AyeDubbleYoo

Getting £12m for Barry in the last year of his contract is more than a good result IMO. Obviously depends on what the money is spent on, but might help Villa increase the size of their squad.

Would definitely rather keep him than most of the other players we've got.

All power to him if he wants to take action, more people should challenge this sort of thing in Europe. Will be difficult to prove unless he has witnesses... and ones that are willing to come forward at that. Although civil action is different to criminal isn't it, it can be decided on balance of probability or something like that?

He was their player of the year. So must be. Sure you're right, I'm actually pleased for the lad.

Whoa mate, that is ridiculously pessimistic... chin up fella.

I was at that West Brom v Reading cup game a while ago where Lita absolutely destroyed them for a rapid-fire hattrick. Probably right that he was a bit immature, hopefully he wouldn't get too interested in the toon nightlife!

Never ceases to amaze me that people go to Celtic and Rangers because 'it's a good chance to win some silverware'. Yes, but the silverware is a joke and it's virtually nothing to do with your own ability. Don't understand how you can get any pride from that.

I don't see why he would go, other than money of course. Unless their transfer dealings are really spectacular, City have no more chance of cracking the big 4 than Villa at the moment.

I'd prefer a Russian oligarch who has asset-stripped his own country, or failing that a deranged Thai dictator with a dubious human rights record.

Decent read, although I don't agree with the fans stake/NUSC stuff either really. Good to see him mentioning the state the club was left in before Ashley arrived, a lot of people forget that.

I always rated Lita when I saw him for Reading, not sure why he didn't make it there. He's probably not good enough for a top-half Premiership team but beyond that I would take a punt.

Andy Cole was born to score goals, pure finisher. He did miss the odd chance, but if Martins could finish half as well we'd still be playing Premiership football now.

They're buying the second tier of player though aren't they? Can't see them breaking the top 3 without making proper world-class signings. Robinho was arguably one, when he's on his game, but Barry is a step down from Lampard, Gerrard and the like. Suppose it is a good start though, if they can get into the CL then they can go for the true big hitters.

Not sure if Titus really is improving though, or if his errors just don't get focussed on now. He always had the potential to be a great CB.

Some may say it's a small point but I think it's pretty damning. I don't care whether his contract is expiring, he should have least made some sort of statement. He's made a disgrace of the captaincy IMO. He has been a poor captain, probably just not commenting now because he knows he will be leaving. Suppose he could have made some sort of apology though.

He is a decent wheeler-dealer, just seems he needs to sign large volumes of shit players to turn up one or two good ones.

Surely they need to be mega-rich though? If Ashley had been able to spend big nobody would dislike him and we wouldn't be having this conversation. really? I think so... care to elaborate? I'm not saying they don't need to be honest, have the club's interests at heart etc, but if they can't afford some serious investment it won't matter.

Surely they need to be mega-rich though? If Ashley had been able to spend big nobody would dislike him and we wouldn't be having this conversation.

In fairness they weren't gunning for him when the supposed 'feel good factor' surrounded the club in the wake of his arrival, and during the period between Sports Direct's floatation & the club's rapid & downward spiral over the past 12 months. The report concerning the OFT 'investigating him' has really only come about fairly recently and there's no reason as to why the press would sit on such a story if the OFT were heavily scrutinizing/investigating him prior to his involvement in this club. For nearly ten years a low-profile Ashley more likely had brownie points banked in the lockerroom, for having handed over a concrete case/evidence to the OFT in 2000. Whereas he's now jumped into a pressure cooker environment of club ownership, and his profile will lend over to even higher & justified level of scrutiny. From a slightly different angle Douglas Hall, who is small prey by comparison - executive boardmember, minor shareholder unlike Ashley, found some of his more *insignificant shenanigans while in charge of Cameron Hall scrutinized in public, as parts of his dealings were leaked to the business-linked field of the press. I'm not defending the bloke in this instance but take away his then club-related profile for better or worse, and his dealings at Cameron Hall would've most likely never entered the public domain. *an antique car buy & sell scheme allegedly using company funds. I know that the media will now focus on him a bit more and report goings-on... I suppose that might lead to increased scrutiny by the OFT if they do base their actions on what is said in the press. I really don't know enough about Ashley's businesses to contribute much about whether or not he should be worried or has done anything dodgy.

Incredible that anyone could be 'eager' to sign Kevin Nolan.

Erm, don't think so. Surely if he was under investigation for dealings with other businesses that wouldn't depend on what happened at newcastle? Don't think the OFT will be gunning for him because he fucked us over.

Let's not start the slag off Shearer club yet, we don't actually have any evidence of his real wage demands.

I really can't see the stumbling block being wages... at least I hope it isn't. Everyone will have to get used to the fact we're a championship club now.

Can the people saying they would welcome the fatboy back not remember how we felt about him before he left? Most people though Ashley was a saint for coming in and getting rid of the guy! He was an absolute nightmare of an owner by the end, and I can't see how NUFC would benefit in any way if he came back.

I know everyone hates Ashley, and I like him less every day, but to use a phrase like 'asset stripping' is completely wrong. He hasn't taken a penny out of the club, unlike previous owners. Yes, he hasn't spent, and we've suffered for it, but he hasn't 'asset stripped' by any normal definition of the term.