Raconteur

300 page development plan submitted along with the PL D&O test...

It's the vaccuum that's killing people and causing them to amplify dozens of little fuck-alls into seismically important considerations. None of us are entitled to know anything that's going on, not sure why people think we are or that they have the first idea how long this could be expected to take Erm, maybe because Staveley told Caulkin to tell the fans that it would be complete in the next few days, back towards the end of April ffs No she never and Caulkin has never put a timeline on it. Why are you laughing? You claimed something that was incorrect, I corrected you. OK she put it out there that it "should be complete" in the next few days. Nearly 3 weeks ago. The person who was incorrect was Staveley. Unless it was her contact at the PL who was incorrect. Or her lawyer who was incorrect. Why are you so convinced Staveley is acting in bad faith? Literally he only evidence supporting that position is Mike Ashley's "tyre-kicker" comment

Reads like a "Hail Mary" pass in the last few seconds from Qatar.

I'm confident he'll be one of our first signings - partly because he ticks so many boxes but he's one of the most "available" top-tier talents. In a fantasy world, I'd like us to get de Ligt as a 10-year player, but even in the best case scenario, we're probably at least five years away from getting players like him

Would love to watch Ginola, Lua-Lua and Robert all steaming down the left together

I know I should put this in the optimism thread, but the wording of the nufc.com report has me thinking. I'm of the belief that the PL has given it's approval. The reason the consortium can whisper in some ears like this is because the approval has been given and we're inside the 3-5 business days of the money changing hands. It begs the question why wait before making an official announcement. There have been many reports that PIF don't say a word until the ink has dried. That's what's happening here.

I doubt Kluivert was bought to drop Shearer. Provide an alternative would probably be a better way of looking at it. Newcastle's problem was over-reliance on Shearer, his best days were probably when he could share the load with another striker like Ferdinand or big Dunc. Wasn't Sir Bobby ready to let Shearer go to Liverpool at one point around the time of Kluivert? Or am I misremembering that? There were rumours to that effect, also that Bobby felt Shearer was trying to dictate team matters, no idea of the truth behind it. Shearer and Souness got on very well after Bobby left though. It seems pretty clear Bobby wanted to go one way and Shearer wanted to be the main man ad infinitum - and Shearer had Shepherd's ear, which meant Bobby got the arse and his mate Souness came in

Best and Lovenkrands were miles better strikers than many we've had since. Riviere, Joselu, Joelinton...?

Probably none. Hard to say as others have mentioned we play a system that suits them. Maybe Schar and Lejeune could get in as backups. That’s not the point though, we will be limited by ffp. If a time comes when cb is our weakest position, we can go out and get one. This is it, with FFP we will be limited as to what we can spend, the logical thing is to focus on your weakest areas and that is not at centre back Think the FFP talk is a bit of a red herring. £150m is the figure being banded around and the doesnt take sales into account. Furthermore, the rules are likely to be relaxed and there will be alot more value in the market due to the current climate. There is a huge amount going in our favour here. I'm with you - it really does seem to be a perfect storm for someone who wanted to bootstrap their club to the next level. Between clubs desperate for cashflow, a league desperate for transfer fees to wash around and players afraid the good times might be coming to an end - I think there's the prospect of player turnover well in excess of what many expect

From that pic I can imagine both Robert's doing quite a lot of smashing. Gee whiz!

I'm thinking most of League One is going to start next season on -12 points

Did enjoy watching Gary Neville splutter that "Machester's great, innit?" as he attempted to defend his home against the wicked foreigners

Was his agent wasn’t it? Anyway he had very good info whoever it was. That’s how I remember it - and played a round of golf or two with the King himself too, if memory serves. And it seemed that in meeting the man, and being charmed, he chose to take Pardew’s part at a time when there was a lot of hatred for him here.

Simply by virtue of not being a cunt, Hughton is higher than many on that list...

If Rafa played an active part in Staveley’s second bid, then the job is his already. In fact, if anyone other than Rafa is our next manager, it’s because Rafa didn’t fancy it. That’s why I believe a lot of the Poch stuff is (his) agent noise

There is zero insight in that vid. Caulkin shares more information when he farts.

Sounds similar to what a lot of Liverpool players have said. Even the players that don't like his methods or his manner still respect their effectiveness.

Didn't know where to put this, but does someone from here run the "Newcastle United Times" Facebook page? It features vids made by Sewelly (he's not around anymore is he?) and sometimes seems to post things related to discussion points here. Or maybe I'm just imagining it. Anyway, if it's someone from here then a big because I'm enjoying it

He created some fake WhatsApp messages from Midhat (from the BZG group) “confirming” the takeover had gone through. Astonishing to watch his reputation disintegrate in real time in the thread as people called him out on it...

I know I shouldn't be, but I'm astonished by the complete lack of self-dignity in that quote. Beyond mere self-awareness, he's got no idea he's actually degrading himself.

What is the burden of proof for establishing those rules though? I'm sure it's easy to make a case that Sheffield United could be "indirectly" influenced by MBS under rule F1.2 - but do Stavely/PIF have to prove they're not in a position to influence them, or do the complainants have to convinve the FA with proof?

It's already done, they just haven't announced it. Just ask The Sun: Image appeared in a story related to lower league takeovers. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/premierleague/11537823/dennis-bergkamp-dirk-kuyt-henrik-larsson-club-takeover/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=sunfootballfacebook030520&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1588508424

The Sun seems to think it's done - in a table discussing owner wealth, PIF and MSB have already been installed top of the leaderboard:

It's true that Keegan and Ashley weren't at odds from the start - but that quote's from 2008 and in September of that year we signed Nacho Gonzalez and Xisco and it was all over. It didn't take long for Ashley to be the cunt he is

Imagine being the SU owner if it got scuppered. "Mr bin Musa'ad, please hold for His Highness"