AyeDubbleYoo

I think Jonas might offer us a bit more in that area. He'll actually stay wide for a start which will open the pitch up. I probably agree, the only question is whether Marveaux and HBA will ever be fit enough to play consistently.

We really better have a couple of signings lined up for before the end of the window. We just can't afford to be weakening the squad any more.

Oh come on, be realistic. So it hasn't happened yet. But it will. Well that's a different question. It might, but then loans are usually paid back. We're lucky we don't still owe the money to a commercial bank TBH. Well I hope it doesn't cost us, this brinkmanship of attempting to have just enough quality to prevent relegation. Last time they tried it, we ended up in the Championship. Now, seemingly, after learning nothing from the last time the roulette wheel was given a spin, we are doing exactly the same again. So do I, but stop changing the argument. We were discussing whether he's paid himself back, which he hasn't.

if they can be happy/not bother with Ashley, i don't think they will unhappy about other things These people do not exist.

They will offer him a 3 or 4 year deal, which means if he snaps his cruciate in the next 6 months he's still set up for a nice wage. It's the life of a footballer, their careers could end any minute.

£36 a minute is a canny wage like. Hope he doesn't get paid for his breaks.

It doesn't really matter either way does it? We told Joey he can leave and isn't wanted, so he's going.

Oh come on, be realistic. So it hasn't happened yet. But it will. Well that's a different question. It might, but then loans are usually paid back. We're lucky we don't still owe the money to a commercial bank TBH.

Because as it stands he isn't getting a new contract so he will have to do that anyway after 5 years, his two choices are move now on a 5 year contract with someone else, or stay and hope for a new contract here, with Ashley in charge that isn't happening, he doesn't really have a choice tbf. I know that, I just meant that family stability isn't the reason, because going to QPR doesn't help that.

If he wanted security and to be settled, why would he uproot himself to London after 4 years in the North East?

No evidence he's paying himself back at all, it's pure fantasy at the moment.

I don't think the long term security thing is that ridiculous TBH. Aye, Barton is set for life and the lives of his children now anyway, but no matter what your career is it's natural to want to make sure you maximise your earnings and take advantage of opportunities to put yourself in a good position. Of course Barton doesn't actually need the security of a long contract, but it's only sensible for him to take one if it's offered by QPR.

I wouldn't be surprised if some players are happy to see the back of him. But then you sometimes need a player who annoys his team mates, as long as it's because he's pressurising them to give 100%.

We want to reduce our wage bill by an unknown amount anyway, so comparing outgoing player wages to incoming ones seems a bit pointless to me.

Still a bit worried about RM without Barton. Guess Jonas is the option there with Marveaux/HBA left. With neither of those having played a game yet, it is a bit of a concern.

Was hoping he might eventually decide to stay, assuming the club haven't already closed down that option of course.

Oh. Thanks for letting me know.

Don't mean to sound woe-is-us, but we're on a different level of not being able to spend. You're years ahead of us financially. Whatever you think of Mike Ashley, we would be in Everton's position if all our debt was still owed to a commercial bank.

Yes - but with no interest bearing debts, as a premier league club, our turnover through TV money, gate receipts and merchandising is more than enough to cover wages and several million in transfers each year. This is evidenced by the massive wage bill reductions over the past 2 financial years results that we have available to us. Since then it is in plain sight that the wage bill decreased sharply in the summer of last season - granted the turnover will have decreased, but the wages now would not be too dissimilar to that of when we played in the Championship. Can you understand how some people are frustrated if we are told money will be spent on players, then it is not? In answer to that question, of course I can, I want more spending too. And I've always said it was a big mistake for Pardew to promise the Carroll money would all go on the team. As to the first bit of your post, what I'm arguing is that the accounts will speak for themselves, so I'm not going to second guess it. I don't have our recent seasons accounts to hand, but I'm guessing the last 5-10 years don't show regular profits. Until they do then we need to reduce costs or find someone who is prepared to keep lending us money. If we are making regular losses then our turnover clearly isn't enough to cover wages and transfers without borrowing more money. That's a fact. You could argue that borrowing more money is fine, but Ashley doesn't see it that way.

The accounts will show what profit or loss the club has made and how much we spend on wages and anything else. All this attempting to allocate specific income to specific outgoings is pointless IMO, and nobody knows how the club are budgeting for wages. Until NUFC runs in sustainable way over an extended period of time, and Ashley is satisfied that he isn't having to subsidise us, he will reduce costs at the rate he sees fit. Don't see the point in worrying about it, the accounts will speak for themselves.

Yep, should destroy them with that team as well.

Agree, especially as we have Vuckic, Marveaux and Gosling who could do with a game.

Chopra got 2 in his first two games for the Mackems in 2007. I still think Long's over-rated and Im glad we didn't get him. IMO he's underrated if anything. Amazing what you can achieve in this league with pace, hard work and decent finishing. It is early days though, I think we should have signed him but you're right there's no guarantees.

Pretty accurate at the time. I'm often wrong, but I can remember thinking he was shit at the time. Still, it was an awful time to join the club and being a CB at NUFC has been almost impossible until recently.

I want the Yohan Cabaye training and diet DVD! :ilikeitwhenyoureinsideme: has one.