AyeDubbleYoo

So is it easy to add quality players to a squad in January then? And is it possible to add them in the numbers people are talking about? How many players would have made you happy? I'm not 100% happy with what we achieved in the last window, but it's too easy to dismiss this point without proper consideration.

If we stay up it looks like it's going to be by a handful of points, or even goal difference. I'd hardly say that was good judgement, especially considering a blind person could tell you we needed investment. Same question to you btw; do you think (should we stay up) that significant investment in the first team will be made this summer? Not on the scale of previous owners, no. But at the same time I wouldn't be surprised to see 4-5 players come in, of the quality/price of Jonas/Colo/Bassong etc. To me one of the things Ashley shouldn't be criticised for is his transfer policy. This January wasn't great but I think that may have been a combination of market conditions, economic situation, the fact it's January, injuries, and panic. I know it sounds like an excuse, but everyone knows Jan is a hard time to make real squad improvements... no matter how badly they are needed.

So if we stay up he got lucky, not judged the situation correctly? And if we go down he made a mistake, not got unlucky? Seems a bit unfair to me like.

FFS, not another thread on the same thing.

He thought we'd finish above Arsenal last season when we had Allardyce. and you thought Ashley - or anybody - would be better than the Halls and Shepherd. Don't see why that's a stupid point of view, I certainly thought Ashley would be a great owner, as did many people. It doesn't seem to be ridiculed now everyone is saying anything would be better than Ashley, even though they haven't got any idea who it might be. Considering only 4 clubs qualified for europe more than we did under the Halls and Shepherd, automatically assuming "anyone" - or Ashley - would be better, is a stupid point of view. I know we had some success on the pitch, everyone accepts that... it's impossible to argue against. Don't want to start another massive argument about the merits of each board, but my opinion is that by the end of the Shepherd regime they had become a laughing stock and a disaster for the club, and I had every right to expect Ashley to be a better owner. Edit: By the way, if you can only judge a board over a period of 10+ years then how come Ashley is due so much stick from you already? rubbish. I've told you why Ashley is getting stick from me, because I don't think he knows what he is doing and because I don't think he cares enough about the club to want genuine success on the pitch. Fair enough, but what I'm saying is... how can you know that in such a short time? If you're saying Shepherd shouldn't be judged on the last couple of years, but on the whole of his reign, then surely Ashley must be given the same chance before he can be compared?

Players always look better when you don't have to watch them every week. See James Milner...

I see what you mean GM, and for a lot of players I agree. Just think Oba has been a good egg so far.

Maidenhead Utd is £9, outrageous. But they are called 'the magpies' and have quality black & white scarves on sale.

He thought we'd finish above Arsenal last season when we had Allardyce. and you thought Ashley - or anybody - would be better than the Halls and Shepherd. Don't see why that's a stupid point of view, I certainly thought Ashley would be a great owner, as did many people. It doesn't seem to be ridiculed now everyone is saying anything would be better than Ashley, even though they haven't got any idea who it might be. Considering only 4 clubs qualified for europe more than we did under the Halls and Shepherd, automatically assuming "anyone" - or Ashley - would be better, is a stupid point of view. I know we had some success on the pitch, everyone accepts that... it's impossible to argue against. Don't want to start another massive argument about the merits of each board, but my opinion is that by the end of the Shepherd regime they had become a laughing stock and a disaster for the club, and I had every right to expect Ashley to be a better owner. Edit: By the way, if you can only judge a board over a period of 10+ years then how come Ashley is due so much stick from you already?

You lot will feel terrible if he does die now! :-[

He thought we'd finish above Arsenal last season when we had Allardyce. and you thought Ashley - or anybody - would be better than the Halls and Shepherd. Don't see why that's a stupid point of view, I certainly thought Ashley would be a great owner, as did many people. It doesn't seem to be ridiculed now everyone is saying anything would be better than Ashley, even though they haven't got any idea who it might be. Got to agree with you Ian W. At first I honestly thought Ashley would be a great owner. Although it became pretty clear from the very start he wasn't a 'Roman calibre' in term of money, I really expected a lot more from him. He's made so many stupid mistakes since taking over. For instance, Mort disappeared in came Llambas (!!) Jimenez left the club, and I really rate Jimenez. It looks like Wise is doing a great job at getting in young players, but why is he appointed DOF? Why isn't he just name head scout? We need a good manager, well... look no further than Sven G. Eriksson. He's having a hard time in Mexico, and seriously, why wouldn't he be interested in the newcastle job, when he (according to the sun - to what ever degree you can take their shit for real), doesn't reject the prospect of managing Portsmouth ?! The biggest tragedy of the Ashley era is how brilliant it promised to be. I know he's fucked up a few decisions, Llambias and Kinnear being two of them... but I'm getting the feeling that he's made his mind up to sort things out now. I'm not ready to write off the Ashley era yet, I suppose that's why I always end up defending him on here.

On top of being one of our best players, Oba also seems to have exactly the attitude we need. He never causes trouble, seems to enjoy being here and puts his all in on the pitch.

I'd disagree. Get him signed up, aye, if he's going to get his head down and work hard and be an asset to the team. But if he's got ideas above his station then no, I genuinely wouldnt re-sign him. Not at any price. Would rather get him sold and get us a couple of cloggers like Nugent or Ashton, tbh. Why would you rather that? Because you're insane? To be fair, players are employees at the end of the day, they need to be managed and kept happy but they're also entitled to argue for a better deal for themselves. To make things worse, they also employ agents who are generally shit-stirring pond life.

He thought we'd finish above Arsenal last season when we had Allardyce. and you thought Ashley - or anybody - would be better than the Halls and Shepherd. Don't see why that's a stupid point of view, I certainly thought Ashley would be a great owner, as did many people. It doesn't seem to be ridiculed now everyone is saying anything would be better than Ashley, even though they haven't got any idea who it might be.

Martins is absolutely key for us... we shouldn't be thinking about letting him go under any circumstances. If we were Real Madrid we could look for someone better, but we ain't.

I would take what his agent says with a bucket of salt TBH. He probably just means they had a meeting scheduled which obviously can't happen now. I'd like to the think the club would get Oba signed up ASAP regardless of the Kinnear situation. Edit: Oh, and he's contracted til 2011 anyway, so he's not in immediate danger of getting away is he?

Just as well we've got emoticons, otherwise nobody would know what anyone meant eh?

Can't be put much better than that IMO.

Now that Kinnear isn't in charge perhaps Butt will be dropable. Fingers crossed although i can't see it. I'd be interested to know how much politics is involved with situations like this. I mean, will Hughton and Calderwood drop Butt or will the keep in in because it would make Kinnear look like he's been wrong all along?

Would that vindicate everyone who is anti-Ashley though? So the end result is always the only thing to be judged, regardless of the intentions and what was tried? Then we may as well just shut down this forum and post up the league table instead. There's nothing I've argued that I won't stand by even if we are relegated, I've never said Ashley is perfect. In football the end result is down to a load of factors, only one of which is what your owner does.

Fair point Although obviously it's only an opportunity for an investor if they can get the current owner to sell at a knock-down price, and they never plan to make any difficult decisions that the fans might disagree with.

c) it doesn't matter either way, the result is the same and the only way to achieve profit is success.

From what I've been reading it sounds more like Calderwood's in charge tbh, all of the interviews on .co.uk are with him Well, either way, they should make a competent team for the moment.

Hopefully he's getting over the shock of the Keegan situation and getting back to actually running the club. I doubt he will employ another interim manager now, it will be Hughton until Kinnear returns.