Minhosa

It's not that hard to fathom. Swansea have probably pointed out that he wouldn't get in our first team and have probably matched our modest wage package and given him a new deal, so he's changed his mind. When you are relying on clauses and loopholes to complete a signing there's always a fair chance it will fall through. Agree with this.

Pretty sure he did last week. £1.7m was the muted fee. Fair play to the lad, a cracking move for him and great to see english players chancing their arm abroad.

Pull the other one. Eh?

You've got to see that the handling of the Carroll sale, the general lack of proactive communication and the downright 'shadyness' of the Board/Management Team invite question? Yes, of course, I just don't think it means that all our worst fears will happen every single time. Edit: oh actually, I only agree with the Carroll sale bit, the rest I think is nonsense. Nonsense? Eh? Does that mean you think they communicate with the fans well? Does that mean that you don't think Llambias is a shady character? I don't really care about Llambias's character TBH, he's not a guy I like but that doesn't mean I automatically assume he will do whatever is worst. I've said many times on this forum that I think the communication issue is a massive red herring. You can't expect the club to detail its thinking or its planning in public, and I don't understand what people want the board to say. Almost every time they've made a statement it's been harmful, I'd rather they kept quiet. Couldn't disagree with you more on the communications point. If they were up front with the paying public they may upset a few people but at least we would know their intentions, their plans for the club and have an idea of why they made certain decisions seeing as we would have some idea of what the bigger picture was. You don't care about the character of the guy leading the club on a day to day basis? Oh, and on the 'not always expecting the worst/everyone to leave' point you made earlier, I agree.

You've got to see that the handling of the Carroll sale, the general lack of proactive communication and the downright 'shadyness' of the Board/Management Team invite question? Yes, of course, I just don't think it means that all our worst fears will happen every single time. Edit: oh actually, I only agree with the Carroll sale bit, the rest I think is nonsense. Nonsense? Eh? Does that mean you think they communicate with the fans well? Does that mean that you don't think Llambias is a shady character?

You've got to see that the handling of the Carroll sale, the general lack of proactive communication and the downright 'shadyness' of the Board/Management Team invite question?

A bit like trusting Ian Huntley with your kids when he tells you they'll be fine.

Hate to say it and know it's perhaps unfair on them but that was my gut reaction too. Ashley invites cynicism.

When the clubs scouting team seemingly has a remit to spend most of its time hunting for freebies, clause breakers and damaged goods with big upside potential it can't exactly complain when one of it's own decides to run their contract down. I expect him to be forced out for a couple of million.

4) Stephen Ireland arrives back declaring his love for the area and how his bags have been packed all summer.

No.

The only chance of him staying is if Ashley/Llambias think he'll go further up in value this time next year. I'd be amazed if he starts next season with us.

Yep - He'd be better off financially and probably in terms of options too by waiting the year and seeing his contract out. Evra will be 31 next summer as will Ashley Cole - both Chelsea and Man Utd may like the idea of taking him for nothing next year with a view to bedding him in the following season and eventually make him first choice. If he's not up to it at their level, then flog him for a good profit. on the other hand its a lot of time to show we mean business and get him to stay I'd have hoped we'd be showing him we mean business by reinvesting a significant proportion of the AC money now rather than constantly looking for freebies and break-clauses whilst chatting on about a few changes to the training ground like its a big thing. If you only sell your best prospect because the offer was so good then you should have no problem with reinvesting the money in the first team to make up for his loss. In my opinion, we'll not be too far from like for like by the time the season starts, with incomings & outgoings without sorting out the overall squad depth. How does that show anyone we 'mean business' and what incentive does it give Jose to hang around? If I was one of the top four left backs in the league, I'd be looking to play for one of the top four clubs. I think the only way we could convince him to stay would be to tell him we're looking at Europe this year and making a push on the top 6. That may be enough for him not to want the arse-ache of uprooting/taking a risk on a new team/new area etc. How do we push on to the challening the top 6? Invest the money on some proven quality to add to the decent squad we already have. What fucks me off more than anything is that we're really not that far off being a very capable first 11 and only need two or three good solid signings and a bit of luck to push on next year.

Yep - He'd be better off financially and probably in terms of options too by waiting the year and seeing his contract out. Evra will be 31 next summer as will Ashley Cole - both Chelsea and Man Utd may like the idea of taking him for nothing next year with a view to bedding him in the following season and eventually make him first choice. If he's not up to it at their level, then flog him for a good profit.

Seaham Hall Luxury Hotel & Spa must be a bit quieter now he's checked out.

I would imagine besides this being the obvious option on the pitch, the club are hoping it can be used as leverage one way or another next summer. He'll be off next summer I reckon. I can't see NUFC investing in him for another few years, even if he would take a pay cut, at 30 years old. He's the type of centre half who could do a job into his thirties imo but he'll have very limited resale value after that, hence my view that he'll be off. Great news like this yet you still try and put a negative spin on it. For all we know he could be agreeing to a contract extension along with being appointed captain. This is a fantastic call from Pardew, even though like previously said there were few contenders for the role. I look forward to seeing Colo walk the Toon out of the tunnel against Arsenal at SJP. All in all a cracking appointment. :colo: If the club hierarchy were transparent in their policies and communicated their plans for the club truthfully rather than soundbites from Llambias and daily bollocks from Billy Bullshit then it wouldn't be viewed as 'spin' at all, it'd be a discussion about the application of the clubs policy, rather than informed conjecture based on their decisions to date.

Or not. Someone should make a list of Pardisms...................

I would imagine besides this being the obvious option on the pitch, the club are hoping it can be used as leverage one way or another next summer. He'll be off next summer I reckon. I can't see NUFC investing in him for another few years, even if he would take a pay cut, at 30 years old. He's the type of centre half who could do a job into his thirties imo but he'll have very limited resale value after that, hence my view that he'll be off.

Good appointment - but I don't look forward to losing another club captain next year over contractual issues. Enjoy your year Colo!

Be lucky to get 15 games a season out of Brown. Prays it's a 4 year contract....................

"and I can get cracking". Aye, he said that.

Hope he comes in and nobody leaves..................next year we'd have a blaising squad.

Benayoun - M.I.A.

Just wait til he gets used to our football.