AyeDubbleYoo

Some difference between Kaka and Gonzales Aye, but Xisco?

See Madrid are signing players above the manager's head again, sack the board!

How many times we won't go into Administration as that would mean he would stop himself getting his own money back. He is our only creditor. Yep, said that up the page, if Ashley hadn't taken on our debt we would owe it too other people anyway, and probably on much less favourable terms.

Any money received from selling players now will go straight off the debt the club owes Ashley. You can be sure he won't be doing any buy now pay later deals in this transfer window, it will be cut price deals for cash upfront. If we sell a bunch of players now and then sell the club, then the money we get for those players will not be sitting in some transfer kitty given to the new owners, it will just lower the club's assets for the eventual buyer. Obviously the buyer should take that into account in the purchase price, but it's like buying a house while the current owner is stripping out the fixtures and fittings. If he hadn't paid off the debt we would owe it to other people anyway though, and probably on less favourable terms as well.

Just confused at the moment, no idea what is going to happen. I thought relegation with Shearer as manager and a bit of stability might have a silver lining, but then the ownership is thrown into confusion yet again. If it gets sorted in the next couple of weeks we could still do alright, but I think promotion this season is looking less likely.

Don't think anyone does believe that.

I doubt Shearer is holding out for a 'north-east buyer', he probably just wants ownership sorted out whoever buys us.

Completely agree, I just think the financial reality might mean we have to think of money first at the moment. We will likely lose our best players, that's what happens to big clubs who get relegated... not sure any manager could prevent it.

I know, I'm not agreeing with the idea, just saying that if the reality is that players will be sold regardless then it might even be better to get the situation with the squad a bit clearer before the new manager signs on.

The first (only?) players we'll receive decent bids for are the ones any manager worth his salt would want to keep. Do you trust Ashley and gang to resist offers based on the wishes of a non-existant manager? I fucking don't. No, not at all, what I mean is that we might have to sell everyone we get a decent bid for anyway, even if a manager did want to keep them. So if that's the reality then we may as well get going on it ASAP. You're completely right that the players we would rather keep might be the first ones to go, but that might happen anyway, could be the inevitable result of relegation.

Ironically this is probably one of the only times when selling players without the manager is almost acceptable. I mean, we'll have to shift anyone who we get a good bid for anyway, and anyone on certain wages, so if it has to happen we may as well get it started.

Dunno, strange one, maybe we just can't wait.... depends on the stage the Shearer talks have reached I suppose. We will have to sell many players anyway, maybe some the manager would rather keep, so may as well get started.

Put in a drawer until the season after next

Spot on Thirded. I never had a problem with Colo, I thought he would turn into a useful player for us... but his confidence went and people like Ricardo Fuller started tearing him to shreds, which is never a good sign.

I could never understand why Milner wasn't played centrally more often, seemed to maximise his fitness/engine while making up for the fact he wasn't fast and couldn't cross.

I still don't think Colo is a bad player, with a midfield in front of him he would do OK. He won't want to stay anyway though, obviously.

Thing is, Sports Direct success requires everything that NUFC success doesn't... pile 'em high and sell 'em cheap, and keep costs to a minimum.

How much more physical is the Championship then? I mean, there must be a fair few cloggers who kick lumps out of good players, but surely the football is lower tempo and less demanding on fitness?

That would be class... not sure what Phil Brown has seen that makes him want to sign Nolan like.

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!