t have the Athletic subscription so dunno if it’s a rehash of the earlier article

So from this do we think Ashley has asked for another payment to extend the exclusivity? And if that was say £50m, that effectively means they'd have spent £67m without any guarantee of the PL making a decision in their favour so they've thought fuck that?

Rocker was right then

When “our guests at Collingwood Insurance” used to decide man of the match Steven Taylor and James Milner would beat even Messi

I read the BBC article as Bin Salman was originally going to be the decision maker but when that was a problem (they couldn't sufficiently prove he wasn't connected to the government) they raised that as a red flag and now they need to find somebody who doesn't cause a red flag. Presumably all candidates will have their business links which can be conflicts of interest and are difficult to get out of - wasn't there some talk about one the board being linked to a Man Utd sponsor? There's probably all sorts of that.

Basically the PL won’t reject it they’ll just say if you do xyz we can approve it. It’s not in their interests to reject it with all the potential ramifications but as there’s no timescale, they don’t have to say or do anything whilst PIF try and jump through these hoops. Meanwhile there are so many conflicts of interest over potential decision makers this is where the gridlocked bit comes in. Until they can break certain links to companies involved elsewhere, which may take time or be costly, it cannot progress. Everyone is jumping on “the Premier League has to say something!!” but the reality is they don’t. It’s an entirely private matter and if the PLs stance is that PIF need to sort themselves out then don’t be suryif there are more like Edwards who try to turn the fans against them.

I am resigned to it not happening now, I also don’t think there will be any announcement one way or the other.

I thought it was to push the defence out (seeing as they're all probably very deep from the corner) and play any lurkers offside in case the ball is played back in.

I think people are too keen to put a positive or a negative on those tweets. He's just giving some context to what's going on, I don't even think he's trying to push it as positive or negative.

They have a really good source within the deal.

As soon as Pogba went off the whole team were defending far too deep. It was coming for the last 15 minutes or so.

All the ingredients for a hammering. They are quite well rested and motivated after their defeat. We are missing out two best outlets, holding midfielder, whatever Sean Longstaff is and probably the captain. I expect the likes of Atsu, Yedlin and Muto to be thrown in despite very limited minutes between them.

He'll be played from the cold on Wednesday, do nothing and probably never be seen again. He's barely had a run in the team since he joined but he has no position, thought it was odd Rafa bought him at a time he strictly played 4-2-3-1 but said in an interview he's not a number 10.

We know you're well connected Golfy and appreciate you putting your neck on the line several times over the years. Unfortunately the amount of bullshitting that has gone on over the last 14 weeks means people are not only sceptical but borderline insane. There's no excuse for abuse though, people need to get a grip.

Bruce lovers should be fucking glad Gayle missed because now that's the "turning point." We were absolutely gash, one missed chance doesn't change that. Lucky to get away with just the two.

He used to get team news snippets and he knew when Pardew was going/gone. I liked the theory a while back that he was actually Pardew, though I'd also like it if he was Luke Edwards.

Jak Alnwick - I know he was only a young lad but it was like playing without a goalkeeper. Horrifically bad. Sol Campbell - Signed a season too late. David Rozenhal - At least Cacapa scored a couple of goals. Rozenhal was just all round useless. Achraf Lazaar - It turns out you can buy a left back worse than Paul Dummett. Zurab Khizanishvili - Just a lunatic, managed to get sent off against Doncaster in what was probably our lowest ebb (until Nolan's injury time goal) Alan Smith - Will never score. Jack Colback - A hinderance. Dan Gosling - Was getting picked on the right ahead of HBA. Not directly his fault but ffs. Emmanuel Riviere - The cheek of this twat to be hopeless for 11 months then score a fluke and pull out the somersault Luuk De Jong - Absolutely hopeless. Florian Thauvin - After pursuing him for about 5 years he flattered to deceive. Subs: Sels, Gamez, Cabella, Kuqi, Obertan, Pancrate, Fitz fucking Hall

Thanks, Yorkie. The third part with Matthew Raisbeck will be up in the next few days.

I’ve been interviewing Newcastle commentators from over the years. Mick Lowes mostly about the 90s and the Keegan times and then Justin Lockwood for the Sir Bobby days. If you’re like me and enjoy the past hopefully you’ll find them a good read: Lowes: https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/nostalgia/legendary-newcastle-commentator-mick-lowes-keegan-shearer-and-new-radicals-song-2853405 Lockwood: https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/nostalgia/justin-lockwood-sir-bobby-robsons-parking-outrage-and-cheick-tiote-commentary-2853477

To an extent, but the bulk of football clubs aren't still paying Lee Cattermole.