Parky

Marseille is one of the roughest cities in Europe. Huge working class population with its own distinct culture and accent at the opposite end of the country to the capital. Sound familiar? The immigrant/French demographic is completely unlike Newcastle, though. I wasnt drawing an exact parallel, just highlighting points of connection and saying that, unlike Merlin's view, i dont think all french people (especially from the south) can be characterised by the snobby attitudes of those in the North. Yeah, I know what you're saying: they're not all Parisians. OTOH, if you're coming out of the North African milieu of Marseilles (or even the Paris banlieue, come to that), the north-east can't really seem that familiar either. pretentious? me? Moi?

If the money is available to spend, the situation is...as needs must etc.. Harper will see us through, but we're in dire need of first team players in other positions.

Marseille is one of the roughest cities in Europe. Huge working class population with its own distinct culture and accent at the opposite end of the country to the capital. Sound familiar? This thread has been commissioned by Channel 4.

I'd only take it if they have cast iron deals ready to come in.

That's the strength of it Dave, I believe he's just chancing his arm. I know things are looking gloomy, but logic dictates that the the management team in no way see JK as a long term solution. I've been giving this some heavy thought and I think JK has realised that right now his bargaining position is much stronger than it will be in the summer.

Yup. And there isn't one, he has just started laying his stall out and shooting his mouth off as he does with everything else. He won't be here in the summer.

I think it's a bluff to try and persuade players to sign. That is definitely part of it. To give the illusion of continuity.

You see I think there has been talk of an offer (to keep him sweet) but I have a feeling he's jumped the gun.

We won't be signing M'bia in a million years.

It is clear JK is having huge communication issues, you can just see by all the contradictory comments of late. I'd be interested to know how often he talks with Wise or anyone for that matter.

Lock it ffs Dave!

How exactly can the club be haemorrhaging money ? They made such a big deal about the club getting rid of the debts, we then got rid of so many players in the summer which must have saved us a fortune. The club bluntly is shite. It's being run shite from top to bottom, has shite all clue when it comes to finances and has shite ideas for pushing this club into the future, a future still in the Premiership. I did warn when Ashley took over, he would lead us to trouble, I just hoped I'd be proved wrong. The irony of it all is that they made such a song and dance about a sound structure.

You find with a lot of self-made multi-millionaires they show little interest in the small print. Credit in this has to go to JK for raising the alarm. He might not have the tools but he is at least aware of the scenario. Small mercies and all that.

While the window is open our destiny is still in our hands. The window may be open but the curtains are firmly closed! Class.

I'm sure there is cash there, one call from JK raised an immediate 10m (if he is to be believed). My main worry is that they didn't realise the gravity of the situation till now and that they still might not be fully engaged (hopefully they are). The point is only MA has the power to remedy.

Before Mike Ashley finished his takeover we read in the media reports about how he liked to "park his tanks on his rivals lawns". Maybe his reaction to the fans protesting him was "How dare they protest me? I'll show them by getting their beloved Newcastle United relegated!" Cutting off his nose to spite his face? I don't seriously think that is his plan but what he's doing is making that 'plan' happen. I doubt Mike Ashley is a billionaire anymore. He was worth £1.9Bn including Sports Direct. With the collapse of the world economy I doubt he's worth half that now. Even so, 20m spent now will save him the 60 odd million loss of getting relegated.

While the window is open our destiny is still in our hands. our destiny is fucked with these clowns in charge. Shhh...I'm appealing to the clowns.

While the window is open our destiny is still in our hands.

I really can't make sense of it. With all this organisation they keep banging on about and scouting teams and whatnot, I imagined we'd have 3/4 in as soon as the window opened.

I travelled from Edinburgh to Blackburn on Saturday and have never felt so low for many years. I honestly used to think I knew a bit about football but now I don't know. Firstly how can anybody justify giving such as Ameobi an extension to his contract. I haven't spoken to one Newcastle fan who was pleased with this move. On Saturday as has been the case for a good few weeks it is pitiful to watch Owen, Duff and N'Zogbia. There hearts are not in it. I keep reading Owen is starved of service. Well if you are a centre forward you have to be up with play to get service, not ten to twenty yards behind play. He shirked so many challenges and is no bloody good as a captain. It is obvious he is just playing out the season and trying to avoid injury. Kinnear can't drop him but I feel sorry for Andy Carroll who is trying so hard to grasp an opportunity but is playing alongside a more experienced player who would much rather be somewhere else. Duff is a disgrace to the shirt. Nothing more to say. I was stood behind the goal on Saturday and three times watched Enrique having to try and stop two players attacking down his side of the park. One occasion was the equivalent of a V sign from N'Zogbia to all of us behind the goal. A Blackburn player ran past N'Zogbia to overlap down the wing. Charlie watched him run and didn't bother a jot. Turned and trotted deeper into the middle of the park. This is a perfect example of why we are in the shit. We have first team regulars who don't care. Owen, Duff and N'Zogbia - just go - please just go - it would almost be better to have lost 6-0 knowing that everyone had given it their best shot. Can't argue with any of that and of course Zoggy has had enough, but who else can we put on the park?

Half the battle in solving a problem is knowing the problem exists, so we're half way there. Can't say I know how MA's mind works, but one thing is for certain (going by JK's increased hysteria), MA hadn't realised till a few days ago that we are in serious trouble. Now we must hope he reacts.

Please do something and do it quick, our club is in grave danger, not just of relegation, but falling into a scenario it might take a decade to recover from.

This buying youth and building slowly don't work in the cut and thrust of the PL. The first team has to be the priority, especially for us now. The purchase of young talent is well and good, but it will take 3-5 years for some of them to come through (although Bassong has been thrown in and done well), the dual track policy seems to be ignoring the first team alarmingly.

Ashley has to step upto the plate. Nothing short of a cash injection in players will save us from relegation. There I've said it.

I've just realised what it is...MA and JK are psychologically very similar people and so is Wise. We are absolutely fuckfest fucked.